Acoustic guitar pickups come in several different forms. The type of Acoustic guitar pickup that was very popular several decades ago is mounted directly into the guitars soundhole. The cable is hidden inside the body and holes drilled in the side and top of the guitar to except the jack socket and volume and tone pots, a touch barbaric to say the least. This type of pickup relies purely on the string vibration being picked up over the pickup magnets to create a sound.
Another style of pickup is the type that is mounted internally under the soundboard. Again the cable is hidden inside the body of the guitar and holes for components drilled accordingly. This type of pickup is prone to feedback problems. It relies on vibrations from the soundboard exciting elements within the pickup. This in turn creates an electrical current which is then amplified.
By far the more superior of the former styles is the under saddle transducer, now very popular and fitted as standard to most new Acoustic guitars. This type of transducer is fitted inside the bridge under the bridge saddle. The pickup is a long, flat narrow bar that is sensitive to the down bearing of the strings tension to create an electrical current.
A small hole is drilled through the soundboard in the saddle slot for the cable to pass through. Once the saddle is replaced the pickup is hidden from view. The end block strap button is removed, a 10mm hole is drilled to except a barrel style jack socket connection, or on certain systems, the complete pre amp. This is housed in an elongated shielding cap. Other styles of preamps are housed on the side of the guitar at the upper bout or waist, and facilitate onboard EQ and volume controls, as well as the battery housing.
For a Collings acoustic guitar case study click here
Acoustic pickups recommended by this workshop:
