Affordable and Toneful

SINGLE SOURCE PICKUP SYSTEMS

 

We had an article on dual source acoustic pickup systems in the recent past.  (You can read that previous article here.) Problem is, dual source systems can be pricey.  Today we're going to talk about our favorite single source pickups, which are more affordable and still have excellent tone. (Note: installation price can vary depending on the pickup type and your guitar, it's condition, and the potential need for setup adjustments to make the pickup function properly.) 

The first pickup is something is a brand new system from L.R. Baggs.  It's called the Lyric Mic System.   The engineers over at L.R. Baggs have taken the Tru Mic technology they developed for the dual-source Anthem pickup, and now they've designed a special preamp and EQ to create a single-source, mic only system that is highly resistant to feedback.  This pickup is excellent at reproducing the natural voice of your guitar. It's a little less expensive than the Anthem SL, and the installation is much easier. Our first shipment of these has now arrived and we can get your install done in a day. Pickup Price: $199    

  
 


The next pickup is a alternative type of under-saddle transducer; it has a completely different element type and preamp than we're used to seeing. The B-Band systems, from Finland, has a rounder tone than the typical piezo.  The system featured here is the A1.2 with volume control.  The element itself is made of a different material than your standard Fishman-style piezo or even the L.R. Baggs braided transducers. This different type of under-saddle transducer, combined with their proprietary preamp, produce a softer overall EQ response. It comes with a mini control, mounted just inside the soundhole, so you can adjust your volume easily.  This system is also a great value and sounds great in pretty much any guitar.  
Pickup Price: $95 

The final systems to discuss represent a more custom approach.  These are single source elements inside a guitar, without any internal preamp or battery. We call them passive systems. (The above pickups are all active, as they rely on a 9V battery to power their internal preamps.) The following types of pickups require an external preamp, which is an additional cost. A simple pedal-style preamp can be as little as $50, while professional preamps easily run well into the hundreds, if not many hundreds.


A good general under-saddle pickup like the Fishman Matrix element (shown above) will sound great with almost any kind of preamp.  But for a more profession example of this style pickup, we recommend the K&K Pure Mini bridge-plate transducer. The K&K is technically 3 transducers, but they all sum to one mono signal, so we refer to it as a single source system. Using these component-based pickups enables you to choose from a wide variety (in price and quality) of preamps to use outside the guitar.  The K&K usually sounds best when you pair it with their specific preamp, while a simple under-saddle transducer can sound good with many different types of preamps, and even  with just a small boost or EQ pedal. These pickups range from $70-$100.   

Bring in your guitar to chat about which system is best for you and your budget.  Call in advance if you want to schedule an appointment with Adam or Ryan to talk about the details of individual systems.