GEAR REVIEW
GO ACOUSTIC AUDIO’S BREAKTHROUGH PICK-UP SYSTEM | John Standefer
KEY FEATURES
• Pick-up For Each String
• Uniform String Volume
• Eliminates Feedback
• Offered in Four Configurations
Nashville master guitar maker Paul McGill
and electronics genius Ben Shaw have been
working for over four years on an exciting total
re-design of acoustic guitar electronics, literally
improving every aspect of what has been
previously available. Luckily, I am a long time
McGill guitar owner (which I consider the best
I’ve ever played). As a result, I’ve ended up
being a beta tester for this new system, having
had six prototypes installed in my guitar over
the years leading up to the final design which I
am reviewing today.
Every acoustic amplification system, of course,
starts with a source that basically converts
physical vibration into an electronic signal,
which is then sent through some sort of
preamp (often with volume and tone controls).
The trouble has always been that few of the
sources themselves don’t sound all that good
without a lot of processing and the preamps
found in acoustic instruments are nowhere
near the sophisticated ‘state of the art’ level of
rack-mount studio units. Often there is also a
problem with string balance in terms of uniform amplified sound that is absolutely breathtaking. The Go Acoustic Audio system currently
volume. And then there’s the biggie in live It is so natural and airy… dimensional, dynamic, comes in four configurations: a retrofit for Taylor
performance – feedback! Now there is a total beautiful and balanced. I just can’t say enough guitars, a retrofit for Godin guitars, one that fits
solution available that addresses all of these about it. And the feedback rejection is amazing! in a four slot Vol / EQ configuration and one
items. It is so perfect sounding that I set my guitar and that has a simple volume wheel mounted in the
amp EQ totally flat almost all of the time with soundhole.
Go Acoustic Audio starts out with six individual spectacular results. It’s taken me a half century
nice sounding pickups (one for each string). to get this sound on stage.
They then run through a totally new preamp
design that starts with individual volume controls
for each string for perfect balance. The way
the pickups are wired added to the high-level
www.GoAcousticAudio.com
John Standefer
John Standefer is a National Champion Fingerstyle
Guitarist. He has performed and/or recorded with
such guitar greats as Tommy Emmanuel, John
Knowles, Brooks Robertson, Pat Kirtley, Guy Van
Duser, Richard Smith and Doug Smith John travels
internationally performing and teaching master
classes.
www.JohnStandefer.com
filtering, impedance matching, etc. deliver an
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September 2019
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