Acoustic Guitar Microphone

If your acoustic guitar is not equipped with a pickup you may need to consider using an acoustic guitar microphone to enable yourself to be heard when performing. If it looks as if you may need to use a microphone, you may find the following information of use.

Why a Microphone?

The inclusion of acoustic guitar pickups inside guitars (or mounted outside of them) is a relatively new one. While pickups are recommended for recording purposes, it is possible to make a good quality recording using a microphone.

What Kind of Microphone?

When you are setting up a microphone for use in amplifying an acoustic guitar you may want to consider using a condenser microphone. The sound on condenser microphones is usually considered to be better than that which you can achieve through the pickups in an electric or even in an acoustic/electric guitar. The better microphones, unfortunately, are quite pricey. Condenser microphones such as the Rhode NT1A sell for about $250, or the Groove Tubes GT55 sell for less at about $150-$180.

How to Set up your Microphone

No matter which kind of microphone you chose, there is one specific position that is considered to be the best place to place a guitar microphone, and that is about five inches away from the general area of the 12th fret. You may have to adjust it a bit to get the best sound for your particular guitar and playing style, but placing your guitar near the 12th fret allows you to catch most of the high end sound. If you are attempting to send a stereo signal to your mixer, then use two microphones, putting one in front of the 12th fret, and the other about five inches away from the bridge of the guitar.