#1
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Just how "good" are Sunrise pickups?
Do Sunrise single source soundhole pickups and their "no knob" external preamp box hold their own against the new high end pickups on the block such as the:
MagMic - Soundhole p/u + mic. Fishman Blend - Soundhole p/u + mic. L.R. Baggs M1 Quality, Clarity, Acoustic sound, Ease of function, Roadability, etc. ?????? Aloha from Hawaii , Jim |
#2
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The Sunrise has the nicest pure mag sound around. However, the three other products you listed add to the mag sound either with a mic or body sensing (M-1). I would say a SUnrise with an internal mic, or a Sunrise with a SBT (e.g., PUTW #54) would certainly trump.
Dunno much about the Sunrise pres. Last edited by sdelsolray; 02-11-2005 at 09:30 AM. |
#3
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However?
However.
It's been said that the Sunrise has a fuller/mellower? sound as a passive pickup vs the active pickups in the M1, etc. Wondering if the mic in the other pickups help put back what the Sunrise is already picking up in "acousticness" without a mic. Sort of like this. (just soundhole pickups and combos, no undersaddle or deck pckups) Active pickup with mic. then Sunrise no mic then M1 no mic then passive pickups, no mic the active pickups, no mic Don't know if this is a reasonable pecking order? aloha, jim |
#4
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I don't hear it that way. The Sunrise is a mag pickup, pure and simple. SOme say some of it's sound is due to body sensing. I don't know about that. I have a Sunrise, a M-1 and a PUTW Polymag, as well as a couple of SBTs and internal mics. Each of these three types of pickups, as well as a fourth, the UST, are rather different from each other.
I've always found that a blend of two (or three) sounds better to my ears than any single source situation. |
#5
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Go see Lyle Lovett sometimes if he is around. He uses notheing but Sunrise Soundhole pickups in his Collings and sounds wonderful!!!!!
__________________
Into a dancer you have grown, from a seed somebody else has thrown, go on ahead and throw some seeds of your own, and somewhere between the time you arrive, and the time you go, may lie the reason you were alive, but you'll never know. 1976 Ebony Gibson Dove 2003 Schneider DS-1 Small Jumbo Brazilian / Adirondack Ultra Sound Pro 250 |
#6
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Sunrise trumps ES
I have a Sunrise and Buffer Box for my Gibson LG-12. I also own a Taylor 354ce-L2.
Anyone who has heard both prefers the Gibson's sound. Don't get me wrong, I like the 354 and think ES is quite good, but the Sunrise does something I can't identify..... |
#7
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identify?
Quote:
aloha, jim |
#8
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I guess this is a little beside the point, but I’m always amazed that in a market that is seemingly changing at such a brisk pace, that this big clunky pickup from the 70’s is still more or less the bomb for so many pros and amateurs alike. And for good reason, it’s a great pickup.
I agree that using two sources really adds a little of what is inherently missing in magnetic pickups. For example I’m happy with blending in a little internal mic with a Rare Earth Blend... I think the Sunrise sounds great alone, but better still with another source added. However, I personally don’t think it sounds so great as a passive pickup, some sort of preamp, buffer, active direct box, etc, fills it out to it’s full potential. |
#9
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I've always wondered whether the Sunrise inhibits acoustic tone. I suspect that all soundhole pickups do that to some degree, but the Sunrise takes up nearly half of the soundhole and is very heavy. It's probably not a big deal if you're always plugging in, but I still wonder.
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Chris We all do better when we all do better. |
#10
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Quote:
Last edited by sdelsolray; 02-11-2005 at 04:46 PM. |
#11
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Quote:
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#12
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Got one, don't like it.
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Chad Fengel itunes My YouTube "Only by becoming acquainted with your own self, can you gain the composure to write original music" Michael Hedges ♫ |
#13
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Fingerpick Mag's Doug Kennedy has a high respect for the Sunrise, but then again, he's very adept at using effects to enhance the sound. Doug's observations on various pickups, and his many demo recordings, could keep a gear-head busy for days.
http://www.fingerpick.com/pickups.htm Gary |
#14
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Gary, thanks for the link. It's a very long article, but it's very informative, and the videos are a big help. He goes to a lot more trouble with sound shaping than I want to (or can afford ) but he disproves the idea that a single-source mag will always sound completely electric.
Not to get off-subject, but I found Doug's section on mag pickups with 12-strings interesting. As much as I like the Rare Earth Blend in my 355, I have been aware of the hot-octave problem he mentions. He recommends using nickel-wound strings instead of bronze, noting that they work better with the pickup and sacrifice little in acoustic tone. I'm not sure about acoustic tone, but it's hard to argue with the results in his video -- the tone is amazing with both the REB and the M1.
__________________
Chris We all do better when we all do better. |
#15
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Hmmm, it's just like a belly button?
Uh, we all have one?
Jim, seriously, this is certainly a highly subjective topic. I've had the Sunrise in the Gibson for a decade and wouldn't trade it for anything. Others hate it (as evidenced in this thread). For the record, those in my band think the Sunrise has a certain "clean and natural" sound that goes far beyond what we'd expect a magnetic pickup to have. Of course, you must use the Buffer Box to reveal all that the pickup is capable of doing. It's not the same without it. And I must close my comment by stating that this is all tilting at windmills. I will politely argue that ANY pickup turns your acoustic instrument into an "electric" guitar. True acoustic sound? Mic the thing. Or play in small venues. |