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If you have an acoustic guitar--both steel and classical--would adding a pickup (going amplified) make an improvement to the sound? Have you done that and liked the results?
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05-21-2026 03:27 AM
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Yes, and no.
Originally Posted by swingtoneman
Amplification, by whatever means, only amplifies the sound that's produced. (See what I did there?) You can tweak it around the edges, so to speak, but you can't change its fundamental qualities. An onboard pickup of whatever level of sophistication is just an approach to make live performance easier to manage - it won't turn a mediocre guitar into a stellar instrument. That's not to say that guitars can't be well-recorded - many have been, by using high-quality microphones in appropriately-appointed recording studios and run by skilled recordists - but that's not "adding a pickup ... to make an improvement", and it's not really available to the overwhelming majority of musicians for live performannce.
If you want a good-sounding guitar, buy a good-sounding guitar. Don't expect built-in pickups to change its character.
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"an improvement to the sound?" is very subjective.
If you want an acoustic guitar sound, a good mic sounds better than a pickup on an acoustic guitar. Beware, a mic will feedback easily.
But, a pickup will make an acoustic guitar sound slightly more like a Jazz electric guitar. (Especially, if you install flat wound electric guitar strings too.)
This is only my limited experience.
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I guess its worth trying BUT, if you have unclear notes, wolf tones and the like, its not gonna sound better. It will sound worse. All of those ugly things can stand out even more.
That said, if you add a pickup you can change the tone and color. Sustain and everything else will not be improved. So it boils down to what you really mean by improved.
"Improved" is a very subjective word. It doesnt really describe your desired outcome.
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Amplification is also a subjective concept. I am trying to record with my acoustic guitars, and it IS tough to get a great sound/tone.
But one thing that helped is changing strings. Not instant success, but you can achieve differences in tone and feel.
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This is too vague. What are you actually trying to do? Originally Posted by swingtoneman
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As opposed to what other options? Originally Posted by swingtoneman
Are you asking if adding a pickup will improve the amplified sound? The only other way to amplify the sound is to put a mic close to the guitar. That, depending on the mic, is going to give you an amplified sound that is closest to the actual acoustic sound.
Going amplified by itself will not necessarily make an improvement in the sound of your acoustic guitar – it simply changes an acoustic sound to an electrified sound.
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And putting a mic in front of the guitar is not a guarantee of good tone - although it will be amplified. Mic placement is critical to getting good results.
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If someone gets a good tone on an "acoustic electric" plugged into an amp, it is in spite of that not because of it
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Are you taking about a flattop or an archtop or both? To me once you amplify a guitar it changes things at least from the listeners point of view. Even just putting mic in front of the guitar. What I can tell you without a doubt the worst sound amplified is the sound of any contact mic on the guitar top. This includes those guitars that have them built into the bridge. To me this is an awful sound, and I avoid it at all cost.
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Many thanks for sharing your knowledge and thoughts on my question--much appreciated.
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To a fine acoustic instrument, amplification is always a downgrade. Mixing a natural tone with electricity, cables, filters, potentiometers, etc will always be an unnatural man made processed sound. Nothing in this world can ever sound better than a fine acoustic instrument. I've never heard an on board pickup that didn't make a nice Martin or similar guitar sound significantly less beautiful. There's a reason Segovia refused to use amplification. Yes, a larger audience can hear but what they are hearing is compromised. Whatever you do, it might " work" for you but it will NOT be better, it will be less than the best it could be.
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This all seems just a bit biased...
Explore pickup options, remember a preamp will probably be required.
Some systems are excellent, some also incorporate microphones as well as piezo elements. There are also systems that uses sampled sounds so your Martin can be nylon or Les Paul or. ..
And if people scream remember they might not have explored the microphone alternatives.
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