What is the best kind of acoustic guitar microphone to buy?

Josie H: What is the best kind of acoustic guitar microphone to buy?
I have a regular acoustic guitar and I’m starting to perform live locally. I need a way to mic my guitar to an amp or a speaker. I really would like an acoustic guitar microphone. I hear that having your guitar turned into an acoustic/electric can ruin the sound quality and value of the instrument. My question is, what is the best type of microphone I can buy for my guitar with the best sound quality, and where can I buy it?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Rachel
Music stores, like little ones where you buy guitars etc.

Answer by Max
I’ve seen someone take a small microphone and literally tape it between the bridge and the endpin. Apparently that works somehow because it sounded amazing! You could also try taping it to the inside of the soundhole. I honestly cannot give you too much information because I own an electro-acoustic, but hope this helped (somewhat)!

Answer by John S
Hi,

If you basically strum the guitar, an undersaddle pickup will be the best for you. Fishman makes some decent ones. A decent guitar store can install it for you. They can install it without changing your guitar. It is a flat extremely thin pickup that fits under your saddle, they will replace your end pin with an end pin jack, so there is virtually no difference. I have one on my Taylor and I wouldnt do anything to hurt my guitar. Also it doesnt feedback much like a microphone.

If you are really looking for an instrument microphone, Id suggest a Shure sm81. It sells for about $ 350.

Answer by vegetable 4
DPA 4099 Guitar Microphone is easy to use right off the bat—it is very transparent and delivers spectacular sound. Because the mic is very directional, you can get dramatically different sounds simply by moving it a small amount. DPA has minimized the proximity effect—an inherent phenomenon that increases bass response when a mic is close to a sound source—by rolling off the 4099’s low-end response. But the effect is still partially present, so you can fine-tune the bass response by adjusting the distance between the mic and the top of the guitar.