F-218 Acoustic

[Barstoolprophet]

[Barstoolprophet]

[Barstoolprophet]

[charles]

Thanks for sharing! As I noted in the other F-218 thread, we know nowadays that the F- models are early Martin copies.

[Barstoolprophet]

Thanks, Charles:) such a great guitar, and it's sound has only gotten better with age. Beautiful tone (a friend of mine finds the action a little high but I don't agree), would pick up another in a heartbeat. Closest thing I've found that gives me that same vibe is a fender cd-60, I believe. Charles, do you happen to know any of the specs used for the woods in this series? I'd really like to get a pickup for it, but one that can maintain the guitars natural vibrance and tonality. Thanks for this great site!

[charles]

These ones usually have spruce tops, rosewood sides & backs, and mahogany necks.

I have sometimes used a Seymour Duncan acoustic pickup (I have an "Acoustic Tube" but the "Woody is much more attractive looking http://www.seymourduncan.com/acoustic). I like them because they do not require any modification to the guitar and can just be popped in to any acoustic when you want to use them.

[ItchyFingers]

Nice! I now know what a fine guitar these are. Confirmed.
Nice hint on the seymour duncan pickup. I am going to try one of those someday.
For now, I am using an SM 57 duct taped to a double tom stand. It's a bit of a pain but sounds pretty good plugged or unplugged.

[Barry]

I have a similar sound hole pickup, an el cheapo Artec WSHD-BB in Bubinga. Nice looking.
http://www.artecsound.com/acou/soundhole.htm

Not as good perhaps as the SD, but works OK for noodling around. I plug it into my little PA. Fine for practice.

[charles]

That SM57 should also give you a nice sound.

[ItchyFingers]

it does so.

[Barstoolprophet]

These ones usually have spruce tops, rosewood sides & backs, and mahogany necks.

I have sometimes used a Seymour Duncan acoustic pickup (I have an "Acoustic Tube" but the "Woody is much more attractive looking http://www.seymourduncan.com/acoustic). I like them because they do not require any modification to the guitar and can just be popped in to any acoustic when you want to use them.

Hey Charles, I'm actually going out to get a pickup for my F218, and was wondering if you notice a difference in tone when comparing the tune vs the woody. I've heard good things about the DiMarzio pickups as well, and the guy working at my local store recommended something around two hundred fifty...which I wouldn't blink at if I was getting paid for gigs, but I'm looking for something a little more modest, but that I can still rock my open mic shows. Any advice? Also noteworthy is that I may pop it in a Fender cd60, which I believe is also spruce topped and mahogany back and sides...

[charles]

Unfortunately I have not heard the tone of the "Woody" pickup. The Acoustic Tube has a fairly flat tone in order to try to just put the sound and character of your guitar out there. I managed to get my Acoustic Tube for $75 back around 2010 or so - I think that was a pretty great price.

If you get the opportunity, take your guitar in to your local guitar shop and ask to test out the offering of acoustic pickups; so you can hear the differences first-hand. You might want to try the Shure SM-57 option out as well, to see how the pickups compare to the defacto-standard instrument mic (tough this does cause you to be stationary and might not lend itself to your particular situation, depending on where and how you play).