Sunrise appreciation thread...

[Jinder]

Hi all,
Are there any other Sunrise lovers out there? I absolutely adore these pickups.

A couple of years back I was sent one by a friend, who very kindly not only gifted the pickup to me, but sent it all the way from the US to the UK.

I installed the pickup in my Maple AJ (which was, at the time, suffering from an LR Baggs Ailment UST &#128521, and it was a match made in heaven. I'd not previously found a magnetic pickup I'd liked, but the Sunrise into my Boss AD10 with a smidgen of compression and a slight mid cut was absolutely astonishing. Big, bold (but not overbearing) bottom end, complex mids and silky, never harsh trebles. That aside, the best bit of all was the responsiveness-it responded to my touch just like an unplugged guitar. It didn't sound like a replication of an acoustic guitar, but sounded entirely great in its own way.

I've since acquired another two, a 1980s unit that is in my D18GE and a brand new one which is in my SJ200. They all sound fantastic, and different according to the instrument they're in, as a pickup should.

I don't have the proprietary Sunrise buffer box, but I've not found myself needing one with the AD10 as it sounds genuinely fantastic without.

I'd love to hear other folks' experiences with them.

[MrErikJ]

Never had the opportunity to try one but I've, almost, always thought they sound great. They're a little heavy, expensive, and hard to acquire but they are deservedly legendary.

[Spook]

Not exactly traditional, but a Sunrise equipped guitar sounds quite good with a Joyo American pedal in the Fx loop. Set to squeaky clean, there's something about the clarity this Fender black face emulator imparts. My setup: oval hole archtop -> Grace Designs Felix -> various pedals in Felix Loop -> Acus 350

The Joyo pedal is quite different from trying to do the same thing with EQ.

[dcopper]

I have had a Sunrise for some years now and it really is unique. When I use it (most of the time I use the K&K pickup instead) it is mounted in a 914 and I use the SB2 preamp. My experience with the SB2 is that it really brings the pickup to life. Other preamps will work fine - like my RedEye preamps, but the SB2 is an excellent match for the Sunrise.

I have run the mag gauntlet and to me the Sunrise has always been #1. In my setup, it is just easier for me to access the K&K pickup, but there are times when I just love the classic sound of the Sunrise and my 914.

Davidc

[varmonter]

I am in a mag pickup phase right now. Given
up sbt entirely. You should try the sunrise buffer
box. its a pretty sweet pre that just compliments
the sunrise nicely. The sunrise is the only mag ive
tried that will fit inside my 30s parlor. its a
regal black night. And with the buffer box
this little guitar sounds huge. I like to bring it
to open mics. I get some real jaw dropping looks from
folks when i get up and play this small guitar with
a huge sound. Its funny to watch ..

[meb]

I bought a used Sunrise S-2 a couple of days ago and am in the early stages of getting to know it. When it was described as a Black Angel with more
body, I just had to take the plunge. The Black Angel and the Scherter
AG-6/S-mic have been in rotation in my Goodalls for a while.

Control gear is a Bose T1 and L1C + various preamps.

First up with my Goodall HRCJC - The BA works wonderfully in this guitar
and captures the nuances quite well. When I popped in the Sunrise and
into a Fishman Platinum Pro (FPP), all the great things from the BA were
there, but with a meaty, fuller sound. The Sunrise went well with my Baggs
Venue. Only minor EQ was needed for either. It was a dreadful match with
my Red-eye win....dark and murky..it needed more EQ than a Treblle knob.
The Black Angel sounds fine with the Twin.

I got good sound from the Sunrise into my Boss Acoustic Singer Live.
Volume seeded a bit higher than the BA, but not enough for me to be
comfortable without a boost OTSS Power plug for live work.

Then I installed the AG-6/S-mic into the HRCJC/Bose T1 L1C . There
was a similar 'body/fullness thing, but a more airy, polite treble bs
the more direct Sunrise treble.

All 3 pickups are very competent. I got similar results with my MdRSC.

More to come, but bottom line, I am off to a good start with the S-1.
I am sure it will go in one of my guitars.

[meb]

This is a follow-up to my last post with a couple of questions.

There are some downsides to the Sunrise pickup...it is bigger than the others,
not interchangeable or easily removable, metal inside the guitar........

All of this can be overlooked, but the 2 big questions are:
1) Do you really have solder crap together even with the S-2 kit?
2) There is no cork in the clamps....has anyone had problems with
the pickup messing up the guitar finish?

Thanks.

[ben]

1) Do you really have solder crap together even with the S-2 kit?
2) There is no cork in the clamps....has anyone had problems with
the pickup messing up the guitar finish?

Admittedly not directly answering the questions, but:

1. The S-2 is sometimes available pre-wired for those of us who aren't inclined to solder ourselves:
https://shorelinemusic.com/products/sunrise-s-2-prewire

Also, complete Sunrise pickups + jacks that have been removed from instruments show up on Reverb regularly (i.e., have already been wired). Given the sturdy build of these units and transferable warranty, this might be an option. [edit: just noticed you bought a used Sunrise, so you likely know this!]

2. Maybe something like this (if they are available anywhere) might lessen concerns about the clamps?
https://reverb.com/item/3485336-thir...mps-wings-ears

(disclaimer: No connection with either of these products/sellers, other than I have a prewired S-2 and a set of these clamps stockpiled for next time I want to install a pickup in one of my guitars)

[meb]

Thanks Ben, today has been a learning experience. I think I now have A
handle on the product line and rationale...which was foggy at first.

Here is a recap at the end of my day testing guitar/pickup/preamp combos.
right now I have 3 BA's, an AG-6/S-Mic, and a s-2.

MdRSC - I have been using the AG-6/S-mic. All the pickups sounded good,
the Sunrise goes here.

RSC- I sampled this tonight and the AG-6/S-mic is still fantastic and more
pleasing, clear, and open This is what I gigged
with before my MdRSC purchase. It has better synergy than the S-2
and BA. The AG-6 goes here. This gives me an active alternative
that works well with no preamp.

HRCJC - The BA has always been a great synergy with this one, though I
really preferred the S-2. There is still a lot of magic with the BA.
Who knows, maybe down the road I will get a second S-1.
Meanwhile, I am missing very little.

To sum up:
The BA is a workhorse and star at its price point. With its on-board phase
switch, I can always get great sound from any preamp with gain. It can
be easily installed and removed, reasonably small, sounds grea, and is
cheap by comparison..

The AG-6/S-mic provides a wonderful, natural sound and is 'active'

The S-2 was the newcomer. It does not provide the 'easy' plug compatible
minijack, and is somewhat a more permanent install, it produces a
wonderful, classic sound we have heard on so many records.

All these pickups work great in the right context.

Good luck,

Michael

[BluesKing777]

Here is some song context using my Sunrise through some gadgetry from my 2005 Gibson Blues King L-00. I really like it through my Boss VE8.

So it is my Sunrise pickup run to the Sunrise buffer box preamp and to my Fishman Pro EQ and then to my Boss VE8 to join with my Shure SM58 vocal on a nothing like it version of Neil Young's "Long May You Run"......forgive me, NY fans but I was playing the sounds, playing, playing, maybe I should record that, playing, playing, what am I going to sing and play?

This one:


https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/longmay-u-run7b




BluesKing777.

[douglasfan1]

Sunrise is great, especially when work with efffect(s) or pair with another source. I do have good result with highlander ip-2 & miniflex model 7.

[stephenT]

Always go back to a Sunrise. Been using them for twenty years, tried quite a few and nothing works for me as well as the Sunrise. Play mine through the Sunrise buffer box a Schertler Jam 400. Ain’t bad!

[Jinder]

Thankyou for sharing your thoughts and stories. I'm glad but unsurprised that I'm not the only one who loves the Sunrise!

In my Martin D18GE in particular, the Sunrise is just perfection. Through my AD10 it sounds remarkably acoustic and very close to the sound of the guitar itself with some subtle EQ.

[curbucci]

////Breaking News////

Sunrise magnetic pickups sales surge!
AGF forum members contemplating replacing Schatten HFN!

[meb]

I liked my first Sunrise enough to get another one for my HRCJC. I used
both guitars at my gig last night, and was very pleased with the sound.
The Sunrise did a good job at capturing the nuances of the different size
guitars. I ran them through a Fishman Platinum Pro EQ with all
EQ set dead flat, fwiw.

The downside is I need to have my installer re-seat and secure the metal
mini-jack connections inside the guitar. I get some intermittent buzzes playing
unplugged.