darksidejoe
New member
Hi all! I have a Blueridge Br-160 that I need to put a pickup in. Give me your opinions on what you think is the best pickup system to put in a full size dreadnaught. Thanks!
Best Pickup for my Dreadnaught
- Thread starter darksidejoe
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hamerfan
Well-known member
Re: Best Pickup for my Dreadnaught
pskorz is right! But i ask in another way, because the application and your music style is the main factor. The magnetic pickup gives you a fuller sound, but it does not sound like the acoustic guitar, we are used to hear.
The piezo works best together with electric guitars and a rock band. It sounds a bit thin on its own and has a mismatch with most inputs (too high impedance) and needs some buffer electronics.
On a solo Acoustic guitar i like the combos of piezo and mic best - more mic than piezo.
Some new pickups like Sunrise and Duncan are very impressive and are very versatile for different applications.
pskorz is right! But i ask in another way, because the application and your music style is the main factor. The magnetic pickup gives you a fuller sound, but it does not sound like the acoustic guitar, we are used to hear.
The piezo works best together with electric guitars and a rock band. It sounds a bit thin on its own and has a mismatch with most inputs (too high impedance) and needs some buffer electronics.
On a solo Acoustic guitar i like the combos of piezo and mic best - more mic than piezo.
Some new pickups like Sunrise and Duncan are very impressive and are very versatile for different applications.
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Re: Best Pickup for my Dreadnaught
I've had good luck with Fender and Duncan's wood-encased soundhole pickups, the hum-cancelling versions. If you can find a used one, the duncan performer soundhole acoustic pickup was pretty darn good, too. I'm going back about a decade or more, but I think it was only like $30 new, and I was pleased with it.
I've had good luck with Fender and Duncan's wood-encased soundhole pickups, the hum-cancelling versions. If you can find a used one, the duncan performer soundhole acoustic pickup was pretty darn good, too. I'm going back about a decade or more, but I think it was only like $30 new, and I was pleased with it.
BaritoneVitoND
New member
Re: Best Pickup for my Dreadnaught
I was using one of those Duncan Performers about a decade or so ago as well. I was pleased with it and for $30 bucks you couldn't go wrong.
I was using one of those Duncan Performers about a decade or so ago as well. I was pleased with it and for $30 bucks you couldn't go wrong.
Re: Best Pickup for my Dreadnaught
The MagMic is a great removable pickup, and gets about as good of a sound as that kind of pickup can get. I tend to like non-natural acoustic tones, so it isn't as important to me to capture the sound of the guitar in a room- I'm gonna process it all to hell anyway.
The MagMic is a great removable pickup, and gets about as good of a sound as that kind of pickup can get. I tend to like non-natural acoustic tones, so it isn't as important to me to capture the sound of the guitar in a room- I'm gonna process it all to hell anyway.
darksidejoe
New member
Re: Best Pickup for my Dreadnaught
I play an even mix of finger style and strumming I'd say. Looking for something permanent and natural sounding not super metallic like some can sound
I play an even mix of finger style and strumming I'd say. Looking for something permanent and natural sounding not super metallic like some can sound
Re: Best Pickup for my Dreadnaught
The most 'natural' permanent solutions will combine a few different sources...piezo, magnetic, & internal microphone. Others just get an under saddle pickup or something like the Mag Mic and use a pedal like the Aura to impart a well miked acoustic into that. How you amplify it will be as important as the pickup system, too.
The most 'natural' permanent solutions will combine a few different sources...piezo, magnetic, & internal microphone. Others just get an under saddle pickup or something like the Mag Mic and use a pedal like the Aura to impart a well miked acoustic into that. How you amplify it will be as important as the pickup system, too.
Re: Best Pickup for my Dreadnaught
for solo playing or an all acoustic band, sure. if you have a drummer on stage and electric instruments, the mic is feedback city.
the duncan active mag is a great little pup that ive been using for a few gigs, on board volume and tone control is very handy. the magmic is great but in loud situations, you cant really use much of the mic. a wavelength undersaddle pup and magmic blended is an amazing setup for all situations if you wanna go all out
for solo playing or an all acoustic band, sure. if you have a drummer on stage and electric instruments, the mic is feedback city.
the duncan active mag is a great little pup that ive been using for a few gigs, on board volume and tone control is very handy. the magmic is great but in loud situations, you cant really use much of the mic. a wavelength undersaddle pup and magmic blended is an amazing setup for all situations if you wanna go all out
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Best Pickup for my Dreadnaught
If you want a pickup that makes your plugged tone exactly the same as your unplugged tone, the only pickup I've found to do that is the LR Baggs Anthem or Anthem SL, depending on your budget.
If you want a pickup that makes your plugged tone exactly the same as your unplugged tone, the only pickup I've found to do that is the LR Baggs Anthem or Anthem SL, depending on your budget.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Best Pickup for my Dreadnaught
I think the best sound I'm hearing from an acoustic guitar these days is from the pickup system Maton installs in their guitars. Tommy Emmanuel is an endorser. Because of Tommy, Eric Johnson now plays a Maton acoustic for his live shows. But you can't purchase just the pickup.
I have K&K pickups in most of my acoustic guitars. They super glue to the bridge plate inside the guitar and sound good. Especially through a Red Eye preamp or one of those Dtar Solstice preamps Duncan used to offer.
Better still is the Trance Audio pickup systems like Jackson Browne uses. But now you're getting expensive.
In terms of soundhole pickups, the only one I really love is the Sunrise that Jim Kaufman makes. Lyle Lovett uses it. So does Richard Thompson. I have one in a cedar topped Seagull and it's excellent.
I think the best sound I'm hearing from an acoustic guitar these days is from the pickup system Maton installs in their guitars. Tommy Emmanuel is an endorser. Because of Tommy, Eric Johnson now plays a Maton acoustic for his live shows. But you can't purchase just the pickup.
I have K&K pickups in most of my acoustic guitars. They super glue to the bridge plate inside the guitar and sound good. Especially through a Red Eye preamp or one of those Dtar Solstice preamps Duncan used to offer.
Better still is the Trance Audio pickup systems like Jackson Browne uses. But now you're getting expensive.
In terms of soundhole pickups, the only one I really love is the Sunrise that Jim Kaufman makes. Lyle Lovett uses it. So does Richard Thompson. I have one in a cedar topped Seagull and it's excellent.
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darksidejoe
New member
Re: Best Pickup for my Dreadnaught
Most of my playing is just acoustic and vocals not a full band. Yes I've heard the Maton system and loved it! I wish they sold that by itself, would be a contender for sure. Thanks for all the suggestions, lots of reviews to watch! lol
Most of my playing is just acoustic and vocals not a full band. Yes I've heard the Maton system and loved it! I wish they sold that by itself, would be a contender for sure. Thanks for all the suggestions, lots of reviews to watch! lol
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: Best Pickup for my Dreadnaught
K&K Pure Mini is good honest sound, true to the tone of the guitar and reliable.
I haven't tried mic combos or the expensive Sunrise system so I can't say that the K&K is positively the best of all.
But it's very good and it's built to last in real-world conditions.
K&K Pure Mini is good honest sound, true to the tone of the guitar and reliable.
I haven't tried mic combos or the expensive Sunrise system so I can't say that the K&K is positively the best of all.
But it's very good and it's built to last in real-world conditions.
