[Newb] Advice for setup

[kiiszksz]

Hi all, first time posting in the forum and a beginner in guitar playing, so pardon me ^^

I've got a J&D Dg-Solo in 2 years ago and want to play my guitar with a pickup and straight to a head phone (if possible).

Acoustic guitar => pickup => earphone
or
Acoustic guitar => pickup => pre-amp/amp => earphone

*Question (1): What's the difference between a pre-amp and amp?
*Question (2): Is the K&K Western Mini or LR Baggs RTS2 better?

Budget = $200~$300. =/

Am still a beginner in the field and really wanted the different tone with a pickup.

Please advice and much thanks and appreciation!!!!

 

[zesn]

Why do you want it to go the the headphone?
Headphones or earphones? I'm unclear, you mentioned both.

 

[kiiszksz]

Why do you want it to go the the headphone?
Headphones or earphones? I'm unclear, you mentioned both.

Errr, earphone =/. haha paiseh for the confusion. Just for personal hearing de.

 

[zaidi534]

eh? Even if you found a way to use headphones, there will still be sound coming out from the acoustic... So no point at all. After all, it is an acoustic. It's only logical for it to go through an amp. Well, I guess I might be wrong cause I don't really know much on the acoustic side.

 

[mightyboy88]

Yup bro, agree with kiiszksk. Your acoustic guitar is likely to be louder enough for you to hear yourself without going through an amplifier.

The difference between an acoustic preamp and an amp is that the acoustic preamp will receive the signal from the pickups/saddle microphones/piezo microphones on the guitar and then increase the output of it so that it can be heard through the amplifier/mixer. The signal would also be stronger to survive through long wires etc

The pickups/preamps etc are tools used to amplify the actual sound of your guitar so that you can plug the guitar into an amplifer/mixer for a large venue. If you dont need to play the guitar in a large venue chances are you dont need to install a preamp in the guitar, as the sound you will attain is essentially the same as the actual acoustic sound, or something with even less detail and warmth

 

[kiiszksz]

eh? Even if you found a way to use headphones, there will still be sound coming out from the acoustic... So no point at all. After all, it is an acoustic. It's only logical for it to go through an amp. Well, I guess I might be wrong cause I don't really know much on the acoustic side.

Yup bro, agree with kiiszksk. Your acoustic guitar is likely to be louder enough for you to hear yourself without going through an amplifier.

The difference between an acoustic preamp and an amp is that the acoustic preamp will receive the signal from the pickups/saddle microphones/piezo microphones on the guitar and then increase the output of it so that it can be heard through the amplifier/mixer. The signal would also be stronger to survive through long wires etc

The pickups/preamps etc are tools used to amplify the actual sound of your guitar so that you can plug the guitar into an amplifer/mixer for a large venue. If you dont need to play the guitar in a large venue chances are you dont need to install a preamp in the guitar, as the sound you will attain is essentially the same as the actual acoustic sound, or something with even less detail and warmth

Thanks Zaidi for your inputs and Mightboy for your replies, especially the preamps and amps! Part of the reason with my question is that I've been hearing other guitarists playing with that nice mellow sounds (you know the part where the sound is pro-longed), and I'm thinking whether I could achieve that same effect.

Could changing to better strings have an effect on the sound? I have no idea though I have not changed strings since I bought the guitar 2 years ago? Am playing Hillsongs more often ^^.

 

[zesn]

Huh, your strings have been there for 2 years?
Of course changing it will have an impact.
I would change one every week/2weeks.
I don't have bad sweaty palms, but my fingers just kills the strings.
Fresh strings sustains best, can't say they would sound brighter or mellower, depending on the metal used.

 

[kiiszksz]

ya.. haha the same old stock strings for 2 years =/

What strings do ya recommend? Heard the coated elixer strings (Better life period) were no longer in production. =/

 

[zesn]

No recommendations, just try whatever there is.
Need spend some $$ though.