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  #1  
Old 04-22-2018, 08:19 PM
KitKat1 KitKat1 is online now
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Default Removing a K and K pickup

How hard is it for a competent tech to remove a KnK pickup? (Superglued.) Does this damage the guitar? Could the pickup survive and be installed in another guitar? Lots of questions I know. Thanks mates.

Last edited by KitKat1; 05-31-2018 at 08:39 AM.
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Old 04-22-2018, 08:38 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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I've never had one removed, but given that the Pure Mini consists of three thin piezo elements, I don't think that expecting the pickup to survive in a fully functional form is very likely. They can be removed but will almost certainly get trashed in the process.


whm
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Old 04-22-2018, 08:54 PM
sdelsolray sdelsolray is offline
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A single edged razor blade is used to separate the pickup disks from the bridgeplate. If all goes well, the pickups will separate and not pull wood up from the bridgeplate, although some superglue residue will likely remain on both the bridgeplate and the discs. The residue can be removed from the discs with acetone (or something else, I'm not sure what). Removing residual glue from the bridgeplate is more problematic, as some of it will have seeped into the wood. Sanding will make the surface smooth. Sometimes, the discs will warp when being removed rendering them useless.
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Old 04-22-2018, 10:01 PM
stormin1155 stormin1155 is offline
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I've removed a few with a razorblade, but ended up damaging a couple.
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Old 04-23-2018, 04:09 AM
jonfields45 jonfields45 is offline
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Martin's factory repair has done neck resets and bridge plate repairs on two guitars where I installed the K&Ks (the guitars belong to friends). Both guitars had the K&K removed and reinstalled, according to the repair receipt, and both guitars sound fine plugged-in and don't show any obvious damage to the K&Ks when inspected with a mirror. I think as long as the upper and lower contact foils remain intact, cracking the inner piezo element is probably not a big deal anyway (my opinion as a retired EE).
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Old 04-23-2018, 05:23 AM
Nymuso Nymuso is offline
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The K&Ks did not suit my needs, and I moved on to a different system. Given that I have no intention of using a soundboard transducer in the future, I simply cut the wires and left the discs there. It will only become an issue if I ever decide to sell the instrument.
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Old 04-23-2018, 06:02 AM
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Mbroady Mbroady is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sdelsolray View Post
A single edged razor blade is used to separate the pickup disks from the bridgeplate..........Removing residual glue from the bridgeplate is more problematic, as some of it will have seeped into the wood. Sanding will make the surface smooth.........
In addition, I have read (on the internet, so it must be true ) that since the glue seeps into the bridge plate, installing another K&K or other bridge plate transducer will be effected by the remaining residue. Not sure how much or how accurate this statement is but it make sense that the old glue will dampen some vibration. I have not heard of any comments from folks who have tried it.
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