

The SBT soundboard transducer is an affordable and more practical alternative to bridge-mounted units. Fishman SBT Classical Guitar Soundboard Transducer with Endpin Jack Different placement leads to different results, though Schaller includes a quick rundown of common placements for specific styles of playing. They attach securely (and safely!) to the body of the guitar using included adhesive tape that won’t damage the instrument. The Oyster system by Schaller consists of two passive piezo pickups leading to a 1/4″ jack.

This passive piezo pickup conveniently slides underneath the nylon strings on the tie bar string tension holds it in place.

All acoustic pickups require some patience and even a bit of practice to install, so if it’s a concern at all, we’d recommend going to a qualified tech to handle it for you.
#PIEZO GUITAR PICKUP PROFESSIONAL#
If you don’t feel like drilling or otherwise retrofitting a pickup to your precious investment, then you’ll want to find a professional who does! At the very least, choosing a pickup with minimal installation requirements may be in your best interest. Internal mics are generally fairly quiet by themselves, so you’ll sometimes see them paired with a piezo system. It’s critical to get the placement right as the sound will vary drastically depending on placement, and it’s worth nothing that they’re often prone to feedback. Internal microphones capture the most natural sound because they “hear” the strings as well as body resonances, percussiveness, and overall sound development. Exactly what they sound like, these are small mics fitted inside the body of the guitar. Usually, the biggest drawback to piezos is that they sound brittle they can also be trickier to install.įinally, we have internal microphones. Piezos have a distinct sound that can be bright and clear (near the bridge) or slightly calmer and mellow (inside the body). The most common ones sit between the bridge saddle and the bridge, while others have several “heads” that attach underneath the soundhole inside the body. Piezo are a kind of transducer pickup that captures vibrations from the instrument.

However, they won’t reproduce any of the complex body resonances from acoustic instruments.
#PIEZO GUITAR PICKUP INSTALL#
They’re typically easy to install and capture string detail beautifully. The three main styles of classical/acoustic guitar pickups are magnetic, piezo, and microphone.Ī magnetic pickup is the closest relative to the electric guitar it produces a magnetic field, and vibrations from the strings enter the field for amplification. Different Pickup Styles Will Reproduce Certain Sounds Better It can be a difficult decision, which is why we’re attempting to help narrow the selection as much as possible. Like electric guitar pickups that come in various styles (humbucker, single-coil, active, passive, hot rails, etc.), so too do acoustic guitar pickups. What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing Classical Guitar Pickups? Classical guitar pickups offer the cleanest, most reliable amplification of nylon-string instruments. It’s theoretically possible to just mike the instrument on stage, but you run the risk of bleed and feedback, especially as part of an ensemble. In order to amplify your nylon-string acoustic guitar for live performance, you’ll probably want to invest in the best pickup for classical guitar.
