As there have been a lot of posts about fitting pickups, I thought it might be a good idea to have a library of sound clips so people would get an idea of what the various types sound like, so here's the 2 I've got in my acoustics. (both were already in the acoustics when I bought them). Feel free to add to this.
First is a LR Baggs Element VTC in a J45. This is an active under saddle pickup with tone control. Recordings are direct into garageband with some reverb added.
Second is a Martin/Fishman thin line 322 passive under saddle pickup in a D28 this is pretty basic with no tone control.
All mistakes are my own.
Comments
Nice playing! This may be of interest, it's a Fishman Matrix Infinity in a Simon and Patrick Drednought. The clip toggles between dry and a 3 Sigma Audio Martin D45 IR with some reverb, via my Helix LT.
So at first it's pure UST, then it should sound more Mic like the 2nd run through as the IR is added - kind of like adding a Fishman Aura Image, to make it more realistic. So basically an effect....
Firstly, the raw version straight into the audio interface no processing applied:
Same thing with some basic EQ applied - mid range cut and high frequencies boosted:
Please excuse the playing and the lack of skill processing it afterwards. I'm sure there are people who can make it sound a lot better than me.
You're welcome. It seems to sound better than that through my Loudbox Mini. I was wondering about using the preamp of that and taking the DI out into the audio interface. For proper recording though, I'd probably just mic it.
I wonder if a bit of reverb would help. The pickup is completely dry into the interface. Normally there will be room reflections and so on.
Neither of my Martins are at home at the moment. I'll try and do those at some point. They both have factory fitted Fishmans.
Have u got K&K in the Martin's also?
The other thing is that the direct recorded sound of the K&K doesn't do justice to how it works live. It's magic is in the way it works in a real situation, pushing real air through PA speakers. For some reason the whole chain ads up to something that feels and sounds like an acoustic guitar. Conversely, systems that sound impressive recorded direct, so things like the Fishman Aura, iRig Acoustic etc, can end up sounding and feeling one step removed from reality when used live.
One of the Martins has a Fishman Ellipse blender - blends under saddle with a gooseneck mic.
The other is one of the cheaper Mexican made ones with the HPL back and sides etc. That's the one I don't mind putting in a gigbag on my bike, or leaving in the cupboard at my church. That has a Fishman undersaddle and Sonitone preamp. That doesn't sound nearly as good as the K&K or the blender. I normally use a TC BodyRez pedal with that, which does help. The pedal doesn't seem to add much with the other two as they sound more natural to start with.