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[Volta]

Hi.

Wondering if anyone could answer a question with regards to playing live just you and your acoustic. Now I know there's various combinations that you can use with pick-ups and mics and everything but what I need to know at the moment is if you get a gig at local venues that have a PA system, is it possible to bring your acoustic along without pick-up and be able to play a decent sounding gig. Do venues have mics that they can use to mic up and amplify your acoustic or do you need to bring your own pick-up?

Any advice much appreciated.

[WoodyRATM]

i think they may need to be electro ones. tho i know nowt

ask Justin TUH he'l probs know

[Alkaline]

Most venues have enough mics kicking about to mic up an acoustic guitar through a p.a You're fine either way.

[RF Scott]

You can mic an acoustic guitar. EDIT - this message just looks stupid appearing below the previous reply. Too slow again. Not that its a race.

[Old Gold]

I'd recommend shelling out for an acoustic pickup (either soundhole or piezo).

It's a lot faster to set up, and I've seen some less prepared gigs where mic feedback has fucked things up a bit.

They're not as good as mics for sound quality, but I'm assming perfectly natural tone isn't such a big deal seeing as you're just starting out.

Originally Posted by SpanishArmada

I'd recommend shelling out for an acoustic pickup (either soundhole or piezo).

It's a lot faster to set up, and I've seen some less prepared gigs where mic feedback has fucked things up a bit.

They're not as good as mics for sound quality, but I'm assming perfectly natural tone isn't such a big deal seeing as you're just starting out.

Yes, I've seen local acts doing gigs with acoustics mic-ed up and they have usually been terrible. It's actually quite a technique to play an acoustic and keep it at a consitant position in front of a mic, especially if you are fingerpicking.

It will sound better though, but I think most people that go to gigs are now used to the fact that an acoustic with a pickup sounds absolutely nothing like a real acoustic.

I play acoustic gigs quite a lot, and I prefer to use a soundhole pickup, they are usually less tinny and trebley that the undersaddle piezos which tend to sound horrible.

[Old Gold]

Originally Posted by DustyDeviada

It will sound better though, but I think most people that go to gigs are now used to the fact that an acoustic with a pickup sounds absolutely nothing like a real acoustic.

I play acoustic gigs quite a lot, and I prefer to use a soundhole pickup, they are usually less tinny and trebley that the undersaddle piezos which tend to sound horrible.

Yeah, I agree. Luckily my playing is quite rhythmic, so a little roughness doesn't bugger me up too much.

Installed a piezo into my good acoustic, but it was a lot of hassle, and without a pre-amp it's barely worth using. I picked up a Seymour Duncan Woody (hum cancelling) soundhole pickup when I got my new cheapy acoustic, and it's just slot in, plug in and play. Also means if I upgrade, I can keep using the pickup without having to butcher the poor wee Yamaha.

What kind of stuff do you play Volta?

[Volta]

Play my own tunes, they suit band arrangements but fuck it, i'm going solo for a start.

Could go 2 directions, rock'n'roll/pop or r'n'r/country/blues. When I'm singing and playing, my playing is always rythmic. I'm a keef fanatic! No finger-picking shoe gazing type stuff(not that there's anything wrong with that)

But your right, I'm not after finding the perfect acoustic holy grail of tones at this stage. Just want to get out there and make a noise. I like the idea of the soundhole pick-up with minimum fuss. Can ye pick-up(groan) one of those babies from Millers or R&B? Think the fishman is almost £100, don't think I want to spend that much.

Cheers, appreciate all the replies folks.

[trippinoneastereggs]

I got a pretty decent pickup for about fifteen quid about five years ago. Have since lost that guitar to a house-fire and never got round to finding a pickup for my current acoustic. Dont play live at all any more.

[Old Gold]

Originally Posted by Volta

Play my own tunes, they suit band arrangements but fuck it, i'm going solo for a start.

Could go 2 directions, rock'n'roll/pop or r'n'r/country/blues. When I'm singing and playing, my playing is always rythmic. I'm a keef fanatic! No finger-picking shoe gazing type stuff(not that there's anything wrong with that)

But your right, I'm not after finding the perfect acoustic holy grail of tones at this stage. Just want to get out there and make a noise. I like the idea of the soundhole pick-up with minimum fuss. Can ye pick-up(groan) one of those babies from Millers or R&B? Think the fishman is almost £100, don't think I want to spend that much.

Cheers, appreciate all the replies folks.

I got my SD from R&B for 90 bucks. They've got a bigger range of pickups than Brucies from the looks of things anyway. There was a really basic Woody for about 30 quid, but if you have the cash, I'd recommend something with hum cancelling.

But yeah, for the blueser, soundhole pup's definately the way to go Piezo's are about 75 quid anyway - which isn't cheap - and you need to shell out for a pre-amp if you want the best out of it.