Pickup Recommendations

Martz911 · #1 03-19-2015, 08:14 PM

After owning a number of Rainsongs over the years, I've found that the HDR1100N2 Hybrid best suits my needs. Now I'm thinking I'd like to have a pickup installed in mine, but I want a passive type with no controls or battery needs. Has anyone tried a K&K Pure Mini in a CF guitar? Any other pickup recommendations? Thanks in advance.

AZLiberty · #2 03-19-2015, 08:23 PM

I have a K&K pure mini in my shorty.

Sound quality is good, but only if you have an external preamp. Otherwise it gets "woofy".

Gemini11 · #3 03-19-2015, 10:15 PM

Baggs M80, Fishman Neo D or I'm presently using a Blackstack

steelvibe · #4 03-19-2015, 11:33 PM

This is really a great question even though it has been asked so many times on this forum. My experience is with Fishman only- I don't love it but I don't hate it either. Doug Young has done great work answering this question and you can search him on this forum.

Bottom line is that most great sounding live tone is usually a mix of 2 signals. I would Google a ton of samples and listen with a good pair of headphones. Got a favorite player who has amazing live tone? What does he/she use? I love Andy McKee and he has K&K systems running through a DTAR Solstice.

I actually really like DTAR products but they are currently undergoing some restructuring on their products and business approach with Seymour Duncan. The DTAR Wavelength is the best piezoelectric UST I've heard.

Doubleneck · #5 03-20-2015, 05:08 AM

I have a passive K&K mini in my L13 and it is very nice. Put a K&K Trinity Pro in a new to me wood guitar last month. Mini and Mic blended. It really is the way to go. I think the mic makes a huge difference giving it some air.

HeavyDuty · #6 03-20-2015, 07:42 AM

I've been going through the same thing with my Shorty. I've used K&K in my acoustic basses in the past, but the sensitivity to top noise bothers me.

Martz911 · #7 03-20-2015, 08:05 AM

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. A sound hole pickup may be a good way to go, especially if I want to keep costs down and have a totally removable "installation". So I'll do some more research based on the suggestions given here before deciding what to do. Thanks again!

Gemini11 · #8 03-26-2015, 03:26 PM

Certainly worth a try. They do have some of that "neck pickup" vibe to them but not overbearing. There is a guy in a local trio I saw a few days ago who plays a Baggs M80 in a small bodied Taylor and he sounded just fine. Played a gig last night with my CA with the Blackstack through my Benz and an EV SX300. About a foot or so behind them and had no problems with feedback even though I was running my Sansamp hot enough to get just an ever so slight break up whenever I wanted it for certain things. This was outdoors at a busy beach bar and grill---spring break!! I like the elastic, loose feel of mags. Just a good natural feel to them.

JohnFrink1 · #9 03-31-2015, 07:52 PM

I have a K&K Pure Mini in my Emerald T20 Baritone, and it sounds great. I use a Red-Eye preamp.

Best regards,

John

rwskaggs · #10 04-01-2015, 10:56 AM

JJB Prestige #330 with RedEye Pre-amp. Play at festivals, libraries, coffee shops, farmer's markets, churches, etc. with no issues.

(BTW the boost feature on the RedEye doesn't sound good with this rig! Leave it in standard mode and the sound guys love you!)

Martz911 · #11 06-02-2015, 01:44 PM

To update this thread - - after I decided to have a pickup permanently installed in my Rainsong Dreadnought rather than going the soundhole pickup route, I bought a K&K Pure Mini from Shoreline Music (an AGF sponsor). I then had it installed in my HDR1100N2 at my local music store (Russo Music in Trenton, NJ). Matt, the tech at Russo, did a clean, professional job, and I'm very happy with the plugged-in sound. The pickup has plenty of output to use with my Loudbox Mini even without a pre-amp, and the sound is quite natural.