I was doing a tour in Northwest Arkansas a few years ago, when the onboard tuner/pickup on my guitar just stopped working. I thought it was the battery at first, so I changed it. But it still didn’t work. Something was wrong and I knew I didn’t have the time to look into what it could have been.
I just so happen to have a really old accessory pickup with me so I tested that out. It never was reliable and that moment wasn’t any different. So there I was, about to show up at my professional gig, with no real solution to amplify my chords.
I went to a music shop and picked up the Seymore Duncan Woody. I explained what my problem was and the guy in the shop suggested the Woody. He said I couldn’t go wrong with it. I must have been hiding under a rock all these years because I had never heard of a Woody before and had no idea how to apply it to my guitar. The guy had to show me. We even tested it out right there at the shop. If you have an acoustic guitar and looking for some pickup options, look no further. Here’s my review on the Seymore Duncan Woody.
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The Sound
The first thing I’ll discuss here is the sound. When I played my guitar with the Woody on it, the sound was great! It almost sounded like my normal pickup but it was actually better. The Woody gave my chords a rounder, more realistic feel. My normal onboard tuner/pickup has more of an electronic sound. It isn’t bad, but I could definitely tell a difference.
Ease of Use
The design of the Woody makes it seem inconspicuous. It sits right across the soundhole on the guitar under the strings. There’s a cable that comes out of the Woody that sends the sound to your PA. One of my fears was that the Woody would get in my way of picking. At least that’s what my old accessory pickup would do to the point of exhaustion. But not so much with the Woody (more on this below). Its application is clean and stable. It has neoprene on both sides so that it slides right into the soundhole for a snug fit. Once it’s in, the Woody is not going anywhere until you take it out.
The Look
The Woody matches its name. It looks like well-polished wood, a really nice addition to any acoustic guitar. It might as well have been made just for me and my guitar. I only wish I could have gotten the darker version to go with the color scheme of my guitar. By the way, the Woody comes in many different sizes and colors.
Quality
I’d say the quality is top-notch. I’ve been using my Woody for a few years now and it hasn’t failed me yet. The sound is extra round and crisp, it’s made out of durable materials. It provides a reliable sound whenever I need it in a pinch.
Price
For the sound and quality, the price is a value. I bought mine for around $60 and that’s on the low end. The price for a Seymore Duncan Woody ranges from $40 to over $100 depending on what your needs are. I still use my onboard tuner/pickup for the most part, but it’s definitely a huge peace of mind having the Woody with me at all times just in case something goes wrong. Not to mention…it’s also a tremendous value for those without an onboard pickup, especially if you’re doing live shows.
What don’t I like?
If I had to change one thing about the Woody it would be the way it takes up space in the soundhole. I’m used to the soundhole being empty. But with the addition of the Woody, it creates a solid there that gets in the way of picking ever so slightly. I must say, this is a big step up from my old clip-on accessory pickup, but there is still some amount of maneuvering I have to do with each strum so as not to come into contact with the Woody. I wish there was a way to depress it inside the soundhole a little more so that it’s not right up under the strings where I’m strumming. That’s my only complaint.
All in all, I’d say the Seymore Duncan Woody is a winner. The price, quality, design, and sound is very impressive. It sure did help me out in a pinch and I rely on it every time something goes wrong with my preferred pickup.
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Thanks for sharing this story, Anitra! I remember when we had to buy this pick-up and how relieved we were that it was both affordable and sounded great! It’s definitely a good product to have, especially as a back-up.
For sure! It really came through in a pinch. It’s really good to have around!