External mic

What is it? Let’s not totally discount the good old microphone! While a pickup is the practical choice for the vast majority of modern gigging situations, there are times when a mic is just fine. You’ll need low levels of ambient noise, and a relatively constant playing position if the mic is to be placed on a stand. Mic choice is very much a matter of environment and sound preference, but nothing sounds more natural at the end of the day. What preamp and power does it need? You’d run your mic straight to a mixing desk/PA or mic preamp, or indeed to a modern acoustic amplifier that has a mic-specific channel. Condenser mics need their own power supply or phantom power from the preamp or desk, while dynamic mics usually require no power at all. A condenser tends to be the best mic choice for acoustic guitars in terms of sound and frequency response. How to fit it A great mic stand is always money well spent! Experiment with the optimum position, which tends to be somewhere between the soundhole and 12th fret, to avoid booming from the soundhole itself. You can even get clamps that attach to your guitar body so the mic is always in the same position. Upsides: The most natural sound of all; no mods required to the guitar Downsides: Impractical – hard to deal with on stages because of spill, physical positioning constraints and feedback issues Our top three picks Neumann KM184 AKG C314 K&K Meridien