Schertler Dyn-G

It does what it is supposed to do, very well. It can be removed and placed on a different instrument in minutes. No permanent install. The comment in one review about installing without physical contact between the pick up element and the instrument top is incorrect. Schertler instructs to softly press the pu until it just touches the top. I have no problems with damage to the top whatsoever. Very easy to install.

Bourgeois JOM, Greven 000, Eastman 805 Mandolin.

Very close to a high quality microphone sound in a pick up. As good as it gets.

I've been playing guitar for 40 years or so. Mando for one year. I have struggled with various pick up solutions and never really been happy until I got this pick up. I am very satisfied with this pick up.

This unit is a condenser microphone device created to attach to the front of an acoustic guitar as a pickup system. It comes with a putty that you roll out like playdough and create a circular seal that attaches to the top or bridge of an acoustic guitar. I noticed that a previous evaluator complained about the pickup denting his guitar and sounding poorly. Well, you're not supposed to push it that hard onto your guitar ! That would be the equivelant of attaching the hard surface of condenser mic to your guitar top and wondering why it dented your guitar and sounded bad. This unit is made to attach via the soft surface of the putty with light pressure and there should be no direct contact of the pickup and the guitar.

I have several acoustic guitars including two Goodall Concert Jumbo cutaways and a old Martin D21. No modification of the instrument was required and the pickup can be easily moved from one guitar to another quickly. I owned a differnt Goodall with a Schertler blue stick undersaddle pickup installed in it, but after hearing a buddie's Dyn-G I knew that this was the perfect pickup for me.

The output is approx like using a microphone. It is slightly more prone to feedback than an undersaddle pickup. I use this unit with a Schertler Unico amp. The tone is just like a microphone. You can dial in what ever you want. It just sounds like the instrument is close mic'd with a great sounding condenser only you are not forced to stay in one position. In addition the feedback threshold is slightly higher than an open mic, so you can get a real good volume level but just not as high as an undersaddle. This pickup is great if you are playing solo or with an acoustic only group. Im doubt it would be the most ideal pickup to share the stage with electric instruments but the trade off is that you dont have to alter your high end acoustic instrument and you get the real sound of your instrument via a condenser mic verses the artificial sound of converting vibrations through a mag or piezo system. In my opinion, once you convert the sound of your acoustice to something else it is like damaged DNA ... its never going to be the same no matter how masterfully you try to reconstruct it. I like to use this pickup on the bride just below the saddle. That is consistantly the best spot on most instruments that I have tried this unit on. I play fingerstyle, and also light and heavy flatpick.

If this pickup was stolen, I would definately buy another, but of course I am always on the look out for something better. I like that this pickup does not need to be permanently mounted and can easily be moved from one instrument to another. I have not compared every pickup out there but I believe that the concept of this pickup is well thought out and sounds so good and accurate that I would doubt there is something better for adding moderate volume to an acoustic instrument with this much versitility.

10v Impedance. EQ not recommended.

Selmer Guitar (for Gypsy Jazz). I also have a Bigtone which has a very nice sound through the Schertler UNICO amp.

The output level is slightly low but it brings out the sound in the instrument really well. Tone is muddy if you power it with 48v but if you plug it into a 10v plug, it sounds nice. Tone is balanced nicely.

The putty that comes with the pickup will last for 5-10 years before you need a new can of it. The putty sticks as good as velcro and does not damage a guitars top in any way. Sometimes I prefer to use a Dupont BigTone pickup but altogether the Schertler is nice.

Pickup features: Transducer
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gitane 250
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: mini microphone
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Gypsy/Swing/Blues
Reason for pickup change: Upgrade sound quality. Control feedback.

Perceived output level: I've been using it straight to the PA and it puts out the same amount of sound as the mic I was using.
Tone: The tone is fantastic. It really duplicates the sound of my guitar accurately.
Sonic evaluation: I've run it straight to the PA, as stated above, and also I've put it into my Fender Deluxe, the normal channel. The Fender warms up the tone alot, but i kind of like it. I am very impressed by the sound of this pickup.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play swing/gypsy/jugband jazz/blues. This is the best pickup i have used. I suspect it would be good for any application requiring a clean accurate acoustic sound.

Comments: It was expensive, but i would hopefully replace it if it was stolen.
I've been playing for more than 10 years, and only playing out for a year.
By moving the pickup around on the guitars top you can find the spot that it needs to be for that perfect sound. I have found it easy to attach to my guitars. I have not had any issues with the pickup marking the top of my guitar, as stated in the previous review.
I wanted this pickup for better sound quality and to help reduce feedback problems that i was having with the clip on mic i was using. The DYN-G sound is excellent, and so far, i have avoided feedback problems.
I considered the various piezo pickups such as the bigtone. I also considered a condenser mic. I chose the DYN-G because it does not have the sound quality issues of the piezo and the complications of using a nice mic for gigs. Also, the mics i was looking at were very expensive.

Im curious about how the preamp would help this pickup so i my get one in the future. The Schertler preamp is supposed to have a feedback filter. And of course an AER or Schertler amp would be nice.
The only downside to this pickup is that it is expensive. But it can easily be moved from guitar to guitar, so you only need one. And you dont have to drill any holes. Plus, it is cool looking.

Pickup features: Passive electrodynamic transducer
Impedence or other specs: 600 Ohm/1Khz

Model of guitar or bass: Goodall KCJC
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Out front stationary condenser mic. (Neumann KM184)
Other pickups on guitar: K&K Pure Western
Artists using this pickup: Unknown
You musical style(s): Variety from Jazz, Blues to Bluegrass and Celtic
Reason for pickup change: Was adding this to expand my sound and get more dimension and depth with mobility. (Have been using a Neumann condenser mic out front in conjunction with the onboard pickup which does not allow you to move much)

Perceived output level: Adequate to drive a 1 meg input
Tone: Boxey and midrangy
Sonic evaluation: I am useing a Goodall KCJC with K&K "Pure Western" passive under the bridge plate piezo transducers into an AER Acousticube II.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play a wide range of acoustic styles with this rig from Jazz, Blues to Celtic and Bluegrass.

Comments: I have been playing for about 35 years both electric and acoustic. I have had and still have a wide variety of boutique amps from Victoria, Diezel, Alessandro etc. and a number of Fender custom shop electrics plus a wonderful hand made Archtop Jazz guitar built for me by Glen Mc Kerrihan. I was trying out this transducer in hopes that it would expand the depth of the Goodall with the K&K instead of using a Neumann KM184 out front as I had been, but was very dissapointed. The unit has a very boxey tone no matter where I located it. Also it is quite prone to feedback at a fairly low SPL. In addition when mounting the pickup you have to apply adequate pressure to make sure the center of the disk makes good contact with the face of the guitar and after doing this at a number of locations (which you need to do to find what Schertler calls the "sweet spot") I found that it left small finish dents in the Cedar top. At the $$$ that this sells for I would not recommend the product. It is WAY overpriced. If you do buy one without trying first be sure that the seller has more than a 24 hour trial period....take a lesson from my mistake. PS: Please do not take this as a slight to the K&K folks as their pickups are great, I was just trying to get a bit more depth and dimension, but this was a real waste of money. I will try adding the Sunrise magnetic pickup instead and see how that goes.