Re: Guitar Pickup

["Todd Pafford" <calenlas@gmail.com>]

I can second the praise of the I-Beam.  I've got one in my flamenco
guitar and the sound is fine.  Granted I don't exercise it much as I
mostly play unplugged, but my practice recordings sound good.  Mixing
in a bit of signal from a mic (even a fairly low end one) helps to
open the sound up to breathe when recording.  It does pick up plenty
of top noise (taps & thumps, etc), though I doubt you'd get good
response from thumps on the neck or head of the guitar.

Regarding the issue of acoustic processors, I highly recommend using
something to shape your sound before hitting whatever amplifiers
you're using.  The real benefit of these processors is two-fold:  1) a
parametric mid EQ to fine tune the tone delivered by the pickup, and
2) some sort of notch filter to cut feedback.  These two are MUST
haves when amplifying acoustics.  Of course, more flexible EQ helps,
but that parametric mid must be there.

Personally, I use a Fishman Pro EQ Platinum.  It's fine and does the
job well.  Though I don't know that it's any better than some of its
competitors.  They all sport roughly the same features and as long as
they remain transparent (aside from your EQ tweaks) they're doing
their job in my opinion.

My 2 cents.  Hope they're helpful.
Todd


On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 5:36 PM, Daryl Shawn <highhorse@mhorse.com> wrote:
> Regarding the pickup itself, we had an extensive discussion in December, 
>and
> having the pickup get body noises was part of the requirement (I was the 
>one
> looking). It's worth a dig through the archives as there were a ton of
> useful responses (subject line "acoustic pickups, etc"). I ended up being
> most impressed by the Baggs I-Beam, I'll probably get one this summer as 
>an
> addition to the piezo in my Takamine.
>
>  Daryl Shawn
>  www.swanwelder.com
>  www.chinapaintingmusic.com
>
>
>
>
> > Sorry if this has been discussed ad nauseum, but what's the guitar 
>pickup
> all the cool kids are using these days?  I have a Seagull cedar acoustic
> that plays really nicely and has a pleasant-but-average tone.  I'm
> interested in processing the signal before it gets to my looper, and 
>would
> like to be able to pick up taps and other percussive slaps on the body of
> the instrument.
> >
> > While we're on the topic, what you think of the new crop of 'acoustic
> guitar' processors that are on the market (e.g. the Fishman stuff, Korg,
> Boss, etc.)?  My original plan was to loop with my electric basses, but 
>my
> singer-songwriter groove is coming back, and maybe the guitar will be in 
>my
> path as well as a bass.  Then again, an acoustic guitar with an octaver
> makes good basslines.
> >
>
>