[dwagar]

I've got a Yamaha AE500 big box, and have been toying with the idea of adding an acoustic pickup to it.

It's your basic 2 humbucker 4 pot setup, so I thought I'd wire it to 1 vol 2 tones pots for the humbuckers, and leave one vol pot free for an acoustic pickup.

Questions:
- what pickup is best to use for this? I've read of guys using small Shure ceramic mics, piezos, etc. Since I wasn't planning on running it thru a tone pot quality is pretty important I think.
- where is the 'best' placement for the pickup? under the bridge, under the TP, largest open spot on the top etc?
- how best to mount it? Since I'm working through F holes, it'll be a tad frustrating I'm sure.

Anyone have experience with this type of mod?

 

[Jeff Flowerday]

What about replacing the the bridge completely with something like this:

http://www.lrbaggs.com/html/products/pickups_tbridge.shtml

 

[dwagar]

that's interesting, like the Slash Fishman bridge. Would that sound as acoustic as an internal pickup/mic?

 

[Jeff Flowerday]

that's interesting, like the Slash Fishman bridge. Would that sound as acoustic as an internal pickup/mic?

I don't know, most traditional acoustic pickups are designed around full fledged acoustics. A jazz box is a little different.

As for a mic I'd stay away from it, they are a feedback disaster waiting to happen. I've got a K&K sound board/mic in my acoustics and the mic only gets used in a dead quiet recording environment. They do not work in front of a monitor.

 

[Robboman]

... the mic only gets used in a dead quiet recording environment. They do not work in front of a monitor.

Why have the internal mic at all then, if not for live? For recording, wouldn't you do better with carefully placed condensor mics on boom stands?

 

[Jeff Flowerday]

Why have the internal mic at all then, if not for live? For recording, wouldn't you do better with carefully placed condensor mics on boom stands?

It works for solo acoustic performances without a monitor as well. I guess I didn't clarify that.

 

[NewGuitarGuru]

There are also Acoustic pick-ups with easy installation, where as you basically stick it on and plug it in.