There are many ways and products available for the purpose of amplifying
both electric and acoustic guitars.
In this video I want to address pickups for acoustic guitars
and show how to install a couple of them.
A pickup acts as a transducer that captures mechanical vibrations
and converts them to an electrical signal which can then be amplified.
There are basically two different kinds of pick-ups.
Active and Passive
In a nutshell, active pickups have a circuit that requires battery power,
and passive pickups don't require any additional power to operate.
However, this simple difference can really effect your guitar's tone and overall output.
For example: Passive Pickups send a low output signal to the amp
that can only be affected by the volume and tone controls on the instrument itself.
They also tend to lose the extremes of high and low frequencies,
but still give a very even and aggressive tone.
This is because passive pickups tend to push out more midrange frequencies.
While passive pickups might give players less dynamic control,
their smooth sound is still very unique and desirable.
Active Pickups on the other hand have preamps that are built into the pickup housing;
so they can drive the signal to the amplifier themselves.
This preamp must be powered by a source other than the amp,
so active pickups require a separate battery to operate.
This allows the pickup to send a higher output signal,
producing a more complete, full-range sound than most passive pickup systems
and giving players more control of instrument dynamics, projection and tone.
If you use a system that requires a battery I recommend using only the 9 volt batteries
instead of odd size batteries.
This way if you ever lose power during a gig you can easily find a replacement battery.
So you can see very quickly that a pickup can enhance
or be detrimental to your guitar’s sound depending on your choice of pickup system.
Once you have chosen the system that best fits your needs you have to install it.
Some pickup systems have what is known as onboard controls
which allow you to adjust things like volume and tone directly from the instrument
and some of these require a more invasive installation than others.
I am going to show how to install both active and passive pickups in an acoustic guitar.
I am going to start with a passive system made by K&K.
This system uses transducers under the soundboard which connect to an endpin jack.
You can get them for classical and steel string models.
I will begin by drilling the hole in the end block for the endpin jack.
You can use a step bit, a brad point or a forstner bit.
If your guitar has a finish on it you must be careful to not chip it while drilling.
Placing a piece of tape over the finish and using a sharp bit helps.
I also like using a punch to give my drill bit a starting point.
Here I am starting the hole with a bradpoint bit
and then using my step bit to enlarge the hole to the correct size needed.
With the aid of a simple jig
I am able to determine the exact location of each of the three under the soundboard transducers.
Always do a dry run to determine the location before the live firing drill.
Once you are sure of the location and the procedure
apply glue to the transducer and place it under the soundboard in the predetermined location.
In my case it is just forward of the bridge pins and under the saddle.
Hold the transducer in place while the glue dries
and then use the same method to install the other transducers.
To determine the thickness of your end block
use a small dowel and then adjust your endpin jack accordingly.
Fish the endpin jack through the guitar and out the hole you drilled in the end block.
Make sure all the washers stay in the correct position
according to the instructions as you place the nut on the jack.
Tighten the nut carefully so that you do not crack the finish.
I like it just a skoshe more than finger tight.
Now you can replace the strings and bring them to pitch.
Plug in the guitar and make sure everything is working properly.
Next I will install an active system made by B Band.
This particular system requires a skoshe more work than the passive system I just installed.
It has an under the saddle as well as an under the soundboard transducer
in addition to the onboard controls and battery pack.
I will start by installing the under the soundboard transducer.
It is recommended that you install the transducer under the saddle location
but in my case I had to position it just behind the bridge pins in order for it to fit.
To install the transducer just peel off the cover of the adhesive strip
and place it under the soundboard in the correct location.
You might want to rehearse it before show time.
Before installing the under the saddle transducer
you need to determine the exact position of your braces.
I used a flashlight inside the guitar to find the location of my x brace
and then marked this exact location on my bridge.
Now I could safely drill the hole in the saddle slot
for the transducer wire without risking drilling through my x brace.
The technical term for that would be BAD!
After the hole is drilled fish the transducer up through the hole and into the saddle slot.
Next, I determined where I wanted to place the battery pack.
Normally I would place it just forward of the waist on the side
but since this guitar has a soundport I decided to place it just rear of the waist.
With the battery installed peel off the protective strip and put the battery pack in place.
There is a strip of Velcro on the adhesive strip
so that you can easily remove the pack later if needed.
Next I marked the location and drilled the hole for the endpin jack in my end block
the same way I did while installing the passive system.
Be sure not to over tighten the nut.
Now I am ready to connect the wires for the onboard controls
and the transducers to the preamp.
Make sure you follow the instructions and connect them in the right order.
Place the preamp inside the metal housing and close it with the screws provided.
Before placing the preamp inside the guitar I am going to test it
to see if I have everything connected properly.
Only then will I place the controls inside the guitar.
This system has a remote control that sticks under the soundboard at the soundhole.
It allows me to adjust the volume as well as use either the under the soundboard
or under the saddle transducers individually or blend them together.
So, hopefully with the information I have provided in this video
you can choose a pickup that suits your amplification needs
and install it like a professional.