The guitars with built-in pre-amps definitely outshine the guitars with aftermarket pickup solutions such as Dean Markly Pro-mag and Martin thinline pickups. Also I've heard our director of worship (who is a perfectionist) comment more on the style of playing than the guitar. He did rant and rave about the sound of the Taylor 310CE and how it cut through the mix and once said the high-end Takamine sounded harsh and tinny.

Finally even the highest quality acoustic or electric can sound bad in a mix if it is not balanced correctly by the guy at the soundboard. When our best sound guy was running the show, even my cheap laminate Takamine with a Dean Markly soundhole pickup sounds good.

I don't depart from my basic premise that the venue and style are the biggest questions. I do think it is important to add that the human ear can only pick up so much sound. In fact, that is what the whole MP3 craze is really based on. MP3 is a lower quality sound file but it is selling like crazy because of its function and then fact that most of the sounds that it "trimms off" are sounds that the ear cannot pick up.

Similarly, anyone looking to purchase a guitar for any live situation (this is horrible advice for recording) should take a look at what instruments are already in the mix and what frequencies to they cover already.

I have made the mistake over and over, where I go to a shop and play all these guitars unplugged, pick my favorite and then play it 80% of the time through a system live with a band.... and i wonder what i missed at the shop.

IDIOT! The application, the pieces, and the human ear should be primary considerations. I hope I have learned my lesson for the last time, and hopefully saved someone else some headache.

One final tip... many manufacturers improve nothing on their guitars save some abalone trim and gold tuners and catagorize it as a nicer model. Don't pay more for that stuff. Also remember that the glossier the finish, the more frequently you are going to blind someone who was in the middle of worshipping God, and you just scarred his retina. Not helpful.

THEN, buy the best pickup money can buy.

Which is the best? As with most musical instrument questions, that's debatable.

You cannot go wrong with anything from the L.R. Baggs line, particularly the LB6 for rhythm guitar (loud chord strumming). They have others that are even better for finger pickers. But, do yourself, your sound engineer and your congregation and huge favor and buy only the best.

Also, make sure you have it set up properly by a competent luthier. Then, plug it into a quality pre-amp or acoustic guitar amp -- not an electric guitar amp!

Make sure you're providing the cleanest signal possible to the sound board, and then make sure that your signal is EQ'd properly.

I'm amazed at how many people will buy a nice guitar ($1,500 +), put a cheap (less than $50) piezo pickup on it, feed it through a half-dozen stomp boxes and into the soundboard, and then wonder why everyone complains about the lack of "true acoustic sound" being delivered.

Remember, the electronics are as important as the axe (guitar).

Jon

Earlier this year I started looking around for an electric accoustical guitar. As worship leader for our small church, I wanted a slightly diffent flavor than what I get from my Epiphone Sheraton II.

I figured I'd end up with a Takamine just like about every other worship leader has. Compared to the name brands, they're fairly inexpensive and seemed to be well made. However, after trying numerous models, I was unimpressed and disappointed with their sound. An unamplified Tak is thin with little or no bass and mid range response. About the only thing I like about the electronics was the built-in tuner.

I ended up with a Martin D16RGTE. Yes, it was double the price and no, I won't be taking it to any campfires. But the sound! The sound is incredible amped or not. There's a full, rich bass which blends in nearly perfectly with the mids and hi's. Perfect for a worship service or an informal Bible study.

As I say, everyone has their opinion. Mine is sure to draw fire!

Blessings to all.