Sometimes you just want to crank your volume up to 11...even on an acoustic! You can do that when you have one of the best acoustic guitar pickup.
Seriously though, the ability to amplify your acoustic guitar can be pretty handy sometimes; like when you're jamming with friends (especially if one is a drummer). Pickups are also great for live performance and in the studio.
Now, choosing what pickup to get can get confusing. Your choices can vary depending on your specific goals as well as your budget. Here's a review of what we consider to be the best choices available right now.
The Best Acoustic Guitar Pickup
1. Luvay Guitar Pickup Acoustic Electric Transducer for Acoustic Guitar, Cable Length 10' (Gold)
2. Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker Magnetic Soundhole Acoustic Pickup
3. 1pc Belcat SH-85 Soundhole Pickup with Active Power Jack for Acoustic Guitar
5. K&K Pure Mini Acoustic Guitar Pickup
8. L.R. Baggs ANTHEM Acoustic Guitar Pickup
Our Top Pick
Our top pick from this list is the L.R. Baggs ANTHEM Acoustic Guitar Pickup. Let's be clear; when you want amplification, you want to sound AS GOOD as possible. This pickup combines the best attributes of an undersaddle pickup AND an in-guitar microphone.
You have full control over each source so you can mix the sounds together yourself. This control allows you to create the sound that you want to hear.
Best Acoustic Guitar Pickup Review
We've split this list into four categories; magnetic/soundhole pickups, piezo/undersaddle pickups, in-guitar microphone, and blended pickups (any combination of other three categories).
Technically speaking, in-guitar mics are not actually pickups, but they do amplify your guitar's sound and serve the same purpose. For that reason, they are included on this list.
Magnetic/Soundhole Pickups
1. Luvay Guitar Pickup Acoustic Electric Transducer for Acoustic Guitar, Cable Length 10' (Gold)
Description: The Luray pickup looks just like a magnetic pickup but it works as a transducer. Basically, it is a soundhole pickup that acts like a microphone. This unit is easy to install. You just clip it into place in your soundhole, plug it into your amp and you're good to go.
As with all guitar gear, you get what you pay for. This pickup is a good entry level piece for beginners and casual players.
Dimensions: 5.9 x 1.2 x 3.3 inches Weight: 1.6 ounces
Pros:
- inexpensive
- easy to install
Cons:
- volume can be low
2. Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker Magnetic Soundhole Acoustic Pickup
Description: The Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker pickup uses the same technology you would expect to find in an electric guitar. Inside it has neodymium magnets which help to bring out a more natural tone.
One complaint with acoustic pickups is that you lose the resonating tone from the body of the guitar. This pickup helps to reduce that from happening.
It fits in the soundholes sized 3 ⅝" or larger. Can be permanently mounted as can the output jack. The volume wheel is located directly on the pickup so you will have to reach past the strings in order to adjust it. It take either one 3-volt lithium battery or two 1.5-volt silver oxide batteries (LR44 included).
Dimensions: 0.5 x 2 x 3 inches Weight: 8.8 ounces
Pros:
- easy to install
- does not require permanent installation or guitar body modification
- tone is true to the acoustic guitar
Cons:
- magnetic pickup will not work with nylon strings
- volume wheel not convenient to adjust while playing
3. 1pc Belcat SH-85 Soundhole Pickup with Active Power Jack for Acoustic Guitar
Description: The Belcat SH-85 is another great option, especially if you're on a budget. You can usually pick this one up for under $20.
It will fit any soundhole ranging from 3 11/16" up to 4 ⅛". It is one single unit that fit into the soundhole with the cord draped across the front of the guitar. You will need to screw the input jack into the bottom of your guitar's body.
Dimensions: 7.87 x 5.91 x 1.18 inches Weight: 6.4 ounces
Pros:
- inexpensive
- fits most guitars
Cons:
- tone can be a bit bright
- must use a screwdriver to put in and take out every time
4. Seymour Duncan SA-3HC Woody HC Hum-Canceling Acoustic Soundhole Pickup True Tune Tuner Bundle 11500-31
Description: Seymour Duncan is one of the most trusted names in guitar gear manufacturing. The Woody is one of the reasons why.
It gets it's name from it's outer wood casing. Inside it is double potted to cut down on feedback. It is designed to be hum-canceling and give off a thicker, more compressed sound. That should translate into a warm and rich acoustic tone.
The Woody should fit most standard sized soundholes 3.75" - 4.0".
Weight: 9.6 ounces
Pros:
- easy to install
- warm tone
- no need to modify your guitar body
Cons:
- magnetic pickup will not work with nylon strings
Piezo/Undersaddle Pickups
5. K&K Pure Mini Acoustic Guitar Pickup
Description: The K&K Pure Mini is one of the top rated pickups on this entire list. It has a simple design that needs no battery to operate. You just put it in place and you are good to start playing.
You will have to drill a hole for the endpin jack and positioning the small transducer pickups can be difficult, especially if your arms are larger than the soundhole in your guitar. Each pickup is "assigned" to two strings on the guitar. This method allows you to get a much fuller sound and true tone of an acoustic.
Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches Weight: 3.2 ounces
Pros:
- balanced sound
- captures natural tone of the guitar
- no battery or pre-amp needed
Cons:
- placement of the pickups can be cumbersome and are superglued in place making it a challenge to readjust
6. Luvay Acoustic Guitar Pickup, Piezo Contact Microphone Transducer for Acoustic Guitar, Ukulele, Violin, Mandolin, Banjo, Cello, Kalimba, Harp etc.
Description: The Luvay Acoustic Guitar Pickup has a pretty unique design. All of the other pickups being reviewed today either fit in the soundhole or are located on the inside of the guitar body. This pickup sticks right on the outside.
Now, depending on how you feel about using an adhesive on the outside of your guitar, this can be a good thing or a bad thing. It does make it VERY easy to install. It also means the size is not an issue and can be used with any guitar as well as a whole host of other instruments (ukulele, banjo, mandolin, violin, etc)
The adhesive is reusable if you decide to take it off. This pickup features a 10 ft amplifier cable with a standard ¼" connector.
Dimensions: 5.9 x 1.2 x 3.3 inches Weight: 1.6 ounces
Pros:
- easy to use
- works with a wide range of instruments
- inexpensive
Cons:
- can be difficult finding the best spot to place on your instrument
- must stick to the body of your guitar with reusable adhesive
In-Guitar Microphone
7. Wireless USB Microphone for instruments - Audio & Music Recording System, Instant Recorder for Laptop & Phone
Description: So this is technically not a guitar exclusive pickup. It is a cardioid-like condenser microphone. You simply stick the unit to the outside of your instrument and position the goosneck microphone into the soundhole.
Once you have everything in place, you plug the USB receiver into your computer or other recording device and it will transmit wirelessly. This unit is plug n' play and works with a computer, iPhone, iPad, Garageband, etc. It also comes with a rechargeable lithium battery.
Dimensions: 6 x 2.5 x 1 inches Weight: 10.4 ounces
Pros:
- decent microphone
- plug n' play
- easy to use
Cons:
- can be difficult to mount
- short battery life
Blended Pickup System
8. L.R. Baggs ANTHEM Acoustic Guitar Pickup
Description: The L.R. Baggs ANTHEM is the top choice on this list. It is an all around excellent pickup.
The addition of a microphone helps to pick up the mids and higher frequencies that are often missed by other piezo style pickups. Combine that with the piezo grabbing the lower tones and you have a full and rich sound.
This unit will fit most standard sized soundholes. The microphone and transducer level control is located inside the soundhole and is mostly out of sight. Both of these controls allow you full control of the mix between highs, mids, and lows so you can get the sound you want.
Dimensions: 6 x 4 x 2 inches Weight: 8 ounces
Pros:
- great sound
- high strings are picked up easily
- blend style of mic and pickup gives you more control over a full sound
Cons:
- preamp can drain battery quickly if not turned off
- volume and blend knobs are not clearly labeled
Buying Advice
To really get what you want out of an acoustic guitar pickup, you have to know what you're looking for. Sure you want to amplify your guitar, but there are several different methods of doing that. Let's get clear on what you need.
What is a pickup?
A pickup is a small device that either attaches or is inserted into the guitar to pickup the sound and convert it into a signal that can be used by an amp.
What to look for?
How do you know what type of acoustic guitar pickup you need? Here are a few things to consider.
Types of Pickups
There are three (actually just two) types of pickup; piezo or undersaddle and soundhole. We say there are three because you can also lump in-guitar mics into the pickup discussion.
Piezo (Undersaddle & Contact Pickups)
A piezo pickup works by detecting the vibrations a guitar makes. Basically, they contain a form of compressed quartz crystal material. That material reacts to the change in pressure that occurs from the guitar vibrating.
Because it measures vibration instead of a break in a magnetic field, piezo pickups work just as well with nylon string guitars as they do with standard steel strings. The pickups are also generally a lower profile than magnetic pickups.
Soundhole/Magnetic Pickups
A soundhole pickup is exactly what it sounds like. A pickup that is placed in the soundhole of your guitar. They will have either a single coil magnet or humbucker inside of them.
The humbucker is bigger then the single coil because it is basically two single coil magnets. It gets it's name from the way it can prevent the hum that is commonly associated with a single coil pickup.
Magnetic pickups work by creating a magnetic field around each string. When the string vibrated, it disturbs that magnetic field and the signal is then sent to your amplifier. Because it relies on magnetism, magnetic pickups will not work with nylon string guitars.
In-Guitar Mic
In-guitar microphones are small mics that can fit in the body of your guitar. They take the sound produced by your instrument and transmit it to your amplifier.
Because it is a mic and taking sound directly and not measuring a magnetic field or vibrations, you will most often get a "truer" representation of what you guitar sounds like.
Blended
Blended pickups are just a combination of either soundhole or piezo pickups and an in-guitar mic. You will most often get the best sound from a blended system because it is getting the best of both worlds.
Some models, like the L.R. Baggs ANTHEM Acoustic Guitar Pickup allow you to adjust both the mic and the pickup and mix them together to your own specific taste.
Best Sounding
You will most often get the best sound from a blended style pickup that gives you control over the mix of mic audio and pickup audio.
Overall Top choice
Again, our top pick for best guitar pickup is the L.R. Baggs ANTHEM Acoustic Guitar Pickup. You have full control over how you mix the sound coming from the internal microphone and the undersaddle pickup.
When you want to amplify your playing you want it to sound crystal clear and truly show off the acoustic tone of your instrument. This blended pickup system does just that.
Top Soundhole/Magnetic Pickup choice
The best soundhole/magnetic pickup, in our opinion, is the Seymour Duncan SA-3HC Woody HC Hum-Canceling Acoustic Soundhole Pickup True Tune Tuner Bundle 11500-31. Not only is it a name we trust but it really delivers on providing a nice, rich, warm, acoustic tone.
Plus, it does not require ANY body modification and will fit almost every acoustic guitar soundhole you throw at it. It also looks really nice and is available in multiple wood stains to match your guitar.
Top Undersaddle/Contact Choice
The top choice for undersaddle/contact pickup is the K&K Pure Mini Acoustic Guitar Pickup. You will have to modify the base of your guitar in order to place the input jack but it is very lightweight and has a lowprofile.
Installation is easy and the sound you will get is incredibly satisfying. As of the time of this writing, this pickup has almost 5 out of 5 stars and just under 500 reviews. That's a huge sample size and should tell you this is a great choice.
Conclusion
There you have it! Here are 8 different types of acoustic guitar pickup reviewed. We have selected the top pickups available today that will fit any budget, any guitar, and any use. Rock on!
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