There are basically three ways of amplifying an acoustic guitar, or any acoustic stringed instrument for that matter. You can use one of the numerous magnetic pickups on the market (the sort you clip over the soundhole), you can have a fullblown transducer fitted beneath the bridge-piece, or finally you've got the option of a stick-on transducer 'bug'. Each system has its advantages and disadvantages, magnetic types probably being the worst because they tend to destroy your natural acoustic sound. If you don't mind having your instrument properly fitted with a beneath-the-bridge transducer then this is definitely the best option, but you may not want your instrument cannibalised - nor may you be up to forking-out the necessary price. (Incidentally, Ashworth make one of the best transducers of this type, so if that is what you want, we can wholeheartedly recommend it.) The final and most convenient type of pickup, however, is the stick-on bug, typified by the Ashworth transducer system.

In recent years the British-made Ashworth has earned a superlative reputation. Luminaries like the brilliant Martin Carthy use them, as do many other leading Foil; C&W and Jazz players - not to mention IT's own acoustic guinea pig, Katy 88 (who are you calling a guinea?! - Katy). The only possible objection to the tiny Ashworth transducer in the past has been the price: not that it was expensive, just that it did cost a few quid more than the beginner or the flat broke could afford. Fortunately, Ashworth's principal, Al Jones, has recently invested in a new manufacturing process and has been able to introduce a lower-cost bug which he calls the AJ51 'Budget Bug'.

Visually there's not much to distinguish the budget Ashworth from its illustrious big brother. The transducer itself still comprises a tiny oblong block (although in this model's case made from moulded plastic rather than wood), measuring a mere 1 1/8" long by a sliver over 5/16" deep by 3/8" wide. This is connected to a jack socket around which fits a plastic clip. You fix both the bug and the socket to your guitar with double sided tape (supplied). Fears that this might damage your instrument's finish, by the way, seem unfounded, as we've previously used Ashworth's tape on a huge variety of instruments with no problems.

The key to getting the best from the Ashworth (and this applies to both models) lies in where you place it on the soundboard, and as individual guitars vary so much this will inevitably be a matter for experimentation. We used Katy 88's Manson Sandpiper as our first victim and, after trying half a dozen different positions (careful! - Ed), found that the best was with the Ashworth stuck some two or three inches behind the bridge and a little towards the bottom strings. Set thus, the Ashworth produced a fabulously realistic sound - far better than we've got from magnetic pickups and very close in its naturalness to the sound we get from the top of the range model. There may, and it's arguable, be some loss of absolute fidelity here compared to the top Ashworth, but it's amazingly close.

Next off, we tried a complete switch-round and fitted the 'Budget Bug' to Katy's Washburn mandolin. This really did surprise us, as the sound was probably the best amplified mandolin effect we've ever heard - and by quite a long way! Given the chance, we'd have tried an even wider range of instrument types with this new Ashworth, as the versatility of it promised great things.

Feedback, one has to admit, can be a problem with this unit as with transducers of any type, but it's markedly better than the sort of banshee squeal you get from most magnetic kinds. To overcome this (again, this applies to all transducers) a good pedal graphic equaliser would come in handy here to knock-out feedback generating frequencies - it will also help adjust the sound to your taste.

Overall, the new Ashworth 'Budget Bug' offers such good value for money at its RRP (£17.25) that we'd have to count it as one of the most underpriced products we've reviewed on IT. We'd unhesitatingly recommend it to any player who wants to amplify their guitar or mandolin and who feels they can't justify the 'beneath the bridge' Ashworth or the top of the range 'stick on' model. In our view it would be worth experimenting with this pickup on other acoustic instruments, too.

RRP £17.25

More details from Ashworth Electronics, (Contact Details). Trade Distribution by Keith Hand, Formula One Music, (Contact Details).