Classical Guitar Amplification

Concert-level classical guitars are designed to be heard well, even in large concert halls. Even our student guitars are loud enough for most venues. However, in some situations, where the classical guitar must compete with other instruments, or where there may be other distractions in a crowded venue, additional amplification may be needed.

Ordinary pick-ups and amplification systems often distort the sound of the guitar, resulting in an unpleasant tone, extraneous noises, and, in many cases, feedback problems. The classical and acoustic guitar pick-ups and amplifiers sold by the Goyette Guitar Center are designed to enhance the natural sound of the guitar, without distortion or feedback problems.

We carry the five most popular models of the UltraSound amplifiers, which are regarded by many as the standard by which all other acoustic guitar amplifiers are judged. They are reasonably priced and are specifically designed for classical and acoustic guitars. They will not work well with “electric” solid body guitars. The reverse is also true. Amplifiers designed for most electric guitars will not work well with acoustic and classical guitars. Designing a single amplifier, which would ideally suit both types of guitars, would result in much unnecessary expense.

Classical and Acoustic guitar pick-up systems fall into two basic categories, active and passive, and may be installed internally, or externally. An “active” system has its own battery-powered “pre-amp” with its own volume control, and sometimes a tone control and/or equalizer. This type of system is necessary if you are going to plug your guitar directly into the sound system at a major venue. It will boost the signal from your guitar to the level required by such systems. If you are going to plug your guitar into a standard guitar amplifier, most of which have built-in pre-amplifiers with volume and tone controls, then you don’t need an active system.  A less expensive “passive” system will do just fine. When sharing an amplifier with other instruments, you may benefit from the extra individual control provided by an “active” system.

The least expensive pick-up you can use is a basic “transducer” button which attaches internally or externally to the soundboard of your guitar, usually adjacent to the base end of the bridge. It is attached by means of a thin coat of “putty” and may be easily removed and reattached many times without damaging the finish on the guitar. The advantage of an externally mounted transducer pick-up is that it may be used with any number of guitars. An internally mounted transducer button connects internally to an endpin jack, which is permanently installed on your guitar. This is the least invasive type of internal guitar pick-up possible. The model that we sell at the Goyette Guitar Center, is in our opinion, the best on the market. It is made by Schatten, a Canadian company, and it is called the “Dualie” because the pick-up contains two transducers, instead of just one, and is much more effective than other systems we tested at reproducing the natural sound of the guitar. In most situations, you would have a hard time hearing the difference in sound between that produced by the Dualie and the more expensive systems produced by Schatten and other companies. The internally-mounted Dualie, with end pin jack, is the same price at the externally mounted version, just $59.95, and that includes installation, when applicable.

The upgraded system that we offer is also produced by Schatten, and is called the HFN-C system, and it is available in both active and passive formats. The sound of this pickup is as close to that of a good quality studio microphone as you are ever going to get.

Undersaddle pickups are used in cases where we are unable to install the HFN-C system. Some of our guitars have an unusual "lattice" type of bracing which prevents us from installing the HFC system in the proper location under the bridge of the guitar. The undersaddle pickup is installed externally underneath the saddle of the bridge and the wires pass through a small hole under the saddle and are attached internally to an end-pin jack. The system pictured below has two wheel controls, one for volume and the other for tone. The model that we recommend for classical guitars is made by LR Baggs and comes with two control wheels, one for volume and the other for tone balance.

Acoustic guitar pick-up systems: The acoustic guitars that we sell at the Goyette Guitar Center all have pickups installed by the luthier who makes them, with side-mounted 5-band equalizers and sound controls. If you already own an acoustic guitar which does not already have a pick-up installed, then you might benefit by installing one of the systems described above. We can do it for you at no charge if you live nearby.

Click on above photos for detailed descriptions, specifications, testimonials, and performance videos.

Video demonstration by Richard Goyette of pick-ups and amplification systems on classical guitars.