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  #1  
Old 10-14-2017, 12:12 AM
maxtheaxe maxtheaxe is offline
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Default K&K vs JJB?

Has anyone had experience with both of these SBT (sound-board transducer) type pickups? I have K&Ks in 5 of my guitars...obviously I like them...and then I ran across these:

http://www.jjb-electronics.com/prestige-330.html

Seems pretty much the same kind of thing at a much reduced cost and I can't think of anything that would make one inherently better than the other. Has anyone here been able to compare them?
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Old 10-14-2017, 03:03 AM
AndyC AndyC is offline
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Did you try the search button? There's already a lot of discussion on this topic:

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...t=prestige-330
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Old 10-14-2017, 03:59 AM
chitz chitz is offline
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I've gotten good results with both. Some say they can hear a difference, I can not.

IIRC, the K&K size is 12mm and the JJB comes in 15 and 20mm. Check your soundboard, make sure they'll fit.
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Old 10-14-2017, 06:05 AM
Pitar Pitar is offline
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Both employ the same Piezo material as the source. Piezo is Piezo. It doesn't change its properties whether used by one or the other producers of transducer products. Logic tells me people who claim to hear a difference have them in different guitars. No one is going to install one properly in a particular guitar, remember the sound of it, and then remove it and the adhesive used to install it to install the other in its place just for the experiment. So, believe them if you will.
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Old 10-14-2017, 09:17 AM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is offline
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I have both. I have two of my guitars wired with the K&K in one and a JJB in the other. I like the JJB-equipped guitar better. It's totally subjective, but frankly I think a big part of it is that I like the fit and feel of the guitar with the K&K better than that of the guitar with the JJB in it. I may have also installed the JJB improperly as the signal doesn't sound as strong (without using the K&K Pure XLR preamp) and it once cut out on me during a performance. Chalk it up to user error. YMMV.
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Old 10-14-2017, 09:21 AM
kaos kaos is offline
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Some say the JJB is muddier. But they are bigger so the may have more bass response. I have the JJB in my guitars. All 15mm except my Dove which has a 20mm. You can always email Jesse @ JJB and ask which size he thinks is better suited for your guitar.
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Old 10-14-2017, 05:47 PM
Mandobart Mandobart is online now
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Yes I have installed and played through both brands. I cannot tell any difference in tone, quality, materials, longevity or anything else. I have been impressed enough with JJB to install them in around 18 instruments now ranging from fiddle to mandolin, banjo, guitar, mandocello, upright bass, etc. over the past 10 years.

I have also found Jessie at JJB to be extremely prompt and responsive.
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Old 10-15-2017, 07:36 AM
kaos kaos is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandobart View Post
I have also found Jessie at JJB to be extremely prompt and responsive.
+1 Absolutely!
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Old 10-15-2017, 11:51 AM
maxtheaxe maxtheaxe is offline
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Thanks for the replies...I just sort of stumbled on to those JJBs. I don't have a guitar that needs a pickup right now, although I have an old 70s Aria PW-70 Vine-Inlay that I'm planning to do some restoration on...it might be a good candidate.

I'm a little ambivalent over the fact that K&K is kind of a homegrown Oregon Coast business and I like to support those, but it is always nice to have options.
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Fender USA Roadhouse Strat
Fender MIM/USA Partscaster
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