How do you play live? Microphone, DI or Amp?

[mcarter]

Hi all, I just started to play live with an acoustic guitar GAD 50. I wanted to use a microphone thought the PA, but the "sound guy" was really reluctant about the idea. I had no pickup on the guitar, so I used a mic. What do you guys do for gigs?

 

[awagner]

The acoustics I play out with all have pickups (K&K, LR Baggs, etc). I generally plug in directly to a Fishman SA330X, which sounds great.

You could also use an acoustic amp and mic the amp.

If you don't want to install a permanent system you could use an acoustic soundhole pickup like the Fishman Rare Earth

 

[mcarter]

The acoustics I play out with all have pickups (K&K, LR Baggs, etc). I generally plug in directly to a Fishman SA330X, which sounds great.

You could also use an acoustic amp and mic the amp.

If you don't want to install a permanent system you could use an acoustic soundhole pickup like the Fishman Rare Earth

Thanks

 

[Neal]

Using a mic in a live situation is tricky. There is only so much gain you can get out of the PA system before it starts to feed back, especially if you have a floor monitor pointing directly at the guitar. Also, you have to stand in one spot for it all to work.

I have always used K&K or Baggs M-1-equipped guitars, plugged straight into the 1/4" line-in to my mixer. There, I can add compression, reverb, adjust tone and set the gain to just below the feedback level, and then set the volume level for house speakers and stage monitor.

I have never seen the need for an acoustic amp. A decent (JBL) powered speaker is pretty much the same thing, when paired with a mixer.

For several years, I ran an open mic night at a local bar. Guys would show up with no pickup and my first thought was "oh, no, I have to mic this act". Squeezing enough volume out of the rig without going over the edge into feedback was always a challenge.

 

[mcarter]

Using a mic in a live situation is tricky. There is only so much gain you can get out of the PA system before it starts to feed back, especially if you have a floor monitor pointing directly at the guitar. Also, you have to stand in one spot for it all to work.

I have always used K&K or Baggs M-1-equipped guitars, plugged straight into the 1/4" line-in to my mixer. There, I can add compression, reverb, adjust tone and set the gain to just below the feedback level, and then set the volume level for house speakers and stage monitor.

I have never seen the need for an acoustic amp. A decent (JBL) powered speaker is pretty much the same thing, when paired with a mixer.

For several years, I ran an open mic night at a local bar. Guys would show up with no pickup and my first thought was "oh, no, I have to mic this act". Squeezing enough volume out of the rig without going over the edge into feedback was always a challenge.

thanks

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

My band has been using instrument mics for years.
It isn't that hard to get them dialed in.

Yes, floor monitors can be problematic.
We locate the frequency that is feeding back in the monitors and roll it back till the feedback goes away.

I don't know why a sound person would not want to let you use a mic for your guitar.
Must not have experience with mics and guitars.
One tip, position the mic toward the neck of the guitar, not the sound hole.

 

[mcarter]

My band has been using instrument mics for years.
It isn't that hard to get them dialed in.

Yes, floor monitors can be problematic.
We locate the frequency that is feeding back in the monitors and roll it back till the feedback goes away.

I don't know why a sound person would not want to let you use a mic for your guitar.
Must not have experience with mics and guitars.
One tip, position the mic toward the neck of the guitar, not the sound hole.

12th fret? That's what I heard. I do that at rehearsals.

 

[Neal]

I did not mean to imply that mics cannot be used successfully in a performance situation.

What I meant to say is that, particularly in an open mic situation, there is very little time for the sound man to dial in the set-up for a performer using a mic, when everyone else is plugging in. I usually just turned the monitor WAY down.

OTOH, guitar tone through a microphone beats a pickup every time, assuming the feedback monster can be tamed.

 

[Rich Cohen]

I play with a K&K Pure Mini and a Pure XLR Preamp which, with respect to acoustics with a K&K Pure Mini installed, is a great complement to the acoustic sound of the guitar. It also works with other pups as well.

 

[mcarter]

I play with a K&K Pure Mini and a Pure XLR Preamp which, with respect to acoustics with a K&K Pure Mini installed, is a great complement to the acoustic sound of the guitar. It also works with other pups as well.

thanks

 

[Br1ck]

What kind of band? Drums? The louder the band, the harder it is to use a mic.

 

[Rich Cohen]

What kind of band? Drums? The louder the band, the harder it is to use a mic.

You're right. But the venue uses a plug in for the guitar to the house amp and a mic for the singer. If you don't have a pup, you need to play a solo...even then the house can be very noisy...inhibiting reception of the voiced song and amp guitar, or not amped, whatever the case may be. The house band is VERY GOOD...a bass, lead guitar and drums, mostly a muted snare and cymbals, plus a little bass drum. Very professional. Mike Clem and band at The Local, Belmont, Charlottesville. Check it out! on FaceBook.
Rich

 

[mcarter]

What kind of band? Drums? The louder the band, the harder it is to use a mic.

Solo or with bass

 

[RBSinTo]

My only live gigs are those I play in our grand-daughter's music school concerts. The first time (when she was seven, and playing in her first show) I used my electric guitar through an amp, and in subsequent shows have used my Washburn parlour amped through a microphone aimed at the sound hole.
Definitely not as dramatic a finale trying to smash the guitar on the microphone stand, as using the amp.
RBSinTo

 

[West R Lee]

Gosh, other than playing very occasionally for a few friends, it's been Arlington and the nursing home circuit since I've played for a large group. Having said that, I happen to be on a quest at the moment to play for folks again, having just bought a new amp and a preamp. I'm in the process of deciding exactly how to get my best sound. I've always thought straight acoustic through a condenser mic provided the cleanest, most natural sound, and so far to my ear, it does. My DV72 has a 27 year old Fishman undersaddle pickup in it, and the sound to me is very artificial. But I also understand that for many folks who perform, sometimes a mic isn't the best option. So I ordered an LR Baggs Anthem system for a new guitar I've got on the way. The Anthem mixes sound from two sources, an undersaddle and an internal microphone. I've also just bought an LR Baggs "Venue" DI, and attempting to learn how to best use it now. I'm hoping the Baggs Anthem will provide that authentic acoustic sound.........the reviews say it does....we'll see.

West

 

[mcarter]

My only live gigs are those I play in our grand-daughter's music school concerts. The first time (when she was seven, and playing in her first show) I used my electric guitar through an amp, and in subsequent shows have used my Washburn parlour amped through a microphone aimed at the sound hole.
Definitely not as dramatic a finale trying to smash the guitar on the microphone stand, as using the amp.
RBSinTo

My only live gigs are those I play in our grand-daughter's music school concerts. The first time (when she was seven, and playing in her first show) I used my electric guitar through an amp, and in subsequent shows have used my Washburn parlour amped through a microphone aimed at the sound hole.
Definitely not as dramatic a finale trying to smash the guitar on the microphone stand, as using the amp.
RBSinTo

Great gig!

 

[redta]

I'm another K&K guy. I really like the Fishman Artist amp for guitar and vocals. I really think it's the best out there for one guy and a guitar.

 

[RBSinTo]

Great gig!

mcarter,
Yes, they are lots of fun. My parts consist of simply playing background chords while our Grand-daughter plays the melody. And coming up in a few weeks, I'll also be playing with her younger sister who is eight and plays the ukelele (as well as the piano).
I sponsor their lessons and get to spend special grand-father-grand-daughter time with them both by sitting in on their lessons and playing in their concerts. Good stuff.
RBSinTo

 

[mcarter]

Gosh, other than playing very occasionally for a few friends, it's been Arlington and the nursing home circuit since I've played for a large group. Having said that, I happen to be on a quest at the moment to play for folks again, having just bought a new amp and a preamp. I'm in the process of deciding exactly how to get my best sound. I've always thought straight acoustic through a condenser mic provided the cleanest, most natural sound, and so far to my ear, it does. My DV72 has a 27 year old Fishman undersaddle pickup in it, and the sound to me is very artificial. But I also understand that for many folks who perform, sometimes a mic isn't the best option. So I ordered an LR Baggs Anthem system for a new guitar I've got on the way. The Anthem mixes sound from two sources, an undersaddle and an internal microphone. I've also just bought an LR Baggs "Venue" DI, and attempting to learn how to best use it now. I'm hoping the Baggs Anthem will provide that authentic acoustic sound.........the reviews say it does....we'll see.

West

A lot of tomeswhen I hear acoutic music

mcarter,
Yes, they are lots of fun. My parts consist of simply playing background chords while our Grand-daughter plays the melody. And coming up in a few weeks, I'll also be playing with her younger sister who is eight and plays the ukelele (as well as the piano).
I sponsor their lessons and get to spend special grand-father-grand-daughter time with them both by sitting in on their lesons and playing in their concerts. Good stuff.
RBSinTo

that's great

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

All three ways you've mentioned have advantages and disadvantages.

- MIC: If you're not in a loud band, you should be fine with a mic. Mics get more accurate sounds, but it's hard to keep other sounds out of them, especially in a noisy environment. For an unrambuctious acoustic show, they're good.

- AMP: Going into your own amp is easy for you to control. But it's hard for the person running sound to work with. Worst case: The show will sound bad, and you'll make an enemy of the sound person.

- PA: Going directly into a PA means giving up most of your control of your sound. You can tell the sound person what you want, but you won't always get it. When the person running sound is good: no problem. When the person running sound is bad: big problem!

You didn't mention the fourth option: Going into a PA via a preamp. That's what I usually do.

- PREAMP INTO PA: It gives you a lot more control over your own sound - without taking making life difficult for the sound person. The downsides: Obviously, there's the expense of buying one (and a pickup, if your guitar doesn't have one). And preamps can be tricky, therefore annoying, frustrating, or distracting. I went through a some utterly bewildering contraptions before finding one that (a) is easy to use and (b) sounds good.

In general, if your guitar has an active pickup, you'll want a passive preamp (or passive DI box), and If your guitar has a passive pickup, you'll want an active preamp. Either go active-passive-PA or passive-active-PA.