Suggest an acoustic guitar with built-in mic/etc

[Escapegoat]

I tried an Ovation years ago, and that had the fairly typical clacky (piezo?) built-in electronics. Added some chorus and it was OK, but I can only remember it sounding 'right' for '80s rock ballads. I suppose/hope thing have moved on and I'm looking for an acoustic which is more conventional in its tone, like a mic-ed up acoustic. Mainly for recording into a digital portastudio thingy, but also for playing unplugged from time to time.

Seems that Taylor and Martin both have options for electronic systems. And I'm sure I remember hearing about a guitar with a proper built-in mic, but Google's not helping. Suggestions, please?

Budget is 750-1000, don't mind a used guitar, either. US/Japan/UK/etc - all OK.

[B17NNS]

I've got a J185 which sounds lovely. Might need a bit of budget creep though

[Eddie Strohacker]

Every time I hear a Godin Multiac, I think I have to have one in my life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiiPJmtGjbs

[languagetimothy]

I have several electro acoustics, including a couple,of Fenders. My main one is a Martin GPCPA4. They use fishman but not the slider type. It has two knobs, tone and volume but also the tone knob has a phase control which increases bass response, and a built in tuner.

I really like the sound of it plugged in (and of course unplugged) thru a PA or acoustic amp.
The TAylor I had before was a great guitar but I didn't like the plugged in sound. Each to their own...

Anyway, here's the Martin. I think I paid about 1200 for it about three years ago.

[Escapegoat]

Thanks chaps. That Godin is a bit of an oddball - is it quite quiet when played unplugged? Looks likethe best of the Fishman systems is only available on the high-end Martins - possibly only the ones out of my budget. :-/

The other thing that came up while looking for videos of the guitars mentioned above was this suggestion - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwa2DiFnCA - some weird combination of soundhole pickup plus a teeny tiny mic! That should work with any normal acoustic, and would open up the choices.

[singlecoil]

I think if you get a decent guitar with a decent piezo pickup you will be happy with it, plus it will be less sensitive to microphonic feedback problems. Alternatively, and especially if you are not going to play live, then a decent condenser mic on a boom stand in front of it will get you the best sound.

Eddie Strohacker said:

Every time I hear a Godin Multiac, I think I have to have one in my life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiiPJmtGjbs

I actually have one of those but I've come to the conclusion that the wide fretboard doesn't suit me. I got it because of the synth access, I have a VG-99 which I really like the twelve-string sounds on, but I'm going to convert a Strat to use with it instead. Can't sell it yet because I'm waiting for a spare piezo transducer to come from Godin, the RMC units which are fitted to them, although sounding very good, are prone to failure after a few years.

[Eddie Strohacker]

I like them for the amped nylon string tone, not fussed about the synth side, so probably overkill & I doubt they're up to much acoustically. Still want one though. The wants are the wants.

[Escapegoat]

singlecoil said:

Alternatively, and especially if you are not going to play live, then a decent condenser mic on a boom stand in front of it will get you the best sound.

You over-estimate my ability to keep still while playing! :-o

Having bewlidered myself with dozens of YT demos, I'm likely to go the 'normal' under-saddle piezo route first (=lots of choice to find something playable), and then think about one of the external Fishman/etc preamp things if it needs help to be worth recording.

[niallf]

I have a Larrivee acoustic that has a Fishman Aura internal pre-amp, I've also recorded an album with a guitarist using a Taylor acoustic with an external Fishman Pre-Amp using the Taylor's internal pick-up and a Taylor guitar 'profile', both work amazingly well. I also have a cheaper Aria acoustic with a Piezo pick-up under the bridge saddle, it works, but it's a mile away from the Fishman systems. The Piezo system needs significant EQ'ing, the Fishman systems sound like a mic'ed guitar with virtually no EQ'ing. These days Larrivee use LR Baggs pick-ups in their acoustics, but I've no experience of those. The Fishman pickups are expensive, but they are very impressive systems.