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  #1  
Old 02-15-2019, 06:15 PM
BluesKing777 BluesKing777 is offline
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Default A Little Pickup System Comparison

Here is little demo with me playing an instrumental based on Robert Wilkins' "Rolling Stone" on my 1959 Gibson LG3.

First up, an acoustic only recording of the track using my Neumann KM184:

https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/rolling7-2


Then my new Dimarzio Black Angel soundhole pickup through a Sunrise buffer box and Fishman Pro EQ:


https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/rolling7


And then the same through Tonedexter, using the Fishman passive undersaddle pickup (about 75% blend):


https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/rolling7-3


And I got tired of the same tune, so here is a bonus track for you with the same setup in TD with some Dave Hamburger riffs:


https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/eee-7


BluesKing777.
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  #2  
Old 02-15-2019, 06:34 PM
SpruceTop SpruceTop is offline
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ToneDexter Rocks It ... and dramatically so with the Fishman UST! Thanks and nice playing!
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Old 02-17-2019, 04:44 PM
BluesKing777 BluesKing777 is offline
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Here are a few more....

So I play the same tune by David Hamburger a number of times with different pickups....

First up, my Waterloo WL-14X with my Baggs M1A fine tuned and run through Fishman Pro EQ to take the curly bits off. The Waterloo also has a K&K, so that is next. Then I mix both the M1A and the K&K together as a lot of people do:

https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/various-pickups7a


Next, the Waterloo with my new Dimarzio Black Angel through Sunrise buffer preamp and Fishman Pro EQ, then Dimarzio BA and K&K mixed together:

https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/various-pickups7b


Then the Waterloo with my Sunrise pickup through Sunrise buffer preamp and Fishman Pro EQ, and then the Sunrise mixed with the K&K:

https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/various-pickups7c


Then as a bonus track, I grabbed my Black Maton and plugged direct to my mixer/record using the Maton AP5-Pro pickup system and played the same tune:


https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/pickup-test-a-777



BluesKing777.
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Old 02-17-2019, 04:52 PM
SpruceTop SpruceTop is offline
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It's hard to wrap my ears around everything because it all sounds darn good, and there's so much to compare but I prefer the Maton AP5-Pro the best. Your playing is Wonderful!
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  #5  
Old 02-17-2019, 07:02 PM
BluesKing777 BluesKing777 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SpruceTop View Post
It's hard to wrap my ears around everything because it all sounds darn good, and there's so much to compare but I prefer the Maton AP5-Pro the best. Your playing is Wonderful!

Thanks for the replies, SP!

(I don’t think I can play the tune ever again, starting to fade in the last track...)


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Old 02-18-2019, 12:41 PM
nightchef nightchef is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BluesKing777 View Post
Here are a few more....

So I play the same tune by David Hamburger a number of times with different pickups....

First up, my Waterloo WL-14X with my Baggs M1A fine tuned and run through Fishman Pro EQ to take the curly bits off. The Waterloo also has a K&K, so that is next. Then I mix both the M1A and the K&K together as a lot of people do:

https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/various-pickups7a


Next, the Waterloo with my new Dimarzio Black Angel through Sunrise buffer preamp and Fishman Pro EQ, then Dimarzio BA and K&K mixed together:

https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/various-pickups7b


Then the Waterloo with my Sunrise pickup through Sunrise buffer preamp and Fishman Pro EQ, and then the Sunrise mixed with the K&K:

https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/various-pickups7c


Then as a bonus track, I grabbed my Black Maton and plugged direct to my mixer/record using the Maton AP5-Pro pickup system and played the same tune:


https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/pickup-test-a-777



BluesKing777.

This is really interesting, thanks. I found that of the unmixed soundhole pickups I like the M1A best, with the Sunrise a close second. But when they were mixed with the K&K I liked the DiMarzio best.

Oddly, given that I keep reading how the K&K has the most "natural" and "acoustic" sound among pickup options, to me the unmixed K&K sounded by far the most electric-ish of all the samples, with a very mid-forward, "honking" quality. It's a cool sound, actually, but it doesn't feel much like an acoustic guitar. The soundhole pickups all sound more like an acoustic to me.
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Old 02-18-2019, 12:55 PM
MrErikJ MrErikJ is offline
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Great tests! I'd say the Maton system was my favorite followed by the Sunrise w/the K&K. I liked the M1A (I have one myself) and the DiMarzio but I always feel like the Sunrise has a more steely-tone than the DiMarzio and when blended with a SBT, sounds more natural than the M1. I never care for K&Ks on their own but with a second source, they can sound great.

Great work testing these out.
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Old 02-18-2019, 01:19 PM
Petty1818 Petty1818 is offline
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Those Maton pickups are just so good. At one time I had considered buying one for stage use but I decided that when I spend money, I want a great guitar that I can add a pickup to. Still, the Maton system rivals the Tonedexter and actually, probably beats it due to the plug and play set up.
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Old 02-18-2019, 10:20 PM
BluesKing777 BluesKing777 is offline
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Yeah, the only catch with the Maton pickup system is that you have to play a Maton!
I love my 3 different Matons, but a lot of people on this forum deride them for all kinds of awful things.

Now on another tune....yesterday, I had the Dimarzio Black Angel/buffer box combo with my old Lowden LSE1, playing in Open C tuning. Now that is fabulous with all the open strings stuff kind of like John Butler 'Oceans'.


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  #10  
Old 02-19-2019, 10:21 PM
BluesKing777 BluesKing777 is offline
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OK, here is my Martin OM18 Authentic with the Dimarzio Black Angel through Sunrise buffer and Fishman Pro EQ, for my fingerpicking version of St Louis Blues (work in progress!)

https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/st-louis-7



BluesKing777.
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  #11  
Old 02-19-2019, 10:27 PM
AeroUSA AeroUSA is offline
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Blues. I want to use the Fishman AG passive UST with ToneDexter. Do you recommend it?
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  #12  
Old 02-19-2019, 10:38 PM
BluesKing777 BluesKing777 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AeroUSA View Post
Blues. I want to use the Fishman AG passive UST with ToneDexter. Do you recommend it?
Yes, I like the sound - it seems a bit of a 'harder' or brittle sound than a K&K type sound, but I have found it easier to diall in. I use a higher percentage blend too.

I have got the 'hum' mentioned in the Tonedexter threads and manual. Have to run a lead to a grounded amp or mixer from TD......


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Old 02-19-2019, 10:39 PM
AeroUSA AeroUSA is offline
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Yes I found the same when I used the k and k fantastick but I’m going to go with the fishman instead this time. Thanks!
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Old 02-19-2019, 11:26 PM
AeroUSA AeroUSA is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BluesKing777 View Post
Here are a few more....

So I play the same tune by David Hamburger a number of times with different pickups....

First up, my Waterloo WL-14X with my Baggs M1A fine tuned and run through Fishman Pro EQ to take the curly bits off. The Waterloo also has a K&K, so that is next. Then I mix both the M1A and the K&K together as a lot of people do:

https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/various-pickups7a


Next, the Waterloo with my new Dimarzio Black Angel through Sunrise buffer preamp and Fishman Pro EQ, then Dimarzio BA and K&K mixed together:

https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/various-pickups7b


Then the Waterloo with my Sunrise pickup through Sunrise buffer preamp and Fishman Pro EQ, and then the Sunrise mixed with the K&K:

https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/various-pickups7c


Then as a bonus track, I grabbed my Black Maton and plugged direct to my mixer/record using the Maton AP5-Pro pickup system and played the same tune:


https://soundcloud.com/bk7-3/pickup-test-a-777



BluesKing777.
Which model Maton is it? I do love the sound of a good mic and piezo, especially for fingerstyle but I also love the ToneDexter over an undersaddle.
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  #15  
Old 02-20-2019, 02:59 AM
BluesKing777 BluesKing777 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AeroUSA View Post
Which model Maton is it? I do love the sound of a good mic and piezo, especially for fingerstyle but I also love the ToneDexter over an undersaddle.

It is a custom ordered by a shop based on a TE model but satin black finish and no inlay etc.

(on my other Maton, SRS808, I experimented by turning the mic off and runnng a Tonedexter file with just the undersaddle piezo...6 sep crystals....it was really loud compared to my other wavefiles!).

The Maton system is great because the mic is movable in the middle of the guitar and the essential soundhole plug makes it possible to wind both piezo AND mic full on! Don’t forget the soundhole plug! Some people dn’t like and use the mic and plug - the piezo system is very, very good on its own.


BluesKing777.
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