• Hardware
  • Acoustic guitar pickup question and Cloudlifter preamp question. Fethead... (p.2)
2014/08/13 15:44:15
pentimentosound
I used to gig solo with an undersaddle Fishman and an EMG Strat SA(? no poles showing)that I made a set of brackets for it to mount across the soundhole. Each had it's own jack on my Guild F50 maple and I ran the Fishman into a chorus pedal into the PA and the EMG through an echo pedal into an amp with JBL K140 15". That combo sounded great and even sounded like two REALLY well sync'd guitars (this was back in the cassette days) when I played back my live recordings.
    K&K's sound "really like" the guitar they are mounted on! Having had lots of undersaddle acoustic guitars, and Taylors with both the Fishman and their Expression system(which I am not a fan of), I am very impressed with my current Martin GPCPA5K, with it's undersaddle Fishman. I think those pickups are much better nowadays than back when they first appeared. I think they can be mounted well, and will sound very good, IF you find someone with the skill and experience to do it right. I am sticking with them for now to work with my Fishman Aura Spectrum and 16 pedals, for live stuff. I haven't recorded them that way yet, but am hoping it's a useful system for that, too. I do have some nice mics and an ISA One, which has 60db gain, plus 20db extra, with 4 impedance options, so I don't really need the Cloudlifter Z, but I am thinking the Z would do nicely, if you don't want an ISA.
Michael
 
  
2014/08/13 20:46:51
MacFurse
This thread shows exactly what acoustic guitars are all about. Personal happiness. There is no wrong or right, just what is right for you. Anyone who has ever worked in a music shop will tell you that if 20 guitars arrive of the same make and model, one might 'grab' you. Also, the amount of prep work that goes into each and every guitar before hanging on the wall, would probably stun the average purchaser. (if the shop was a good one!!) This is the same for electrics. Fender was the one of the 'worst' for extra attention in my book.
 
If your old Takamine has a sound you love, then my advice is to mic it up (whole subject on it's on), and buy yourself an acoustic/electric that you are happy with. The older the guitar, the easier to damage when cutting/drilling. They are best done from the factory unless you have a real reason to modify your old guitar, such as taking it on the road. If you buy one, just make sure you plug it in too, don't just go on the unplugged sound.
 
We are fortunate here in Australia to have what I feel is the best 'plugged in' sound. Cole Clark. A combination of piezo and under sound board mic's, mixed through the eq. Jack Johnson started producing albums using one, and it's very clear from his albums when he started doing so. But once again, after trying dozens, I found only one guitar that I really liked to play. (I am very fussy) Went back a week later to get it, and gone, and havn't found another like it since. I'm still on the hunt. You can hear one in action just walking into a venue, they are that different. But I love my Ephiphone 'moustache', the Gibson 'Songwriter' is awesome, my Maton custom, and my wife's old Yamaha something or other is just brilliant on any stage. And Cort make some of the best priced, best sounding and playable guitars in their respective price ranges, bar none. It's very personal.
 
This topic is almost endless, and once again, some excellent contributions. Take it all onboard, and then do what's right for you.
 
 
2014/08/17 09:34:37
tagruvto

Other question. I am thinking about buying a Cloudlifter preamp for ribbon and dynamic mics (SM7b primarily). I am thinking about going ahead and getting the one with two preamps but there is another one the "Z" that offers more control. Is anyone using one of these? Any thoughts on which one to get?
Links. http://cloudmicrophones.com/cloud12/?page_id=227 or http://cloudmicrophones.com/cloud12/?page_id=217 maybe http://cloudmicrophones.com/cloud12/?page_id=222 
 
edit> you know what. I got forgot about the Fethead. It was what I was originally looking at for helping ribbon microphones. It is cheaper too. http://www.economik.com/triton-audio/fethead/
 
Thanks,
Julien




I purchased the single channel Cloudlifter a while back and absolutely love it.  It allows me to use my ribbon mic with my Focusrite pre in my Scarlett 18i20 - there isn't enough usable gain in the Scarlett for this particular ribbon.
I'll bet the Fethead would do the job too.  I had a 15% off coupon from GC......
2014/08/18 18:08:25
jbow
Thanks everyone for all the helpful replies.
 
MacFruse I'll take this under advisement for sure... If your old Takamine has a sound you love, then my advice is to mic it up (whole subject on it's on), and buy yourself an acoustic/electric that you are happy with. The older the guitar, the easier to damage when cutting/drilling. They are best done from the factory unless you have a real reason to modify your old guitar, such as taking it on the road. If you buy one, just make sure you plug it in too, don't just go on the unplugged sound.
 
I need to check and see if I have an "S" or a 330. Either way, I would only cut a hole in the side for an EQ panel, not the top. However, I think I'll just use the "hole pickup" or a mic (or two) and get another acoustic/electric.. (or a better mic). I'd really like a Martin or other good quality 000 body acoustic, my need for a pickup is secondary.
 
tagruvto This is helpful too: I purchased the single channel Cloudlifter a while back and absolutely love it.  It allows me to use my ribbon mic with my Focusrite pre in my Scarlett 18i20 - there isn't enough usable gain in the Scarlett for this particular ribbon.
I'll bet the Fethead would do the job too.  I had a 15% off coupon from GC......

 
I'm going to jump on one or the other tomorrow. I need it like... now.
 
Julien
12
© 2026 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1

Use My Existing Forum Account

Use My Social Media Account