Supertone Archtop: Acoustic vs. K & K Pickup vs. SM57 Mic vs. Pickup and Mic combined

0:15 = Acoustic
1:22 = Pickup
2:40 = Mic
3:57 = Mic and Pickup

Someone had asked how this guitar sounds acoustically and I've been wanting to do an experiment like this for a while, so... Here it is. Didn't put much effort into it. I may take this down and try again eventually. The sound in the vid doesn't do the pickup or the guitar justice.

Late '30s/Early '40s Supertone Archtop (previously owned by Alvin Youngblood Hart!)
Tuned one half step low of Open D (C#G#C#FG#C#)

K & K Pure Western Mini Pickup
Shure SM57 Mic
L.R.Baggs Para Acoustic D.I.
Crate Limo 50W Portable Amp

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Fingerpicking
• Bottleneck
• Slide
• Guitar
• Country
• Blues
• Mississippi
• Fred
• McDowell
• Alvin
• Younglbood
• Hart
• Supertone
• Archtop
• Pure
• Western
• Mini
• Pickup
• Shure
• SM57
• Mic
• L.R.Baggs
• Para
• Acoustic
• D.I.
• Crate
• Limo
• 50W
• Portable
• Amp

[joakimhellgren]

Are you recording this right into a audio interface or is this recorded through an amp before it goes in to the audio interface? Great playing

[MSB76]

@joakimhellgren Thanks. Just recording with a cheap Casio camera mounted on a tripod in front of me. No connection to the amp.

[bluephil]

Very interesting job... what is your favorite sound ? I had a piezzo on my LOO but i put a Fishmann mic in place... I'm very surprised of the quality you obtain with a SM 57... Going to try it... Forgive my eventuals mistakes. I'm a poor French Bluesman. ;)Have a nice day.

[MSB76]

@bluephil Thanks. I usually like the sound of the pickup just fine, but I'm not too happy with the way it came out in this vid. The mic sound is my favorite here, but I usually don't want to bother with another mic, so I settle for the pickup. In my opinion, all pickups are a compromise. Pure acoustic is always ideal for me.

[HeyCleatus]

What is that song r playing? Just jammin or ist it an actual song? sounds sweet though

[MSB76]

This is my arrangement of "Rollin' & Tumblin'". Most versions are in Open G (Spanish) tuning. I came up with this by adding an alternating bass to Fred McDowell's "Going Down To The River" riff. Glad you dig it. Someday I'll post a version with vocals.

[GravyToe]

Well done man, easily the best comparison video I've seen.

[AlperKongen]

whats the song? :D

[miyamuki]

@vinniedurrant couldn't agree more

[themachinist1000]

Great guitar, great sound and amazing playing. You're a true blues fella! Is this one of the "proper" Crates? I've been told that the US made ones, which are no longer being manufactured are the best in the world. Where oh where can I get a second hand one... :/

[Uprightest]

2nd set up is definitely the lest favorable to my ears.....the SM57 sounds dang decent....pretty surprising!

[vinniedurrant]

loved that quivering solo from 3:15 - 3:19

[wartree]

i think the guitar shines acoustic

[HeadSledge]

Thats a badass song

[vinniedurrant]

I reakon the first setup sounded the best to me, The mic seemed to muffle the tone a bit.