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Author Topic: Electrify my acoustic  (Read 2741 times)

badgermark

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Electrify my acoustic
« on: March 22, 2010, 07:41:40 PM »
I have a few acoustic gigs coming up, and need a solution for my bog standard acoustic guitar. I do love this guitar a lot, it's a Yamaha DWsomething and it feels and plays like a dream. But it needs some sort of thingy to make it sound good on stage, unamplified just wont cut it.

What's my options? I'd like to keep this affordable and not have to hack too much into what's essentially my number one guitar. Oh and sounding good on stage would be a bonus.
Mississippi Queens, Holydiver.

jpfamps

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Re: Electrify my acoustic
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2010, 09:15:16 PM »
As are probably aware amplifying acousitc guitar live is fraught with problems.

The main issues are feedback and avoiding amplifiying extraneous noise.

The "best" approach will depend on the circumstances in which you are operating, ie are you playing with a band, how much sound is going through the PA etc.

The best sound is probably achieved by micing the guitar, and condenser mic/s are usually employed for this. However, if you playing with a band it then you will have real trouble with the mic picking up other instuments, especially drums. If you playing alone, or with other fairly quiet instuments, then this appraoch is worth considering.

The other approach would be to use a pickup in the guitar. These will either be of the under saddle type (which will require fitting into the guitar) or the sound hole type . Both are sonically a compromise, however they are a much easier than micing, and with careful eq can sound great, especially in the context of a full band.

For best results you will also need to eq the sound carefully.

As with all instruments it is adviseable to roll off as much bass as you can get away with. A slight treble lift can add a bit of sparkle. Also if you are using a pickup rather than micing, then there is often a fairly nasty frequency between 1-2 kHz which if you cut gives a much more natural sound. You will need a parametric to sweep through this region to find it. I sweep a small boost to find the troublesome frequency (you'll know when you find it!) and then cut it.

Regarding feedback, most systems have a phase invert on them, so first try to see if this makes any difference. Additionally a notch filter may also be required to zap and problematic frequencies from feeding back.






38thBeatle

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Re: Electrify my acoustic
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2010, 10:55:20 PM »
I am looking to do this with my Taylor-I am going to go the budget route and get a Seymour Duncan Woody type to fit in the sound hole. It'll be for just a few songs so I'll live with whatever shortcomings arise.
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badgermark

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Re: Electrify my acoustic
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2010, 07:06:53 AM »
Thanks fellas. It wont be with a band, just myself and vocals really. I might pick up the Woody and see how it goes, I heard a few demos of it and it's not that bad.
Mississippi Queens, Holydiver.

tomjackson

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Re: Electrify my acoustic
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2010, 09:12:20 AM »

The woody's are okay, they produce a fairly electric sounding acoustic tone.  I have a Fishman Piezo undersaddle type which again is okay, but has a slight plasticky quack to the sound. 

There's no cheap way to a good acoustic live tone and really you need a combination of pickup sources, so magnetic and mic system, or piezo and mic.

These are great

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/acoustic/seymour/sa6_mag_mic/

Expensive though and then you have to consider what you are plugging into, do you get an acoustic amp or use the PA with a decent preamp etc.

I have an acoustic gig tonight and I'll just plug my piezo s&p into whatever is there.  Must dig out my feedback buster though!