jazzmang said:
Guys,
I'm gonna vent. I'm not a huge fan of the pickup systems that Guild uses now (DTAR).
I know that some of you strongly dislike the Taylor expression system, but I think it clearly beats out any other piezo-based pickup I've ever used.
As much as I was disappointed with the sheer acoustic sound of my Taylor, I have to admit that I loved the sound of the 9V System. Its smooth and 'bubble gummy' and although its very 'magnetic' sounding, its still quite pleasing.
Now, it makes me wonder why Guild hasn't looked into different pickups. I personally prefer magnetic style pickups, and I'd like to see Guild try and make an expression system-ish pickup system.
Relatedly, whats an installable pickup that would closely emulate the expression system's sonic characteristics?
Jazzmang:
I am a huge believer in the DTAR pickup system. The reasons are:
1. While being an Under Saddle Transducer (UST), it does seem to avoid the infamous "piezo quack" that is a common complaint of UST systems in general. Now, I have read Rick Turner's articles on the reason for the quack, and whether he is right or not, the system does seem to work really well in almost all of the DTAR equipped guitars I have heard. This has been exclusively in aftermarket DTAR installations, and when properly done, sounds really good to me, whether fingerpicked, or strummed vigorously. The feedback resistance is as per most UST systems, really good unless at stadium rock levels of volume.
2. I do NOT like the electric guitar sound of magnetic pickups. Quite plainly, if I wanted to have my acoustic guitar sound like an electric, I would use an electric. The Taylor system is no exception, and Taylor has gone a very long, complex way to essentially duplicate the sound of a Baggs M1. With all the wiring, multiple vibration sensors, embedded magnetic pickup in the neck, and electronics by Rupert Neve, they have gotten to the same point as a Baggs M!, and in my opinion, an inferior sound to the DTAR. The Expression system does not really reveal any body resonances, the "woody" sound that is the acoustic guitar sound played without amplification. I believe the M1, an installable system is as good as a Taylor expression system, and that the DTAR, amongst a few others (K & K, B Band, the the LR Baggs iBeam (in lower volume applications)) are sonically superior. You may find the "electric guitar pickup sound" of the Expression system, or magnetic pickups in general, to be acceptable, I do not.
3. If the actual sound produced by the DTAR system is not good enough, just team it with the Mama Bear outboard processor. This combination is in my opinion, unbeatable by any other current pickup system/processor, and at a price far lower than the expression system. While any other UST system, or magnetic pickup can be used by Mama Bear, I do believe that the DTAR system is a preferred system to have if you intend to play without the Mama Bear; its just a bonus that it works well with the Mama Bear. The Mama Bear is not usable with the Expression system, or with the Sound Board Transducers (K&K, LR Baggs iBeam).
Quite honestly, while your preference may be for a Taylor Expression system, there are very good sounding DTAR systems out there. A luthier friend of mine installed two DTAR systems in a local players OM-42, and D-35. These guitars are used in a bluegrass/country environment, as well as solo fingerpicking styles, by an extremely picky player. In both cases, he was ecstatic with the end result, and further purchased a Mama Bear. They are now inseparable. He quite simply will not go on stage with any other guitars, or without the Mama Bear. Sound men have told him that they have seen a lot of processor boxes, and up until he showed up with the Mama Bear, they didn't ever see any value in any of them. Two sound men have actually bought Mama Bear units themselves, and will be using them to improve guitar tone for some of the guitarists they work with.
Guild did look into pickup systems, and has picked the DTAR as being the best. They are certainly not going to design an in-house system when perfectly good pickup systems exist. There are very few people in the world that have one foot in luitherie, and the other in electronics design, combined with a great ear for tone that Rick Turner does (Rick Turner builds electric guitars (Renaissance), acoustic guitars, and other fretted instruments (Compass Rose), has designed/built electric guitars/basses and the pickup systems for them (Alembic), and builds strictly acoustic guitar pickups (at first with Highlander, now with DTAR)). Bob Taylor and company understand lutherie; Rupert Neve understands audio electronics, but I don't think that either one has a full grasp of pickups, especially as they relate to acoustic guitars.
I do wish they would get away from the "Lock 'n Load" battery compartment, but that is not a sound/tone issue, it is a guitar balance issue, and can be dealt with just ordering the guitar without a pickup system, and having a luthier install one after the guitar is delivered.
Kostas