PUP or mic for acoustic guitar recommendations ?

[madison]

Looking for something that will keep and acoustic guitar sounding like an acoustic guitar for live jams and scratch recording.

I like this Fishman idea

http://www.fishman.com/products/details.asp?id=46

but out of my range (wanting to spend around or under $100)

I thought about this Dimarzio but it sounded like a jazz guitar from the recordings I have heard online.

http://www.dimarzio.com/site/#/pickups/

Sound hole condenser mics seem like a great idea but worry about feedback?

http://www.janetdavismusic.com/a137.html

Any tips, ideas, experiences welcome.

Thanks.

[Dynaflow]

 It seems like nobody just uses a boom mike and regular microphone these days. I know they want to be able to move, but I have to tell you, in like 1964 I saw Peter Paul and Mary using two mikes for the guitars, three for vocals and one for Bob Kness on a standup bass. I have to say it was one of the best sounding acoustic concerts I believe I've heard (I was young, but even then I knew what sounded good). They didn't have near the PA's we have these days either. It does rather anchor you in one place, but the reproduction was superb. I'd think a Senheiser on a boom would pick things up real well, my lead singer in my old band bought one and she sounded great in it, but it was almost unusable for a vocal mike (she may have well bought the wrong model) but it would pickup stuff 10 feet back off the mike stand (drummer talking between tunes, and any other noises from his kit and even miked his kit to a certain existent).

Regards,

Dyna

[thermion]

fishman neo d is pretty much the magnetic part of the first system you linked. i got the humbucker version - it's passive, nice sounding, and heavy in the hand. found one at amazon for $80.

[G._Hoffman]

Any acoustic pickup is a compromise.  I usually make it a two point spectrum, but you bring up the third point to the tripod.  On one leg, you have the cost; on the second, you have the sound quality, and on the third you have the gain before feedback.  There is a zero sum nature to the equation, such that you can not gain one without loss in one or more of the others.  Which set of compromises is right for you, you need to decide for yourself. 

I don't really want to get into a long thing right now, but I will say that for the vast majority of my customers who are playing in a group situation, the best set of compromises is some for of an undersaddle pickup with an internal preamp (the Fishman Matrix Infinity is the one we sell most of the time).  The installed cost of the Matrix in my shop is about $250.  I actively dislike internal microphones on acoustic guitars for a couple of reasons: 1) I've never been that fond of the sound of my guitar when I have my head stuck in the soundhole, 2) because they are extremely prone to feedback, and 3) they pickup every damn thing on the stage, particularly bass and drums!


Gabriel

[madison]

Thanks for the tips.

I love mics too but need portability and ease in a quick jam situation.

I certainly will be looking at the Matrix system
I saw a guy play the other night that has this on his guitar and I did so like it.
Especially when comparing it to his friend on the same stage that had a Martin with some sort of sound hole pup.

[madison]

Installed the Matrix system.
Excellent sounding set up.
Thanks for the tip Gabriel!

[G._Hoffman]

Installed the Matrix system.
Excellent sounding set up.
Thanks for the tip Gabriel!

When a product dominates the market as thoroughly as that one does, there is usually a good reason for it - at least, in the guitar world there is.  (Think Strats, P-Basses, Seymour Duncan JB's, etc.)  It's pretty uncommon for one of our customers to be unhappy with it.


Gabriel