Amplifying acoustic guitars and acoustic guitar pickups are two of the guitar industry’s most debated and misunderstood subjects. Unlike electric guitars, guitarists don’t enjoy swapping out their acoustic pickups for slight tonal shifts. Instead, it can be a lesson in patience as they go through a ton of options to find one that lets their guitar sound like…well…their guitar.
Even when guitarists find a great-sounding pickup, many impart their own tone and feel to the guitar. And then there’s feedback, and we’re not talking “Foxy Lady” here. An acoustic-electric guitar’s feedback is a howl and screech that can bring any performance to a dead stop.
Types of acoustic guitar pickups
All is not lost, however. There are a handful of pickup systems on the market to get players as close as possible to the perfect plugged-in acoustic tone, each with its strengths and drawbacks.
- Microphones (internal and external)
- Pros: The most natural-sounding way to amplify your acoustic guitar.
- Cons: Very susceptible to feedback, Amplifies unwanted body noise.
- Magnetic soundhole pickups
- Pros: Feedback resistant, simple installation, often doesn’t require modifications to the guitar.
- Cons: Least-natural-sounding pickup option. It can give acoustic guitars an electric guitar sound.
- Undersaddle piezo pickups
- Pros: Feedback resistant, most popular design, countless options on the market
- Cons: Lower-quality options have a “quacky,” unnatural tone.
- Blended pickup systems
- Pros: Offers the benefits of multiple designs while minimizing their drawbacks.
- Cons: Complicated, more expensive, not as easy to use.
Larry Fishman
No one knows more about acoustic pickups than Larry Fishman. Holder of over 30 patents in the field, Fishman – and the company that bears his name – has led the acoustic guitar amplification industry since the early 1980s. His popular products include the ground-breaking Aura Spectrum DI, the Loudbox line of pro-quality acoustic guitar amplifiers, and the Matrix Infinity and Rare Earth pickups.
The Fishman FLEX Plus-T pickup system
We are honored to include Fishman’s FLEX Plus-T pickup and preamp system in our Organic Pro Series acoustic guitars. Sonically, it boasts the same clear, warm, and natural-sounding trademarks of the Fishman tone. But, according to Larry, it’s how that tone works with the FLEX Plus-T’s low-profile design that sets it apart.
“When designing electronics for musical instruments, the function and the form…can never ever get in the way of a performer,” he said. “So, really, getting that mix right, that blend right, and also the sense of design [is important].”
From its three simple controls to the convenient battery box in the lower bout, that sentiment is the foundation of the FLEX Plus-T. In addition to the volume, you get carefully tuned controls for bass and treble. Press and hold the bass control to flip the phase for better bass response at lower volumes or feedback reduction when turned up. Do the same to the volume control, and you mute the guitar’s output while activating the easy-to-read onboard tuner.
In true Fishman fashion, the system is simple to use, its discreet design works with the contours of the guitars and sounds terrific. We couldn’t be happier to feature them on the Breedlove Organic Pro Series.
A winning combination
Amplifying acoustic guitars can be a challenge. But both Breedlove and Fishman are committed to offering reliable, professional-quality acoustic guitar solutions for every player out there. Grab a Breedlove Organic Pro Series acoustic and experience it for yourself.
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