Amps-Mics-Pick-Ups

While The Guitar Gallery’s focus is on all acoustic instruments there are always times when amplification is required. There’s  a constant search for the best way to get the most natural sound possible. It would be hard to argue that a quality microphone would always be the best way to go but in reality is just not possible or affordable. K&K pick-ups have been one of the easiest options and we can fit them. Many Eastman mandolins now offer instruments with them factory fitted which is an indicator of how good they are. Once any instrument gets the plug-in treatment you are stepping into a whole other world of learning. It may be acoustic but you now have volume and tone controls to contend with. Your acoustic instrument has actually turned into an electric one with all the features that an electric musician understands but it’s never that simple. You may quickly discover that with higher volume on an acoustic say, guitar comes the joys of feedback on stage. A whole new world can become a nightmare.

Thankfully K&K pick-ups are pretty stable and can deliver a sound that most players can work with. There are many other good options like L R Baggs, Fishman, Schertler, the list is a long one. There’s no doubt life for acoustic players has improved enormously in the last decade. Where we go from here it would be hard to predict. It is conceivable that the use of a lazer light is well capable of measuring very small amounts of movement of a string or on timber top. It has already been proven that it can work but the next step is designing one that is usable.