GOACOUSTIC PICKUP SYSTEM became so familiar that players stopped hearing it as a compromise. It was simply the accepted sound of an amplified acoustic guitar.
Shaw, however, explains that this sonic byproduct has nothing to do with the piezoelectric technology itself, but rather its specific application.“ An under-saddle pickup is under permanent pressure from the tension of the strings,” he says.“ It’ s not sitting at its equilibrium. When the string starts vibrating, it’ s adding and releasing pressure from that static load point, not from a zero-pressure position. And that static pressure is what causes the quack.”
This constant static load also puts a hard ceil-
A“ Monumental” Upgrade for Pat Metheny
On the Friday before Labor Day 2023, Pat Metheny contacted Go Acoustic with a problem: the electronics in his primary Linda Manzer long-scale nylon string baritone had failed. His solo tour was scheduled to begin in just 10 days.
Due to the holiday weekend, the guitar didn’ t ship until Tuesday, arriving at the shop with just eight days remaining before the tour’ s first date. The instrument required a complex repair, including the installation of a Go Acoustic preamp with a custom side-mounted EQ bracket, all while accommodating the guitar’ s detailed, staggered-saddle intonation.
The guitar was returned to Metheny that Friday. On Sunday evening, he sent his evaluation, describing the new system as“ monumental” and“ the best system of its realm.” He then asked for a second guitar to be expedited for the same installation.
On Monday, two days before the tour, Metheny’ s steel-string baritone was shipped overnight. It arrived at 7 a. m. Tuesday morning, and after the second installation was completed, it was shipped directly to the opening night venue in upstate New York. After the show, Metheny confirmed both guitars had arrived and noted that the new system’ s dynamic range allowed him to perform one of his pieces with the aggressive strumming it required.
The collaboration continued. When the tour arrived in Nashville in October, a third installation was done on his backup Taylor guitar. Go Acoustic later began providing its systems directly to luthier Linda Manzer for Metheny’ s subsequent instruments.
Several months later, Metheny sent the cover of his forthcoming solo album, MoonDial. He noted that he had recorded the project using the nylon string baritone and had credited Go Acoustic Audio in the liner notes, an uncommon acknowledgment for a pickup system on a studio recording.
“ This is a solo guitar recording of a Linda Manzer Baritone Nylon String Guitar using an AEA R88 ribbon mic with a Go Acoustic Audio pickup”.
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