[murpay]

I am about to get a Norman B50 and was wondering if I should get electronics in it. The guitar is already just barely out of my price range to begin with so my parents are spotting me the extra money so I dont think I can afford to get the electronics put in it right away. Is it cheaper or better to get the electronics put in after (how much would this cost) or should I just save up the extra money and get the electronics put in by the company when i get it?????? What did u guys do and which is the best way to go????


Pat

[jshrel24]

I went ahead and got them on my alvarez. Mine has a built in tuner also, so thats one of the main reasons ive got it. Right now im learning to use it to record onto my computer, and that is something you might wanna bethinking about. But i dont have an acoustic amp, so i can only amplify it though my electric amp. I dont think it would cost much it you wanna put them in afterwards, i dunno if they will have to cut a hole into your guitar or not. I dunno, i would get em if i were you.

[murpay]

Built in tuner!?!??! sounds sweet how much extra were the electronics on urs and what kind????


Pat

This post has been edited by murpay: 14 June 2004 - 05:06 PM

[jshrel24]

yea built in tuner. sweet huh....The kind is a system t600 i think, i think alvarez makes them, not for sure tho. It wasnt much extra for the electronics, at least i dont think. They were in the guitar when i bought it, so i didnt price them.

[goldrush]

If you can afford it and you're happy with the electronics the company installs, it can save you some $$ to buy them already installed on the guitar. However, if you're choosy about your sound and want to select your electronics based on sound and features, then I recommend waiting and researching various pickup configurations post-factory. If you choose the latter option I would also recommend you choose a system that doesn't modify your guitar too much. Drilling a larger endpin hole should be the only modification done to the instrument. Keep all EQ's and filters outside the guitar. That way, it keeps the sound (and sometimes value) of the guitar intact and makes it easier to upgrade later on should you decide to do so.

This post has been edited by goldrush: 14 June 2004 - 06:43 PM

[murpay]

If you can afford it and you're happy with the electronics the company installs, it can save you some $$ to buy them already installed on the guitar. However, if you're choosy about your sound and want to select your electronics based on sound and features, then I recommend waiting and researching various pickup configurations post-factory. If you choose the latter option I would also recommend you choose a system that doesn't modify your guitar too much. Drilling a larger endpin hole should be the only modification done to the instrument. Keep all EQ's and filters outside the guitar. That way, it keeps the sound (and sometimes value) of the guitar intact and makes it easier to upgrade later on should you decide to do so.

Thanks

Anyone have ne idea how much it would cost to hook up a pickup to an acoustic after factor?

Pat

[goldrush]

Depends on what you choose. Anywhere from $99 to $500 for the pickup(s). Installation can be anywhere from $50 to more than $200. Again it matters what you choose. Talk to a good repairman about costs of installing different pickups.

This post has been edited by goldrush: 14 June 2004 - 07:12 PM

[murpay]

alright thanks its something i will clearly ive good thought

Pat

This post has been edited by murpay: 14 June 2004 - 07:12 PM

[evileye]

If it's a particulerly valuable acoustic I wouldn't go putting in electronics. You can't change your mind. Get a soundhole pickup, that's not final and you don't end up with a big ugly plastic box in the middle of your guitar.

[wannalearn01]

The only reason to get one is to have a tuner built-in...for easy tuning...MIC'D acoustics sound better than 99% of acoustic/electrics from what I have been told.

If you think about it in a physics type situation, it makes sense:

Sound from an acoustic is meant to be projected out, thoruhg the "sound hole".
-I'll skip the lesson on how sound moves in waves through air.

On the inside of a guitar, waves are bouncing around at all sorts of rates(frequency) through a limited amount of air(volume), until they come flying out of the "sound hole" and are able to fully grow in wavelength(volume...as in turn up the volume on the tv). So when you strum a chord, on the inside it is going crazy and when it comes out...it equals out. So would it be easier for a:
tiny mic/electronics on the inside to measure it OR a big microphone on the outside?

This is all just opinion, but I have yet to see anyone but back-up acoustic players use built-in electronics(just plugged in), and when they do they have HIGH end electric/acoustics...but all the classics, where recorded with external mic's...

The main reason I feel this way is I got a Epiphone acoustic/electric(about 300 bucks) and I regret it a lot. When I play on an amp, it sounds pretty "washy". As for aftermarket electronics...I don't know enough about them, but I would guess it would effect the sound somewhat.

T^roy

[goldrush]

Yeah, no question a mic'd guitar will sound most natural. Since he was asking about pickups I didn't even think to address mics. Technology is catching up with mics, however, but you're right: mics will reproduce the acoustic guitar the best, with one shortcoming--feedback (not to mention you have to keep your guitar very still to maintain mic position). Mics work great for recording, but if you intend to play live (especially with others) where you require some volume, then a pickup is the way to go.

This post has been edited by goldrush: 15 June 2004 - 09:43 AM

[evileye]

but if you intend to play live (especially with others) where you require some volume, then a pickup is the way to go.

Or a mic', a chair, and somebody good on the sound board.

[goldrush]

but if you intend to play live (especially with others) where you require some volume, then a pickup is the way to go.

Or a mic', a chair, and somebody good on the sound board.

But volume levels when playing with other musicians (drums, bass, etc.) can cause feedback even with good mics and a good soundman. A compromise may be to mic it in combo with a good pickup system. Some of the higher end pickups allow dual feed.

I don't know about others but I find it hard to remain absolutely still in a chair when I play. Unless you're a Yoga master or something your muscles are going to want/need to move. Even the slightest movement in front of a mic can affect sound quality.

This post has been edited by goldrush: 15 June 2004 - 11:40 AM

[evileye]

You don't have to be perfectly still. Bob dylan.

He uses a mic'd acoustic. He's sixty somehting years old, maybe older. He's not going to be still. He plays over drums and other instruments, and plays over a lead acoustic guitarist (also mic'd). No volume or feedback problems. It can be done...
Also, you can get feedback killers, plates that go over the soundhole of your guitar. Don't know how effective they are. Also, racks that eliminate feedback. Also, mic' gaurds that apparently cut down on feedback but I don't know how effective it is.

[goldrush]

Well I guess if you're a professional musician and have alot of $$ and you can get all the latest and greatest equipment and can afford professional sound techs, then have at it. But, since the original question had to do with a guy on a budget asking about pickups and most GTUers are just real-life amateur musicians who are not rolling in money, I stand by my suggestions based on experience learned from playing guitar for twenty years.

[wannalearn01]

Almost every acoustic guitar I have seen on stage has a "feedback killer" in the sound hole. I wonder how much they cost...mmm

T^roy

[acoustic_soul]

I was in the Philippines and bought an ovation type body guitar there. The lady behind the counter asked if i wanted the guiar installed with electronics. I said sure. She reached into her desk, pulled out a metal rod and some electronics. She punched several holes for the output, and knobs. She stuck her hand up the sound hole, and put the wires in place and placed some type of receiver going across the soundhole. In a matter of minutes she was done.

It was pretty neat seeing her install it right there in front of me.

[murpay]

I was in the Philippines and bought an ovation type body guitar there. The lady behind the counter asked if i wanted the guiar installed with electronics. I said sure. She reached into her desk, pulled out a metal rod and some electronics. She punched several holes for the output, and knobs. She stuck her hand up the sound hole, and put the wires in place and placed some type of receiver going across the soundhole. In a matter of minutes she was done.

It was pretty neat seeing her install it right there in front of me.

how much did this cost and wwas the quality ne good?

Pat

[wannalearn01]

I was in the Philippines and bought an ovation type body guitar there. The lady behind the counter asked if i wanted the guiar installed with electronics. I said sure. She reached into her desk, pulled out a metal rod and some electronics. She punched several holes for the output, and knobs. She stuck her hand up the sound hole, and put the wires in place and placed some type of receiver going across the soundhole. In a matter of minutes she was done.

It was pretty neat seeing her install it right there in front of me.

I would flinch more than once if someone poked a hole in my acoustic...

T^roy

[lily padding]

I was in the Philippines and bought an ovation type body guitar there. The lady behind the counter asked if i wanted the guiar installed with electronics. I said sure. She reached into her desk, pulled out a metal rod and some electronics. She punched several holes for the output, and knobs. She stuck her hand up the sound hole, and put the wires in place and placed some type of receiver going across the soundhole. In a matter of minutes she was done.

It was pretty neat seeing her install it right there in front of me.

I would flinch more than once if someone poked a hole in my acoustic...

T^roy

if they poked a hole through my acoustic, i'd poke a hole through their life