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Acoustic guitar is great; intensely emotive, passionate, and nuanced, the instrument can produce some incredible sounds. However, its more intimate nature means it can struggle to be heard in band situations and in front of large audiences.
If you’re looking to share your sound with the world, at some point, you’ll undoubtedly want some amplification. How to install a guitar pickup for acoustic guitar? Installing a pickup on your acoustic guitar yourself means you don’t have to trade in your well-loved instrument for a plug-in model, and saves you the money of buying an entirely new guitar.
In this article, we’ll talk you through the different kinds of acoustic guitar pickups, when to use them, and how to install a guitar pickup for acoustic guitar.
The Different Kinds of Pickups
There are a few different kinds of acoustic guitar pickups to choose from, and each comes with its own set of advantages, disadvantages, and ideal users.
Magnetic Soundhole Pickups
Magnetic soundhole pickups are the most popular kind of modern acoustic guitar pickup, and for good reason. Extremely easy to install and uninstall, these pickups require no mutilation of your guitar, are extremely convenient, and sound great.
Deriving all of their tone from the strings, magnetic soundhole pickups come off very clean and natural. They work the same way as electric guitar pickups, creating a magnetic field in order to sense string vibrations to create sound.
Another great thing about these pickups is that they are completely passive: you won’t have to worry about running out of battery or plugging them in.
More aggressive players will value their power, as magnetic soundhole pickups are excellent at picking up changes in dynamics and projecting loud strumming. Full bodied with excellent mid-range reproduction, a good magnetic soundhole pickup is a great choice for its combination of convenience and sound.
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- Seymour Duncan Woody Series SC
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Microphone Pickups
Microphone pickups are exactly what they sound like – tiny, high quality microphones that mount on the inside of your guitar. These have excellent quality, as they are built with high frequency responses and are exceptional at preserving the integrity of your guitar’s sound.
However, they are also the most problematic type of acoustic guitar pickup on this list. Because they are microphones, they pick up everything, not just your acoustic guitar. They are also usually quite expensive, and require professional installation.
If you’re looking for the highest quality sound and aren’t worried about the extra possibility of extraneous noise reproduction and feedback, microphone pickups could be the right choice for you.
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Undersaddle Pickups
Undersaddle pickups, which use piezoelectric technology to “hear” your guitar and amplify it, are perfect for those looking for brightness and clarity. Using a strip of crystals placed under the bridge of the guitar to sense pressure caused by the vibrating strings, undersaddle pickups, like magnetic soundhole pickups, only “hear” sound from the strings, not the body.
Because of their placement, undersaddle pickups generally have a thinner sound, with great brightness and strong, powerful attack.
When compared to other types of acoustic guitar pickups, undersaddle pickups generally have a lower voltage output. For this reason, they are often quieter, and many use preamps to help compensate for this volume difference.
The main advantage of undersaddle pickups is their lack of feedback; of all the acoustic pickup types, these are the least likely to experience electrical interference.
With undersaddle pickups, quality is important. Cheaper models often suffer from a phenomenon colloquially referred to as the “piezo quack”. If you get a good model however, you’ll be rewarded with bright, natural sound and incredibly low feedback, perfect for big band settings.
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Soundboard Transducer Pickups
Soundboard transducer pickups are another variety of piezoelectric acoustic guitar pickup. You may hear them referred to as “contact pickups” or “bottle caps”. These pickups work similarly to undersaddle pickups, except they provide you with more ability to customize your sound, as these pickups can be mounted anywhere.
The biggest advantage of soundboard transducer pickups is that they pick up both string vibrations and body vibrations, preserving much of your instrument’s sonic integrity and character. This makes for a warm, rich, and full sound that carries well and sounds natural.
Because soundboard transducer pickups amplify body vibrations in addition to string vibrations, percussives are picked up and amplified as well.
Installation of soundboard transducer pickups is very easy, and no modifications to your guitar are required.
Soundboard transducer pickups are an extremely versatile option for those looking to preserve the character of their instrument, or those who incorporate percussive work in their playing.
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How to Install a Guitar Pickup for Acoustic Guitar
While some acoustic guitar pickups require professional installation, magnetic soundhole pickups, undersaddle pickups, and soundboard transducer pickups can all be installed without too much modification to your guitar, and from the comfort of your own home. Here, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to install a guitar pickup for acoustic to add some amplification.
Magnetic Soundhole Pickups
Magnetic soundhole pickups are one of the easiest acoustic guitar pickup installations, making them a fantastic choice for their convenience.
To start, you’ll want to line up your magnetic soundhole pickup perpendicular to the strings. Make sure that it’s straight, as sideways installations can lead to tonal imbalances.
Next, you’ll want to slide the pickup under the strings, keeping it perpendicular and making sure that the attached cable is accessible. Push the pickup towards the top of the soundhole and tighten the clamps to secure it in place.
That’s it! Your acoustic guitar is now compatible with amplification!
Microphone Pickups
For these guys, it’s best to let the pros handle the installation. Microphone pickups are usually installed permanently, and require a strong grasp of your guitar’s acoustics and the pickup you’re using, in addition to soldering and woodwork. For these reasons, home installation is not recommended.
Undersaddle Pickups
While undersaddle pickups do require some modification to your guitar, they are generally easy enough that the acoustic guitar pickup installation can be accomplished at home.
Due to their lower volume outputs, undersaddle pickups often come with preamps included. This helps compensate for any volume discrepancy.
In order to install an undersaddle pickup, you’ll need:
- The pickup
- Masking tape
- A ruler
- A pencil
- A drill and ⅛” drill bit
- A jigsaw or dremel
- A small screwdriver
- A file
The first step in undersaddle pickup installation is to cover the top of the guitar with tape. This allows you to mark where the preamp is going to go, and prevents damage to the finish of the guitar.
The next step is marking where the preamp is going to go. Most preamp housings are designed to match the curvature of the guitar. Line the preamp up where the curvature matches, and then trace around it with the pencil on the tape.
After you’ve traced it out, you can cut the hole, using either a drill and ⅛” drill bit and file, or a jigsaw or dremel. We recommend that you cut the hole out smaller than the outline and work your way up if needed.
After this, you’ll want to cut the hole for the battery pack and output jack. You’ll want to install this towards the side of the guitar, below the strap button. Repeat the same steps as for the preamp, lining up where the curvature matches and tracing on the tape. Then, cut out the hole. Be sure you don’t make the hole too big, as this can hinder proper attachment.
The next step is removing both the strings and the saddle. You’ll then want to drill a small, ⅛ inch hole through the top of the bridge where the saddle sits, making sure to avoid any bracing. It’s also a good idea to vacuum out any sawdust from the body of the guitar.
Thread the wire through the hole and place the pickup in the saddle slot. You’ll also want to sand down the saddle just a bit to ensure that the strings sit at the same height. This can be done by just running the saddle along some sand paper, and subsequently checking string height. Make sure you don’t sand off too much, as this can permanently damage the saddle.
Attach the pickup to the preamp using the small plug. Next, attach the cable from the preamp unit to the battery back and output.
Use the included screws to screw the preamp and battery back to the guitar. Do this with a handheld screwdriver, and carefully, as the body of the guitar is liable to cracking. Take good care not to overtighten anything.
That’s it! You now have built in amplification on your acoustic guitar.
Soundboard Transducer Pickups
The greatest advantage of a soundboard transducer pickup is its versatility. There is no one right place for installation. Instead, testing out different positions and spots allows you to choose the right installation place for you and your instrument.
Some common spots include under the bridge and on the body of the guitar, and provide good starting places for you to begin experimenting.
Placement will also differ if you plan on incorporating percussives into your performance.
FAQs
Can you put an electric guitar pickup on an acoustic?
Yes, you can! They go in the soundhole of an acoustic guitar, and actually sound pretty good through an electric guitar amp. However, they won’t necessarily preserve the sonic integrity of your acoustic guitar, and there are better options for amplification.
How does a pickup work on an acoustic guitar?
There are multiple kinds of pickups for acoustic guitars. Piezoelectric pickups sense and recreate your guitar’s vibrations, magnetic soundhole pickups sense strings’ movement through magnetic fields and amplify the sound, and microphone pickups “hear” your guitar and amplify that way.
How do I connect my acoustic pickup to an amp?
You can connect your acoustic pickup to an amp using a standard guitar cable.
