Last update 5/2/2024
Sometimes, there’s nothing like a cranked-up electric guitar! The volume gets deep into your soul and makes your body want to move differently. It even…[hard stop – needle scratching off a vinyl record – all of that stuff (you get the point here)]
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…wait a second. You don’t play an electric guitar. In fact, you don’t even own one. Your claim to fame is a great acoustic guitar. But the acoustics aren’t as ‘cool’ as electrics are. Let’s face it – you can’t put them through an amp or anything.
Here’s the good news: you sure can! However, using a pickup on an acoustic guitar can be somewhat different from an electric one. Not only that but there are several different types available. Each has its own set of pros and cons. So what is the right choice for you to make?
What is an acoustic guitar pickup?
Fear not – we’re here to help! Let’s examine how acoustic guitar pickups can help the masses hear you.
Soundhole pickups
The most straightforward approach to amplifying your acoustic guitar is using a ‘soundhole pickup.’ As the name implies, these types of pickups are units that drop into the soundhole of your acoustic.
“I’ve played every instrument you could possibly think of for 10 minutes. So I’m mediocre at everything. I can play drums, guitar, piano, violin, saxophone, clarinet, flute… Just not well.” Kat Dennings
Getting the pickup installed is the easy part. The challenge for any DIY’er may be getting the thing wired correctly! Some require drilling a hole in the guitar’s side so you can mount an input jack.
Others are perhaps a little more user-friendly. They utilize a modified strap button with an input jack already integrated into it. Either way, you may have to break out the power drill. However, that may not be for the faint of heart when working on your prized acoustic if just the idea of doing so makes you break a sweat. You may want to get the job done by a professional.
Sound quality
One common concern you may hear about soundhole pickups is the sound quality. They are mostly constructed the same way as a traditional electric guitar pickup (a coil wrapped around a magnet).
That’s all well and good. However, that can make your acoustic guitar sound like…well…an electric! It’ll work to get your volume up, but you may not get the rich sound that a good acoustic can provide on its own.
On top of that, EQ options for soundhole pickups can be reasonably limited. Most do not have any multi-band EQ. Therefore, your tonal flexibility may not be as good as it can be with some of the other options we will look at.
Don’t get us wrong – several fine soundhole pickups on the market can be great choices. It’s just that, in our experience, you may find a different option to be more to your preference.
Internal microphone pickups
Internal microphone pickups are placed inside the body of the guitar. They can be either condenser or dynamic microphones. Condenser microphones are more sensitive and produce a brighter sound, while dynamic microphones are more durable and produce a warmer sound.
Can you add a pickup to an acoustic guitar?
The answer is yep, you can. There are a large bunch of different pickup systems available. If you are uncomfortable installing a pickup yourself, we suggest you take your guitar to a shop and do it for you.
How do acoustic guitar pickups work?
The basic principle behind all acoustic guitar pickups is that they convert the strings’ vibrations into an electrical signal. The specific way this is done varies depending on the pickup type.
The upshot is that Piezo pickups work by generating an electrical signal when they are deformed. The vibrations of the strings cause the deformation. The electrical signal is then amplified and sent to a speaker.
Soundhole pickups work by sensing the magnetic field created by the strings. The vibrations of the strings create the magnetic field. The electrical signal is then amplified and sent to a speaker.
Internal microphone pickups work by sensing the sound waves produced by the strings. The sound waves are then converted into an electrical signal and amplified.
Why do acoustic guitars need batteries?
Some acoustic guitar pickups are passive, meaning they do not require batteries. However, most acoustic guitar pickups are active, meaning they require batteries to power the preamp. The preamp amplifies the signal from the pickup, making it suitable for driving a speaker.
Piezo pickups
The most common acoustic guitar pickup you will encounter is a ‘piezo‘ pickup. Piezo configurations are separate from traditional pickups because they use completely different technology.
A piezo pickup uses tiny elements that exhibit the ‘piezoelectric effect. Here, the piezo element creates a slight electric charge when exposed to the vibrations created by a guitar string.
This charge is then translated to a signal and sent to the output jack.
Typical piezo pickup configurations are mounted under the bridge saddle. That’s a perfect spot for vibration transfer to occur. Another benefit of this mounting scheme is that you never actually see the pickup itself.
That alone may make it a better choice than a more extensive unit mounted in the middle of the soundhole.
Preamps
Most piezo units tend to have more sophisticated control electronics (called ‘preamps’). Preamps give you a much more comprehensive range of options over a soundhole pickup.
These preamps usually come pre-installed in the upper bout, granting easy access to all functions. Some necessary preamps may only offer a single volume and tone knob. In contrast, others have built-in chromatic tuners, multi-band EQ setups, and phase switches to help minimize feedback.
If you’ve ever had an acoustic start howling at you while playing a gig, you’ll realize what a God-send that is.
While most aspects of an excellent piezo pickup system are positive, there are a few downsides. Piezo setups tend to have a distinct high-to-mid frequency ‘quack’ tone that may be a bit too unnatural for some guitarists.
To help combat this, some units utilize a small microphone that lives inside your guitar’s body itself; in this case, some preamps have a blending control that gives you the piezo’s snappiness along with the lower-end warmth of the mic.
Additionally, most preamps of this type are powered by a single 9V battery. It can be a bit of an inconvenience to keep your battery fresh. However, in our eyes, the benefits of this type of acoustic pickup system far outweigh having to spend a few dollars on a battery now and then.
Soundboard transducers
Yet another choice for amplifying your acoustic guitar is the soundboard transducer. These units use a non-destructive adhesive and are placed directly on the soundboard itself. They work similarly to a piezo bridge pickup.
However, the overall sound is different since the soundboard’s vibrations are coming.
These transducers are typically the least invasive way to amplify your guitar. Many units feature a self-contained output jack that can be mounted to your guitar without any tools or modifications.
That being said, they also tend to have the least to offer in any additional features. For example, those found on most piezo preamp units. Yes, they are quick and easy, but maybe the least flexible regarding how they sound overall.
Conclusion
Finding the best pickup option to use with your acoustic guitar all boils down to your specific needs.
Our recommendation would be a good-quality piezo setup with a good preamp. We believe they are the best choice for those players who want a better-amplified tone and control with a broader range of features.
A soundboard transducer may fit the bill if you want a down-and-dirty way to get a little volume without significantly modifying your guitar. Lurking somewhere in between these two options is the soundhole pickup.
One important takeaway: the most common choice is a piezo pickup configuration. It is what you’ll find as standard equipment, factory-installed on the vast majority of acoustic/electric guitars that you will come across. The other solutions tend to be used more with existing instruments that did not come with pickup options.
We believe it’s best to mic an acoustic versus pickups if you plan to record your acoustic. That’s another story, however.
Regardless of your choice, using an acoustic pickup allows you to hear your acoustic at much higher volume levels than playing it alone. In conclusion, that’s essential to have when playing in a live environment.
Transparency disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning that I may earn a commission if you click on a link and make a purchase. This commission comes at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services that I believe are helpful and valuable, and we never let the potential for a commission influence our recommendations.
Amazon acoustic guitar pickups
