Archive for the ‘acoustic guitar pickup’ Category
Intro to Acoustic Guitar Pickups
If you want to amplify or record your acoustic guitar, the first piece of gear you will need is a transducer –a component to convert the sound of the acoustic guitar to an electrical signal, to send to an amplifier, PA, or recording console. You can use either a pickup or a microphone, or both. This article will present a brief overview of the various types of pickups available for acoustic guitars. Future articles at Acoustic Guitar Gear will provide more detailed reviews and comparisons of specific pickup models.
Generally speaking, a “transducer” is a device that converts one form of energy into another. In the case of an acoustic guitar pickup, the pickup converts magnetic, mechanical, or sound energy into an electrical signal, which is then sent via a cable to the guitar amplifier, P.A. system, or recording console. Additional components may be introduced into the “signal chain” between the guitar and the ultimate destination. For example, you may want to pass the guitar signal through a pre-amp, equalizer, reverb, or other effects or processing unit, before converting the signal back into sound.
There are several types of acoustic guitar pickups: magnetic pickups, contact pickups, and internal mini-microphones. Pickups can be permanently installed in the guitar, or they may be mounted or inserted temporarily. Most guitar manufacturers offer models with pickups installed at the factory. However, many players prefer to purchase an acoustic guitar without a built-in pickup, and then select a pickup and have it installed after market. This allows the guitarist more flexibility to match a particular pickup with a particular guitar, as the guitar manufacturer’s choice of pickup may not be optimal for the individual guitarist’s particular performance requirements.