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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Acoustic W/ Onboard Electronics

Posted by: timrobwall Feb 1 2010, 03:01 AM

My acoustic guitar is a 1990 Martin OOO-28 that was retro-fitted with an LL Baggs pickup. It has never sounded good plugged in -- very bassy on the low end and tinny on the top. I'm tired of fighting it and decided to look into an acoustic with onboard electronics. I'm looking for something at around 1,500$US. I'm basically an electric player, and kind of clueless when it comes to acoustic guitars with onboard electronics. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Also, do those of you who play amplified acoustics play with an acoustic amp as well? Thanks

Posted by: NoSkill Feb 1 2010, 03:09 AM

Ovation makes wonderful guitars in that price range. Takamine does as well. I have one of each and love them both. My Tak is nylon string though. As for steel, the Ovation is really a warm guitar. My brother plays the Adamas guitars by Ovation. They are a lot more money, but amazing.

Posted by: Vinod Saranga Feb 1 2010, 10:05 AM

As Noskill has said Takamine is a good brand to try.
My friend has got a Takamineguitar ( steel ) and it sounds really good.
I don't remember the exact model however it was under 800$ and it's really worth for the price.

Posted by: Staffy Feb 1 2010, 10:25 AM

QUOTE (timrobwall @ Feb 1 2010, 03:01 AM) *
My acoustic guitar is a 1990 Martin OOO-28 that was retro-fitted with an LL Baggs pickup. It has never sounded good plugged in -- very bassy on the low end and tinny on the top. I'm tired of fighting it and decided to look into an acoustic with onboard electronics. I'm looking for something at around 1,500$US. I'm basically an electric player, and kind of clueless when it comes to acoustic guitars with onboard electronics. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Also, do those of you who play amplified acoustics play with an acoustic amp as well? Thanks


I use an AER 60 amp for amplifying my steel-string (a Yamaha standard for bout 800€), and it just sounds great. (also good for jazz-guitar) Running it in a "normal" amp sounds a lot worse though... These amps are really made for acoustic instruments, btw. Tommy Emmanuel uses one, check it out!

//Staffay

Posted by: Sensible Jones Feb 1 2010, 03:06 PM

Apart from Takemine and Ovation as already mentioned, check out a company called http://breedlovemusic.com/ absolutely awesome Hand-built guitars!

I'd also suggest maybe swapping the LR Baggs for a http://www.fishman.com/products/details.asp?id=46 system. This is one of the most faithful acoustic sound reproducers I have heard. The one I've linked to there is only a two-way one but I think they do a three-way one which has a Bridge Piezo, Magnetic Soundhole and Mic pickups.
biggrin.gif

Posted by: timrobwall Feb 1 2010, 06:12 PM

QUOTE (NoSkill @ Feb 1 2010, 02:09 AM) *
Ovation makes wonderful guitars in that price range. Takamine does as well. I have one of each and love them both. My Tak is nylon string though. As for steel, the Ovation is really a warm guitar. My brother plays the Adamas guitars by Ovation. They are a lot more money, but amazing.

Thanks. The Adams really looks like an incredible guitar -- but pricey. I've heard that Ovations can be a little uncomfortable with a strap with the bowl-shaped back -- that they tend to roll when you are playing. Any experience with that?

QUOTE (Staffy @ Feb 1 2010, 09:25 AM) *
I use an AER 60 amp for amplifying my steel-string (a Yamaha standard for bout 800€), and it just sounds great. (also good for jazz-guitar) Running it in a "normal" amp sounds a lot worse though... These amps are really made for acoustic instruments, btw. Tommy Emmanuel uses one, check it out!

//Staffay

thanks Staffy. The AER 60 looks fantastic, and really portable which is a huge plus. So I guess what you are saying is to consider investing in a good amp like this that can make a "standard" steel-string acoustic sound like a 1500-2000$US instrument.

Posted by: Lian Gerbino Feb 1 2010, 06:19 PM

I like takamine's a lot man, you can hear on my Celtic guitar series a takamine in action!

Posted by: timrobwall Feb 1 2010, 06:20 PM

QUOTE (Sensible Jones @ Feb 1 2010, 02:06 PM) *
Apart from Takemine and Ovation as already mentioned, check out a company called http://breedlovemusic.com/ absolutely awesome Hand-built guitars!

I'd also suggest maybe swapping the LR Baggs for a http://www.fishman.com/products/details.asp?id=46 system. This is one of the most faithful acoustic sound reproducers I have heard. The one I've linked to there is only a two-way one but I think they do a three-way one which has a Bridge Piezo, Magnetic Soundhole and Mic pickups.
biggrin.gif

thanks, sensible jones. appreciate the links. the fishman is an option I'm considering. Part of the problem is that the Martin 000 is a shallow-depth body guitar and is prone to feedback with installed electronics. I've found that the Martin authorized repair people (at least the ones in my neck of the woods) are uncomfortable when it comes to retro-fitting electronics. I wouldn't trust this to myself.

Posted by: Sensible Jones Feb 2 2010, 04:08 PM

QUOTE (timrobwall @ Feb 1 2010, 05:20 PM) *
thanks, sensible jones. appreciate the links. the fishman is an option I'm considering. Part of the problem is that the Martin 000 is a shallow-depth body guitar and is prone to feedback with installed electronics. I've found that the Martin authorized repair people (at least the ones in my neck of the woods) are uncomfortable when it comes to retro-fitting electronics. I wouldn't trust this to myself.

I've heard about the feedback problem with the 000 model. If the Martin Dealer don't want to retro-fit anything is there an independent Luthier near you who will? Have you tried one of those http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-Feedback-Buster-Soundhole-Plug_W0QQitemZ400100025271QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item5d27d1e3b7?
If you do decide to retro-fit the Fishman you can always opt for just using the Mag Pup and the Mic, or the Piezo and the Mic or whatever combination you like to try and reduce the feedback.
I had a similar problem with an old Yamaha and just ended up using the Piezo and the Mic and then keeping the Guitars settings lower and turning it up on the Desk a little more.

Posted by: Staffy Feb 2 2010, 10:32 PM

QUOTE (timrobwall @ Feb 1 2010, 06:12 PM) *
thanks Staffy. The AER 60 looks fantastic, and really portable which is a huge plus. So I guess what you are saying is to consider investing in a good amp like this that can make a "standard" steel-string acoustic sound like a 1500-2000$US instrument.


Nah, not really. What I'm saying is that "normal" amps doesn't amplify an acoustic very well, the ultimate solution would be to have a 1500-2000$ instrument AND this amp.... The problem here is really that no piezos or whatever can make the guitar sound as it does acoustic... If You mic it with some condenser mics, it will sound beautiful, but that is impossible for stage use.... However I find this amp a great improvement vs. to use an ordinary amp since it not so "boomy" in the lower registers of the frequency spectra...

//Staffay

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Feb 3 2010, 11:37 PM

As Staffay said, you need a mixer+PA for the acoustic guitar, or acoustic guitar amp. Regular guitar amp doesn't do well for acoustic sound.

As for guitar, I can recommend Takamine TAN15C, it has an actual tube inside the preamp, so the sound should be very natural.

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