Best guitar pickups & pickup covers according to redditors

Piezoelectric contact pickup:

https://www.amazon.com/Andoer-Contact-Microphone-Mandolin-Ukulele/dp/B00SISRMKC

Hi quality preamp to convert the high-impedance output to something with low impedance:

https://www.amazon.com/K-Sound-KK901-Pure-Preamp/dp/B0092S3XEQ/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=guitar+preamp&qid=1554409082&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-11

Audio frequency spectrum analyzer software (SignalScope for mac, i'm sure things exist for linux.)

Edit - it sounds like you want to detect these vibrations to quickly shut down the machining process? If you can characterize the criteria you are searching for and they are straightforward enough (i.e., power exists in a certain frequency band), an all-analog solution using bandpass filters, etc may give you the lowest latency. But you will have to be very precise in forming your requirements. For example, if your 'happy case' has -60dB of power at 300 hz with a 30 hz bandwidth, and your "stop now!" case is -55dB of power at the same frequency and bandwidth, AND you need to stop within 10 microseconds of detecting the condition....it's not gonna happen. There is not enough time to build statistical confidence about the change in signal power.

But if the changes are bigger and the time longer, you might be OK with analog or digital solutions.

FYI, my son uses this inexpensive pickup, and it works quite well: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005H2007E?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00

I have this pickup, which looks to be the same, but is half the price, and it works fine with Rocksmith. You also need a coupler.

With the recent update, you can now use a USB microphone to pick up the sound. I haven't tried it yet with my acoustic, but it worked well with the mic in front of my amp.

Getting it on the PC has the big advantage of being able to play custom DLC. If his tastes aren't mainstream, that could be especially important.

Depending on the quality you need there are a bunch of super cheap piezo pickups on Amazon for ~$10. I got this one and it works alright. Definitely not amazing sounding, but with some eq it works.

If you want higher quality K&K is a go to for the ~$100 price.

Something in between (some people over on mandolin cafe swear it's identical to K&K, I've not tested) for the $20-40 range is JJB Electronics which have a variety of options.

Try a contact transduction microphone like what is hooked to an acoustic guitar. It records surface vibration.

https://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Contact-Microphone-Transducer-Mandolin/dp/B06ZYH4RRN/

Stick it to the wall, and use a a female-1/4” to male 1/8” (3.5mm) converter or use a separate male-to-male 1/8” stereo mini plug to connect it to the Mic or Sound-In port on your computer sound card, and record using a sound application.

This should help clarify the audio from your video. Submit them together. One is from a higher quality microphone.

Nope, just the Real Tone cable, one of these, and one of these and you'll be good to go.

I recently got this pickup and I keep it on the headstock. I think it sounds good and it works if you are on a budget. I don't really know much about the pickup you linked to, but it looks like it should work fine!

I've heard good things about the Kremona NG-1 pickup, which slides under your strings at the tie bar and doesn't require any modifications to your guitar. Here's the product page, an Amazon link, and a review with a bunch of comments.

I had this little stick-on pickup and it worked pretty well!

I play Banjo in Church (with a guitarist, pianist, bassist and sometimes a drummer), I use one of these super cheap contact mics: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019TW4BZO/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487738468&sr=sr-1&keywords=piezo+pickup and route through a mixer like this for a little amplification: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F6PTA04/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 before connecting to a direct box... to the main sound mixing board. I actually remove and re-apply the same sticker backing to the pickup every Sunday and haven't had to replace it yet (in 6 months or so of doing this)... I haven't tried other setups to see if It sounds better, but the setup I am using seems to work well enough (and it's cheap). I place the pickup on the underside of the head of my openback deering banjo, and use velcro on the rim so the coord doesn't dangle directly from the pickup (this way it doesn't easily fall off if I yank on it too hard)

You want a K&K Pure Mini pickup.

Research it at Acoustic Guitar Forum.

It's a pickup not a mic

This + female / female 1/4” adapter to couple the pickup to the realtone cable (if the pickup is male)

Edit: link
https://www.amazon.com/Amumu-Neodymium-Magnetic-Soundhole-Acoustic/dp/B075MDPCDV/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1543166941&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=acoustic+guitar+pickup&dpPl=1&dpID=41ZHKKgIknL&ref=plSrch

I would start with the Cheap Dean Markley if you are experimenting. Piezo pickups like to see a very high (~10Ω) impedance, the difference in response when using a proper DI is profound. Links below.

Dean Markley: https://www.amazon.com/Dean-Markley-DM3000-Transducer-Acoustic/dp/B00542YQSQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1497045344&sr=1-1&keywords=dean+markley+piezo

Cheapest ultra-high-z DI I'm aware of: https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-V-Tone-Acoustic-Modeler-Recording/dp/B000KITQK2/ref=pd_sim_267_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000KITQK2&pd_rd_r=CF0BQGFFMPZTJ0TVM3W4&pd_rd_w=jRvQb&pd_rd_wg=tR8Rv&psc=1&refRID=CF0BQGFFMPZTJ0TVM3W4

I like this one by Fishman. I bought it for my 12-string acoustic, and it's great. I had a luthier install it into my guitar and use the jack as a strap pin also. You can find it on Amazon (for example), here

I would put a pickup in it. I like the K&K Pure Mini. This was you can keep playing the guitar you love and only spend about $100.

http://www.amazon.com/Cherub-WCP-60G-Acoustic-Guitar-Pickup/dp/B004UJO41S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382391410&sr=8-1&keywords=cherub+pickup

I got myself one of these. I don't need to put it in the sound hole and I just pop this sucker on the headstock. It sounds delightfully natural and it's a cheap device that works pretty well!

The main component in all piezo mics is the same and cheeeap. Build quality of different products' casing is where the price goes up. The simmons contact mic you posted is like this one that I've used: http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Contact-Microphone-Ukulele-Mandolin/dp/B008MUPALY .. I've used it on my clear heads, but I don't know if the adhesive would stick well to a Silentstroke. Also, piezos trigger via vibrations of the surface they are in contact with so it shouldn't matter how loud the hits on the drum head are. Whatever software you use will let you dial-in how sensitive you want the piezo input to be.

When in doubt, google it: This was the 3rd result for "piezo microphone" http://www.musicofsound.co.nz/blog/the-first-rule-of-contact-mic-club

My wife bought me Rocksmith a few years back to work with the acoustic guitar. You just have to buy a pickup and a female/female adapter. Might be a cheaper transition than going full electric from the start. Hope this helps: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005H2007E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_2cdBybDADR5HR

How cheap?

You could start by filling the guitar body with foam, in torn off gravel-like pieces (you want an even filling that's not too tight).

You'll probably need one of those sound-hole covers to keep the foam in:

https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Waves-Screeching-Acoustic-Soundhole/dp/B0010SHU18/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1503384410&sr=1-1&keywords=acoustic+soundhole+cover

Then you are going to want a stick-on piezo acoustic pickup, like this:

https://www.amazon.com/SUNYIN-Transducer-Microphone-Classical-Cello-Black/dp/B01M1GG05L/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1503384035&sr=8-2&keywords=piezo+acoustic+guitar+pickup

Stick it directly to the bridge, as close to the bass strings as possible.

And you will need a headphone amp, something like this might work:

https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-611500-Headphone-Amplifier-Guitar/dp/B00AJHE5E6/ref=sr_1_10?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1503384156&sr=1-10&keywords=guitar+headphone+amp

You may need an adapter to plug it into the pickup

This setup is not going to sound great, but it's cheap!

I only experimented a little with effects when recording this. I just used a cheap suctioncup pickup like this one, and that was really only for the one electric sounding song. Everything else was acoustic and maybe some garage band filters.

I have a stick-on pick-up similar to this but it isn't sticking very well anymore. I'm looking to fix it by replacing the putty; what kind of putty should I buy and how much should I put on it? Should I scrape off the existing putty?

I use a Fishman drop-in humbucker pickup coupled with a Marshall 8" practice amp.

I don't care about cords. I'm not there for you to look at, you're supposed to be listening to me.

Why, yes: I do think the concept of The Wall is awesome, why do you ask?

Edit: what a dark day. Never thought I'd see a day where I was downvoted on /r/guitar for levity and my opinion, let alone downvoted without a reply.

I looked for one of those. But they all seem made for steel string guitars (or are crazy expensive). Do you know of one? In the meantime, I ordered the following, just to see if my plan will fly. http://www.amazon.com/AXL-Acoustic-Guitar-Transducer-Pickup/dp/B002C741B8

I'd seen a YouTube video where a guy did it - I was sorta hoping some other redditors might be able to attest to whether or not it does well.

I bought this for $7.20 - I may check out the subreddit in case I can't get it to work, though. Thanks!

Unfortunatly I cant, I dont know specific models / equipment here (I focus on electric and bass) and certainly dont know ones that will work with rocksmith.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Andoer-Contact-Microphone-Mandolin-Ukulele/dp/B00SISRMKC

​

Better ones typically sit under the bridge (requeres setting up your bridge again):

​

https://www.amazon.com/Piezo-Pickup-Acoustic-Guitar-Cigar/dp/B00771QSA6

​

Careful with the one above, it has a small jack, probably can

​

Those are the very basic / cheap ones. I am dubious whether they would work as passive ones are pretty quiet.

​

Generally speaking, electro acoustics have a little pre-amp box to boost the level and take a 9V square battery so something like this (you can see that one comes with a mic and peizo:

​

https://www.amazon.com/Kmise-Acoustic-Guitar-Equalizer-Amplifier/dp/B01N77TIYZ

​

But.. they require mounting into the guitar which you probably dont want to do.

​

I also found this one which is a little smaller:

​

https://www.amazon.com/Kmise-Saddle-Pickup-Onboard-Acoustic/dp/B0725QDYJV

​

Perhaps that could be just left to dangle inside the acoustic or with some thick double sided tape secured somewhere.

​

Yeah sorry, cant really be of much more help / not really my area of expertiese.

get a cheap pickup like this one

https://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Electric-Transducer-Microphone-Amplifier/dp/B00ADHKKZK/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474575710&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=neewer+pickup+to+usb

and a instrument to USB cable like this one

https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Guitar-Cable-Adapter-Recording/dp/B00834KJ60/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474575710&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=neewer+pickup+to+usb

Plus a $6 female to female adapter and your all set. Can play rocksmith with it or use amp and fx modelers on your computer using your acoustic.

This probably isn't be the best place to ask, but does anyone know what kind of pickup I need? I've got a cheap acoustic guitar without an output, and I just need something that works with the game. I don't care about concert quality sound, just that it can match accurately in the software.

I saw both of these on Amazon, not sure if the cheaper piezo would be good enough:

http://www.amazon.com/Cherub-WCP-60G-Acoustic-Guitar-Pickup/dp/B004UJO41S/

I assume this one would work, though I'll have to check if I have metal or nylon strings:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ADHKKZK/

Any advice?

Also note, that you can use an acoustic pickup and plug that into the Rocksmith cable if that is all you have.

A ten-second Amazon search showed this. Just remember to get a 1/4 inch coupler and you are all set.

This is the mic. I'm not using it for audio, I'm using it for frequency analysis.

I can't get a clear signal on my oscilloscope, when it shows fine with other inputs.

https://www.amazon.com/Agile-Shop-Contact-Microphone-Pickup-Guitar/dp/B07HVFTGTH/ref=sr_1_5?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1548954308&sr=1-5&keywords=contact+microphone

> You can buy a Fishman TriplePlay Wireless Guitar Controller

​

Or hit eBay and buy four beat up electrics for the same price.

​

Guitar rig or a host of various VST plugins for DAWs out there are the better answer.

​

You're not going to make your dreadnought into a vintage Les Paul in terms of laying out howling, sustain laden leads, but if you're wanting to lay down some filthy power chords, you can get the job done, more or less.

​

https://producelikeapro.com/blog/free-daws-best-available-2018/

http://blog.reddogmusic.co.uk/2012/12/15/6-free-vst-guitar-plugins-thatll-blow-yourmind/

​

When you do have some cash, go take a look at your local brick and mortar guitar shop. They're probably going to have a $100 guitar/amp package for you. Amazon has them right now, starting at about $85. After that, a cheap audio interface for your computer will make your computer much much better at handling the audio; the Behringer UM2 is perfectly fine for around $35, and you'll be amazed at the quality of suspended cardoid mic you can get for around the same $35 nowadays.

​

Here's a bonus $8 solution: https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Acoustic-Transducer-Microphone-Amplifier/dp/B00ADHKKZK?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1 Keep in mind that you get what you pay for, and you'll still need somewhere to plug in.

​

Good luck!

you can actually get an adapter that will fit on your acoustic so you can plug it in but your still best getting electric imo.

After a short google search http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Acoustic-Electric-Amplifier-Converter/dp/B005AL3RG8

This is a fairly cheap soundhole pickup. I have one, it is reasonable quality and could be used as a probe. I would think the vibration mode of the spring could be compensated for by the orientation of the pickup http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Pickup-Acoustic-Electric-Transducer/dp/B005H2007E/ref=pd_cp_MI_0/179-5378065-9933534

Realistically, not unless they're very large or get impacted (directly) strongly. Small piezo elements can have very short, high voltage peaks (dozens of volts) on impact events, but a simple RC low-pass filter will drop those down to reasonable levels without issue.

I'd say buy a pack of these and try them out. They'll pick up impact events just fine, but they won't work well at all for acceleration sensing unless you make some modifications.

https://www.amazon.com/15Pcs-Trigger-Acoustic-Pickup-Guitar/dp/B07B8RJ8NX/

For general acceleration, I'd recommend just picking up an accelerometer IC like this. That one's 3 axis, so you only get lateral translation, not rotation. There are also 6-axis variants that add 3 rotation axes. These are the kinds of chips used in motion controllers, like those for game consoles.

I have a very nice violin I use to play bluegrass music, and I didn’t want to install anything permanent on it. This pickup was recommended to me from a friend, and it’s been working great. For a $20 pickup, it’s discrete and sounds surprisingly good. Mine hasn’t given out yet after over a year of regular playing and supposedly it peels off just fine (although I haven’t tried to take mine off yet).

I’m not sure how good of sound quality you’ll need for your sort of gig, but it’s really not bad at all. Definitely worth a shot. Definitely have a DI box or preamp on hand, cause it starts out with pretty low signal.

try one of these https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Contact-Microphone-Ukulele-Mandolin/dp/B008MUPALY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1480707811&sr=8-3&keywords=contact+mic

I got one of these and it sounds great and there's no installation required. You do have to live with a sticky pad on the top:

http://www.amazon.com/Pintech-Acoustic-Guitar-Ukulele-Mandolin/dp/B00LQVAKB6