D-TAR Multi-Source Pickup-Mic System

The D-Tar Multi-Source is overall a great pickup system. The only thing I wish is that you could mix the mic in more than 50% with the onboard preamp. You can separate the sources and mix them with a preamp, so there's that for folks that want more control.The mic is actually pretty damn good. I was worried it would be cheap and distorted, but it reproduces the sound of my guitar very nicely. After using this, I can say that you definitely want a mic as part of your pickup system. It sounds way better than any other alternative, and this is especially so if you like woody and warm sounds vs the bright sound you get from piezo or the electric sound you get from a magnetic pickup. The mixing in the mic also cuts down on string noise when moving up and down the fretboard that you get with the piezo.The D-Tar wavelength piezo isn't really any better (or worse) than your standard piezo. Maybe it's a bit less quacky, but it still sounds like a piezo. Mixing the the mic fully (50% mic, 50% piezo) gives a really nice sound, though still a little brighter than I want with my mahogany top.I don't think a more expensive system would be any better than the D-Tar, especially if your mixing it with a preamp peddle.

This is the best sounding acoustic pickup I have ever come across. I have tried the Fishman Matrix Infinity, Dean Markley West Coast, and the LR Baggs Element, M80, Anthem and Lyric. This is the only pickup I have tried that sounds clean, balanced and transparent in quiet venues, and yet still able to cut through thick mixes on loud stages. The 18 volt preamp really makes a huge difference, in both overall output level and headroom (it literally will not distort or clip the signal--just watch the VU meters on the rest of the system to make sure you aren't overdriving it!). The manual is also very thorough (unlike LR Baggs systems), and gives you everything you need to know to install the system yourself if you are decently handy. My only advice is, make sure you are plugging into a rig that you know well, in a room that you are familiar with, when setting the EQ trim pots. It is easy to screw up the balance of this pickup, and it's best to take your time with those adjustments so that they don't have to be adjusted constantly.

I had this put (by Atomic guitar here in Phx) into my Martin D-16. This guitar was a gift from my father, and as such - I've been VERY hesitant to drill the wood until I was sure what I wanted. This pickup IS worth it, and has a fantastic, adjustable sound. I have used it (so far) for recording (digitally, using a usb converter) and live (onstage, to a Mackie board through JBL's with no D.I.) and both sounded great. I could not recommend this pickup more. Very subtle playing gestures come through clearly, both for fingerpicking and flatpicking.

Sounds great and good value . D-Tar was very helpful with the installation. Be careful drilling into your guitar. I did not have an expensive step bit so I increased the existing end hole size using a number of slightly larger bits until the correct diameter was reached . This kept everything centered with no blowout.

I have not been able to give this a fair test so far, as I have no working amplifier and have only played my guitar a couple of times through a decent sound system - and a terrible one a few times. I had it professionally installed in my Guild DV-52 spruce-and-rosewood dreadnought, because I didn't want to damage anything or miss something important while learning how to do the installation. The item that came was labeled Seymour Duncan Wavelength Duo, which is the same thing as the D-TAR Multi-Source. There is a volume control for the under-saddle pickup and a separate control that mixes in sound from the mic. When I am able to use it with a decent sound system a few more times, I should be able to give more information about its performance. Happy with it so far.

An amazingly natural sounding acoustic guitar pickup! If you have a high quality guitar and want to amplify it - this may be the one. I have D-TARs mounted in my Guild D-55 and a Gibson J-200. They really sound great plugged in!

I paired this D-TAR multi source system with a K&K Pure mini pickup in leiu of the provided under saddle transducer. The results are excellent. I did not add resistors to accommodate the second source, or convert my system to stereo.

Perfect match with my Martin D-16 RGT, sounds great. Easy to install. Delivered on-time.