Martin Authentic Pick Up Installation?

[Mr. Jelly]

I expect to be beat up on this but so be it. I am indecisive about this and that is the reason for my question. I have a Martin D-1 1931 Authentic. I am going to have some saddle work done to it as the G, B and e strings are a little low. And the saddle is glued in. Oddly my 00-18 Authentic has the same issue only not as bad. Since I am taking it to be worked on, which I hate, I have an unused K & K mini I'm thinking of having installed. With the 1/4 inch jack. I fully believe I will not be looking to ever sell this guitar. I have no real reason for the pick up installation as I don't plan on performing in the future in a real sense. I may play some tunes out again here or there post covid if there is a post covid. The main reason for the installation is that I like my tools to be robust and ready to be used when I want to use them. It's a little like having a sports car that you will never race, I guess. What are your thoughts?

[llew]

I don't see your dilemma? The K&K mini is one of the least invasive pickups you could have installed. They are in every guitar I own. There if you need them and out of sight otherwise with very little hardware inside the guitar. I'd do it in a flash. FWIW...I've never had any problems selling a guitar with a K&K mini professionally installed...Authentic or otherwise.

[Martin_F]

I don't think a pickup will hurt any resale value at all.

However, that being said, a pickup, at best, just gives you a vague approximation of a guitar. If a pickup just gives a vague approximation, an approximation of a relatively cheap guitar is going to be about the same as an expensive guitar. I, personally, don't hear the difference between a $1000 guitar with a half decent pickup and a $5000 guitar with a half decent pickup. I just don't think you really get tonal differences from a pickup - no matter the pickup or guitar. Pickup's just aren't in the right place to get good tonal differences. Mind you, the difference between a $200 guitar with a pickup and something half decent might be apparent. But, between something mid-level and something good - I don't think so. Then you add reverb and a DI box or whatever, you water the sound down further. Given this, sometimes it makes sense just to buy a guitar that you like to play out with that you don't mind dinging and drilling for pickups and these sorts of things.

That's my mindset... Most of my guitars came with pickup's, so I just leave them there. But, if they didn't have one, I would be thinking what I want to gig with.

Martin

[Joseph Hanna]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

I expect to be beat up on this but so be it. I am indecisive about this and that is the reason for my question. I have a Martin D-1 1931 Authentic. I am going to have some saddle work done to it as the G, B and e strings are a little low. And the saddle is glued in. Oddly my 00-18 Authentic has the same issue only not as bad. Since I am taking it to be worked on, which I hate, I have an unused K & K mini I'm thinking of having installed. With the 1/4 inch jack. I fully believe I will not be looking to ever sell this guitar. I have no real reason for the pick up installation as I don't plan on performing in the future in a real sense. I may play some tunes out again here or there post covid if there is a post covid. The main reason for the installation is that I like my tools to be robust and ready to be used when I want to use them. It's a little like having a sports car that you will never race, I guess. What are your thoughts?

I’m not particularly a traditionalist when it comes to things like this but since the D-1 Authentic is, for me, one of the most magical acoustics I’ve ever played I’d be very inclined to leave it bone stock. I have an OM-18 Authentic and have the same inclinations with that guitar although I’d admit it’s not as nice as the D-1.

Again I’ve never been shy about putting in a pickup system with any of my guitars but the Authentic’s just screams to be left as is.

You asked

[Song]

If you don't wanna drill your guitar you can get an active soundhole pu that you can pop in when needed.
I use a Schertler because it's lite, installs easily with strings on, is feedback resistant, and sounds good.
Lots of choices in non-invasive amplification so good luck!

[Goat Mick]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

I expect to be beat up on this but so be it. I am indecisive about this and that is the reason for my question. I have a Martin D-1 1931 Authentic. I am going to have some saddle work done to it as the G, B and e strings are a little low. And the saddle is glued in. Oddly my 00-18 Authentic has the same issue only not as bad. Since I am taking it to be worked on, which I hate, I have an unused K & K mini I'm thinking of having installed. With the 1/4 inch jack. I fully believe I will not be looking to ever sell this guitar. I have no real reason for the pick up installation as I don't plan on performing in the future in a real sense. I may play some tunes out again here or there post covid if there is a post covid. The main reason for the installation is that I like my tools to be robust and ready to be used when I want to use them. It's a little like having a sports car that you will never race, I guess. What are your thoughts?

I 100% agree with you. Every guitar I own has a pickup in it. Yeah once you plug a guitar in they mostly all sound alike, but dang it if I want to take one to a gig, then I want to be able to plug in and play. I think your K&K will be perfect for this guitar. I say do it!

[BluesKing777]

Hmmmm....

I am usually so pro pickup but I am not sure with your Authentic. I have an OM18 Authentic and am leaving it natural.

So if you are not gigging regularly, I would leave the K&K out of the Authentic.

But you will need to buy another guitar to put the K&K in!


BluesKing777.

[musicman1951]

I always put a K&K in at the time of the initial setup. I put one in my D-28 Authentic and in my Lowden (which was considerably more expensive).

Bad shoulder forced me to trade the Authentic and there was no problem with the fact it had the K&K.

I love nice guitars, but they are still tools to be used.

[Wild Bill Jones]

I am thinking of putting a pickup in my 37 D 28 Authentic so I can use it on stage ( if all our cancelled gigs ever come back). I’ve used a few different pickups over the years. K&K are good. I’ve settled on the TranceAmulet. Absolutely the best, in my opinion. I have them in three other guitars. Give Maury’s a call about them.

[Br1ck]

It's interesting that when some folks find something they like, they stick with it. I agree that if you really like something you'd probably be well served by sticking to it. In my case that's Dazzos, but unlike those who like K&Ks, I wouldn't argue against Trance pickups.

[L20A]

Your guitar and your decision.
I think that you already want to do it so go for it.

[thunderboltfan]

[QUOTE=Song;6525296]If you don't wanna drill your guitar you can get an active soundhole pu that you can pop in when needed.
I use a Schertler because it's lite, installs easily with strings on, is feedback resistant, and sounds good.
Lots of choices in non-invasive amplification so good luck!

When I’m looking at purchasing a guitar, my first requirement is that there be no electronics installed. (Second is 1.75” nut.) I have an old Sunrise in-hole pick-up that sounds incredible when I need one.

[Wild Bill Jones]

I do have a Dazzo in one guitar. Great pickup too. I found it more difficult to install but that’s about it. Sounds about the same as my Trance Amulets meaning it sounds like my guitar, just louder.

[llew]

Aren't Trance pickups active where Dazzo's are passive? I had a Dazzo in an old D-28 Marquis and it seems it was similar to a K&K mini in that it was passive?

[6L6]

For me, an acoustic that has a K&K with 1/4” jack is a PLUS.

All of my acoustics, including my two Authentics, have K&K’s installed.