Query failed: connection to localhost:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused). Unplugging your electro and mic'ing up! - Acoustics Discussions on The Fretboard
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Unplugging your electro and mic'ing up!

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WolftoneWolftone Frets: 85
edited December 2013 in Acoustics
Just decided to unplug and put a Shure SM57 on it. What a revelation!!!!

I can hear all the scrapes and pick noise. I sound 'reet proper and like a pukka player now! 

Anyone else done this and been blown away??
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  • Danny1969Danny1969 Frets: 9752
    edited December 2013

    Well not with a 57 normally cos it's a bit honkey for that (and a dynamic mic) but a couple of condensors on an acoustic can sound superb, specially one near the 12th fret and one near the bridge. 
    Your right though any mic is a stepup on a lot of the cheap piezo  internal systems fitted. 
    www.2020studios.co.uk 
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    Almost any mic is a step up from almost any pickup system.

    Some years ago I had a Taylor electro (Fishman piezo pickup, pre-Expression system) which I'd also fitted a Rare Earth magnetic to, and which I thought sounded really good. I went to an open mic with it… there were a few other nice piezo-pickup guitars there - Takamines, Yamahas etc - and I was very satisfied to hear how much better the Taylor sounded.

    The last performer was a girl with an old Seagull acoustic without a pickup system, so the soundman just stuck a spare SM58 on a stand in front of it. Instantly all the electros, including my Taylor, sounded like slightly varying degrees of rubbish. There really was no comparison.

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • bertiebertie Frets: 12145
    ICBM said:
    Almost any mic is a step up from almost any pickup system.


    QED
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • octatonicoctatonic Frets: 33263
    Imagine how it sound when you use a proper mic!!! ;)
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  • p90foolp90fool Frets: 29588
    edited December 2013
    ICBM said:
    Almost any mic is a step up from almost any pickup system.


    I terms of sound yes, but most of my acoustic gigs are in rowdy, cramped pubs. I've never managed to get enough volume before feedback with mics. I don't mean just borderline, I mean absolutely nowhere near enough.

    Any tips would be very welcome.
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  • bertiebertie Frets: 12145
    p90fool said:
    I terms of sound yes, but most of my acoustic gigs are in rowdy, 
    thats really acoustic p/ups are for, not recording.   Very few peeps use mic'd guitars these days for "live" work - especially where "some" volume is required.

       
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    edited December 2013
    Exactly. For recording or in a "polite" proper music venue you can use a mic and the sound quality will be worth it. In a rowdy pub you're going to need a pickup and no-one gives a stuff about the sound quality anyway!

    In fact I sometimes really wonder why people bother with acoustics at all for venues like that - apart from for looks.

    There is a good reason why God invented the Telecaster.

    :)

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • maltingsaudiomaltingsaudio Frets: 2910
    edited December 2013
    p90fool said:
    ICBM said:
    Almost any mic is a step up from almost any pickup system.


    I terms of sound yes, but most of my acoustic gigs are in rowdy, cramped pubs. I've never managed to get enough volume before feedback with mics. I don't mean just borderline, I mean absolutely nowhere near enough.

    Any tips would be very welcome.
    If you have to bear in mind pub audiences aren't known for their discerning ears, use less gain on the desk than normal make it up on the channel, Hi pass the mic at about 100-120 hz keep the HF down on the channel and take almost all of your acoustic out of the monitors
    and make sure your seatedwell back from your front of house speakers and sit still
    www.maltingsaudio.co.uk
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  • bertiebertie Frets: 12145
     pub audiences aren't known for their discerning ears,
      I think the phrase these days is,   WORD


    tho how much do "we" spend trying to convince ourselves they do !!      :D 
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • ESBlondeESBlonde Frets: 3532
    The bestist way is 'BOTH' for noisy live gigs. The PU does the core sound/volume thing and the mic is blended to get some 'air' into the sound. If the desk has decent EQ you can hack both channels to get the best bits and mix them together. Few low mids or bass in the mic and let the mic give the impression of air on the top.

    I have used a simple and cheap tie clip condenser inside the sound hole edge blended with the fitted PU to get astounding tone from relatively humble guitars.
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  • BranshenBranshen Frets: 1221
    edited December 2013
    Last week, I worked as the soundman at an event for singer/songwriters. I can tell you honestly that a mic-ed acoustic sounds miles better than most, if not all pickup systems. I mic-ed up one songwriter's average guitar with a cheap dynamic, a Peavey PV100, and the clarity was fantastic compared to all other guitars that were plugged in, including a really tasty Martin D-28.

    Next time I have any quiet cafe gigs, I'm gonna bring my condenser and see if I can set it up and play without feedback issues. 
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