What does the word "acoustic" mean nowadays?

[GZboat]

I am not familiar with the list of instruments you provided. I believe a good way to look at what is not an acoustic, is an instrument that uses changes in magnetic fields such a pup. Piezo pickups, microphones, still fall into the acoustic definition, This definition does exclude some early guitar players who used steel strings and a single coil pickup on an acoustic guitar from being defined as acoustic. (And that my friends is a new can of worms, we can use to tempt our basses).
regarding electronic music definition, too narrow, as any music stored on my android would be considered electronic, even if its Clapton's Liala unplugged. I never liked vinyl or lacquer records.

You do realize, don't you, that most high-quality microphones (dynamic, condenser, and ribbon) use changes in a magnetic field to create the electronic analogs of the sound waves striking their diaphragms? Only crystal and ceramic mics and piezoelectric pickups do not.

 

[Big Hoss]

Acoustic to me would be... well no electricity used whatsoever.

 

[Matthias Grob]

I am not familiar with the list of instruments you provided. I believe a good way to look at what is not an acoustic, is an instrument that uses changes in magnetic fields such a pup. Piezo pickups, microphones, still fall into the acoustic definition

this "new generation" (the first I remember was the Gibson Chet Attkins about 1983) may have some more resonances to make it sound acoustic when its connected, but not enough to be heard and thus not to create feedback problems. As you say, the piezo pickup is a lot more authentic than the magnetic was, so the listener easily identifies them as an acoustic instrument and most have the classic neck dimensions to give this illusion to the player as well.
but it's far from an illusion on the level of a sampler that pretends to be a piano or an organ because it still has all the rich random vibrations of material.
have a look at them, its where most efforts and innovation goes lately, also because everyone can now have a CNC at home and try different options of 'hollow'

regarding electronic music definition, too narrow, as any music stored on my android would be considered electronic

you are right, when I said 'stored' I thought of waveforms or samples not whole pieces, how would you put it?

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Perhaps, then, you would care to explain the microphone that is sitting clearly dead in the middle of your picture?

Sure. Earlier in the event we were a full on, amplified rockin' country band with a full PA system.

For the end of the evening the client asked for an acoustic only set. The PA was turned off, everything was unplugged, except for the keyboard, mics moved out of the way, the drummer came out from behind his kit to play the cajon, etc. Since we didn't bring an acoustic piano we had to cheat a little bit and use small keyboard amp so we could hear the piano. It was close enough to acoustic for the client, a Fortune 500 company.

In other words, for the last set of this particular gig everything was totally acoustic, un-amplified, unplugged, and no electricity used except what was necessary to hear the piano. You'll find the whole gig report here: Kelly Rae Band at Rancho Palos Verdes 8/26/14

In fact, now that I think about it, we may have done that last set without piano at all. Jeff was on stage just to sing with us.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Drgonzonm]

You do realize, don't you, that most high-quality microphones (dynamic, condenser, and ribbon) use changes in a magnetic field to create the electronic analogs of the sound waves striking their diaphragms? Only crystal and ceramic mics and piezoelectric pickups do not.

My out is that the microphone is not the instrument and I specifically stated microphones, whereas the pup is considered part of the instrument.

 

[Ian Lewis]

Being a classical music fan, to me it does matter whether it's eclectrically amplified or not.
Yet, I see your point and I do agree. That's why I always thought the word "unplugged" might come in handy

So, there'd be three categories:
acoustic + unplugged
acoustic + plugged (electrically amplified)
plugged (any instruments electrically amplified)

And "unplugged" implies acustic, IMHO.
But that's just me and what I thought to understand until this thread popped up

I agree with you Michael. There was a whole series of MTV DVDs entitled 'Unplugged' and other than being miked up, all the instruments were acoustic.

 

[pklima]

My out is that the microphone is not the instrument and I specifically stated microphones, whereas the pup is considered part of the instrument.

Is mayonnaise an instrument?

(Sorry, I couldn't resist quoting one of my personal musical heroes.)

 

[RustyAxe]

I was in an Americana trio a few years ago (guitar, bass, dobro). At one high profile showcase gig, in a small-ish and intimate listening room, the PA sh!t the bed about two songs in. Without missing a beat, we stepped forward to the edge of the stage and played the rest of the set (about 30 minutes) with no PA (to a rousing applause!). So ... did we go from being an electric band to an acoustic band in just five steps forward? The word "acoustic" applies to the INSTRUMENT(S) used, that are designed to be played without amplification .... not the band, not the genre, not whether the show has sound reinforcement, or whether the instrument has been equipped to be able to provide amplification. But you guys can keep beating the dead horse (with no name) ...

 

[Drgonzonm]

if I understand right you suggest to define that:
acoustic music is played by or composed for acoustic instruments
.....
the problem I focus here is that the most recent and possibly soon the majority of instruments like our Paradis, Godin Multiacs, Frame, Silent... and also basses starting at Eberhard Weber... neither fit to the definition of the electric nor acoustic.
so we would need another category like electroacoustic or hollowbody or ? that could be defined as:
instruments designed to sound similar to their acoustic ancestors but need electric amplification to be heard

It is my understanding that both electroacoustic and hollowbody categories already exist. AEB, and Gibson type.
I looked at the Paradis, definitely a non-acoustic, designed to sound acoustic
Godin Mutiacs, couldn't tell from the picture, if the sound came from the hollows of the guitar. The how to play suggests that this instrument was designed to be played amplified, the lit says, sounds like a solid body, 75% sure it is not acoustic.
Couldn't find any thing on Frame or Silent.
Eberhard Weber, from what I saw was playing an electric upright, primary design is to amplified, so even though it has the acoustic upright sound, no cigar.
As you can see, I am basing my view on intent.
Would I take a very hard view on the instruments, No, not unless I was expecting to appear before Judge Judy.
By the way you make some good points.

 

[Slackster56]

Cool! You're playing there? Have fun and much success! \m/

Ha! No - we're on holiday . But there Is a big blues scene in Germany.... so you never know.

 

[GZboat]

I was in an Americana trio a few years ago (guitar, bass, dobro). At one high profile showcase gig, in a small-ish and intimate listening room, the PA sh!t the bed about two songs in. Without missing a beat, we stepped forward to the edge of the stage and played the rest of the set (about 30 minutes) with no PA (to a rousing applause!). So ... did we go from being an electric band to an acoustic band in just five steps forward? The word "acoustic" applies to the INSTRUMENT(S) used, that are designed to be played without amplification .... not the band, not the genre, not whether the show has sound reinforcement, or whether the instrument has been equipped to be able to provide amplification. But you guys can keep beating the dead horse (with no name) ...

You didn't go from being an electric band to an acoustic band, but you sure did go from being an electro-acoustic band to an acoustic band in 5 steps.
Greg

 

[pbass888]

Almost all the "acoustic" bass players in nyc use amps and cabinets for club and show gigs...so ... I really don't know

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

You do realize, don't you, that most high-quality microphones (dynamic, condenser, and ribbon) use changes in a magnetic field to create the electronic analogs of the sound waves striking their diaphragms? Only crystal and ceramic mics and piezoelectric pickups do not.

And this fact creates distinctly different "acoustic" tones depending on tracking methodology. I created a video on tracking acoustic bass guitar with demos of how it sounds with large diaphragm condenser mic, small diaphragm condenser mic, dynamic mic, piezo pickup with clean DI, piezo pickup with tube preamp/DI, mic'd cabinet, and blended tracking. All different. I like most of them. So it becomes an issue of what does the producer (usually you!) want for the song/vibe?

 

[Matthias Grob]

great report, Dave!
interesting in this context that the feedback soundhole plug somehow makes the switch from the acoustic to a hybrid or hollow electric (or what?) guitar - which does not sound totally different but brings some ease on stage

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

To add an interesting wrinkle, there's a thread on the other side about Audio Sprockets' new box called ToneDexter. It creates an "audio map" of how your acoustic instrument sounds when mic'd with your favorite microphone and mic position over your existing pickup tone. When you play your acoustic bass (or whatever) via a piezo pickup through a "mapped" ToneDexter, what you hear in the speakers is just about what you'd hear with a microphone (a la pure "acoustic" tone). What is "acoustic" music these days? The definition keeps getting stretched!

TB thread: Audio Sprockets ToneDexter

And from the official website: ToneDexter | by AudioSprockets