Dean Markley SC-1 Pro Mag

single coil
no controls.
solder-free plug!

The p/u fitted the sound hole fine. It was a bit tight at first. No damage done to the guitar.

Epiphone PR700

bit quiet.

I did like the sound slightly overdriven through a tube amp, but i wouldn't say it was particularly acoustic-y

It did break, after some years of very light usage, it just stopped working.

The coils are encased in resin to help stop acoustic noise, and make it more robust. However, the resin also makes it impossible to fix a bad connection.

I think the problem is probably the cable that comes with it - it's pretty flimsy

Pickup features: single coil; passive; mounts without making holes
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 1970 Sigma DR-12-7
Position: middle
Pickup being replaced: n/a
Other pickups on guitar: n/a
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): folk; alternative; emo; country
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: suitable for gigging
Tone: it has a bright jangle or muddy thud depending on how you set it up
Sonic evaluation: Using the sigma through a Vox AC30, the tone was pretty good. Using it through an 80's Squier Champ15b with a Rockman acoustic pedal with the gain cranked and the champ on low volume you get a really good 50's style hollowbody tone. (before pickups have 1/4 outputs)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It works for everything I do

Comments: I'd probably replace it with something better if I had the money, but it's worked great for me for the past couple years. I'm not too finicky about my acoustic's amplified tone before going to amp, since, I can tweak it at the amp or throw a pre-amp in the mix.

Pickup features: Passive single coil
Impedence or other specs: 4kOHMs

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez M-340, Fender 12-string
Position: middle
Pickup being replaced: N/A
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup: ??
You musical style(s): Rock, blues, spiritual
Reason for pickup change: Tired of standing in front of a microphone without a monitor.

Perceived output level: Same as my Strat single coils.
Tone: Full range, bright and clean
Sonic evaluation: Plugged straight into my Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue (Vibrato channel). Awesome!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Worked perfectly for a recent church gig.

Comments: Would definitately replace if lost or stolen.
I've been picking for approx. 20 years.

Pickup features: Passive Single Coil Soundhole
Impedence or other specs: Unknown

Model of guitar or bass: Seagull
Position: middle
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: I doubt if any are
You musical style(s): Folk and classic rock
Reason for pickup change: I wanted to plug in

Perceived output level: Normal for a passive pickup
Tone: Sort of muddy and flat.
Sonic evaluation: Played through a Fender Champ or PA's with or without a Korg processor, it sounded exactly as it was supposed to. Neither like an acoustic or an electric. With the proper settings, it had enough acoustic qualities to pass, but barely. No ringing tones that the guitar is capable of unplugged.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For classic rock, it is passable in a pinch. For folk, it is horrible.

Comments: I bought this pickup because it was on sale, and I didn't want to drill holes in my first brand new guitar, that I had finally bought after years of playing pawn shop specials. After about 20 times of light use, I plugged it in and it was dead. It had always been stored carefully in its original plastic box. An hour of testing, replacing the cord, retesting, cussing and a trip to the trash can revealed that this would be my last Dean Markley pickup. I'll put in a peizo, holes or no holes. It just didn't impress me enough to consider buying another similar pickup. The tone was too far off from the unplugged tone of the guitar.

Pickup features: Single Coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Vintage 1950's Guild acoustic
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): all styles
Reason for pickup change: Guitar had no pickup

Perceived output level: Bright clear crisp
Tone: Bassy and muddy
Sonic evaluation: Plugged the guild into a Jc-120. This is the worst pickup ever. No response at all and it ruined the lovely tone of this guitar. It hardly picks up any thing and what is does pickup you will wish it didn't.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Unsuitable for everything

Comments:

Pickup features: Single coil
Impedence or other specs: high

Model of guitar or bass: Martin D-35, Martin D-1, Madiera dread
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): folk, rock, Christian worship and contemporary
Reason for pickup change: NA

Perceived output level: Low but right for acoustic-type sound
Tone: bassy and middy
Sonic evaluation: Mackie mixer to Ashley power amp to Sound Tech PA speakers with Zoom DSP

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Purchased this instead of piezo because of the quacking problem and also to move between guitars. The main purpose was to bring the acoustic up to the correct volume for group worship.

Comments: I read that many people fight with their pickups, assuming that the pickup makes the sound, but YOU MAKE THE SOUND. Every acoustic pup has weaknesses, and you JUST FIX THEM! It is quite possible to get a problem sound even from a premium condenser mic and preamp. Been there. So! Take this magnetic pickup and EQ out what is overbearing to you and then replace what it is missing--harmonics. I run with no EQ adjustment except for the generation of artificial harmonics with an exciter (not an enhancer!). I also compress a little and add some pitch shift and digital reverb. My goal was not to amplify the perfect acoustic tone but to create a big, swirling, rich near-acoustic sound for worship. I've used the same Pro-mag for 11 years for this purpose. Recording is a completely different story. See my web site for tips on getting good electric guitar tone for worship: www.breakfree.org (look under 'About Pastor Dave').

Pickup features: Single coil
Impedence or other specs: high

Model of guitar or bass: Martin D-35, Martin D-1, Madiera dread
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): folk, rock, Christian worship and contemporary
Reason for pickup change: NA

Perceived output level: Low but right for acoustic-type sound
Tone: bassy and middy
Sonic evaluation: Mackie mixer to Ashley power amp to Sound Tech PA speakers with Zoom DSP

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Purchased this instead of piezo because of the quacking problem and also to move between guitars.

Comments:

Pickup features: wood
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Takamine
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: This acoustic guitar didn't come with a pickup.
Other pickups on guitar: Toyota Tundra - hahahahaha
Artists using this pickup: Probably some chick singer
You musical style(s): Hard edged emotional power ballds
Reason for pickup change: I'm not going to lie to you, because ol' Rip is no liar. I like to sit by a trickling creek sometimes, alone with my thoughts about some nice piece that I saw at the club the other night, and whip out my black Takamine acoustic and pen a power love ballad. But how can I translate such sublime thoughts live on stage? My SIGNATURE Randy Rhoads Jackson V can't cover such tender territory. I need a pickup for my black Takamine acoustic that could get the job done. Ladies, my sweet melodies are brought to yo courtesy of the Dean Markley SC-1 soundhole pickup.

Perceived output level: Like a kitten purring.
Tone: Like children laughing and dancing...the sweetest sounds you've ever heard.
Sonic evaluation: Well, I gotta rubber band a lot of newspapers before I can get one of those Trace Elliot deals, so for now I have to stick to my 5150. Fortunately, the Dean Markley makes sure every oozing, gooey ounce of love and tranquility arrive unhindered to all of the little rock sluts in the audience. Let me tell you something...you know the acoustic part in "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"? Picture Jesus playing it. Now picture Jesus playing it on a really nice acoustic, like one of those Epiphone Hummingbirds. This is what this pickup sounds like.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup is used for the more sensitive me...like when I'm looking to get some and have to suck up by playing Tesla's "Love Song" on a 6 string acoustic.

Comments: This pickup is very versatile. I put a nice shiner on my little borther Randy when I swung it around like a lasso and knocked him right in the face after I caught him blowing his nose on my Slash's Snakepit concert tee.

Pickup features: Wood-covered
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: various acousic guitars
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): jazz, rock, everything
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Medium
Tone: Muddy, imbalanced
Sonic evaluation: I used this "pickup" through various amps and let me tell you, what an embarrassment. I can't imagine what it's good for. It doesn't sound like an acoustic guitar, nor an electric guitar, nor a unique new good sound. All the strings have different output levels with a "nice" LOUD B string right in the mix! There is no way to adjust the volume as pole pieces are hidden. Just horrendous. I gave it to the Salvation Army as a donation (I'm not kidding)!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments: I'd never buy it again. What a shameful product to mass produce. Why waste the time/materials?

Pickup features: Single Coil, Passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Yamaha fg150, fg411s & Guild d4
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: NONE
Other pickups on guitar: NONE
Artists using this pickup: ME
You musical style(s): Americana
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Reasonable level. It all depends on the amp, some are better than others at handling the level this puts out
Tone: Depends on the orientation and nearness to the strings
Sonic evaluation: I've used this with an old Hohner, Dean Markley, Crate and a Fender deVille as well as running it through my Carvin PA system, using all three guitars. This pickup keeps a fairly close representation of an acoustic sound with the levels reasonable. Turn them up & it gets more electric sounding.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play Americana. The pickup works well when needed.

Comments: This is an exellent pickup for the money. There are lots of them out there that don't do as well and cost a lot more. I've been using this quite a lot since I bought it in the early 80's. The cord is a bit of a pain in the fact that it does get in the way at times but you can easily work around it. You can set the orientation to adjust for the trebbly or bassy sound you may get & every piezo unit has to be eq'd as well as most transducers so what's the difference. I have used it in many live sets and also on some recordings. You do have to stay away from other electronic gear to minimize hum. If you have problems with hum move the hell away from your amp or mixer. A mic will certainly give better acoustic tone but there is more of a problem with feedback and this pickup seems to be fairly resistant to that. Overall, if you need a pickup that is easily transferred this is one to look at. Those of you who complain about the cord should look at a permanent mount unit, particularly if you've cut the cord & run it through the end pin. You just lost your flexibility to change to another instrument. I would certainly buy it again.