• Zurf
  • Zurf
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  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
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Topic: Adding a pickup to electric

So I was messing around last night at Guitar Center, having fun with different guitars.  I had played them before and thought they were kind of nice, but now that I'm actually beginning to know what to expect from a guitar and how to make pretty noises with one occaisionally, I played one again and couldn't believe my ears!

One what? 

A Seagull S6. 

$399 (available at the Guitar Center sale now at that price, and no I do not have any association with Guitar Center beyond being a rare customer).  Amazing sounding guitar for $399 (American, that is). 

But, it doesn't have a pickup and the action is just a skooch high, and I want my next guitar to be an acoustic/electric with fairly low action.  Now, I know the action can be adjusted by any skilled guitar tech, but what about the pickup.  I know there are soundhole pickups and piezo pickups, and Detman101 even rigged something out of bubble gum and bailing wire that works well.  But I was wondering about how hard it is to put in something like a Fishman pre-amp with tuner. 

Any ideas?

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • wlbaye
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  • From: Black Hills So Dak
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
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Re: Adding a pickup to electric

Howdy Zurf,

There are alot of different pickups and some are not too spendy, I added a LR Baggs I-Beam I think around $76 to my Martin and it works ok, and I added a B-Band to my Epiphone and it works great. The B-Band is about a $200 pickup and is a little tougher to install, piezo pickups are pretty easy to install, just remove the strings and bridge, slip the transducer under the bridge
find a spot inside to mount the battery. The input for the 1/4'' will probably require drilling out where the strap button is, if you are handy and have some patience I would do it yourself. Most luthiers are very reasonable if you don't want to tackle it.

Later, Wayne P

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  • Registered: 2007-03-24
  • Posts: 1,108

Re: Adding a pickup to electric

Dean Markley Pro Mag works OK. No install. Installs into sound hole with no tools. about $75.00 or so. I use it on my 12 string. It's not as nice as the TK4 installed pick up in my Takamine G series but for 75.00 it's OK.

I used to be disgusted; now I try to be amused.
Elvis Costello
  • Zurf
  • Zurf
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Re: Adding a pickup to electric

What kind of microphone would I use if I wanted to just mic it instead of plugging it in?  There are so many different kinds.  Imagine me on a barstool (real stretch huh?) with a guitar and an amp that has a couple plugs/channels.  If I wanted to mic my voice and another mic on my guitar, and try to keep them fairly separate, what mics would I use? 

Is this the right place, or should it be in one of the other forums?  Hard to say.  It's here.  If it needs to be moved, sorry. 

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • Registered: 2007-03-24
  • Posts: 1,108

Re: Adding a pickup to electric

Zurf wrote:

What kind of microphone would I use if I wanted to just mic it instead of plugging it in?  There are so many different kinds.  Imagine me on a barstool (real stretch huh?) with a guitar and an amp that has a couple plugs/channels.  If I wanted to mic my voice and another mic on my guitar, and try to keep them fairly separate, what mics would I use? 

Is this the right place, or should it be in one of the other forums?  Hard to say.  It's here.  If it needs to be moved, sorry. 

- Zurf

I've been using a condensor mic for acoustics and it sounds pretty good. Good enough to toss the Dean Markley Pro Mag pick up on the shelf. I know they make mics specifically for this but I'm not a professional or a gigger, just like recording. I think mine is an MXL990. I have both a USB and regular one. I would say from my limited experience and in my situation, if I could only do one or the other (a Dean Markley Pro Mag or miking it) I'd choose the condensor mic. Sounds better to me. Again, I'm a novice and I'm sure there are others who will chime in with more experience...Just my 2 cents

I used to be disgusted; now I try to be amused.
Elvis Costello
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2007-02-08
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Re: Adding a pickup to electric

I've installed K&K pickups in 2 of my acoustics and a shadow pickup in another and all have been very simple installs with really good results. Most come with fairly good instructions but if not, a quick web search will often bring up a step by step guide with pictures for most popular brands. I use these for playing with others or in a gigging situation.... I've found it much easier than trying to mic in a live setting. Especially if it's a noisy area...

I always mic my acoustic when recording though. I use a Rode NT1A condenser mic placed around the 12th fret about 5-6 inches in front of the guitar. If I want a deeper or fuller sound, I'll record one track at approx the 12th fret and one between the 13th & 14th with the mic a little further back and then blend the two tracks into one. IMO, Condenser mics are the way to go. They record much better than dynamic mics at that frequency range..

[b][color=#FF0000]If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something.
[/color][/b]         [b]Peace of mind. That's my piece of mind...[/b]

Guitarpix's Website

  • Zurf
  • Zurf
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Re: Adding a pickup to electric

So, a condenser mic for my guitar.  How about my voice?  Would I also use a condenser mic for my voice?  As I understand it, condenser mics are highly directional and dynamic mics pick up noise from a broad area.  If so, then I'd think a condenser mic for my voice too, or it will pick up as much of the guitar as the guitar mic would. 

Thanks for the answers so far.  Very helpful.

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude

8 Reply by Guitarpix (edited by Guitarpix 2009-09-05 02:50:17)

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2007-02-08
  • Posts: 1,914

Re: Adding a pickup to electric

Hey Zurf, I'd go condenser for vocals as well...(for recording)

About the seagull... I'm a huge fan of Godin guitars ( seagull, simon and patrick, art and lutherie, norman) so I don't mean this bad toward the brand but, be sure to site down the neck and look for a hump around the 14th fret where the fretboard layes over the body. They seem to be prone to this, as I've seen it on several of their guitars. I've owned 7 or 8 godins (2 seagulls, 1 S6 and 1 artist studio rosewood) and they have all been fantastic guitars. Just something I always like to check for in that brand before purchase....

[b][color=#FF0000]If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something.
[/color][/b]         [b]Peace of mind. That's my piece of mind...[/b]

Guitarpix's Website

  • Registered: 2007-03-24
  • Posts: 1,108

Re: Adding a pickup to electric

Zurf wrote:

So, a condenser mic for my guitar.  How about my voice?  Would I also use a condenser mic for my voice?  As I understand it, condenser mics are highly directional and dynamic mics pick up noise from a broad area.  If so, then I'd think a condenser mic for my voice too, or it will pick up as much of the guitar as the guitar mic would. 

Thanks for the answers so far.  Very helpful.

- Zurf

Yup I use the same for both.

I used to be disgusted; now I try to be amused.
Elvis Costello
  • wlbaye
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Re: Adding a pickup to electric

Zurf I would recommend condensors for recording, and a guitar with a pickup and a dynamic mic for live performances. It is much easier to dial in your sound live with a pickup and a dynamic mic won't pickup the crowd noise and everything else.
The only bands I see using condensors live are bluegrass bands to get the true acoustic sound. Using a condensor live will be tough.

Later, Wayne P

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  • From: Western Oregon,US
  • Registered: 2008-07-22
  • Posts: 2,498

Re: Adding a pickup to electric

Hi Zurf,  I'm surprised that Russell hasn't chimed in on this thread yet....

  If he had, I know that he would recommend a Shur SM57 for the guitar, and SM58 for vocals.  The 57 is highly directional and really designed for getting the best sound out of instruments and the 58 is cartoid pattern that has a good cone of sensitivity for vocalists that tend to move around the stand a bit.  Personally I like the MXL 990 also for most things, but find it a bit too much for a loud environment as it really finds small sounds from really far away and that can detract from what you intended to record or project.  Optimally a piezoelectric pickup on the guitar works best and can be bought for around $150 installed.  Some have pre-amps and some are passive.  Passive units do not require a battery so that means one less thing to try to stuff into the body and worry about having banging around in there.  Put a passive in a friend's Taylor, and it really performs well without having to be concerned about having the thing drop out because of a low battery.

Just trying to confuse things a little for ya there buddy! LOL

Take Care;
Doug

"what is this quintessence of dust?"  - Shakespeare