I'm just not happy plugging in. I have an OM-2Hc that I love acoustically; the notes really balance well and it seems to have a natural reverb that cause a lush swirling harmonic sound in the background; really cool.

I have an AER Domino that predates my Collings and has always been a killer acoustic amp with my nylon string. With the Collings, I put in an I-Beam, which is highly regarded. After months of toiling, my setup sounds like crap. The notes are thin and don't blend. Although I don't get the quacking of the older transducers, it sounds not that much different than an Ovation. There is no depth to the sound, no air. Everything I love about the guitar is lost.

Am I expecting too much? Does plugging in neutralize any inherent quality of a guitar? I realize that a good quality mic is probably the most natural, but that's not realistic for me. Should I start shelling out the bucks to go through pickups, internal mikes, transducers, etc., as well as different amp, preamp configurations.

Many folks report issues with the placement of the I-Beam. In other words, it doesn't work well, or it works very well, depending on where it is placed inside the guitar. Apparently, as little as 1/2" makes a difference. So, if you haven't tried moving it around, that may be the thing to do first.

While a built-in mic can sound very good, it will never be able to compete with an external mic placed out in front of the guitar. And even that rarely ever can compete with the sound of a guitar in its natural environment - LIVE! Guitar to the ear, nothing between.

I'd say play around with the placement as Stephen suggests because there should be a good sound available if you find the right position for your ibeam.

I don't currently have an acoustic with a pickup. I don't like the tone. Granted, I don't play live anymore, except on electric or in a totally acoustic environment. If I needed an amplified acoustic, I might look into something like the Mama Bear to help bring some tone back.

I highly recommend K&K Pure Western Mini. Natrual sound, no hassle. PM me for sound samples if interested. Here is a typical reaction to switching to K&K mini:
http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=15858.0;topicseen

For extremely loud stage volume, I recommend D-Tar's Wavelength.

David

Thanks. Dberch, I checked out your website. Your playing sounds great. I have a new OM-2a on the way, so perhaps I'll try the K&K. Also, has anyone tried a Baggs Element? How does that compare to the I-Beam.

Another vote for K&K pure western mini. I"ve tried many types and brands over 25 years of trying, mostly in vain, to get an amplified acoustic to sound like itself through a great microphone. For those rare gigs where people will actually be quiet, mic away. for everything else, K&K through a direct box straight to the board. No boost required. Very,very natural. Like your living room on a quiet evening? Of course not. Ain't gonna happen.

Let me add a third vote for the K&K mini western pickups. I installed them in both my OM3 and my Martin M-38. They sound better than any under saddle pickups and don't have the quack associated with piezo pickups. They are closer to a natural sound than anything else I have heard.

DJ

And a fourth vote for the K & K. I just picked up (pardon the pun) my C-10 from Lark Street who installed the infamous K & K Pure Western Mini and it sounds amazing. I haven't played it through a PA yet but an hour through my Acoutasonic Jr. and I am really impressed with the smooth deep bass coming out of this little black guitar. I may never gig with it but I hope to record it soon. No batteries - Yay!

Just a side note - Lark Street also corrected bad work done by Mandolin Bros on the nut on my C-10. I left it at MandoBros for a new nut and they chose to shim it with Rosewood! This left a hideous and obvious alien piece of dark wood that ruined the line of the neck binding/nut/headstock binding. It also raised the nut twice as high as it needed to be rendering the guitar untunable (unless capoed). I couldn't play the guitar and I fumed everytime I looked at the case. I took it to Buzzy at Lark Street and he re-shimmed the nut, to the correct height, with an almost invisible piece of bone. Fine work and it almost made me forget about the wasted $80 spent at MandoBros and the two months I couldn't play the guitar.