Amplification of parlour and other smaller guitars

Hamptonguitar · #1 03-22-2018, 08:01 AM

Hello,

I have a Fylde Ariel (1994) and a Santa Cruz (also 1994 - "H" 14 fret all Koa).

These are special guitars.

I want to play them live and wonder what recommendations you would make. I want to do right by the guitars, would not want to butcher them, happy to use an outboard preamp, happy to consider active or passive systems, any one or a combination of solutions and keen to both get a faithful acoustic sound whilst having the ability to fight feedback etc.

The default might be a Baggs anthem, but then again it's a a fair bit of weight to
add to the instrument.

Very open minded.

Please give me learning!

Thanks
Rob

6L6 · #2 03-22-2018, 08:38 AM

K&K Pure Mini works great in parlors.

varmonter · #3 03-22-2018, 11:09 AM

i use a sunrise soundhole pup in my 1933 supertone.
it sounds great. most mags won't fit in parlors.
i have to take one clamp off of the sunrise
put the pup in the soundhole then reattach the clamp.
kind of a pain but it works.

tadol · #4 03-22-2018, 11:35 AM

I also have a H, 14 fret all koa, from ‘90, and completely agree, wonderful and special guitar.

I have been very tempted to put the K&K mini in, but have recently learned about the Ultra Tonic from James May, which is very similar but perhaps improved? I’m looking forward to hearing one in person before deciding. I also just recd a Sexauer with a Barbera pickup, and it is pretty outstanding, but a bit more pricey and you need an experienced tech to install.

You absolutely can’t go wrong with the K&K, but if its in your budget, check into the Barbera. And I hope to give a review on the Ultra Tonic in the near future -

Andy Howell · #5 03-22-2018, 12:08 PM

It’s the same as amplifying any acoustic!

Hamptonguitar · #6 03-22-2018, 12:37 PM

What would be your choice Andy?

Nick84 · #7 03-22-2018, 01:28 PM

JJB 330 is currently my favourite pickup. Sound natural and I’ve had no feedback issues. Assuming K&K will be similar if not better.

Mr. Jelly · #8 03-22-2018, 01:59 PM

I do K & K minis. I love them.

Hamptonguitar · #9 03-22-2018, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

I do K & K minis. I love them.

They are fixed for good right? Cannot remove it once in place - superglued on bridge plate?

Are there any compatibility problems with certain preamps?

Nick84 · #10 03-22-2018, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamptonguitar

They are fixed for good right? Cannot remove it once in place - superglued on bridge plate?

Are there any compatibility problems with certain preamps?

You can remove them but you will likely damage the transducers. They work best with 1mohm impedance preamps. But I run my JJB through my Baggs Venue which is 10mohm and i have no issues.

varmonter · #11 03-23-2018, 06:25 AM

i think for the most part as long as it's 1mohm
or higher the kk work pretty well. I use a felix
and sometimes a ve8 and it works fine.i also have
kk pure xlr and it's designed for it.
I didn't like the baggs para eq or the pendulum pre
Just could never get a warm fuzzy with those preamps
and kk.

Hamptonguitar · #12 03-23-2018, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varmonter

i think for the most part as long as it's 1mohm
or higher the kk work pretty well. I use a felix
and sometimes a ve8 and it works fine.i also have
kk pure xlr and it's designed for it.
I didn't like the baggs para eq or the pendulum pre
Just could never get a warm fuzzy with those preamps
and kk.

Thanks for this and for all the replies. The K&K mini is overwhelmingly supported in recommendations on the forum. Difficult to ignore this, so I have purchased two of them and they are being put into both these guitars by my trusty tech over the weekend. He likes them too, just not his first choice.

Br1ck · #13 03-23-2018, 05:39 PM

Here is another application where Dazzos shine. A set of 90s in a parlor will make the guitar sound big and full. He is now putting SunnAudio pre amp circuits that are tailored to Dazzo pickups in guitars if you wish, or just use an outboard pre.

kramster · #14 03-23-2018, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Br1ck

. He is now putting SunnAudio pre amp circuits that are tailored to Dazzo pickups in guitars if you wish

I would imagine that sounds great...Teddy is a perfectionist

jseth · #15 03-23-2018, 08:49 PM

If you love the sound of those guitars, I would advise you AGAINST getting the Anthem installed. I have the Anthem SL in my two Mark Angus acoustics, one 6 string and one 12 string.They've been in the guitars for ~7 years.

Especially on the 6 string, the installation totally changed the sound, both volume output and tone (when played unplugged, of course) - I've had this guitar since it was built for me in 1979, and I am a professional singer/songwriter/performer, so I am intimately acquainted with all the sounds the guitar makes, and I was aghast at the changes in my old friend!

I have my own theories about "why?" this happens, but it's purely opinion. In all fairness, the volume "came back" after about 6-9 months after the install. Not quite what it was, but nearly. The tone, however, has remained changed.

The ONLY reason the pickups are in those guitars is that they do sound lovely; about as nice as anything I've heard, save for some deluxe 2 source system with a Pendulum SP-1 or some such. I need guitars that are "stage ready" and easy to work with to get the sound I want, and I have that in the Anthem systems.

If my primary concern was retaining the "natural" sound of those guitars, I would not have the Anthem in them.

There are other options, but I'd stay away from the Baggs Element (the UST portion of the Anthem).