Classical Guitar Pickups

[Andy Estabrooks]

Hi Everyone,
I'm looking for recommendations for pickup / preamp for a classical guitar (nylon string) I am designing? I'm considering an under bridge piezo. I'm building this for a professional, but of course he is budget conscious. I've seen units by Fishman and Artec, but don't have any experience with them. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers, Andy

[Jeffrey L. Suits]

Consider K&K.

[Richard Barbera]

There is a fairly new pickup gettng some good reviews.
http://www.miniflexmic.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=65
They have a few different types & a couple ways of mounting them. Supposedly, they're not as prone to feedback due to the 2 Mic placement. I haven't tried one, but I'm always looking for a quality sounding pickup, if there is such as thing? I've installed quite a few K&K mini's & like them due to the no battery needed & non invasiveness to the instrument...but the Miniflex's are sounding quite good!

Martin Tallstrom makes this Classical Guitar sound excellent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf1k2QKT_HE
Acoustic Guitar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKN58SigzVw&feature=related

[Russell Vance]

For a simple undersaddle transducer - Fishman's Infinity (which used to be the Matrix Natural ) is a non piezo system which can be installed with an in-box EQ enpin jack system or simply as the UST element. The element is slightly flexible and handles bone saddles OK and can be used with most off-board EQ/preamp systems or in it's usual config it is used with an internal EQ. They are very easy to install, tolerant of poor saddle slots/bridges and reliable - we use them frequently and they are our UST pickup of choice for performance instruments.

[Jeffrey L. Suits]

Non piezo? Are you certain of this?

[Russell Vance]

Yes Jeffrey, I'm certain of this, the Matrix/Infinity transducer is a propriety co-polymer transducer (similar in nature to the Baggs ribbon technolgy I suspect) which does not rely on rigid piezo pads, is flexible and senses vibration along the whole length of the transducer - it's been this way for 10 years in it's various configs (including being rebadged, with some minor changes, as the Martin Thinline Gold/Gold plus)

You are probably thinking of the obsolescent 332 (I recall) piezo pickup which went out of production years ago. Rusty.

[Jack Lord]

I used the Fishman Infinity on a nylon string guitar with good results.

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

For classical guitars, the high frequencies are very subtles, and for these reasons, the UST & AST couple made by B-Band is killer. These are not piezzo pickups and are the best I've tried for now (including K&K, Fishman,... etc..). It does not need a pre-amp with valves or bells and whistle to reproduce the tone of the guitar. The basical pre-amp they sell is enough : a volume and a crossover @800Hz between the two pickups. The only better pickups I've tried are real microphones.

[Andy Estabrooks]

Thanks Guys,
These are all great suggestions! I'll review them with my client.

[Donald A. Fortune]

Hi Andy- I just reciently finished a classical guitar, and used a GHS sound hole mic., it can be pluged into any amp with a 1/4 inch jack or can be pluged into a PA amp with a cord that can be ordered wit the mic.
It sounds just like it does when it is un pluged -- only LOUDER -- ..
It can be ordered from Stew mac.com.. just my two cents worth--
Best to you on your endever... Peace, Donald

[SLICK Rick Grant]

Hi Andy
I have a Cheap Yamaha Flamenco guitar and I put in a Fishman SBT-C transducer. It works and sounds great. The guitar does not sound very good until you plug it in to a AMP. then it comes out nice and clean. It sounds like a real good Flamenco. Not that hard to do.
Slick
Have a great day
GOD BLESS