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Amplifying an acoustic guitar is one thing humanity has not truly acceptably figured out. What is the best path to amplifying my jumbo

submitted by Dindu to Guitar 4 hoursMay 8, 2025 11:45:03 ago (+6/-0)     (Guitar)

The options are to mic it which, the mic will hit feedback before you hit the proper volume. You cannot move away from the mic even an inch

Clip on mic. Maybe the best option but you have to get the expensive one

Install pickup - has to be a great pickup and then has to go through a pedal for processing. That is the route im taking. I've looked at it every way and cannot find an easier path. This is the guitar I like and I want to get it amplified.

Not real excited about drilling a hole. Putting it off as long as possible


20 comments block


[ - ] Crackinjokes 5 points 4 hoursMay 8, 2025 11:47:46 ago (+5/-0)

A pickup amplifies the vibration. A microphone amplifies the sound. What you need is a microphone with an extremely wide dynamic range as well as an amplifier with an extremely wide dynamic range then you will not hit overload.

Feedback is handled by making the output of the speaker the directional enough that it does not come back to the microphone. This also means the microphone itself must have a very directional pickup and it's line of pickup acoustically must never cross the line of the output of the speaker. If you ever watch a movie or TV show being made you'll notice a man has a boom microphone which has a very directional line of pickup and it's held over the head of the actor or whatever sound they want to pick up and it's pointed directly at them and no other person's speaking voice or other noises can typically affect that boom microphone.

[ - ] Dindu [op] 1 point 4 hoursMay 8, 2025 12:00:56 ago (+1/-0)

Crackinjokes you are blowing my mind right now

[ - ] CHIRO 1 point 4 hoursMay 8, 2025 12:26:08 ago (+1/-0)

great breakdown

[ - ] SumerBreeze 2 points 4 hoursMay 8, 2025 12:38:46 ago (+2/-0)

LR Baggs used to make a passive (no battery needed) 3-prong undersaddle pickup system that still works great for me. No pedal needed to process. I hear musicians complaining about their newer shit, don’t understand why they got rid of something that actually worked.

You gotta have your guitars soundhole pointed away from the amp to avoid feedback.

[ - ] Dindu [op] 2 points 3 hoursMay 8, 2025 13:04:37 ago (+2/-0)

Watching an installation video for the lb6 right now.

[ - ] mahavishnunj 1 point 2 hoursMay 8, 2025 13:46:45 ago (+1/-0)

Also, the mic Julian Lage uses is the best I've seen but they're $800.

[ - ] mahavishnunj 1 point 2 hoursMay 8, 2025 13:44:37 ago (+1/-0)

Now that I'm playing again, the best option I've found is mic- tube preamp- acoustic amp. I can get plenty of volume with minimal feedback issues.

[ - ] Dindu [op] 0 points 1 hourMay 8, 2025 15:06:06 ago (+0/-0)

What kind of mic. If I do that tube preamp into the PA is that any good

[ - ] mahavishnunj 0 points 50 minutesMay 8, 2025 15:49:59 ago (+0/-0)

Just a shure 58. I'll upgrade when I get my shit together, but that into a little TubePre preamp, which are cheap as fuck, works in the testing stages. I haven't done it outside my living room yet. My acoustic amp(Kustom) is unacceptably quiet normally, but with the tubepre its loud as hell. If my hands work by the time I get home I'll post a video.

I'd think the tube preamp into a PA should work the same, but I'm terrible at shit like this.

[ - ] Dindu [op] 0 points 28 minutesMay 8, 2025 16:12:14 ago (+0/-0)

I've been comparing the 58 and 57 indoors. The 57 has a slight advantage. My situation is outdoors with a little bit of noise competition.

I've tried to mic it there that was really not impressed. Even in a big room I find any distance between you and the mic it's over. I am currently reading stories where a preamp completely changes an acoustic guitar sound. But I had already accounted for that with the processing pedal. Maybe I should just get the pedal and see what happens with the 57.

[ - ] mahavishnunj 0 points 23 minutesMay 8, 2025 16:17:11 ago (+0/-0)

It does, and my tubepre doesn't have any EQ but the amp does. I've always had problems hitting the mic with my hand and pick noise recording, but my setup I described allowed comfortable distance from the mic. Only time I've EVER experienced that. A friend just gave me a big Hartke bass amp, I thought that would work even better, but for some reason it doesn't. I've got to mess with that more too.

[ - ] SithEmpire 1 point 3 hoursMay 8, 2025 13:29:41 ago (+1/-0)

If/when you're recording as opposed to performing, some general audio advice:

1. A to D as soon as possible

Obviously any analog processing/effects have to come first; aside from that, put it into a good insulated audio interface before too many cables have too many opportunities to introduce noise. If you can get it into the recording software via USB, it'll be relatively unmolested by electromagnetic interference on the way. Keep pickups away from monitors.

Check out Audient products or similar for audio interfaces, I know they do a good one with a built-in pre-amp.

2. Reduce the room reverb

More of a vocals thing, but you can get unwanted reverb way down without spending on anechoic wall foam necessarily - just hanging up some sheets/bedding does the trick. Closet full of clothes also works.

[ - ] PostWallHelena 1 point 3 hoursMay 8, 2025 13:17:42 ago (+1/-0)

Hope we get to hear the result.

[ - ] registered_bot 0 points 52 minutesMay 8, 2025 15:48:05 ago (+0/-0)

We have, and they're called condenser and ribbon mics 4-6 inches from the sound hole. You also want the room to be completely silent and small with no reflective surfaces for bad reverb. Then you can put a room condenser mic for ambiance and fullness.

Get a good line into mic I/O into a decent DAW. Use Reaper, it's free, and perfect for single tracks.

[ - ] Dindu [op] 0 points 34 minutesMay 8, 2025 16:06:14 ago (+0/-0)

It's a live outdoor situation

[ - ] registered_bot 0 points 16 minutesMay 8, 2025 16:23:59 ago (+0/-0)

Condenser mic with a dead cat filter into a good I/O and into your DAW. Compression is good, too much compression is bad. Before you release it listen to it with headphones, computer speakers, and home stereo. If it sounds good on all 3 it's ready for other people to listen to.

[ - ] Anus_Expander 0 points 54 minutesMay 8, 2025 15:46:08 ago (+0/-0)

Piezo with 3 band EQ

[ - ] mahavishnunj 1 point 42 minutesMay 8, 2025 15:57:39 ago (+1/-0)

Anyone who does this deserves repeated anal rape by 16 AIDs infested nigerians.

[ - ] Anus_Expander 1 point 41 minutesMay 8, 2025 15:58:54 ago (+1/-0)

Just try it one time, bro, it only hurts a little

[ - ] mahavishnunj 0 points 21 minutesMay 8, 2025 16:18:44 ago (+0/-0)

I've tried it 4 or 5 times. I'm about to give up on it.