WorshipCentral

"I'm a fermata, hold me."

Let us know how he gets on with that.

I've tried a few and found the LR Baggs M1-active to be the most organic. It goes across the soundhole, which may give the appearance that it is cheap, but it actually sounds great. I have also heard the Sunrise pickups quite a bit and they are also great, however they definitely have a sound to them, and I m more after a pickup that doesn't add to the sound. The M1 is used by such greats as Daniel Lanois, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Ryan Adams, etc.

I think all of those high-end systems with internal mic's are lame and totally useless live, unless you enjoy feedback. I also think the Taylor systems tend to sound too good and almost fake sounding.

I should also say that I've heard a lot of people using higher end direct boxes too. Two that I've heard that are great: Demeter VTDB-2 and Avalon direct boxes. I just bought a Demeter so I'll post when I know how it improves, or doesn't...

Is there a way to post photos on the forum?

Hi Caleb, not at the moment. We will address media additions in the future.

Not more photo's of Clark?  Tim

www.lrbaggs.com (jeff tweedy, ryan adams, daniel lanois, keith urban, pete yorn)

www.sunrisepickups.com (matt redman, lyle lovett, ben harper, emmylou harris)

I just had a K&K Pure Western Mini installed on one of my guitars, and I'm pretty well pleased and surprised. It sounds good. It's a passive pickup, so no batteries. It's also really small, so no barn door on the side of the guitar. I also got it for under $100.

Just another option out of many... :)

http://www.kksound.com/purewestern.html

I have an expression system in one of my guitars. It is made by Taylor and am not sure that they will put it in a guitar that isn't made by them...

I have also heard great things about the LR Baggs Element. It is cheap and it sounds great

Not sure on who uses these other than other worship leaders I know

I use two - I am loving my D-Tar Wavelength.
D-Tar are Duncan from Seymour Duncan and Turner from Turner guitars and Alexmbic (if memory serves me right).

Anyway, they use transducer elements from radar systems for their pickups and an 18v preamp (powered by 2 AA batteries - I don't understand that bit)... but basically there is soooo much headroom on the preamp that you never get the piezo clipping or quack.
You get really even response.

Then in my more delicate guitar I use a Carlos CP1a (the older version which is now just a custom model). The guy who runs it hand makes all his pickups and basically only does custom jobs (for the likes of Eric Clapton and lots of other guitar heros). He also makes a public version too. I've got to know him over the internet because he was so amazed to find that I'd gotten hold of one. This is an amazing picking pick up! Just google carlos cp1a.

I run my gutiars through a Carl Martin Para-DI... not widely available but amazing.

I've just installed a L R Baggs iBEAM active system in my Gibson Country Western having snapped the Fishman Natural 1 UST that had been factory fit. USTs are soooooooo fussy and getting even string response is nigh on impossible (tiny amount of modelling clay can do it, but what a chore...). I like the idea of a bridge plate transducer - no more messing about! You can install it yourself, as I did, but their warranty does not apply if you do. Bought it from the US, hence half price to us Brits :-) Go weak dollar!! Replaced the saddle with a Tusq one, no more shims, job done, and so far so good.