Pickup Comparison: Shure Mic, LR Baggs Anthem, JME Ultra Tonic

[James May]

Originally Posted by Vancebo

This is a really cool and powerful concept. I need to have someone explain something to me. What is the difference between the onboard notch filter on the Ultra Tonic and the notch filter on a Preamp like the Venue, Alix and other brands? I get it that you will have a set it and forget it solution at the point of origin which is really cool, but do they do the same thing?

This is a great question, and one that I will attempt to answer. It is a little different than what folks are used to, and requires a bit of technical explanation, so please bear with me.

The Ultra Tonic Pickup system contains two pickup components: a set of 4 discs that mount under the saddle position on the bottom of the bridge plate, very much like K&K pure mini, and second pickup consisting of a larger feedback suppression disc that mounts on the far bass corner of the bridge plate. Its role is to sense the body resonances of your guitar top. It is out of phase with the main pickup discs.

On the passive endpin circuit board, there is a 12 position switch that needs to be configured once during the setup procedure. Think of it as a mixer or blend control, with 12 discrete steps, that determines HOW MUCH OF THE SUPPRESSION PICKUP COMPONENT to mix in with the main pickup COMPONENT. Since the suppression disc is out of phase with the main pickup discs, by mixing them together in the right proportion, the body resonances can be made to cancel out, leaving only the desired sound of the strings.

So, it is not a notch filter at all, and in fact effectively works on several resonance points equally well. It cleans up the low end mud, and provides typically 10dB or more of feedback improvement.

[Vancebo]

I have read lots of good detail on your website. You have the version that adds to an already existing KandK. Will it also work with the Dazzo? The Dazzo only two elements instead of three.

[James May]

Originally Posted by Vancebo

I have read lots of good detail on your website. You have the version that adds to an already existing KandK. Will it also work with the Dazzo? The Dazzo only two elements instead of three.

The Ultra Tonic Conversion kit is designed specifically around the K&K pure mini. The Dazzo would not work properly with the conversion kit.