#16
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Understandably and legitimately some folks aren't gonna have the where with all to understand what to do with the Lyric. It is after all a mic in a live scenario. It's not a walk in the park that I think many, many here would like it to be. It is not plug and play. Then again neither is a microphone on a live acoustic guitar. It's also just not gonna be for everyone. Just like (believe or not) K&K's are not for everyone. It is however an amazing acoustic guitar system that reproduces the sound of an acoustic guitar better than anything I've ever heard and once understood takes no more (probably less) eq than a K&K. To add to this scenario many who have be-cried for years they want a "just like my guitar only louder" have discovered that when they actually do get something fairly close it's not what they're now accustom to. "I need more bass" is the standard reply but truth be told the Lyric provide almost exactly the same bass response as my guitars. I tried a K&K for a weekend. It was fine. It still however sounded VERY much like a pickup and talk about needing drastic eq..... I decided it wouldn't work for me. From that point it didn't make any sense to continue jumping into K&K discussions suggesting it's a bad choice or something was better. I think everyone here knows the guys that are staunchly on the K&K bandwagon. It's a great system and if you dig it I think that's a victory. It does get tiresome hearing negative comments from that particular gallery. The Lyric is (for me) the most natural sounding representation of an acoustic guitar pickup system I've yet to hear. No one should think it's plug and play. It takes work and understanding to make it shine. Declaring it "not good" unless you've been out gigging with it for awhile is probably somewhat unfair. |
#17
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#18
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2Matchless, I wrote an extensive post over on the UMGF about this, but long-story short -- my Lyric required two bands of parametric EQ in the midrange to really shine, but BOY DOES IT SHINE.
I ended up purchasing a Baggs Venue to make this easier, because the BASS/MID/TREBLE controls on my amp didn't give enough control of the Mids. Here's a photo of my current settings. To me, they sound phenomenal. All of my other guitars have K&Ks, and I still dig that system, but someday I will be moving each of them to the Lyric. It just sounds amazing. |
#19
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Wow Cary, I would almost believe you took a picture of my settings. I'm playing through a Taylor GS Coco/Adi and maybe the only difference is that I would be cutting bit more in the 180hz range and a bit less in the 600Hz.
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Vancebo Husband of One, Father of Two Worship Leader, Music Teacher Oregon Duck Fan Guitars by: Collings, Bourgeois, Taylor Pickups by: Dazzo Preamps by: Sunnaudio Amps by: Bose (S1) Grateful |
#20
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BTW, I always use the notch filter to cut out any body cavity resonance. What I do is turn up the volume and tap pretty firmly on the sound board around the bridge area and on the bridge. I then sweep through the frequencies until the rumble disappears a bit. That always seems to happen just at the first line to the left of the 140Hz. That clears things up even more. That was info from the Pendulum SPS-1 manual that always seemed to work for me.
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Vancebo Husband of One, Father of Two Worship Leader, Music Teacher Oregon Duck Fan Guitars by: Collings, Bourgeois, Taylor Pickups by: Dazzo Preamps by: Sunnaudio Amps by: Bose (S1) Grateful |
#21
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I discovered the exact same thing while attempting to produce feedback. I haven't gigged with mine yet, but I did some experimenting, and that's exactly where the notch filter landed. It really didn't have any appreciable negative effect on tone either, from what I could gather in my living room -- I will have to listen more and see if it actually makes it clearer.
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#22
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The problem I see with the Lyric (MY .02 and worth almost half as much) is that its high-midrange frequency funk requires access to a preamp with a sweepable midrange (add $200 or more to the situation now) and even then, some pleasing low-mids are often scooped away as well. In this scenario, we're at $400 or higher and I honestly feel that the K&K sounds a little better (not more natural but better) with moderate treble EQ at any/all generic mixing board/amp. Jump to $279 and the Trance Audio Amulet M eats all the other pickups for lunch, again with some EQ -but the necessary EQ is found on every mixer and amp. Also, I'll admit most players would have a tech install the Amulet, so you can add $100ish and realistically you're at $379... but still cheaper than a Lyric plus preamp.
If the Lyric's mids were beautiful when set flat, OR could be tamed by any generic midrange dial, we'd be almost unanimously crowing it champion of $200 pickups, no doubt in my mind. These are my opinions from recording and playing lots of live gigs. This report is not any more valid or important than everyone else's findings at all ... they are just my opinions and I'm happy to see lots of people love the Lyric. I'm not surprised at all to see that its very popular. Its just not for me, and I've stated why.
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14-day Return Period -No restocking fee Maury's Music PODCASTS View actual pics of ALL in-stock guitars Martin Guitar Certified Online Dealer Martin Blueridge Martins & More Podcast |
#23
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http://youtu.be/n_Ocu14n2P8 I don't disagree with the observations from Maury Music but I think the reality is most players that are into acoustic guitars have a good preamp, I certainly did when I bought the Lyric. The Lyric is a five minute no glue install. Most of all you get a much more acoustic feel of a microphone. I would bet for the vast majority of players it will be as close to playing through a microphone as they will get right now. Perfect no, but certainly worth the EQ struggles for some. (My EQ was not that difficult and admittedly I as not as picky as most) Also this is a microphone and as such reflects your guitar and your amp, that can make it very different for different setups I suspect.
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Steve 2020 McKnight Grand Recording - Cedar Top 2005 McKnight SS Dred 2001 Michael Keller Koa Baby 2014 Godin Inuk 2012 Deering B6 Openback Banjo 2012 Emerald Acoustic Doubleneck 2012 Rainsong JM1000 Black Ice 2009 Wechter Pathmaker 9600 LTD 1982 Yairi D-87 Doubleneck 1987 Ovation Collectors 1993 Ovation Collectors 1967 J-45 Gibson 1974 20th Annivers. Les Paul Custom Last edited by Doubleneck; 06-05-2013 at 11:57 AM. |
#24
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__________________
14-day Return Period -No restocking fee Maury's Music PODCASTS View actual pics of ALL in-stock guitars Martin Guitar Certified Online Dealer Martin Blueridge Martins & More Podcast |
#25
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While I prefer the Lyric, I do think the K&K is more forgiving. The K&K seems to compress and smooth things out in the way that a microphone won't.
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#26
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I have a Radial PZ-Pre but it doesn't have a sweepable eq, otherwise I like it. I have heard the Lyric needs to be flush with the guitar. Not sure how this is possible though because the pads elevate it slightly, besides I think the mic is on the front not the bottom.
Anyone know for sure? |
#27
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The mic is aimed at the soundboard and is elevated 3 mm, above it, I believe. That is the "pressure zone" the area right above a flat surface.
__________________
Steve 2020 McKnight Grand Recording - Cedar Top 2005 McKnight SS Dred 2001 Michael Keller Koa Baby 2014 Godin Inuk 2012 Deering B6 Openback Banjo 2012 Emerald Acoustic Doubleneck 2012 Rainsong JM1000 Black Ice 2009 Wechter Pathmaker 9600 LTD 1982 Yairi D-87 Doubleneck 1987 Ovation Collectors 1993 Ovation Collectors 1967 J-45 Gibson 1974 20th Annivers. Les Paul Custom |
#28
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If you look at it from the side, the plastic piece is not touching the guitar, it rides above it, at least mine does. I wonder if I'm getting some blurring because the sides are open. Time to call LR Baggs I think.
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#29
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__________________
Steve 2020 McKnight Grand Recording - Cedar Top 2005 McKnight SS Dred 2001 Michael Keller Koa Baby 2014 Godin Inuk 2012 Deering B6 Openback Banjo 2012 Emerald Acoustic Doubleneck 2012 Rainsong JM1000 Black Ice 2009 Wechter Pathmaker 9600 LTD 1982 Yairi D-87 Doubleneck 1987 Ovation Collectors 1993 Ovation Collectors 1967 J-45 Gibson 1974 20th Annivers. Les Paul Custom |
#30
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Steve, my Lyric is installed in a Martin dread -- hopefully these settings will get you in the ballpark for whatever guitar you are using, but I read one response from a guy who has his Lyric in a Jumbo, and his EQ settings seemed to be quite different from mine.
Either way, hopefully these get you to within striking distance |