DeArmond 260

Submitted at: 8/30/93

Product Info

Pickup features: piezo-magnetic sensor, balanced output, easy install
Impedance or other specs:
Price Paid: $65
Purchased from: Cambridge Music Center, Cambridge, MA

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: acoustic guitar
Position: Sound hole
Pickup being replaced: Dean Markley Artist Model
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
Your musical style(s): blues/jazz/classic rock
Reason for pickup change: The Markley (which was already the second one) died.

Sound

Perceived output level:
Tone: balanced if you use phosphor bronze strings, extra-"bright" if steel strings are used.
Sonic evaluation: Among pickups for acoustic guitars, I've found this one to be one of the best (for the money). The piezo- magnetic "sensor" basically combines the sounds of the string vibration that a single coil humbucking pickup would give with the vibrations from the guitar's body that a piezo-electric transducer would pick up. Some people have complained that earlier versions of this model had problems including: The wire would become frayed where the wire met the transducer, and also the spring clamp did not hold the transducer tightly in the sound hole causing an annoying buzz. I've not found either of these problems in the 2 years I've been using it. I have found that this pickup may produce some hiss when in an electrically noisy room.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Overall Rating

Comments: As far as acoustics go, I'm satisfied with this one.
On a scale of 1 to 11, I give this pickup a: 10

Submitted by: Ivans Chou <ichou@acs2.bu.edu>