Seymour Duncan SA-6 Mag Mic Acoustic Guitar Soundhole Pickup
he Seymour Duncan SA-6 Mag Mic is a high-quality active acoustic guitar pickup designed for players who want the reliability of a soundhole pickup with a more natural, microphone-like acoustic response. By combining a hum-cancelling magnetic pickup with an onboard omnidirectional condenser microphone, the Mag Mic gives you a fuller, more three-dimensional amplified acoustic tone than many standard magnetic soundhole pickups.
This makes it a strong choice for gigging acoustic guitarists, singer-songwriters, fingerstyle players and recording musicians who need a practical pickup system that captures both string definition and the natural air of the guitar body. The magnetic pickup provides clarity, output and feedback resistance, while the built-in microphone adds resonance, body character and acoustic detail.
Easy to fit into many standard acoustic guitar soundholes, the Seymour Duncan Mag Mic is a flexible solution for players who want to amplify their acoustic without committing to a complex under-saddle or internal pickup installation. Whether you are playing live, recording at home or upgrading an existing electro-acoustic setup, the SA-6 offers a balanced blend of warmth, clarity and control.
Why Choose the Seymour Duncan Mag Mic?
The Seymour Duncan Mag Mic is designed to solve one of the biggest challenges with acoustic amplification: getting a sound that is clear and stage-ready without losing the natural character of the guitar. Standard magnetic pickups can be reliable and resistant to feedback, but they can sometimes sound too direct or electric-like. Microphones capture more body and air, but can be difficult to manage at higher stage volumes. The Mag Mic brings both ideas together in one compact soundhole unit.
At the heart of the SA-6 is a hum-cancelling magnetic Stack pickup, which captures string vibration with strong definition and reduced unwanted noise. This gives the pickup a dependable foundation with articulate note separation, stable output and enough clarity for both strummed rhythm and more detailed picking styles.
The built-in omnidirectional condenser microphone adds the natural acoustic resonance that magnetic pickups alone often miss. This helps bring out the air, body and percussive detail of the guitar, making the amplified tone feel more organic and responsive. The onboard blend control allows you to dial in the right amount of microphone character depending on the room, PA system and playing style.
For live players, this balance is particularly useful. You can keep the magnetic pickup more prominent for higher-volume situations, or bring in more microphone signal when you want a more natural acoustic sound. This gives the Mag Mic a level of flexibility that makes it suitable for pubs, churches, acoustic stages, rehearsal rooms, studio work and home recording setups.
Comparison Against Popular Alternatives
| Product | Best For | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Seymour Duncan SA-6 Mag Mic | Players wanting magnetic reliability with added microphone realism | Combines magnetic pickup and onboard condenser mic in one soundhole unit |
| Seymour Duncan Woody Series | Simple passive soundhole pickup users | Easier, more basic option, but without the active mic blend of the Mag Mic |
| Fishman Neo-D | Straightforward magnetic acoustic amplification | Simple soundhole pickup design, but less natural body resonance than a mic-blend system |
| LR Baggs M1 Active | Players wanting a premium magnetic soundhole pickup with body sensitivity | Very responsive active pickup, but the Mag Mic uses a dedicated onboard mic blend approach |
The SA-6 sits in a very useful middle ground. It is more flexible and natural-sounding than a basic magnetic soundhole pickup, but still easier to manage live than a fully internal microphone system. For many acoustic players, that makes it a practical upgrade when they want more depth and realism without making stage sound overly complicated.
Who Is It For?
The Seymour Duncan Mag Mic is ideal for acoustic guitarists who need a reliable pickup for live performance but do not want their guitar to sound thin, harsh or overly electric when plugged in. It is especially well suited to singer-songwriters, worship musicians, acoustic duos, solo performers and players who regularly move between live and recording environments.
Fingerstyle players will appreciate the added detail and body from the onboard mic, while strummers benefit from the clarity and stability of the magnetic pickup. Percussive acoustic players may also find the microphone element useful, as it can help capture more of the guitar body’s natural response than a magnetic-only pickup.
It is also a good option for players who own a non-electro acoustic guitar and want to add a pickup system without choosing a permanent under-saddle installation. Depending on the guitar and setup preference, it can be used as a practical soundhole-mounted solution for amplifying a favourite acoustic.
Magnetic Pickup vs Microphone: Why the Blend Matters
Acoustic guitars produce sound in more than one way. The strings provide pitch, attack and note definition, but much of the instrument’s character comes from the resonance of the body, top and internal air movement. A magnetic pickup is excellent at capturing string vibration, which gives you a clear and stable signal. However, because it focuses mainly on the strings, it may not always reproduce the full acoustic depth of the instrument.
A microphone captures more of the guitar’s natural body sound, including air, resonance and percussive response. The downside is that microphones can be more sensitive to feedback, stage noise and room conditions. The Seymour Duncan Mag Mic is designed to give you the strengths of both approaches.
By blending the magnetic pickup with the onboard mic, you can shape the sound to suit the situation. For louder live stages, you may prefer more magnetic pickup for control and feedback resistance. For quieter acoustic sets, home recording or more natural amplified tones, you can blend in more microphone signal for added realism and warmth.
This makes the SA-6 particularly useful for players who do not want a one-size-fits-all acoustic pickup sound. Instead, it gives you control over how direct, airy or natural your amplified acoustic tone feels.
Story & Context
Seymour Duncan is one of the most respected names in guitar pickup design, known for producing pickups used by players across rock, blues, country, metal, jazz and acoustic styles. While the brand is especially famous for electric guitar pickups, its acoustic pickup range applies the same focus on tone, reliability and practical performance.
The Mag Mic is part of Seymour Duncan’s acoustic pickup offering and reflects a problem many acoustic players face: how to make an acoustic guitar sound natural when plugged in, without making the live setup fragile or feedback-prone. By combining magnetic pickup technology with an onboard condenser microphone, the SA-6 gives acoustic players a more complete amplified voice in a compact soundhole format.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
| Product Name | Seymour Duncan SA-6 Mag Mic |
| Product Type | Active acoustic guitar soundhole pickup |
| Pickup Design | Hum-cancelling magnetic Stack pickup with built-in omnidirectional condenser microphone |
| Controls | Volume / blend control for balancing pickup and microphone character |
| Pole Pieces | Adjustable pole pieces |
| Installation Type | Soundhole-mounted acoustic pickup |
| Suitable Instrument Type | Acoustic guitar |
| Soundhole Compatibility | Approx. 9.5–10.5cm soundhole diameter |
| Power Requirement | 9V battery |
| Output Character | Clear magnetic string response with added body resonance and microphone air |
| Best Suited For | Live acoustic performance, singer-songwriters, fingerstyle, strumming, recording and amplified acoustic setups |
Power Requirements
The Seymour Duncan SA-6 Mag Mic is an active pickup system and requires a 9V battery. We recommend keeping a spare quality 9V battery in your case or gig bag, especially if you are using the pickup regularly for live performance. Battery condition can affect output level and overall reliability, so it is worth checking before rehearsals, recording sessions and gigs.
Pairs Perfectly With
- Acoustic guitar amplifiers
- Compact acoustic preamps
- DI boxes for live PA use
- Acoustic pedalboards
- Reverb, compression and EQ pedals
- Spare 9V batteries
- Quality instrument cables
- Feedback control accessories for live acoustic setups
Looking for advice on choosing the right acoustic pickup, DI box or live acoustic setup? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.
Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?
Fair Deal Music has been helping musicians find the right gear since 1987. As Birmingham’s largest independent music store, we offer friendly, honest advice from knowledgeable staff who understand the needs of real players, whether you are buying your first acoustic pickup or upgrading a professional live rig.
We are a family-run retailer with 6,000+ Excellent 4.9-star Trustpilot reviews, fast UK delivery, secure online ordering and a large Birmingham showroom where you can speak to experienced musicians in person. Our team can help you choose the right pickup, match it with a suitable acoustic amp or DI, and make sure your setup works for the way you actually play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Seymour Duncan Mag Mic suitable for live performance?
Yes. The Mag Mic is designed for live acoustic amplification, combining the stability of a magnetic pickup with the added realism of an onboard microphone. The blend control lets you adjust the amount of mic signal depending on the venue and volume level.
Does the Mag Mic need a battery?
Yes. The SA-6 Mag Mic is an active pickup and requires a 9V battery.
What type of pickup is the Seymour Duncan Mag Mic?
It is an active acoustic soundhole pickup that combines a hum-cancelling magnetic Stack pickup with an onboard omnidirectional condenser microphone.
Why does it have both a pickup and a microphone?
The magnetic pickup captures string clarity and output, while the microphone adds body resonance, air and natural acoustic character. Blending the two gives a fuller amplified sound than many magnetic-only pickups.
Is it better than a standard acoustic soundhole pickup?
For players who want a more natural and dimensional acoustic tone, the Mag Mic offers more flexibility than many basic magnetic soundhole pickups because of its onboard microphone blend.
Will it fit my acoustic guitar?
It is designed for many standard acoustic guitar soundholes, with compatibility typically around 9.5–10.5cm. It is always worth checking your guitar’s soundhole size before ordering.
Is the Seymour Duncan Mag Mic good for fingerstyle?
Yes. The added microphone detail can help bring out touch, dynamics and body resonance, making it a strong option for fingerstyle players as well as strummers.
Can I use it for recording?
Yes. The Mag Mic can be useful for home recording and demo work, especially when you want a direct acoustic signal with more natural body character than a simple magnetic pickup. For professional studio results, it can also be combined with an external microphone depending on the recording setup.