EMG ACS
Submitted at: 21:51, 5/28/2000
Product Info
Pickup features: Active Preamp, Humbucking coil, Adjustable pole pieces.
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: US $99
Purchased from:
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Seagull, SM6
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Contemporary Folk
Reason for pickup change: Needed some sort of pickup system, but loathed the sound of anything under the saddle.
Sound
Perceived output level: The active preamp on board sets out a terrifying amount of signal for an acoustic pickup. Fortunately they included an onboard volume control.
Tone: Warm on the wound strings but percing and twangy on the unwound first and second.
Sonic evaluation: My only acoustic amp is an SWR California Blond. The amp has tremendous flexibility through its enhancer and three band EQ. In addition to all that, it also has the ability to let you turn of the high frequency tweeter and only run the 12 inch speaker. Despite all of this shaping capability, the EMG still sounds like murder on the unwound strings. The brightness is clashing and irritating to the very smooth and accurate representaiton of the wound strings this pickup spits out. Despite the fact that the polepieces are adjustable, even burrying them down as deep as possible still does not balance out the sound. Very dissapointed overall. Especially compared to my other acoustic's pickup, an Fishman Rare Earth Blender. Now that is reality plugged in.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly in the coffeehouse seen. I am of the opinion that a venue like that deserves accurate, smoothed out, mellow acoustic sounds. This pickup is not those things. However, when playing with a band and fighting for sonic space with the tubes screaming, this guitar is good for slicing thourhg the mix.
Overall Rating
Comments: If someone was clever and fast enough to yank this out of my guitar, sucks to be them. I would replace it with some rare earth variant without question. The Fishman rare earth magnet is just more balanced than any other soundhole pickup I have heard. Forget about under saddle anything, that stuff is nails on a chalkboard. The one good thing about this pickup however is the way it sounds when you plug a flat top with one of these things into an electric guitar amp, especially tube, and play with the EQ. One is rewarded with one of the most convincing jazz box, super smoky, hollow body tones I have ever heard. I am guessing that that engineering bonus is an accidental quirk. This pickup is not your best option for acoustic amplification on the market, especially for the money.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 4
Submitted at: 13:07, 8/20/99
Product Info
Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs: magnetic/soundhole
Price Paid: CDN 150
Purchased from: Vintage Guitar Trade Show
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Larrivee C-05 - Mahogany back & sides, spruce top, cutaway, 16'' lower bout, 4'' depth
Position: middle
Pickup being replaced: SH 470 Triple Play Sound System
Other pickups on guitar: EMG bridge piezo
Artists using this pickup: don't know
You musical style(s): fingerstyle and strumming using 1mm flatpick with fingers.
Reason for pickup change: Not happy with Shadow - though I could do better. Things I didn't like include 1.) tendency to feedback through mic; 2.) b string not a balanced output; 3.) pole pieces not individually adjustable; 4.) overall tone too muddy, electric sounding for my taste. The EMG ACS is the answer to all these problems.
Sound
Perceived output level:
Tone: Very little feedback but sounds bright and balanced without sacrificing middle frequencies - more "natural" then piezo by itself.
Sonic evaluation: The best compromise for all venues. The adjustable pole pieces allow for a balanced output. The combination of soundhole with EMG piezo adds greater frequency range. Both pickups are run by one 9 volt battery. Stereo output using EMG Ultrajak and stereo cable goes to a BOSS AD-5 for control of each one's level and eq. I am using a Fender Acoustisonic Junior right now and I am very satisfied with this set-up. It sounds great.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Combination fingerstyle and strumming using 1mm flatpick and fingers. The adjustable pole pieces are great for this. I find I am doing more fingerpicking. I play mostly for worship with a band, and also my own songs in solo performance.
Overall Rating
Comments: I have been playing since 1977. My first pick-up was a Martin Thinline piezo (like many other people). I tried the Shadow for about two years and liked the sound of it because of the magnetic p/u. Then I had heard good things about the EMG ACS. I have not tried many other mags except the new Fishman Rare Earth soundhole system (has a mic with it). I would definitely buy the ACS again if mine were stolen.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 9
Submitted by: Douglas MacRae <dmacrae@attcanada.net>