Volta Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodyRATM Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 i think they may need to be electro ones. tho i know nowt ask Justin TUH he'l probs know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkaline Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Most venues have enough mics kicking about to mic up an acoustic guitar through a p.a You're fine either way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RF Scott Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Gold Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DustyDeviada Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Gold Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volta Posted October 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trippinoneastereggs Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Gold Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairyScaryMark Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Acoustic mic'ing is more than possible but placement is a key issue.If using only a dynamic mic (i.e Shure SM57), the mircophone should not be closer than about 15 cm from guitar and should be infront and below the guitar pointing upwards at an angle of about 60 degrees. Obviously, this may not be possible if there is a lot of noise on stage. An AKG C1000 (or some other condensor mic of reasonable quality) at about 20cm and a dynamic mic close® to the guitar could also prove to be a good combination.If you place a dynamic mic at the acoustic opening of the gutiar, it will sound terrible.Also note: if your guitar doesn't sound good acousticly it never will do mic'ed up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Gold Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Acoustic mic'ing is more than possible but placement is a key issue.If using only a dynamic mic (i.e Shure SM57), the mircophone should not be closer than about 15 cm from guitar and should be infront and below the guitar pointing upwards at an angle of about 60 degrees. Obviously, this may not be possible if there is a lot of noise on stage. An AKG C1000 (or some other condensor mic of reasonable quality) at about 20cm and a dynamic mic close® to the guitar could also prove to be a good combination.If you place a dynamic mic at the acoustic opening of the gutiar, it will sound terrible.Also note: if your guitar doesn't sound good acousticly it never will do mic'ed up.Hah, thanks for that man. I'm about to do some recording in a couple hours with my acoustic and it dawned on me as I read your post that I know pretty much nothing about microphones. Sorted sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairyScaryMark Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Don't take what I say about microphones or sound enginnering as gospel. I only do it as a hobby.Apparently, in studios when recording acoustic guitar, the booth will often be non-carpeted and possibly be a larger room. A large diaphram microphone is often used as the closest microphone to the guitar and is meant to pick up sound reflections off the floor. Probably also use a stereo pair of condensors at a distance.Distance micing is the key to recording most acoustic instruments.Remember, your mic'd signal is never going to be better than your source (if your guitar is crap acousticly, it will sound crap with a microphone). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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