Acoustic/Electrics...what do you play for gigs?

[mistermullens]

Greetings all. Thinking about getting into the scene again, and wanted to see what people are using. So what kind of Acoustic/Electric are you using or did you add a pup to your acoustic guitar? I'm also interested in hearing what type of music and venues you are playing. Thanks!

Oh yeah, pics are always nice!

[demobud]

I use an acoustic for gigs so rarely that I just use a soundhole pickup. I have been thinking about adding a saddle pickup to my 000m though.
Any ideas?

[dave42]

I play in an acoustic duo. I use a 1997 Martin D-16TR with a Fishman Rare Earth Blend pickup. Soundhole pickup w/a condenser mic inside of the guitar. It isn't permanently installed. It's ran to a LRBaggs Para DI to the mixer.

There is a K&K pickup installed in this guitar. I use it for backup, though. Not the best for my playing.

We play restaurants, festivals, party's, etc. using the Bose system pa.
www.myspace.com/avalonnine.

[Stubee]

MisterMullens, I haven't played out for a year+, but last time with my acoustic it was: '52 J-45 w. "Pickup the World" passive transducer into an LR Baggs DI box, into the PA. Played with two other electric guitar players, music was R&B, blues, country, rock stuff, nothing super "hard". I've played it with light drum sets, but with this set-up could be kicked to pretty high volume w/o problems as it's a transducer and the DR lets you do a lot tonally w/o high gain. I play rhythm, solo guitar/singing, and leads/fills on it.

The "Pickup the World" is very nice if you want a pure acoustic tone, I've commented on it elsewhere but very few guys know about 'em. My son just installed one (surprised he listened to my recommendation) and is floored by it even thru a small electric guitar amp. Whatever pup you try, the LR Baggs DI is a great add. I've got the floor model, have used it forever and for everything.

In the past I gigged via mics (tough cuz you can't move much but sounds good) and soundhole pups and other transducers. I prefer my current set-up, by far.

[guitar mike]

Taylor 314ce with the expression system. It does an amazing job of capturing the sound of the acoustic.

[aunchaki]

I have two acoustics: an Epiphone 6-string and a Takamine 12-string. Neither have electronics build in. I added soundhole pickups to each. The Epi has a L.R.Baggs M1 (fantastic pickup) and the Tak has a Fishman Neo-D (a budget single-coil that sounds great). I'm very happy with both and have permanently mounted them (cord spliced to strapjack).

I'd been using a CRATE rackmount acoustic amp, but I just ordered a L.R.Baggs Para Acoustic DI to plug into my church's PA system. I haven't got it yet, but can't wait to try it.

Now that I got the DI, I may investigate undersaddle stuff, like the I-Beam, etc... BUT, I'm in no hurry, I'm very happy with my soundhole pickups.

Good luck!

[trag-o-caster]

Ummm.... ahem.... (hanging head in shame)....

I use an old Ovation Legend, with an elcheapo Seymour Duncan Maverick soundhole pickup, also an Ovation Matrix with the same PU. To add to the embarrassment, I also have an Ovation Celebrity Deluxe thing, with the weird soundholes and the built in piezo. None of the above sound great, but it still gets me paid!

Yes, I like Ovation. Yes I'm still looking out for something better than this.

[tjalla]

Larrivee L-03 mahogany (open D and std) - my workhorse gets gigged 2-3 times a week since since 2002.
Larrivee L-03R rosewood (lap) - only 4 months old. Very sweet, nice variation.

Both with stock B-Band A5. Undersaddle pickups (NOT piezos) with active 4-band EQ/notch/phase. Sometimes direct to PA but usually through a SIB Fatdrive valve pre, or into my SWR California Blonde.

[ac15]

I've been using a Martin CEO-4 (limited edition dreadnought), which did not come with a pickup. I bought it because I liked it acoustically. I added a Trance Audio Amulet pickup system (about as good as it gets for natural amplified sound). I play Bars, restaurants, weddings, cocktail parties, house parties. For amplification I've been using the Bose PAS for about 5 years. I'm thinking of getting a smaller acoustic guitar amp rig again (which is how I started). I was thinking of the AER Compact 60, but then I tried the Fishman Loudbox 100 and I have to say, it was very impressive.

[Stuco]

If you get a high end acoustic, I would recommend not having electronics installed especially the barn door type. When the pickup system is about as modern as an 8-track you'll wish it was never in there. I'd use something like the lrbaggs M1 active or the K&K pure western mini.

[Chris S.]

I just did an acoustic set on a gig the other day using my Taylor 414 with a Seymour Duncan soundhole pickup, through an SWR Workingman's 10 bass amp, which has an XLR out that we fed into the p.a. Worked great, and we had a lot of fun.

I also have a Godin Acousticaster that I've used in the past:



It really sounds wonderful, and it plays very easily -- it just doesn't look much like what most people think of when they think of an acoustic guitar. Hence it doesn't always make it out to the "acoustic" gig(s) :-\ (Did you ever notice that a lot of non-musicians can't tell if an instrumental combo is playing jazz or not unless they can actually SEE an upright bassist? Hehe.) -LOL-)

All IMO, as always. :-) CS

[fungusyoung]

Like a lot of others on this board, I've fallen in love with the K&K Pure Western that was recently installed in my Martin 000-15. I run this through a LR Baggs Para DI. I'm also considering LR Baggs' M1 for my Guild JF30-12. I have Fishman Matrix Naturals in a couple other dreads, but the K&K sounds a bit better IMO.

[thatsJared]

+1 on the Taylor 314ce

Amazing unplugged, but breathtaking plugged in. I have another acoustic/electric and the Taylor makes it sounds like a kids toy. Not only does it have a pick up under the fretboard instead of the bridge giving it a much smoother natural sounding acoustic, but it has two magnet sensor on the soundboard to pick up additional vibration. It can give it a chorus type sound if you can EQ it properly.

Good Luck.

[franchelB]

1. 355CE with a Fishman Prefix pickup system as my main guitar.
2. 410E with a Fishman Ellipse Blend system as my backup guitar.

I'm not gonna' claim that the Fishman pickup systems are "The Best"; but I don't believe that it's the worst either! It's what works for me!

[zombywoof]

My main acoustic for gigging is a 1960 Gibson J-200 with a DeArmond 210 slapped across the soundhole.

[ac15]

Originally Posted by thatsJared

+1 on the Taylor 314ce

Amazing unplugged, but breathtaking plugged in. I have another acoustic/electric and the Taylor makes it sounds like a kids toy. Not only does it have a pick up under the fretboard instead of the bridge giving it a much smoother natural sounding acoustic, but it has two magnet sensor on the soundboard to pick up additional vibration. It can give it a chorus type sound if you can EQ it properly.

Good Luck.

I tried a guitar with the Expression System Taylor uses and it is indeed very good. It may be about as good as the Trance Audio system I'm using, but I've yet to compare side to side.

[chickenpicker]

I just use the neck pickup on my tele.

[chickenpicker]

Not really. I have a 1986 Takamine dreadnought with its original undersaddle pickup. But you could use a tele!

[mistermullens]

Originally Posted by thatsJared

+1 on the Taylor 314ce

Amazing unplugged, but breathtaking plugged in. I have another acoustic/electric and the Taylor makes it sounds like a kids toy. Not only does it have a pick up under the fretboard instead of the bridge giving it a much smoother natural sounding acoustic, but it has two magnet sensor on the soundboard to pick up additional vibration. It can give it a chorus type sound if you can EQ it properly.

Good Luck.

I was just looking at the 114 & 214. MF doesn't get the 114 until the end of August, but I think I like the Rosewood back and sides better than Mahogony. Pretty good price on those too

[studio1087]

1. Martin OOOCXE (Fishman preamp on board)
2. Martin OM16GT with K&K Pure Western and K&K Pure Preamp Outboard
3. Martin D15 with K&K Pure Western and K&K Pure Preamp Outboard
4. Martin D12X1 with Fishman Passive Undersaddle and K&K Pure Preamp Outboard

[andy__woods]

I use an Epiphone Masterbilt. The EF500RA model. It came just a straight acoustic, so I installed the LR Baggs I-beam. I love it, and I think I've got a picture here somewhere......ah yes, here we are (on the left):

[Bluesbob]

I have an acoustic project coming up and I was thinking of borrowing my daughter's Ibanez PF5NCE. It plays nice and sounds pretty good plugged in. Anybody think of this as a good guitar for an outdoor acoustic, light rock and folk-rock type of gig?

[ravindave_3600]

J185ec, solid thumpy lows, clean mids and highs. I haven't had it long, but it's just a lovely guitar.

Anyone ever play an Alvarez Yairi? I've had the chance to try a few, and Mr K does an absolutely lovely job, whether acoustic or plugged. Can be found in the $700 range, too, with a little work.

[ac15]

Originally Posted by chickenpicker

I just use the neck pickup on my tele.

I did that for several years for solo vocal/guitar gigs. Lately though, I've been using my acoustic guitar. Guess I like to change it up once in a while, but clean electric guitar works just fine. It's also headache free as far as not worrying about feedback etc.