struma6 Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 I've played out for years. During this time I've used a LOT of different pickup systems...from the old Barcus Berry "Hot Dots" to clamp in the sound-hole magnetic pickups. Out of them I've come to prefer certain set-ups over others. I pretty much use piezo family electronics. Back in the day I mic'd my guitar frequently for various reasons. I tended to move around too much for them so I put that on the shelf. Now that I'm "older" (ok, old. ) I move around a LOT less, actually sit most often. With that I've gone to preferring micing the guitar. Both recording AND performing. Once I have a good mix it definitely sounds much more "acoustic" and clean to me. All my acoustics have their piezos so I could plug in if the need arose. If I'm playing a duo situation I go plugged in, gives me the ability to tweek volume when playing fills/leads. Anyway, what's YOUR preference, why, and what do you use? (sorry, this may be a silly topic but I'm attempting to make threads about acoustic guitars rather than about acoustic guitar boards. Insane, I know!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 Nothing really beats a montrous top quality P.A. outside with a top quality operator, and even good weather, and a simple Shure 57 or 58 can make the acoustic sound heavenly, but for less than perfect conditions the USP hooked into a Fishman Spectrum DI and then a decent acoustic amp is pretty good these days - you can leap off your chair and scare if you feel like - and yes, even let out a sneaky fart ! BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
struma6 Posted August 4, 2011 Author Share Posted August 4, 2011 For the small venue stuff I play I use a simple Mackie 8 channel powered mixer and 2 !5" Peavy speaker enclosures. Anything bigger than that it's whatever is supplied! The SM-57 has always been the work-horse instrument mic!! Love them. AND the 58. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Nothing really beats a montrous top quality P.A. outside with a top quality operator, and even good weather, and a simple Shure 57 or 58 can make the acoustic sound heavenly, but for less than perfect conditions the USP hooked into a Fishman Spectrum DI and then a decent acoustic amp is pretty good these days - you can leap off your chair and scare if you feel like - and yes, even let out a sneaky fart ! BluesKing777. Just got told I need to have my hearing checked and that I haven't been all that sneaky - Rats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Beach Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I tend to mic everything. I've got a pretty large assortment of mic's but I tend to enjoy small diaphragm condensers on acoustics live. But if the crowds loud then I plug in. But I do mic anytime I can get away with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarrr Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 The value of the mic: 1934 with one mic in the middle of the room, how many instruments?... all acoustic, dry, vinyl, and mono. Today's gizmos make pseudo tone. Other than the singer/piano being too close to the mic the mix is excellent. This one take performance/recording is mazin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5wcLl13a8s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarrr Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 If the link won't play.... go to YouTube and type Cole Porter "Anything Goes" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I fully agree that a UST combined with an Aura Spectrum DI is the way to go. You get a lovelly, natural tone that is highly representative of the guitar, with no quack and mike like delivery, at both low and high volumes. Here's a couple clips where i used the Spectrum DI in both a pub and club venue. Nothing really beats a montrous top quality P.A. outside with a top quality operator, and even good weather, and a simple Shure 57 or 58 can make the acoustic sound heavenly, but for less than perfect conditions the USP hooked into a Fishman Spectrum DI and then a decent acoustic amp is pretty good these days - you can leap off your chair and scare if you feel like - and yes, even let out a sneaky fart ! BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Due to always standing when playing acoustic, I've never mic'd up I might try it one day if a sitting situation arises The best piezo acoustic I ever played was a Yamaha APX with a fibre back Currently I'm using an Ibanez with an active magnetic P/U And a copy of a J160e with a passive magnetic P/U, which sounds surprisingly good through the wire Some guitarists attach a soundhole magnetic and then sit in front of a mic and mix the two.... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danner Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I don't perform out, but I do use mics, mixer and headphones for practice. I use a Shure SM58 for vocals, a Shure SM57 for the guitar, a Mackie 402 mixer, and Sony MDR-7506 headphones. Mic'ing the guitar sounds for better than any pick-up system, but hey, it's a Gibson ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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