Pickup for classical guitar?

Loserchief

Loserchief

SwingingIdiot
so i'm new to using classical(nylon) accoustics onstage, but i love the sound i get from my newly acquired Höfner classical and i'm thinking about incorporating it into some of my stuff or doing some accoustic pieces.
Is there any kind of soundhole pickup for useing a classical onstage or is my only option to go with a mic+preamp solution?
Some recommendatrions on equipment would also be welcome.
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

Soundhole pickups are magnetic in nature and can't hear nylon strings. They can hear the ferrous wrap on the wound strings but that's it. So you have piezo saddle pickups, and for Classicals I prefer the L.R. Baggs pickup, but any will do. Then there are internal microphones, more prone to feedback. My classical utilizes both. I have the L.R. Baggs piezo, and an internal mic, both feed an outboard signal splitter that preamps the piezo and phantom powers the mic. It's the best of both worlds, and is similar to the K&K trinity system. The K&K system is fantastic for classicals, as I'm sure Duncan's Twin Soundspot and Timberline systems are. Good luck!
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

+1 on the piezo + internal mic. That's what my Yamaha CGX-171 has. Great combo of power and tone. I'm gonna suggest this as well: If you are into the various textures, live, on the fly...have you thought about the Line 6 variax acoustic (nylon or steel - like it matters!).
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

the Variax is a great instrument but it's not what i'm looking for. I want to use my classical for Flamenco styled bits and such, and playing flamenco involves pretty hard finger attack to get that cut-through sound. The variax is strung up with steel strings,and that just would be a torture for the right hand.
All those pup systems require some modding to the guitar, right?would i be better off having a luthier doing the work?
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

Have you tried putting nylon strings on your variax....i have heard clips on the line 6 forum of an electric variax with nylon strings and it sounded very good
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

There is a nylon string variax, I believe....look into that. No doubt there are some tactile/string response issues with nylon vs steel though. But some judicious eq can get the cut factor no problem. Also, I think you may just be better off buying an axe already equipped anyway. My Yamaha wasn't too expensive, compared to the likely cost of hardware, installation etc....It has a nice feel/action for flamenco esque stuff too!
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

have to go old school. A really high quality mike right up close
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

jdm61 said:
have to go old school. A really high quality mike right up close
Click to expand...

Don't make me come across the bridge and slap you down! I'm sittin' in a Starbucks right off the crosstown!:eek13:

That's great for studios or "intimate" coffeehouse gigs, but I think our boy is laying down some seriously physical performance here, and swapping axes etc. Need to hard wire that bad boy!

This may be the longest runnig pups for an acoustic thread yet - anyone know?
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

Davey said:
*points and laughs*

haha, he plays grandpas guitars!
Click to expand...

the guitar is from 1978 = way too young for my Grandpa.
Apart from that i think you're just jealous since you only can play childish metal:fing25:

Aceman said:
That's great for studios or "intimate" coffeehouse gigs, but I think our boy is laying down some seriously physical performance here, and swapping axes etc. Need to hard wire that bad boy!

This may be the longest runnig pups for an acoustic thread yet - anyone know?
Click to expand...

Don't know about the length of the thread, but a fixed pup system would be way more practical. Since i also do vocals, i can't really move around that much, but some movement area would be great.
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

I can attest to the high quality of the Baggs I-Beam, as I have it on my acoustic guitar (steel string) and it's rich in natural tone and sounds just like the guitar to my ears. No tin, frequency dropouts or squeeks, just the full rich dynamic real tone.

For a classical, you should still read through manufacturer sites for specialized pickups if they exist. I love the sound of classical guitars and they allow you to play easily for hours without having your fingertips get sore or raw. Musical ideas arrive a little easier on a classical. Also, talk to a highly rated acoustic guitar repair person, as they usually know the pickups in detail.
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

theodie said:
You beat me to it!!!

Livewires Heavy Metal!!!!!:laugh2: :laugh2:
Click to expand...

Part of me thanks god that that won´t work due to the non magnetic strings... but damn! Wouldn´t it be sick if it DID? :laugh2::beerchug:
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

Zerberus said:
Part of me thanks god that that won´t work due to the non magnetic strings... but damn! Wouldn´t it be sick if it DID? :laugh2::beerchug:
Click to expand...

i don't even want to think about all the feedback that this would produce, and of course about how crappy it would sound ;)
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

I said "sick", that doesn´t generally mean "good".... then again I´m the psycho with the long term goal to build a properly floyded acoustic :laugh2:

On a more serious note, I´ve heard good things about the D-Tar Timberline and Sadducer pickups ;)
 
Re: Pickup for classical guitar?

didn't we once talk about putting a kahler in an accoustic since it didn't involve as much routing and stuff as a floyd? I'm still up for that if you ever figure out how to do it :)
 
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