A soundhole pickup clips or wedges into the opening of a steel-string acoustic and sends the signal to an amp or PA through a cable. Because these are magnetic, they need steel strings, and they differ in coil design, preamp and housing.
The six pickups below are compared using the Amazon.com listing pages. We have not used these pickups ourselves, and every tone, hum or feedback claim is the maker’s own. Check your soundhole diameter and string type before you buy.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Coil design | Single coils are described as brighter; humbuckers are meant to reduce hum |
| Passive or active | Active models use a battery and a preamp; passive ones do not |
| String type | Magnetic pickups do not work with nylon strings |
| Fit and cable | Soundhole diameter and cable length affect setup |
Specs at a Glance
| Pickup | Design | Power | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seymour Duncan Woody SC | Single coil, maple housing | Passive | 14 ft cable; fits 3.75 to 4.0 in soundholes; steel strings only |
| Fishman Neo D | Single coil | Passive | High-impedance, no battery; plug and play |
| Dean Markley ProMag Grand | Humbucker, maple housing | Passive | 13 ft cable with 1/4 inch jack; up to 15x less hum per the maker |
| EMG ACS | Not specified | Active, onboard preamp | Black; 9.44 oz |
| L.R. Baggs M1 Active | Magnetic | Active, 3V lithium cell | Volume control; adjustable pole pieces; 1,000 hours per the maker |
| Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker | Humbucker, neodymium magnets | Passive per the name | 1 year limited warranty; 9.28 oz |
The 6 Best Acoustic Guitar Pickups
1. Seymour Duncan Woody Single Coil
A passive magnetic soundhole pickup in a maple housing. The maker describes a bright, clear tone for strumming and fingerstyle, a double-potted build that resists feedback, a 14-foot cable and no modification to the guitar. It fits soundholes from 3.75 to 4.0 inches and does not work with nylon strings.
Suits: bright steel-string tone. Strengths: a long cable and quick mounting. Weaknesses: a single coil may pick up more hum. Skip it if you play nylon strings.
View Seymour Duncan Woody Single Coil Maple Acoustic Guitar Pickup on Amazon
2. Fishman Neo D Single Coil
A passive single-coil magnetic soundhole pickup in dark brown. The listing cites string-to-string balance and clarity, a low-profile high-impedance design with no battery, and plug-and-play installation with no alteration to the guitar. Weight is listed as 4 ounces.
Suits: a battery-free setup. Strengths: a light, simple design. Weaknesses: no volume control is mentioned. Skip it if you want an onboard preamp.
View Fishman Neo D Single Coil Magnetic Soundhole Pickup on Amazon
3. Dean Markley ProMag Grand
A humbucking soundhole pickup in a maple housing with an ebony piano finish. The maker says its patented coil layout gives up to 15 times less hum than competing pickups, mounts without permanent modification and comes with a 13-foot cable ending in a 1/4 inch jack. It is made for steel-string guitars.
Suits: a quieter signal on a plug-in setup. Strengths: a humbucking design. Weaknesses: the hum claim is the maker’s own. Skip it if you play nylon strings.
View Dean Markley ProMag Grand Soundhole Acoustic Guitar Pickup, Humbucker on Amazon
4. EMG ACS
An active soundhole pickup with an onboard preamp, in black. The page is sparse: one bullet and a spec table that lists a 6.35 mm jack, a stainless steel enclosure and 9.44 ounces, along with odd fields such as 5 watts that we ignored.
Suits: a preamp-equipped option. Strengths: active circuitry. Weaknesses: little detail on the page. Skip it if you want a long spec sheet.
View EMG ACS Acoustic Soundhole Pickup on Amazon
5. L.R. Baggs M1 Active
An active magnetic soundhole pickup that runs on one 3V lithium coin cell, included. The listing cites a volume control, adjustable pole pieces for balancing string types and gauges, feedback resistance and a battery life of 1,000 hours. It weighs 10.2 ounces.
Suits: tweaking string balance. Strengths: a volume control and pole pieces. Weaknesses: needs a battery. Skip it if you want a battery-free pickup.
View L.R. Baggs M1 Active Acoustic Guitar Magnetic Soundhole Pickup on Amazon
6. Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker
A humbucking soundhole pickup with neodymium magnets that the maker says gives a smoother treble and a warmer, more natural tone. The page carries a 1 year limited warranty and a weight of 9.28 ounces. Some fields, such as included components, look inconsistent, so confirm the contents on the page.
Suits: a warmer humbucker tone. Strengths: a humbucking design. Weaknesses: inconsistent listing fields. Skip it if you want a single coil.
View Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker Magnetic Soundhole Acoustic Pickup on Amazon
Setup Tips
- Measure your soundhole and compare it with the listed fit range.
- Check the strings are steel before ordering a magnetic pickup.
- Turn the amp down before plugging in, then raise it slowly.
- Keep the cable clear of the strings while you play.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying a magnetic pickup for a nylon-string guitar.
- Ignoring soundhole diameter.
- Forgetting a spare battery for an active model.
- Treating hum or tone claims as guarantees.
Acoustic Guitar Pickups FAQ
Which ones need a battery?
The L.R. Baggs M1 lists a 3V lithium cell. The EMG ACS is described as active, so check its page for power details.
Which are humbuckers?
The Dean Markley ProMag Grand and the Fishman Rare Earth are listed as humbuckers.
The Short Version
For bright single-coil tone, the Seymour Duncan Woody SC. For a battery-free setup, the Fishman Neo D. For a humbucker with a long cable, the Dean Markley ProMag Grand. For an active preamp, the EMG ACS. For pole-piece balance, the L.R. Baggs M1. For neodymium magnets, the Fishman Rare Earth.
