Schatten HFN in 12 string guitars. Doable?

[Daniel Grenier]

I have an HFN on order for my 000 and I am curious if any of you have put one in a 12 string guitar? I have a built-in pickup in my Martin 12 but ever since I went for a compensated bone saddle, the piezo sounds horrible (not that it was all that stellar before anyway). Thanks for sharing if you do.

[philjs]

Yes. I had one (passive) installed in a Taylor 555 and then another in a Martin J12-15 and they worked well (full disclosure: both are now gone, 12-strings just aren't my thing).

Phil

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Daniel Grenier

I have an HFN on order for my 000 and I am curious if any of you have put one in a 12 string guitar? I have a built-in pickup in my Martin 12 but ever since I went for a compensated bone saddle, the piezo sounds horrible (not that it was all that stellar before anyway). Thanks for sharing if you do.

HI DG

The best pickups I've heard in 12 string guitars is the original K&K Pure Western (larger discs than the Pure Mini). They are bass prone and treble weak, which acoustic 12 string guitars are not.

Can't tell you how Schatten HFN are in them, but I've mixed a number of different 12 string guitars with the Pure Western K&K and they sounded pretty much what many people who play 12 strings wish their guitars sounded like - less strident on the high end, and a little fuller on the bass end of things.

[The Kid!]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

HI DG

The best pickups I've heard in 12 string guitars is the original K&K Pure Western (larger discs than the Pure Mini). They are bass prone and treble weak, which acoustic 12 string guitars are not.

Can't tell you how Schatten HFN are in them, but I've mixed a number of different 12 string guitars with the Pure Western K&K and they sounded pretty much what many people who play 12 strings wish their guitars sounded like - less strident on the high end, and a little fuller on the bass end of things.

Seems like they compliment each other. That makes a lot of sense.

[GuitarLuva]

Originally Posted by Daniel Grenier

I have an HFN on order for my 000 and I am curious if any of you have put one in a 12 string guitar? I have a built-in pickup in my Martin 12 but ever since I went for a compensated bone saddle, the piezo sounds horrible (not that it was all that stellar before anyway). Thanks for sharing if you do.

I don't have a 12 string but I did install the passive Schatten HFN in 2 different guitars and they both sound like the guitar just amplified. I really can't see it being different in a 12 string. The HFN is like a hidden gem in acoustic pickups!

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by The Kid!

Seems like they compliment each other. That makes a lot of sense.

HI TK

They really do. And the Schatten may be fine too…though it sounds to me like it's reported profile (via posts in the forum) is more like the K&K Pure Mini rather than the Pure Western (old name). They are calling it the 'Pure 12 string' on their site.

[GuitarLuva]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

HI TK

They really do. And the Schatten may be fine too…though it sounds to me like it's reported profile (via posts in the forum) is more like the K&K Pure Mini rather than the Pure Western (old name). They are calling it the 'Pure 12 string' on their site.

I think most people compare it to the K&K as it's a passive SBT and most people are familiar with the famous K&K. Tonally it's very different. I have used the K&K and have much respect for it I just think the Schatten is better. Much easier to install and due to the element being suspended it adds an airiness that the K&K doesn't have. With the K&K most people usually have to EQ the low mids and bass to tame the boxiness. The Schatten, at least for me has been plug & play in 2 guitars (no EQ necessary) which still amazes me. It basically amplifies what your guitar sounds like. The K&K has a slightly hotter output (which doesn't really mean anything). The only type of guitar that I wouldn't install a Schatten in is one that sounded bad unplugged as it will just make it sound like that amplified. It still baffles me after all my years of playing I never heard of this pickup until a few months ago.