Choosing to amplify your standard acoustic guitar tends to prompt some questions. “What pickup should I use? What brand is best? Do I have to drill new holes in my guitar?”
But getting a new acoustic pickup is easy when you shop with Sweetwater. We’ve compiled 10 of our favorite pickups and now present them to you. Let’s get started.
- LR Baggs Anthem
- Seymour Duncan SA-3HC Woody HC
- Fishman Matrix Infinity VT
- Fishman Neo-D
- Mojo Tone Quiet Coil NC-1
- KNA NG-1
- LR Baggs Lyric
- DiMarzio Virtual Acoustic
- KNA AP-2
- Seymour Duncan Wavelength Duo
LR Baggs Anthem
The LR Baggs Anthem system is considered by many players to be the best electronics system for acoustic-electric guitars. Unlike other acoustic-electric pickup systems, the Anthem captures sound using both a standard undersaddle piezo pickup and a specially designed microphone placed inside the body. This design choice gives you the feedback-free performance of a piezo without the boxy, quacking sound. Your guitar will sound fuller and more natural than ever with clean mids, shining highs, and booming lows. Install an LR Baggs Anthem system in your acoustic and experience its exhilarating sound for yourself.
Seymour Duncan SA-3HC Woody HC
Instant onstage amplification! The Seymour Duncan SA-3HC Woody HC is the perfect pickup for temporary installation. It requires no new holes or drilling and uses no adhesives. This passive humbucking pickup mounts securely in the soundhole of your guitar and runs a 14-foot cable to your acoustic amp, mixing board, or PA system. The SA-3HC installs in mere seconds and delivers a warm and ear-pleasing tone full of rich harmonics. And who could hate the attractive maple cover? The Seymour Duncan SA-3HC Woody HC is the perfect option for players who need a temporary amplification solution.
Fishman Matrix Infinity VT
The Fishman Matrix Infinity VT is an undersaddle pickup that’s designed specifically for narrow saddle slots. It comes with an Acoustic Matrix pickup that effortlessly captures the sound of your guitar. Beyond that, soundhole-mounted controls offer easy volume and tone adjustments. What’s more, the Matrix Infinity VT has an onboard voicing switch that adjusts the system’s response to better suit your guitar’s size and the playing situation. Finally, the soft-touch endpin-mounted preamp offers pleasing touch sensitivity for an even more lifelike plugged-in tone.
Fishman Neo-D
Fishman’s Neo-D acoustic pickup utilizes an all-passive design and fits in most acoustic guitar soundholes. This pickup is voiced to bring out the best possible sound from bronze and phosphor-bronze strings. The neodymium magnets offer excellent string-to-string balance and extreme high-end clarity. Its humbucking design naturally rejects 60-cycle hum, leading to low-noise performances that your audience will surely appreciate. Don’t want to have to worry about battery life on the road? Then the Fishman Neo-D makes a great option.
Mojo Tone Quiet Coil NC-1
Voiced to sound like a miked-up acoustic guitar, the Mojo Tone Quiet Coil NC-1 offers an excellent solution to the boxy sound of other acoustic guitar pickups. The soundhole-mounted design looks great onstage and offers an easily accessible knob for adjusting the volume. What’s more, it has an active low-noise preamp, resists feedback, and stays clear of your picking hand. If you plan to keep the pickup installed for a few years, then you’ll appreciate the hard-wearing Switchcraft stereo output.
KNA NG-1
Need to amplify your nylon-string guitar but don’t want to make permanent modifications to the instrument? You’re in luck. The KNA NG-1 offers a sleek, low-profile, and temporary amplification solution. Installation is easy; simply place it on the tie bar of your bridge and string it up. The pickup is held in place by string tension, so you don’t have to worry about it shifting during your performance. What’s more, the detachable and user-replaceable cable significantly extends the life of your pickup. You can also use this pickup to amplify your ukulele!
LR Baggs Lyric
The LR Baggs Lyric system takes the original Anthem design to new heights. It forgoes the piezo pickup in favor of a single Tru-Mic condenser microphone placed under the bridge. Proprietary patent-pending technology prevents this system from experiencing any feedback. The onboard noise-canceling technology makes sure that your tone won’t sound boxy like a piezo pickup. All your naturally rich lows and singing trebles shine through with no problem. If you’re regularly playing live, then you’ll love the LR Baggs Lyric.
DiMarzio Virtual Acoustic
Take the DiMarzio Virtual Acoustic guitar pickup for a test drive, and you’re sure to be impressed. This humbucking pickup mounts directly in your soundhole and produces a thick, warm sound rarely found in an acoustic pickup. The dual-coil design prevents any hum, ensuring your audience hears nothing but your guitar. It also has 12 individually adjustable pole pieces for a fully customizable string balance. What’s more, the foam-insulated mounting brackets prevent it from rattling and adding unnecessary noise to the signal. If you’re looking for a different kind of acoustic pickup, then check out the DiMarzio Virtual Acoustic.
KNA AP-2
Looking for an impermanent solution to amplify your acoustic? Then check out the KNA AP-2! This miniature pickup attaches directly to the guitar top. It supplies a realistic tone to your amp, pedalboard, interface, or soundboard. The AP-2 version comes with a volume control while its sibling, the AP-1, does not. Installing a KNA AP-2 pickup won’t mar your guitar’s finish either. And, when you’re ready to remove the pickup, simply peel it off and clean the area with guitar polish; your axe will look as good as new.
Seymour Duncan Wavelength Duo
When the Seymour Duncan name comes up, most people think of the company’s legendary electric guitar pickups. But did you know that they also make show-stopping acoustic pickups? Enter the Wavelength Duo, a purpose-built steel-string acoustic guitar pickup. The system pairs an undersaddle transducer with an omnidirectional condenser microphone to better capture your guitar’s sound in all its glory. Soundhole-mounted controls give you easy access and don’t require permanent and unsightly holes.
Perfect Your Plugged-in Tone
Your unplugged tone is important to you, so why skimp on your plugged-in tone? Sweetwater has plenty of great acoustic pickups to choose from. Want to know more about the pickups on this list? Call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 for personalized assistance. And, if you’re not totally comfortable installing a new pickup system by yourself, you can rely on Sweetwater’s Guitar Workshop to help you out!
