How To Get The Best Sound From your Acoustic Guitar!

Sire R7 DS in Natural - tinyurl.com/y3yrobtm
Fender Acoustasonic 40 Combo Amp - tinyurl.com/yxoolbhk
AER Compact 60 Mk4 Combo Amp - tinyurl.com/yyj6nmgu
Shure SM57 Dynamic Instrument Microphone - tinyurl.com/y6gfbnxe
Neumann KM184 Cardioid Condenser Mic - tinyurl.com/yyjruvkl
Our resident acoustic expert Ben sits down with Cap to explore the different ways to get a great acoustic sound. Is it best to mic them up? How does an electro-acoustic DI sound? What about acoustic amps? Hmm...
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[@michaelbentley4182]

This series has the potential for a really long run. Ben is excellent - well done Captain...

[@bensmithguitar]

Thanks Michael. :-)

[@kokomi.77]

Ben is a star really enjoy his playing

[@christurner2398]

Please redo the Rig Your Mate Will Hate concept with Ben and Chappers. Give Chappers one acoustic with one mic and Ben a shred machine with a Kemper 😂

[@bensmithguitar]

I'm totally game for that!

[@davidtomkins4242]

bensmithguitar jimmy might give chappers a run for his money on the shredding as well!

[@daraghwallace]

I didn't even know Seth Rogan played guitar

[@robeasthope6494]

Daragh Wallace I was going to say the same thing 😂

[@howardpayne3983]

Ben is a terrific choice, natural, warm and a terrific acoustic player. Well done guys

[@Jacksonade]

Fenomenal player, just what this series needed. With Ben you can really enjoy these instruments. Well done.

[@ethanmcgillan8140]

Really liking this series so far, very good info and playing! Keep up the great work lads!

[@soultylive]

Honestly best take here on how to set your acoustic guitar session! And I've seen a lot on YT. Basic take away for me, MIC is a must. The drop D tuning also is really nice for better evaluating low frequency response. Great job.

[@mattheweastel129]

Fantastic topic and some really great advice here. That Sire sounds gorgeous

[@RC32Smiths01]

Acoustic tonality and sounds is I think way harder to implement and apply than Electric because it's more strict and you have less to work with. This is valuable advice!

[@DanaDickeson77]

Loving the new series. Keep them coming! Cheers from Canada!

[@MatthewJohnCrittenden]

Another thumbs up for Ben, good addition to the team.

[@robertnewell5057]

Thanks so much for this. Leaving aside the practicalities (feedback, etc), only the Neumann sounds like an acoustic guitar (i.e. no quack, crash, clack, groan). A brilliant vid. Now what i would LOVE you to do is a vid on how to get your best sound at an open mic session where you have minimal control over anything other than what you have in your hands and (if you are lucky) what you say to the person doing the sound on the session!

[@guitarsarebest6565]

Don't forget that Tommy's Maton has both an under saddle transducer (UST) and an internal microphone. So, in essence, his signal into the AER had both a standard pickup and a mic mixed. The soundhole cover served to trap more of the sound in the guitar to send to the pickups. The Maton pickup system is really amazing.

[@SgtSteel1]

I really enjoyed Bens playing. Very nice.

[@BeatimSteak]

Thanks for bringing him in! He's great! I'd love to learn more about picks on acoustic and maybe also a comparison for studio and live. Which pick works with piezos, which is better for microphones? Which pick for single notes? Which pick for strumming? Something like that. I'm sure Ben has a lot of knowledge and experience to share! Thank you :)

[@bensmithguitar]

Thanks! Picks are really a matter of personal taste I think, but I always prefer a really heavy pick if I'm flatpicking, at least 1.5mm. I don't know if it's coincidence, but most of my favourite players also use a heavy pick, and I think once you get used to it, you can get a huge variety of tones just by varying your grip etc.

[@naturalrestingface4909]

I'm hearing Stephen Stills in this chaps playing. Very nice!

[@FlesHBoX]

I really enjoy Ben's playing.

[@FlesHBoX]

Also, I would point out that the 57 is more than just an affordable mic. It's a workhorse of live music. Aside from having a solid sound, the thing is practically bullet proof, standing up to some quite severe physical abuse. One of my favorite mics for live sound.

[@AllanGildea]

Great stuff guys, thank you. Very informative.

[@chrisjs6123]

Great series. Ben’s playing is awesome. Love my AER60 with a Maton into it. Best acoustic sound I have ever heard. Find it very odd you don’t stock Matons. Best pickup in the business and frankly best quality too.

[@dodgedandle8311]

Couldn’t Agree more The Maton pickup system is Mega, I play it into a Keeley compressor Strymon flint then into an Acus strings for 10 Amp and it’s like a one man Orchestra Clear and Crisp

[@Aleph_Null_Audio]

I can see Ben is a man of culture and refined taste, mic'ing the guitar at the bridge.

[@rickeybecker3495]

Great video. I see it’s been out for a bit but I just ran across it. Good stuff, Thank you!

[@brentcgp]

Ben is great! Need a new Bandertons recording with him in the mix!

[@guitarnut6144]

I'd love to see pretty much any video with the archtops on the wall (or others like them), acoustic jazz??? Thanks for the vid.

[@thalstantrailwalker2393]

Nice topic. Thank you, looking forward to watching it..ok watched it. Loved the comparisons. I wish you have included something like the Katana in there in acoustic mode, so that you could tell how an acoustic amp would compare to acoustic mode of the Katana for a one stop solution (electric or acoustic) for someone who might use both during a gig, but only wants to haul one amp out, but to paraphrase Alton Brown, that's (probably) another video The AER sounds wonderful, but the Fender doesn't sound nearly as nice. It's missing a lot (IMO) in terms of bottom and midrange. One of the best things Ben does is to play the same (or similar) riffs, allowing me to skip back and forth to compare tones. Thank you for doing that. Overall, a nice video and for me, definitely worth the time to watch.

[@MrNightspore68]

That's a good question. I've just starting using the acoustic mode on my Katana and I'm wondering how it compares to the AER. It seems good to me, but as I recall from a demo a number of years ago, the AERs are much clearer and airier.

[@jahsus23]

The new mate is too polite to tell Lee to give him some space and let tell his story 🤣

[@daddio307]

2 things, and obviously it all comes down to personal preference, general look-up-able knowledge suggests that around 12" from the 12th fret yields the 'best' response with a reduction of the boominess that can come from having it closer to the soundhole. Also, it would have been appropriate to introduce the Boss RC 10r into the equation, which seems like a fairly ideal live solution.

[@waynechurchill7212]

So much info greAt job

[@Xenious]

I have learned the SM57 I have would be pretty darn solid for acoustic recording which I honestly would not have tried previously. I have also learned I long for a Neumann KM184 now. :)

[@thewalrus1968]

Im using a 3sigma IR setup DI'd through the headrush with a piezo IR and a soundhole IR blended . Having great results.

[@ksmith752]

Great video, this guy gets me wanting to pick up the acoustic again and though I'll never play live its cool to learn about it. If Tommy Emmanuel says do it, I'm doing it. I can't do anything else he does but I can manage that bit.

[@bensmithguitar]

Do it! Apart from anything, if you play acoustic for a couple of days, then next time you pick up your electric it'll feel SO easy!

[@karl-wilhelmschreitz8549]

Hey mister Anderton, do not underestimate the value/market for acoustic guitars! Make more of these videos with Ben! He is the Peter Honore of acoustics! do not mind my poor german english!

[@bciecko1]

Good video with a bunch of great tips but I do think this is better titled how to record/set up live sounds/amplify-instead of how to get your acoustic to sound better in general for playing at home by oneself.

[@nathancurriston4529]

His playing is so nice

[@DAAN_MUSIC]

Sweet topic! 👌 I really have trouble recording acoustics sometimes. 🔥

[@bensmithguitar]

I know what you mean! For what it's worth, I always start really simply, with a decent single mic and some good headphones so you can hear where it sounds best, and if possible, a nice sounding room. I have a little home studio, but my acoustics always sound best in my kitchen, so I'll use a single mic fairly close, then maybe a room mic or 2, depending on what I'm recording it for, and whether it needs to be stereo etc.

[@Davman316]

This is great. Someone should promote the Captain.

[@graemero5532]

Admiral Anderton ...Lol

[@davidtomkins4242]

Davman i think he promotes himself more than enough already!

[@CrypTicCMaK]

as an electric guitar main, this was a super interesting video honestly!

[@bensmithguitar]

Thanks!

[@stainlesssteve25]

Great video lads, i use an lr baggs m80 in the soundhole and it does the job for me. I'm not a fan of the piezo quack!

[@CarlWilliams-sp4zy]

Excellent video, so difficult to get a good acoustic sound without feedback, thinking about the fishman loudbox performer.

[@akwamarsunzal]

Shame you didn´t feature the Behringer V-Tone preamp. It is an amazing DI that allows control of the acoustic tones straight into a PA. For 20 euros, you really cannot go wrong!

[@rosshorne4769]

Great video. I’d be delighted to see what his own live rig is?

[@mdowney14]

Great video and I really dig that guitar. What’s your thoughts on the Sire R7 vs other dreadnoughts in that price range?

[@RemoSforza]

Amazing !

[@pacovl46]

The piece he plays reminds me of Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain.

[@pau1my1an]

Made me think more of Lee Dewyze - Blackbird Song

[@pacovl46]

pau1my1an oh my god! I totally forgot about the blackbird song! Thank you very much for bringing it back to my attention! It’s an awesome song! 🙂

[@thehowlingterror]

Which room mics used? What type of software reverb... as in Plate? Small room? Medium room? Compression used during post? EQ? Be interested to know.

[@PleaseDonate]

Were the strings on this guitar ones that would just typically be used with standard tuning? The low D string sounded a teensy bit weak (low tension).

[@wls64]

great acoustic skills. Wondering if you guys could demo the Tonewood amp, also curious if / how well the E-bow works on an acoustic. Thanks

[@waynechurchill7212]

Great great info

[@MrDivingbubbles]

How about a test using aftermarket pickups ? Great video btw.

[@DANWRIGHTITIS]

GREAT VIDEO LADS!! I use the Fishman Loudbox mini Sounds great, but the ´Tolex´remiinds me of the fake leather jacket i got from BRIDGEND market LIPTONS when I was 12!! I got the TC BODYREZ on your recommendation!! Cant wait to pair it with my new ALVAREZ BARITONE end of this month xxx

[@rasinCaine_Gen]

Good video

[@deancheese1006]

More Acoustic PARADISO!!!!!! Please do Maton guitars!!!!!!

[@guitarmaned5884]

Thanks for a very well done and informative video! Could you tell me a bit about the contact mic that's being blended with the undersaddle pickup?

[@TimShoebridge]

Great discussion and comparisons. Really useful. Would you guys recommend trying mic-ing the acoustic amps rather than just DI, ie. the same as you might for electric guitar? Do the acoustic amps have enough character “in the room” to warrant that kind of approach...?

[@bensmithguitar]

Good question, I think that I'd tend to send the DI signal to the PA and use the amp speaker as a stage monitor. That way you get to control and tweak your sound with the preamp, hear yourself well onstage, and the engineer then gets a nice 'pre-shaped' but full spectrum sound to work with in the larger FOH system.

[@sewing1243]

The only problem with KZbin video demos like this are the listener's speakers or headphones vary greatly (not to mention what algorithms are being used for processing the audio for upload and download, the listen device's d to a convertor and processing).

[@graemeelliott4147]

TE also suggests putting the AER Compact 60 on the floor.

[@konstantinoskompitsakis7613]

I would like to see a video about the best rig with p-90s. Proper amps and pedals for new and vintage sounds

[@bensmithguitar]

I love P90's, amd for me, the best rig is just straight into a good amp, then turn it up... But that's for Rooots stuff - Country, blues, Americana, rock 'n' roll etc. If you need a load of modulation effects or tons of gain or something I've found P90s work well, but as with any single coil, they can sometimes pick up a bit of noise, but they really sound cool, so who cares!

[@sneifert1968]

It's hard to see by the angle/ position of the guitar, but you should have noted that the mics should be positioned above the 12th fret and usually 12-16 inches away.

[@marcionobrega5117]

Adorei o violão 🙋🙋🙋

[@gawydion]

Great! Not a super tv star performance like Pete or Rob but very informative and that tone, man...

[@borz666]

Would be nice if the captain would let Ben talk.

[@DavidYarber]

LOVE the fingernails!

[@bensmithguitar]

You wait til you see the new ones! ;-)

[@michaeldionne3139]

What about using a microphone into the mic input of an acoustic guitar amp as a way to amplify and apply effects to an acoustic guitar without onboard pickups? I don't see videos of that on KZbin.

[@brocluno01]

And, in the end, I like "a bit of everything" best :)

[@mandolin-george-uk]

Multi point recording seems best to capture full range of guitars. Does this mean the atmosfeel system of Yamaha (3 sources )is perhaps a really good solution ?

[@arthurdavis5729]

Surprised there was no mention of the TC Bodyrez pedal which does a lot to mitigate piezo quack. Andertons currently selling it for £72.

[@bensmithguitar]

I've never heard of that, I'll have a look next time I'm in..

[@slapshot0417]

How does Ben feel about billy strings? And you guys should have him on for a interview

[@dommccaffry3802]

Lr baggs pick up, aer amp , david oddy guitar. That sorts me out. Guild jumbo as second acoustic.

[@nesquik2285]

Tfw ben is literally your guitar teacher

[@omegabri]

Sweet guitarist Ben. Nice playing. What is your guitar tuned at? Doesn't sound std tuning. Hope to see a lot more acoustic vids, Lee. Ben's clearly a top player. Dude knows his stuff 😉

[@bensmithguitar]

Thanks Brian, glad you enjoyed it. I've got it in drop D for this video (DADGBE)

[@omegabri]

@@bensmithguitar Cheers Ben. Great licks buddy! I thought it was (after me playing about) , in fact put one of mind into drop D, and I've been playing around with trying to follow your playing. Very nice mate! You'll have to some lesson vids, for those licks 😉👍👍 Thanks for the reply, Ben. Cheers. Bri

[@bensmithguitar]

@@omegabri I'm going to try and do a couple of lesson videos before the end of the week , so I can include some drop D stuff no problem. :-)

[@omegabri]

@@bensmithguitar What a star! Thanks dude 👍 Look forward to seeing and hearing it, Ben😉 Cheers again. Bri

[@GigglingDickhead]

pretty much all of it sounds great to me

[@39MercFlathead]

Excellent! But the thing that impressed me the most was that both of you pronounce Neumann relatively well. Americas always say "new man." Your French name pronunciation is pretty good also. Now if you could get some help with Spanish names I would be ecstatic.

[@bensmithguitar]

I'll try my best!

[@chedhead3278]

Thanks for doing this, as you said, a can of worms. Could probably do a show a week all year on it. :)

[@patrickcarroll1754]

Anyone have any experience w/ a Fender Acoustisonic Junior amp? Would you plug straight into the input or would mic it and use it as a p.a?

[@VaughnFelixMusic]

I’ve got a Martin D, high end, and it hates the E note on the 4 th and 5th string, it sounds muffled and boomy, like the wood doesn’t vibrate to that frequency? I’ve had it adjusted a few times but nothing changed it, any ideas?

[@michaelluke2264]

Professionally priced.... :-)

[@1revwilly]

Awesome! :-)

[@s4tchowns]

Hey Ben did you just play a part from Treetop Flyer? :)

[@bensmithguitar]

Not on purpose, but entirely possible!

[@chipsterb4946]

Is the piezo pickup naturally bass heavy or is that how you have the amps set? Demonstrating mixing in the contact mic was great thanks.

[@bensmithguitar]

That was probably me, the onboard EQ is really pretty good on that, but I may have made it a bit bass heavy for some tastes - it has been known! ;-)

[@chipsterb4946]

bensmithguitar - P.S. can you tell me what that gorgeous guitar on the left wall with f-holes is?

[@bensmithguitar]

@@chipsterb4946 I think it's a Hohner - it's definitely old!

[@TNeukoelln]

I really like Bens playing style. Does he or his duo have a youtube channel? Thx

[@Nigel-ie6gy]

Hi check out Smith and Brewer . Highly recommended highly talented and great songs

[@TNeukoelln]

@@Nigel-ie6gy thanks, Nigel!

[@SmithBrewer]

We do! *waves* :-)

[@duncanearley]

The explanation at 4:09 is a bit lacking. Most acoustic players with go DI into the PA and if they are nice to the sound guy they will get a nice sound. Or they are the person that owns a mini PA and they have to make it sound good. This vid didnt cover that off at all?

[@chrisloughead1465]

Could just put on a decent set of medium gauge strings and buy a reliable tuner, this can work wonders !

[@philmus1]

Of course, to reduce feedback, you could always use a sound hole plug

[@bensmithguitar]

Good point, I know a lot of people do use them, I've just never really got on very well with them, but I'm sure that's me, not them!

[@chrisminer5884]

I know it's subjective but I think soundhole pickup is by far the best for acoustic is a much better sound.far nicer

[@user-ph1ji8qg2d]

Please add comparison samples without pauses in the end of such videos

[@mistermonsieur7890]

Ben there, done that.

[@nalatreborrenoclaf9648]

Carol vorderman once said, your acoustic guitar will sound better if you tune your low E string to D. Ben must have taken notice. 😊

[@MrWhit30]

Start with the guitar, before the electronics. 1. I like as heavy ga strings (new ones) as I can play/and the guitar can support. Cause-loud. 2. Action as high as you can comfortably play. Cause again-louder. 3. Well finished frets, nut and saddle, well adjusted truss rod. Eliminates buzzing and facilitates max playing feel. In summary, a good luthier set up to get the most acoustically out of the guitar. After that, the advice in the video is pretty good.

[@Sam-w9des]

what song is he playin? his original?

[@ledhendrix5054]

Do it the Kirk Hammett way.......5 wahs and a mic job done.

[@tjayw03]

Serious question, can you play an acoustic electric guitar through an average guitar amp?

[@j.dviant]

You can but you shouldn't because you can mess up your amp. Unless your amp also has a dedicated acoustic channel like a Boss Katana.

[@bensmithguitar]

You totally can, and it won't damage the guitar or amp, but in my experience, through a valve/tube amp it probably won't sound that good if you're looking for a straight up,clean amplified acoustic sound, but if you want it funky and bluesy it can work great. Solid state stuff tends to work better as it normally has more clean headroom, but as a standard electric amp won't have a tweeter, they often lack the high end definiton that most people are looking for in an ampified acoustic guitar sound. I've managed to get really pretty good amplified acoustic sounds using the guitar premp and a little powered PA speaker in the past too.

[@boxertwinjeff]

That Acoustic looks like it could be an Olsen? ❤

[@omegavisualbranding]

Those DRAG hands. Freshly nail polished in silver.

[@PhilippeArantesTina]

Guys! I need your help. Soon i will be 30 and i´m looking for a good looking and sounding electro acoustic guitar in the price tag of the 1100€ top for my birthday! It has to be a very good looking guitar. I´ve been looking for a over a year but i can´t find a jaw dropping one.

[@j.a.s.1416]

Might get crap about this but honestly Yamaha LL series 16 ARE and higher models sound and play absolutely amazing. This is subjective of course. But about $700 American should be less in Euros.

[@flatmatt123]

I’d say look for a used faith blood moon I have one and it sounds and looks great

[@DigitizeFilms]

Ben is the KIng

[@bensmithguitar]

You're too kind! 😉

[@vaughnmaurt5013]

That under saddle piezo sound is like finger nails on a chalk board

[@dkbryant67]

It would be nice to see what the boss katana mark 2 series sounds like with an acoustic guitar. All of the demos that are out there are of electric guitars but considering the katana has an acoustic setting it would be nice to see how that sounds.

[@andertons]

Errrrr.... we did that in our Katana Mk2 demo!!

[@dkbryant67]

@@andertons Sorry I will have to go back and watch that again. I didn't remember seen that

[@dkbryant67]

Unless I am watching the wrong one, I watched 032 minutes of the Release date video and I didn't see anyone olaying an acoustic guitar. In fact it was mentioned that they weren't going to do they acoustic in that video.

[@andertons]

Watch the one where we use Katana with a band. Watch all the way to the end.

[@dkbryant67]

@@andertons OK got it thank you. Guess I didn't watch that 1 all the way to the end

[@ethanschafer4684]

Hey that’s the smith and brewer guy

[@bensmithguitar]

It is!

[@ethanschafer4684]

I follow y’all on the gram

[@earthprisoner]

Cardioid is referring to the 'heart shape' not an Ice cream cone

[@jeremy_woods]

I’m only down here looking for Seth Rogan comments and BAM! First one😂😂

[@sugarlife485]

that Sire sounds like its 4 grand wtf!!!

[@FloridaManRacer]

form everything I've seen on them, they're GREAT for the price they ask....