Classical guitar amplification

What about classical guitar amplification? Microphone or piezo or something else? What amplifier? (AER, Roland, Acus, Prodipe or something else?). I'm interested in low to mid range budget. Hi-end sets are beyond my financial reach ... ;-)

9 replies

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    • Ronjazz
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    A good microphone is always nice, through a dedicated PA system. However, for the budget-minded, the Kremona pickup combined with a good "acoustic" style amplifier with decent EQ control is very effective, and needs no altering of the instrument. I like to run through a Bose Compact, but that is somewhat pricy, although a great value, and needs an outboard processor for EQ, reverb etc.

      • retired guitar teacher
      • Marek_Tabisz
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Ronjazz Yes, I use Kremona pickup for my gigs with Schertler Julia amplifier. But in serious concert situation it does not meet my expectations. I wonder if someone has an experience with IK Multimedia iRig Acoustic Stage (no alter the instrument too - like Kremona). By the way: the Kremona has a mechanically weak socket for connecting the amplifier (I have replaced it twice a year)...

      • Martin.1
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Marek Tabisz Hi, I find the iRig to be sort of like a mic from a headphone set.. And it gets quite a lot of feedback. I had Carlos Juan, tried RMC, DPA but the best one working for me so far is the LR Baggs anthem... it has a piezo capturing up to 250hz I think and an internal mic capturing above the crossover frequency. Doesnt feedback (talking about a loud jazz drummer), doesnt require phantom power and sounds as good as an external mic with some eq... It's plug and play. And on a bigger stage you can always mix in a DPA or a Neumann on a stand.

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    • martin.3
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I have had very good experiences with the Hughes & Kettner ERA 1 (which was developed under supervision of Michael Eisenmann, Co-Founder of AER...) equipped with DPA 4099 for smaller venues, especially as the DPAs free you of carrying extra mic stands with you. I do agree with Ronjazz  that a good microphone with a dedicated PA system is always nice, but as a run and gun situation I really dig my setup.

    It does reach its limits if you want to amplify for a bigger venue, but since you could run the the output to another active monitor (or a mixer and hook up multiple monitors) you have a certain level of modularity. 

    • Emma
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Martin please, could you help me? I would like to choose my Christmas present ;) a good microphone to improve my recordings. Which one would you advice? 

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      • martin.3
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Emma Ooooh, that's always a tough one! Do you already have an interface? I don't remember 🙈 If you already have an interface, there are soooo many possibilities, but generally I'd recommend to have two microphones for stereo recordings, it's just as we are used to listen to classical music!

    • Antonio_Fernandes
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi, a few years ago I installed and LR Baggs on my Jose Ramirez E4, it's really good value for money. Sounds amazing, totally reccommend! 

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      • martin.3
      • 3 yrs ago
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      António Fernandes those are great pickups, I only knew them on acoustic guitars like Taylor and Martin (the best name for a guitar in my opinion).

      • David_Chidsey
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Martin hi Martin! I’m having trouble creating a new post. I’d like to share my Christmas video with Taiwo. Merry Christmas 🎁🎄 a duet from West Africa and Northern Wisconsin https://youtu.be/5ZyV4W4A-3s

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