Doug Young

Doug Young is a fingerstyle instrumental guitarist, writer, and recording engineer. He is the author of Acoustic Guitar Amplification Essentials.

Guides and How To

Video Instruction Series: All About Mic Placement for Home Recording

There are many types of microphones, but the most popular type for recording acoustic guitar is the cardioid condenser mic. Inexpensive models such as the Audio-Technica AT2020 or AT2021 start at under $100. If your budget allows, consider popular models…

May 4, 2019
3 Comments

Guides and How To

Home Recording For Acoustic Guitar How To Best Ways Record Yourself

Home Recording for Acoustic Guitar: The Best Ways to Capture Your Music

Here are some tools and techniques for home recording to make your acoustic guitar sound great.

January 28, 2019

Strings and Accessories

Review: Sunnaudio Stage DI Has an Intangible Vibe

Sunnaudio preamps should especially appeal to any guitarist who wants to put together a high-quality pickup system based around a passive transducer

November 5, 2018

Strings and Accessories

Review: Orange Acoustic Pre Preamp/DI Offers Great Tube Sound and More for Acoustic Guitarists

The Acoustic Pre delivers tone in spades without compromise

October 18, 2018

Strings and Accessories

Review: L.R. Baggs Align Series Pedals Are Sonically Focused for Acoustic Guitar Pickups

All pedals in the series mesh well together; they can be used independently and also easily integrated with an existing setup.

August 20, 2018

Strings and Accessories

Review: Audio Sprockets ToneDexter Preamp/DI Gives the Sound of a Mic with Convenience of a Pickup

The ToneDexter learns how your guitar sounds through both a microphone and a pickup, and uses this information to produce a snapshot of your tone.

June 18, 2018

Amps and PA Systems

Review: Fishman’s New SA Performance Audio System (SA330x, SA Sub, SA Expand) Adds Power and Flexibility

Fishman raises the bar and lowers the weight with this flexible component system

June 30, 2017

Amps and PA Systems

Review: Boss Acoustic Singer Pro is Made For the Gigging Singer-Songwriter

This amp packs a lot of power into a small package.

May 22, 2017

Mics, Pickups, Recording Gear

Video Review: Trance Amulet M Phantom Pickup System Eliminates the Need for a Battery in Your Guitar

This pickup system has a built-in preamp that runs off phantom power, completely eliminating the need for an onboard battery

May 22, 2017

Guides and How To

Everything You Need to Know About Microphone Phantom Power

Most of the time, phantom power just does its job silently, but a bit of knowledge can help when things go wrong or when choosing the gear with which you work.

March 27, 2017

Strings and Accessories

Gear Review: The Grace ALiX Preamp/EQ/DI Is a Robust, Stage-Ready Package

This device is rugged, relatively compact, and boasts high-quality audio.

February 14, 2017

Mics, Pickups, Recording Gear

Review: iSolo Guitar Pickup Combines Sound of a Real Mic with Wireless Mobility

This unit combines the sound quality of a real microphone with the total mobility of a wireless system.

October 10, 2016

Amps and PA Systems

Review: The Fishman Loudbox Artist is a Powerful, Portable, Flexible Acoustic Amp

This 25-pound amp delivers plenty of clean sound and volume, with a compelling array of features

March 27, 2016

Strings and Accessories

Review: TC Electronic’s BodyRez Pedal is an Acoustic Pickup Enhancer

This pedal allows you to restore much of what gets lost in the amplification process by twisting a single knob.

February 18, 2016
2 Comments

Amps and PA Systems

Review: Yamaha THR5A Amp is an Offstage Amp with Impressive Tone and Effects

With battery or external power options, powerful software effects, and a small footprint, this amp has a lot of potential for home practice sessions, in the studio, or even for a house concert or quiet gig.

September 19, 2013

Strings and Accessories

LR Baggs Anthem guitar electronics system

Review: L.R. Baggs Anthem Combines Mic and Undersaddle Pickup with Internal Crossover

In this system, the microphone is the primary sound source for frequencies above 250 Hz while the Element undersaddle pickup handles the rest.

September 19, 2013

Strings and Accessories

Review: L.R. Baggs Venue DI Might Just Be the Only Thing You Need Between Your Guitar and the Sound System

The Venue combines a direct box (DI) with a powerful EQ, tuner, a volume-boost button, and a transformer–coupled output to eliminate ground loop buzz.

September 19, 2013

Mics, Pickups, Recording Gear

Review: Zoom A3 is a Do-It-All Pedal

The unit seemingly provides everything you would ever need, but only if you can figure out which of the 14 knobs to push to operate it.

August 15, 2013

Hybrid

Review: Hill Guitar Co. New World Player Series Fingerstyle-C

The Hill Fingerstyle-C delivers the full-bodied tone one expects from a classical guitar, with a warm resonant midrange.

July 10, 2013

Hybrid, Nylon-String

Review: Córdoba GK Pro is a Hybrid Nylon-String Designed for Flamenco, with Plenty of Versatility

The GK Pro is an upgrade of Córdoba’s popular GK Studio Gipsy Kings Signature Model

July 10, 2013
1 Comment

Hybrid, Nylon-String

Review: Takamine P3FCN is a Nylon-String Hybrid with a Decidedly Modern Feel and Onboard Electronics

This guitar sounds as handsome as it looks and plays virtually effortlessly

May 6, 2013

Guides and How To

Video Instruction Series: 7 Lessons on Recording at Home

Doug Young demonstrates how to set up your own home studio and how to use your gear to make recordings that sound great.

April 3, 2013
6 Comments

Guides and How To

Tips on Recording Acoustic Guitar with Pickups

Most people find that microphones capture the sound of their guitar more realistically than pickups, but pickups can be effective in some recording situations.