Electric guitar pickups are usually presented front and center, so you always have an idea of what kind of sound you’ll be getting. And even though most guitarists are familiar with the two different kinds of electric pickups (single-coil and humbuckers), there are tons of variations on each type, which we’ve explored in a couple of different articles.
Acoustic guitar pickups, however, are a completely different beast, as most use a piezo pickup. While both primary electric guitar pickups are magnetic, meaning they amplify the sound by creating a magnetic circuit between the pickup and the metal strings, piezo pickups are based on the vibration of the strings.
This makes sense, of course, as the sound of the acoustic is dependent upon those vibrations in relation to the body of the instrument -- and it’s the pickup’s job to recreate that. So instead of using magnets, the piezo pickup is typically made of polymers that create an electric charge that works in relation to the amount of pressure applied to them through string vibration.
Piezo Bridge Pickups
If you are looking at an acoustic-electric model guitar that comes from the factory, you likely won’t see any indication of a pickup. This is because the piezo pickup is hidden under the saddle of the bridge where they can pick up maximum vibration.
Typically all the wiring will be hidden inside the guitar for an instrument with a bridge pickup, with the 1/4” input also serving as a strap holder on the end of the guitar. This, of course, can vary depending on guitar brand and model.
As you can probably imagine, piezo pickups are not just used for acoustic guitars, but also for any stringed acoustic instruments, including upright basses, violins and cellos.
Sound Hole Pickups
You’ve probably also seen pickups inserted into the sound hole of acoustic guitars - these are often used in live and studio performances for guitars that did not come equipped with a bridge pickup. However, some acoustic players prefer these to the bridge pickup models.
Since these pickups are not in direct contact with the strings, they must be magnetic pickups, and come in both single-coil and humbucker models. Many companies manufacture both kinds, and just like with electric guitars, it’s really up to player preference as to which sounds better.
Sometimes you’ll see these types of pickups coupled with (and sometimes even made with) a sound hole cover. These covers help reduce the risk of feedback by magnetic pickups mentioned above. However, piezo pickups also can cause feedback because of how acoustic guitars are made, so sound hole covers often can come in handy with those pickups, as well.
Recording with Acoustic Guitar Pickups
Most of the time acoustic pickups are relegated to live use, as none can reproduce the natural sound of an acoustic guitar as well as using a great microphone on the instrument. However, as we mentioned in our article on how to record acoustic guitars , recording a direct input acoustic can be a great way to achieve a different acoustic sound, and may be just what your particular recording needs.
Make Pro Songs
There are 8 unique value-points inside the Sage Audio membership, so let’s go over each one so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you.
1. 50 Free Mastered Songs Per Year
- 50 free mastered songs per year with your own dedicated professional mastering engineer so you can get all your mixes sounding like professional songs.
- You’ll get your own dedicated Sage Audio mastering engineer to create custom masters that are specific to you and sound exactly how you want.
- Unlimited revisions with your dedicated Sage Audio mastering engineer. As a standard of our service, we are not happy until you are happy with the sound of your masters.
- All masters are delivered as commercial, industry-standard high-resolution 24-bit HD WAV masters so they will sound clean and clear on every platform.
2. 1-on-1 Mentorship
- The Sage Audio 1:1 Mentorship gives you direct access to us to answer all your questions and receive unlimited advanced mixing feedback directly from us.
- Unlimited direct access to us for in-depth discussions to help you improve your mixes and masters.
- Unlimited advanced mixing feedback with detailed suggestions for improvement.
- Fast communication to answer all your questions and get tailored guidance that’s specific to your needs.
3. Unlimited Mixing Feedback
- Unlimited mixing feedback so you can improve your mixes quickly.
- This is highly valuable - giving you access to a thriving community of mixing engineers who can provide feedback about what you can improve before sending your mix to be professionally mastered.
4. Sage Audio University™ (SAU) — (Mixing and Mastering Education Platform)
- SAU is a modern audio engineering education platform that includes in-depth mixing and mastering course curriculums that match the new music industry.
- SAU is designed for every experience level, ranging from first-time mixing engineers to advanced engineers. The techniques and concepts taught can be applied to any DAW to create industry-leading mixes without expensive software or plugins - and free plugin alternatives are suggested throughout every course curriculum.
- SAU course curriculums include Start-to-Finish session walkthrough lessons for multiple genres so you can follow along with your preferred genre.
- SAU Certification Document, which can be downloaded and showcased on your website, social channels, and portfolio for as long as you remain a member.
- Get first access to all future SAU course curriculums to continually build and refine your mixing and mastering skills as the industry evolves.
5. Mixing and Mastering Competitions
- Compete in Mixing Competitions and Mastering Competitions to win prizes and connect with friends and colleagues.
- This is a great collaborative way to improve your skills alongside both aspiring engineers and seasoned industry professionals.
6. Community
- The Sage Audio community is a tight-knit community of passionate audio engineers who can provide you with real-world mixing feedback, meaningful discussions, networking, collaborations, and more.
7. 70+ GB of Curated Sage Audio Downloadable Content, Including:
- 36 multitrack sessions spanning multiple genres for mixing practice.
- 57 un-mastered mixes spanning multiple genres for mastering practice.
- 62 Recommended Free Plugins List (vetted, tested, and approved, so you don’t have to).
- 39 Recommended Paid Plugins List (vetted, tested, and approved, so you don’t have to).
- 58 Sage Audio custom plugin presets to improve your mixes and masters.
- Sage Audio Membership Badge to showcase on your website, social channels, and portfolio.
8. 700+ Video Catalog
- Access 700+ in-depth Sage Audio mixing and mastering videos - curated and organized into playlists so you can take a deep dive into all aspects of audio engineering with thousands of hours of concise, expertly crafted Sage Audio videos to continually improve your mixing and mastering skills at your own pace.
