Whats the best way to amplify my acoustic guitar? Drilling a hole in my 2017 Martin D-28
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- If you spend thousands of dollars on a guitar that sounds exactly the way you want it to sound, why would you use a pickup that models or profiles other guitars and microphones?
Your guitar should sound like you, your guitar and your playing style.
IN this video I give an overview of different kinds of pickups and then compare my new LR Baggs Anthem SL pickup in my 2017 Martin D-28 against a Warm Audio 47 jr.
What do you think sounds best? What's your favorite kind of pickup?
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I put the anthem SL in my 2017 D28 and I lead worship with it every Sunday. It sounds unreal, and I get compliments from other musicians and sound guys everywhere I go with it.
I have the "same" guitar and same predicament. There's my answer
I went with the LR Baggs Lyric myself, just the microphone version of the Anthem. I didn't want to compromise, change the sound and probably have to remove the bone saddle on my 000-28. It's the best way to not have to alter the guitar besides just reeming out the end pin for the output jack.
Chad Kelley it sounds great in most guitars. I put one in a 67 Martin 00-16c and it was awesome, put one in a 00-17, no bueno.
I’m with you... I like the put the pickup in. I love the K&K personally. Great video!!!
Hey Jeremy, please please can you balance the audio levels of your vids. Your spoken audio is so much quieter than the music audio. Great vids though :)
Just stumbled across your video while trying to work up the nerve to drill into my new old 1995 Martin J-40 to install a K&K Sound Trinity Mini Pro system. I have installed LR Baggs Lyrics in four guitars, including a Martin OM-21 and Bourgeois Vintage D, without feeling this nervous about drilling but there is something about drilling into a guitar that sounds so incredible that just has my palms sweaty. I think the problem is that I truly believe this guitar is "the one."
Well, if you can do it, I can do it, here I go...
Great video Jeremy. I just bought a new 2017 martin d28 last week. I have been considering doing this. Glad you posted this video.
What did you install?
@@jasper_north I ended up installing a LR Baggs Anthem in mine. It sounds great!
I've always been turned off by the percussive response of all acoustic pickups (I have not heard one yet that is without this...). It's strange that they always sound like you've strung up with nylons... That said, real mics rarely work in live playing situations, so its just something we have to live with. The anthem is about as good as it gets. I need to get together with my super nerd friends who design transducers for the big boys in Cali and see if my idea for fretboard mics is doable. I have a feeling it will NOT work out, but it would be a fun experiment.
Mics work just fine in real situations. The idea that they don't is an urban myth. I played a D-28 directly into a mic with a rock band for years in all sorts of venues - no problems with feedback whatsoever. All PU's sound unnatural and electronic.
Why play a classic like a D-28 if you are going to hide it behind a PU?
@@bobaldo2339 I'm probably coming from a perspective that doesn't exist any longer. I did big rock shows in the early 2000s before in-ears were very popular. Arenas and big sheds... The stage volumes were un-real most of the time. You could cut the feedback out but bleed from bass, drums, etc was brutal We'd have the gain structure set so the bubble was as small as possible, but if the guitar wasn't on a stand, you'd get a fair amount of variation. Most FOH guys hate riding faders, but that's the answer. Don't get me wrong, you can 100% mic an acoustic on any stage, it was just WAY easier to plug it in. I was on stage at a shed in August of this year. Everyone had ears, all tube amps were off-stage either in iso boxes or just pointed into the parking lot... I wasn't doing any tech work, just seeing a show, but it was SO quiet. I wish it had been that way when I was on the road. I would also agree that playing a plugged in Martin is a waste of time. Just use a beater Alverez/takimine if you're plugging in.
I have a K&K Pure Mini in my Bourgeois Slope D and its incredible.
What preamp do you use? Do you use a low pass filter?
I'm planning to drop a K&K pure mini in a Yamaha FG820 that I've got.
The mic sounds the best
thats exactly what im gonna say
So glad you can see to do this work yourself. K&K now has an add on with pickups & pre amp that you can use on guitars with a K&K mini installed. I have a few L R Baggs & a number of Taylor's. But I'm waiting for that Fishman Aura with the Martin 000-28e Modern Deluxe. I mostly play acoustic only, but need the boost at times.
Damien Rice - Cannonball 😍
Thanks for the great show. Just as you said you have to be you, I’m discovering I want to be me and for me it just doesn’t sound the same as my HD-28 right out of the case or on a mic. But all I do is play around the house and out with friends. Thanks again.
Thanks for the video, but I have to that I like the sound of the mic way better than the pickup system.
Me too. And this isn't a total comparison, because this pickup, when run through the DI and EQ sounds spot on like the Mic when played live.
Have to say, I enjoy your videos. I particularly enjoy your playing. You and I have some similar musical tastes. This guitar sounds great. Makes me want a Martin at some point. Really gets those Jason Isbell acoustic tones.
brightwings7788 wow! Thanks. Jason Isbell is my top inspiration of the last 10 years. Also, using a thick pick and angling it forward to roll over the strings really helps get a great tone.
Love Jason Isbell
@@JeremySheppard Jeremy do you hybridpick like Jason????
I wonder why a better way hasn't been found of attaching a mic to the front of a guitar so that it picks up the sound from further up and actually sounds like an acoustic guitar and lets the guitarist move when he or she is playing. Piezo pickups mounted in the saddle pick up the vibrations right there, so they're kind of the extreme version of the neck pickup on a Tele or whatever. Electric guitar players don't use that position for a pickup, they have pickups *above* the bridge or below the neck, more or less where the sound-hole is on an acoustic. I remember a live album I listened to by an acoustic band in the mid-90s and I thought the guitars sounded dreadful; they sounded horribly tinny and kind of digital with an audibly clipped sound (something I'd not noticed when seeing them live). It reminded me of reading that Neil Young had said digital music was torture. Only on one song did I really like the sound and it was one with an acoustic lead part (so the saddle pickup as bridge pickup kind of worked).
Yeah, something similar to this would be interesting on a guitar
th-cam.com/video/wFCr8cPOjFg/w-d-xo.html
Hi Jeremy, what do you think about K&K Pure Mini?! In my opinion the K&K is the best sounding pickup ever. Besides that, the K&K Pure mini is cheaper, it's is passive and never needs batteries, so also better for our environment :) I build my own K&K pickups, it cost almost nothing if you buy the piezo discs and soldering the wires and a end pin jack. I have already built this in for several guitarists.
AAAAAARRRRRGGGHHH! This is driving me crazy!! I'm undecided between the Anthem SL and the Fishman matrix mic blend. I've read that the fishman has feedback problems with any decent mic level dialed in and a lot of people complain that the Anthem is too boomy in Dreadnoughts! It sounds great in yours! Would you recommend the Anthem SL for just doing open mics? I worry that it may sound bad on certain PA systems and there's nothing in the way of EQ on there if it does.. I just want a good sounding, plug and play system that doesn't need loads of tweaking. Excellent video by the way. Thanks.
Stephen Tyndall anthem SL without any doubt. The fishman sounds pretty bad imo. Lots of feedback. Get the anthem!
@@JeremySheppard Decision made! Thanks! 😁
There is a 3rd option which is much better than the 2 mentioned: play the guitar into a good mic, and forget the pickup. If you must have a guitar with a PU in it for some good reason (other than everybody is doing it these days), please do it with the least damage to your D-28 as possible - no holes!.
Bob Aldo I talk about that as the first way. It sounds the best but is the most limited. You can’t move around or have much flexibility. Thanks for watching.
All the top Bluegrass groups just stand on stage in front of microphones. Mostly the guys that use pickups on acoustics are playing with electric guitars.
That’s not really true. It a smaller number of people playing around condensers. That does sound best but nearly all top players are using pickups now.
@@JeremySheppard If you are playing with all acoustic instruments, what is the advantage of using pickups. With acoustic Bluegrass and Folk Bands, I see most of the instruments have mics mounted on the instrument. Even the ones that are playing Progressive styles.
What is that capo you're using? I've seen guys like Jason Isbell using that model (or something similar) and I can't seem to find info on it anywhere
Stephen Reynolds this is the Paige Clik. It’s a great capo, Jason Isbell uses the Elliott Capo, they are the premier capo, handmade in the US with stainless steel. Thanks for asking!
Thanks for the video. Just the information I was looking for.
I have a Recording King Feedbackless Pickup.
Jeremy! Why not a KK? It all depends on what you want. Just amplifying in the house or at a bar I think the kk would be the way to go…??? Agree? Money value??
I got back and forth. I'm putting a k&k in my new Padgett guitar.
I got back and forth. I'm putting a k&k in my new Padgett guitar. I still love the anthem.
Iv got the K&K Pure Mini in my 1994 D28 and I love it, just need a pre amp to make some adjustments.
Thought about adding a mic to it eventually.
Love all of that. The country and western has a mic from K&K.
Definitely LR Baggs are the best!!
Me too!
47 jr No eq BEST!
Curious why you didn’t mention the latest generation of higher end sound hole pickups as a viable option? If you are playing in a band situation, it’s hard to beat a quality sound hole pickup. I bought a new 2016 Gibson SJ100 with the full Anthem installed & I really found the tone & handling noise issues to be less than ideal. I removed the Anthem & installed my trusty Baggs M80, which while not sounding exactly like the natural tone worked sooo much better not only in a band situation (much less feedback issues) but also in smaller solo gig,settings. Also much easier to install & swap between multiple guitars & you have the ability to fine tune the volume of each string which is, at least for me, a real issue with both under saddle & K&K style piezo pickups. If you get the chance to review a M80, I highly recommended it.
That's a great question! I mostly forgot them...but the bigger part is that I don't like pickups you can see. I also think that soundhole pickups suck up tone out of the top of the guitar. I had a Larrivee last year and it sounded very different with the M80 in it than without(acoustically)
Jeremy Sheppard, Fair enough & of course to each their own. It’s interesting, after many years trying several pickups, both various undersaddle (just....no...) & K&K (Uneven string response, feedback issues), I’ve settled on M80 & M1 pickups & have had them installed on over 10 different guitars over the past 10 years I’ve played professionally. While the sound of each acoustic has sometimes been very slightly affected , I’ve never once had the sense that the guitar was having its tone sucked out. It actually helped “focus” the guitars tone a few times. The only pickup IMHO that has had a noticeably adverse effect on sound was interestingly enough, the Anthem probably due to its many parts (4 separate components mounted inside the guitar not including the output jack) as opposed to the M80/M1’s single integrated design. Once again regarding sound quality, I’m talking actual “plug in & play” gigging effectiveness in restaurants, pubs & halls often without the benefit of a sound man. Low volume shop type venues or venues with a capable sound man probably work best for the Anthem if one wants to just “plug in and play”. There are a lot of mixed reviews online regarding the Anthem ( & to be fair the M1/M80) & while I’m glad you’re having good luck with it, I can honestly say I’ve never been so happy to remove a pickup system from one of my guitars as I was removing the Anthem. Thanks Jeremy. I continue to enjoy your videos (& perspectives) very much & look forward to more down the road.
Another option might be to buy a guitar you like with a pickup you might not love and swap it out for one you prefer...then you can avoid whatever depreciation you might cause by taking a drill to your expensive guitar. If you're a gigging musician with disposable income and don't care, then Mazel tov. Nice shirt. Are you a history fan or was that directed towards the Orange Menace?
Steven Edwards I’d rather have a guitar that I love and put a great pickup in it that will faithfully amplify the sound of it.
Steven Edwards it’s the Virginia state slogan. We stand against tyrant kings. Not aimed at anyone in particular now. It was unfortunately also the last phrase of John Wilkes Booth.
@@JeremySheppard I see...regarding the state slogan. Regarding the other point...i would think that you, more than the average guitar consumer, has to be aware of how persnickety and bitchy the aftermarket with expensive guitars can be. I only suggested, that it might be safer, when the option is on the table, to refit a factory original pickup with one you prefer to preserve the resale value of the instrument..so everything is reversable...should the need come up. I mean if you're going to keep it forever than go ahead...but in my time there have been a lot of forevers that mutated into "I could let you go now" a few years later.
Your volume control looks to proud on the sound hole, would you not bring it in a few cm
Thanks for the video. I've had a few pickups in the past few years. For louder stages, the Anthem systems work well and reject feedback. I've settled on K&K systems personally.
What do you use to enlarge the end pin hole?
Hi. What Capo are you using?? Thanks 🙂
Hey, great video! I'm going to do this myself. Can I ask what's the drill tool called you used to widen the hole?
It's a taper ream
Hi Jeremy, do you notice a change in response or tone when you have an under saddle pickup? I wouldn't want to sacrifice any natural acoustic tone by installing a pickup, so I wanted to ask what your experience was with that. Thanks!
Depends on the pickup, by and large it doesn't affect the tone for a normal under saddle and end pin pickup. The larger preamp and mic setups that mount on the soundboard, or back. I've found sound hole pickups to be the biggest tone suckers.
@@JeremySheppard Thanks so much! I had an undersaddle pickup on a mandolin that absolutely killed the acoustic tone so I took it out immediately. Really want to have a pickup for loud stages on my d28, but don't want to sacrifice the natural response of the instrument...
Absolutely!
What kind/size drill bit did you use to drill the hole for the input jack?
1/2"
@@JeremySheppard nice. thx!
Hey your guitar. Sounds amaz6ly like mine . Oh no wonder it's a d28 too 😂.mines older and uglier though.
Tman Lanford the older and uglier they are, the better looking and sounding they get 😉
this might be slightly off topic but have you had any experience or luck with the JDL Bridge Doctor system with Brass bridge pins ? might be an interesting topic, Peace !
I don't know much about it. I know that I'm not a fan of brass bridge pins. I think they look bad and accentuate aspects of guitar tone that I don't like(aggressive bass and brittle highs). Ebony bridge pins help a lot in adding sustain and clarity.
@@JeremySheppard Thank You so much, everyone in the guitar world has been so kind with bits and pieces of advice to me , really heartwarming ! Well bc I have been staring at this guitar every day for the last month, ugh, my friend has one same year but all original and it plays and sounds like a dream, I just don't know about this one tho it's been thru a war zone but it's still alive it's so hard to decide when not able to actually play it inspect it in person, the seller has been extremely accommodating by answering several of my question in fine detail. However, i'm in Ma. the guitar is in Ca. not logistically possible to go try it out first. anyway , this could be a good topic for you too cover someday I.E. dreaming about a guitar, a risky guitar purchase that haunts you day and night lol Peace, Jix reverb.com/item/19759443-1976-guild-d40c-acoustic-guitar-w-hard-shell-case-extras-d-40c-d-40-c-34196 Love your channel
jixxxxer17 whoa! That’s a cool one but it’s got some SERIOUS issues. The biggest concerns are 1. Action is very high and needs a neck reset(usually around $400) and then 2. Serious side cracks and structural problems. It has lots of mojo but isn’t worth the risk, I don’t think. Unless you could get it for way less than they’re asking. To me, it’s a $400 gamble. It’s worth $800 tops(after repairs) right now.
@@JeremySheppard tops $800 in current condition , wow yeah i never noticed that side photo of the high string action it does look very high , I asked the seller to run a straight edge across and down the frets to the bridge and see at what height it meets the bridge he said slightly below the top of the bridge which to me sounds decent but that photo of the string height is scary now that i really took a better look, ugh . previousy i only read the sellers description as low action throughout the neck, Thank You Sir very much !
here is a comment from a guitar luthier in the UK after looking at the same beat up Guild D40C on Reverb that i mentioned: "ok. it´s a Guild, but OMG : In my case i would never buy this guitar for nearly 1000€. It´s far from being original. Many holes and perhaps a fissure in the frame, non original Schaller tuners and very used look.....would assume that the brass pins where also not original. Never saw it before. " Guitar people do like to help others out and I appreciated him taking the time to look at well, Regards & Peace !
Realy nice guitar.
It would freak me out to do this on a D-28, haha.
My favorite is definitely the LR Baggs Anthem SL with out the EQ
I own a 814ce, I like Taylor’s pickup system. What do you think?
I like them a lot, they're better than most of the Fishman stuff. They still sound a little boxy for me and don't really sound like the guitars they're amplifying.
I don't know why there's a lot of hate for the es2. Mine sounds great live.
Doesn’t the piezo under the saddle mess up the acoustic sound when the guitar is played Non-amplified? I had one installed in my 1981 HD-28 and it seemed to change the overall tone slightly because it dampens the vibrations coming from the saddle to bridge contact? My theory is that is the reason a dense bone saddle is preferred over a “softer” plastic saddle?
Possibly, but not if it's a tight fit. Making sure the bottom of the saddle is dead flat is critical.
@@JeremySheppard the piezo material if I recall was made of a softer material?
@@JeremySheppard it's pronounced "pie-zo"...and before anyone asks; yes, I'm a ball at parties.
Sounds way to harsh, like all under saddle piezo's.
It sounds much more natural in a live setting. Straight into the interface is a little rough. But, I’m with you.
At least with no EQ, it still sounds like an under saddle piezo.
Why not just buy one of those clip-on mics they use when people are on TV doing interviews? Then drill your Hole in your guitar, push in the Clip-on Mic, use brown near color silicon to seal the hole and secure the clip-on mic from moving around, then run that mic wire to a console MIC #1 spot. Total cost would be about $99 at most. This is not rocket surgery folks!
Officer I was assaulted by a horrible pop song in the middle of an informative video... yes I’d like to press charges
Hahah, you're in the deep cuts of my older videos.
@@JeremySheppard love your channel man !!!
What kind of drill head did you use?
1/2” ream
$2,000 for just an acoustic? Do you know how much heroin that would buy?
I don’t...
@@JeremySheppard Uh like lots like a whole whole lot dude!