JohnnyReggae wrote:
any ideas I can try ?
A pickup is always going to be a bit of a compromise, even when mixed with a bit of mic. My approach would be to get a better room sound that you can be happy recording acoustic instruments in. This has benefits for everything you do - from the monitoring, which affects everything you hear (I'm assuming you monitor in the same room you record in) to anything you use a mic for including acoustic guitars and especially vocals. Many of us are guilty of spending tens of thousands of rands on instruments and gear, but don't put any money into making the room we use them in sound decent.
It doesn't even have to cost a lot of money. A few strategically placed bits of absorptive material can work wonders in a room - a thick carpet or rug under the performer, a blanket hung on the wall behind them, sitting them on or standing in front of a plush couch. A big bookshelf loaded with books is one of the best diffusors you can get. Having two or three of the material covered office screens to the sides and/or behind them can make a big difference too. They can be picked up cheaply secondhand, and move very easily to any position (to cut side wall short delays when monitoring for instance) or store easily out of the way when not needed.
