The Best Acoustic Guitar Pickups - Active & Passive
The Best Passive Acoustic Guitar Pickups
DiMarzio Virtual Acoustic DP138
The DiMarzio DP138 Virtual Passive Acoustic Guitar Pickup is a modification-free pickup. It uses two foam inserts to mount the pickup inside of your soundhole. A compensated volume control minimizes tone loss when lowering your volume and it comes with a 10 foot cable.
12 Adjustable polepieces help you tailor your sound. This gives you a lot of flexibility because you can dial in the sound of the pickup based on the genre you play. For example, say you’re a fingerstyle musician. You may want to raise the pole pieces above the bass strings to make your basslines more audible. If you’re mostly a strummer, the inverse may be true.
Key Features
- Type: Soundhole
- Required Modifications: None
- Installation Difficulty: Low
- Controls: Volume
Pros
Clear and Smooth are some descriptions users note about the pickup. Since it requires no modification, vintage instruments can enjoy amplification without damaging or altering the wood. These pickups also run very quietly.
Cons
Due to the position of the volume slider you might want to be careful not to bump it with your picking/strumming hand.
Overall
The Dimarzio Virtual Acoustic DP138 is a good choice for people who prefer not to modify their instruments and need noise-free operation.
DiMarzio Super Natural Plus DP136
The DiMarzio DP136 Super Natural Plus Soundhole pickup has several similarities with the DP138 including the mounting and 10-foot cable.
Compared to the DP138, the pickup is more focused, with a tighter bass and a greater high-mid and treble presence.
Key Features
- Type: Soundhole
- Required Mods: None
- Installation Difficulty: Low
- Controls: Volume
Pros
Reviews mention the convenience and sound quality to be excellent. A reviewer noted that the wooden aesthetic complemented his guitar well.
Cons
Some users noticed some noise with the volume slider. Another problem users had with the volume slider was how easy it is to hit with hard strumming.
Overall
For those who want to brighten up a dark sounding acoustic or want added shimmer to cut through the band mix, the DP136 is a good choice. Because of the hassle-free installation, vintage instruments won't need any modifications.
K&K Pure Mini
At publication time this was the Highest Rated Passive Acoustic Guitar Pickup.
The K&K Pure Mini Passive pickup is a transducer. What this means is that it picks up the vibrations of the body of your instrument rather than its strings, which results in a more natural and open tone.
It’s great if you’re serious about getting a genuine acoustic tone, rather than the more processed sound of a piezo or soundhole pickup.
Key Features
- Type: Transducer/Contact
- Required Mods: Endpin, Gluing the Contacts to the Soundboard
- Installation Difficulty: Moderate
- Controls: None
Pros
Mellow and natural sounding tone according to several positive reviews. Great for smaller and brighter guitars. Many users appreciate the Full-bodied sound and muted pick attack especially when playing mellower styles.
Cons
Users report it lacking in upper frequency sparkle and bloated midrange frequencies. This may be an issue for fuller sounding guitars. The installation being almost permanent put off some users.
Overall
For guitars that have too much of an edge when strummed, the K&K Pure mini is a good pick. Be aware that if your guitar is naturally dark sounding, you may need additional equalization on your preamp. Tweak it properly and you will be treated to natural sounding acoustic tone.
K&K Pure Classic
The K&K Pure Classic is a "transducer only" pickup installed in the interior of the guitar below the bridge.
Unlike other transducer designs, the Pure Classic's transducers are designed specifically for the timbre and tonality of nylon/classical acoustic guitars.
Key Features
- Type: Transducer/Contact
- Required Mods: Superglue to body/double sided tape (optional)
- Installation Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
- Controls: None
Pros
Natural sound and good output were positives repeated by several user reviews. From user submitted sound clips, the tonality of nylon stringed guitars have an almost miked-up quality. According to some users, it isn't brittle like most undersaddle units and it isn't boomy like soundboard transducer designs. Other positives were from the Pure Classic not needing any batteries to function. Supergluing the transducers also provided enough output to bypass the need for a preamp.
Cons
Installation proved to be difficult. Many reviewers suggested they go to a trained luthier for installation. Using the double sided tape installation method also reduces the output by 30% according to the manufacturer and it has been confirmed by some users. Since the pickup has no controls, the resulting sound will only be as good as the instrument.
Overall
If you want your great sounding classical guitar to be able to output to the P.A. and don't mind some minor modifications, the Pure Classic by K&K is a great pick.
LR Baggs M1
LR Baggs is a premier manufacturer of pickups for acoustic instruments, with their pickups being the stock option on many of Gibson's guitars. The company’s pickups are used in a wide array of genres, with notable endorsees including: Cage the Elephant, Ricky Skaggs, Sierra Hull, Brad Paisley, and The Old Crow Medicine Show.
The pickup features construction unique to LR Baggs with a second hum-cancelling coil suspended by a proprietary mount below the main coil. This is done to catch the resonance of the body aside from the strings. The result is a natural sounding signal that sounds close to the acoustic tone of the instrument.
Key Features
- Type: Soundhole
- Required Mods: None
- Installation Difficulty: Low
- Controls: None
Pros
Users love how natural the tone sounds while attenuating feedback. This is a common compromise for transducer based pickups as they tend to pick up vibrations of the body more than magnetic pickups directed towards the strings.
Cons
Users found they needed a good preamp to get a strong signal to the mixer. Sometimes this is remedied by adding more input gain on the mixer end but since this is out of the control of most musicians, a preamp would solve this.
Overall
The LR Baggs M1 gets consistent high marks for its good reproduction of your guitar's sound. Take note that the better the guitar, the better this pickup will perform.
The Best Active Acoustic Guitar Pickups
LR Baggs iBeam
The LR Baggs iBeam is a transducer pickup that attaches to the bridge plate of your guitar (where you poke your strings into).
It sits directly in front of the ball end of the strings (towards the tuning pegs).
Key Features
- Type: Transducer / Contact
- Required Mods: Endpin, Gluing to Bridge Plate
- Installation Difficulty: High
- Controls: Volume
Pros
Users note that the pickup reproduces treble frequencies well without sounding tinny. Some describe the tone as being like a close-miked tone or the actual sound of their guitar as they hear it acoustically.
Cons
It might not fit into some guitar bridges. Lacks a tone control. Users also note to reserve this pickup for your best sounding instrument as it does not offer any enhancing features for less-than-stellar guitars. Installation is said to be easy but to get the best tone, proper positioning of the pickup under the bridge plate is a challenge.
Overall
The LR Baggs iBeam is designed to mimic the response of a microphone. A quote from the website sums this up: “A key advantage over typical bridge plate sensors is the iBeam’s ‘cardioid’ like response pattern that inhibits feedback and string squeak while selectively admitting rich tone producing vibrations.” Jargon aside, this means that the design limits feedback while improving the overall frequency response. If you're looking for a tone somewhere between a transducer and a microphone, the iBeam is a good choice.
Fishman Matrix Infinity Narrow
Fishman is the premier name in acoustic guitar amplification and the Matrix is Fishman’s flagship series.
It features a redesigned endpin mounted preamp, controls for volume and tone, a low-battery indicator, and a voicing switch. The voicing switch cuts specific frequencies to approximate the electric signal with your acoustic's tone. The onboard EQ has a custom range from mid boost to more scooped tones.
Key Features
- Type: Piezo
- Required Mods: Bridge Installation, End Pin, Sound Hole Controls
- Installation Difficulty: High
- Controls: Tone, Volume, Voicing
Pros
Despite the high difficulty of installation, some users who did it themselves found it to be easier than they thought. Some mention the Matrix Infinity minimizes the pitfalls that piezo systems have such as unnatural attack and quacky midrange.
Cons
Some guitars may still sound unnatural and harsh with the pickup because of their guitar's construction as some users reported. These guitars usually benefit from other styles of pickup. One user found the pickup overemphasizes the guitar's low frequency although they did not mention what type of guitar it was.
Overall
If you prefer the detail and attack of piezo systems, The Matrix Infinity series might be worth a shot.
Fishman Matrix Infinity Wide
The Matrix Infinity Wide shares the same features as the Matrix Infinity Narrow. The only difference on the units are the width of the undersaddle strip.
Check and measure your guitar's specifications before deciding on which version to get.
Key Features
- Type: Piezo
- Required Mods: Bridge Installation, End Pin, Sound Hole Controls
- Installation Difficulty: High
- Controls: Tone, Volume, Voicing
Pros
Positive user reviews for the Matrix Infinity Wide share similar sentiments as the narrow version. Several users have both versions of the pickup in multiple guitars because of their positive experiences with the tone and response.
Cons
Some users report the wide version requires better sanding of the saddle since the point of contact is wider. Uneven sanding results in volume mismatches across each string.
Overall
If your guitar has a wider saddle slot, the Matrix Infinity Wide is the model to get.
LR Baggs Anthem Tru-Mic Microphone/Piezo and Active
The LR Baggs Anthem Tru-Mic Microphone / Piezo pickup is the piezo-equipped version of the Anthem SL.
The system features an in-guitar microphone combined with piezo sensors - this combination makes it suitable for both steel string and nylon string guitars.
Key Features
- Type: Piezo / Microphone
- Required Mods: Endpin, Setting Pickup in Bridge, Mounting Soundhole Control
- Installation Difficulty: High
- Controls: Volume, Mix, Phase, Battery Check, Mic Level
Pros
Users that play in larger ensembles and bands prefer this over the SL for it's piezo tone. Piezos get a bad rap for sounding nasal and harsh but in the right context, such as a dense band mix, a blend of the piezo tone allows your guitar to carve its own space in a dense mix. It also has great feedback suppression according to a number of user reviews.
Cons
Some didn't like how the pickup sounds for solo acoustic work since the pickup favors the treble frequencies. Using the mic exclusively runs the risk of feedback.
Overall
If you're a guitar player in a band or ensemble and want a pickup that can help you cut through but still blend in some natural tonalities, the LR Baggs Anthem Tru-Mic Microphone / Piezo system is a great fit for your goals.
Things to Consider When Buying Acoustic Guitar Pickups
Figuring out which pickup is going to work best for you requires that you know a few key pieces of information. If you feel like you don’t know enough about acoustic guitar pickups to make an informed decision, or you just want to brush up on your knowledge before you pull the trigger, check out the sections below.
Types of Acoustic Guitar Pickups
There are four main types of acoustic guitar pickup, all of which are explained below.
Piezo
Soundhole
Transducer/Contact
In-Guitar Microphone/Blended Pickup
Pickups That Require Guitar Modifications
The very first thing you want to consider before you purchase a pickup is whether you’re willing to modify your guitar to install it (and have the means to do so). There are pickups that require modification in order to install, which you may not want to do if you have a guitar with sentimental value.
Piezo pickups always require modification because of how they’re designed, and most soundboard transducers do as well. Soundhole pickups, with the L.R. Baggs being a notable example, generally don’t require modification because you can simply drape the cord out of the soundhole. With that being said, many of these pickups allow you to do both.
Here is a video that gives you a good idea of what's involved if you're considering modifying your guitar by yourself:
Feedback and Acoustic Guitar Pickups
Feedback is a loop of sound caused by resonance. A frequency goes through an amplifier, the resulting tone is then captured by your pickup, then it’s amplified further. This goes on until the initial frequency is the only thing coming out of your speakers, and is really unpleasant to listen to.
Acoustic guitar pickups are very sensitive to feedback, though this varies based on the type of pickup. As a basic rule, the more your pickup “hears” the more sensitive it is. So, for example, a pickup with a built-in microphone is going to be more sensitive to feedback than a piezo. The more frequencies “heard” by a pickup the higher likelihood of feedback, so the pickups that most accurately reproduce your acoustic tone are generally more likely to cause feedback.
Here’s a table that shows a rough estimate of feedback risk for each type of pickup:
| Pickup Type | Feedback Risk |
|---|---|
| Piezo | Low |
| Transducer | Medium/High |
| Soundhole | Low/Medium |
| Microphone | High |
Active vs. Passive
When you’re shopping for an acoustic guitar pickup you’re going to hear the terms “active” and “passive’ thrown around a lot. The difference between the two basically boils down to the fact that one is externally powered (almost always by a battery) to boost the signal and the other is not. Active pickups are the former, passive pickups are the latter.
The cool thing about active pickups is that you’re basically good to plug into any P.A. or acoustic guitar amp around. Because passive pickups don’t have the boost that active pickups do the signal is weak, which results in a squashed tone and a very quiet output. Most P.A.’s and acoustic amps can compensate for this, but there are going to be cases where you need to get an acoustic preamp or active D.I. box to get a strong enough tone.
The only drawback to active pickups is that they usually don’t function without a battery. Thankfully, it’s really easy to compensate for this. All you really need to do is make sure that you always carry a spare battery.
Amplifying Nylon String Guitars
Nylon string guitar players usually fall into two camps, classical/flamenco musicians who are looking for a really natural tone and people who just prefer the feel/response of a nylon over that of a steel string. If you’re really dedicated to getting a natural tone, you’re going to be happiest with an in-guitar microphone or a microphone and pickup combo.
If you’re not as particular about your tone, your best bet is going to be either a transducer or a piezo. Transducer pickups will sound more natural, but are a bit more expensive. Piezo pickups are cheaper, and while they won’t sound quite as natural as a transducer you can still get a good tone.
The only pickup type that really wouldn’t work well with a nylon string guitar is a soundhole pickup. Because nylon isn’t magnetic you’re not going to get any output on the treble strings, which makes this type of pickup basically useless for nylon string instruments.
Best Acoustic Guitar Pickup Selection Methodology
The first edition was first published in October 2017 written by Mason Hoberg. The latest edition was published on September 8, 2020 written by Raphael Pulgar with contributions from Mason Hoberg.
We began by looking at all the acoustic pickup systems for guitar available from major online American music gear retailers, then narrowed that list down to a short-list of 27 - you can see them in the Music Gear Database. We then collected over 4,600 ratings, reviews and comments with feedback on each acoustic pickup system from online retailers, discussion forums, review sites and major music gear publications. We then used the Gearank Algorithm to process these sources to produce rating scores out of 100 and selected the highest rated active and passive options to recommend above. For more information about our methods please read How Gearank Works.
Comments
As a result of our September
Submitted by Jason Horton on
As a result of our September 2020 update the following came off the recommended list above: Seymour Duncan SA-6.
I'm looking for a review of
Submitted by Mark Young (not verified) on
I'm looking for a review of pickups with on-board preamp / EQ / volume adjustment for gigs.
Your reviews are way off base
Submitted by Moonrocket (not verified) on
Your reviews are way off base. The absolute best acoustic guitar pickup is the Sunrise. None of the pickups you list come close and I know that for a fact because I’ve had every single one. The Sunrise is positively the best acoustic guitar pickup that out performs, sounds worlds better that any of the other pickups especially the LR Baggs when are quite frankly not good.
Thanks for sharing your
Submitted by Jason Horton on
Thanks for sharing your opinion. I've heard good things about these handmade pickups but they're only made in relatively small numbers and aren't widely available so they didn't meet our eligibility criteria.
Hello: You might mention and
Submitted by jivetw (not verified) on
Hello: You might mention and evaluate the time it takes to change batteries. The MIA is very time consuming and will ruin your gig. The Ibeam active is quick with a pair of needle nose pliers.
Or you could not be a fool
Submitted by Max deWinter (not verified) on
Or you could not be a fool and instead put a new battery in long before a gig.
Post a Comment or Question