Ghost Piezo with K&K Contact Pickup

KarenB · #1 04-05-2021, 11:44 AM

Has anyone played an X7 with a Ghost Piezo with K&K Contact Pickup? Wonder how it compares with the LR Baggs element option.

steelvibe · #2 04-05-2021, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenB

Has anyone played an X7 with a Ghost Piezo with K&K Contact Pickup? Wonder how it compares with the LR Baggs element option.

I have no idea but I wish Emerald would do a demo video with it. Typically anything dual source sounds better than single. I'm already a fan of K&K SBTs so I might be a bit biased, but what I like about a piezo thrown in is that you can turn down the K&K sensitivity and rely more on the piezo in feedback prone scenarios. That's a pretty new Emerald pickup configuration so I doubt many here will have first hand knowledge but I hope I'm wrong!

jwood1 · #3 10-22-2022, 12:19 PM

Thought I'd give this a bump. I'm also interested in the X7 with ghost piezo and K&K. Does anyone have this setup? Is it noticeably better than the Baggs element?

dgaemc2 · #4 10-22-2022, 07:56 PM

I have Ghost + K&K system in my X20 and think it sounds great with ability to blend them to taste. K&K for warmth and Ghost for cut.

I've played other guitars with a Baggs Element and didn't really care for the plugged in tone.

Mandobart · #5 10-22-2022, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelvibe

I'm already a fan of K&K SBTs so I might be a bit biased, but what I like about a piezo thrown in is that you can turn down the K&K sensitivity and rely more on the piezo in feedback prone scenarios.

I know this is an old post in an old thread, but I'm not follwing this. To the best of my knowledge a K&K SBT is a piezo pickup. So how do you turn down the K&K (piezo) sensitivity and also rely more on the piezo?

Are we really talking about a small mic (Meridian or Silver Bullet) with the SBT term?

mountainmaster · #6 10-23-2022, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandobart

I know this is an old post in an old thread, but I'm not follwing this. To the best of my knowledge a K&K SBT is a piezo pickup. So how do you turn down the K&K (piezo) sensitivity and also rely more on the piezo?

Are we really talking about a small mic (Meridian or Silver Bullet) with the SBT term?

You are right. Both pickups are based on piezo technology.

However, when people refer to "piezo" most of the time they actually mean undersaddle. I am positive that the word was used in that context here.

jwood1 · #7 10-23-2022, 12:54 PM

There is also an option with the X7 to have the Ghost Piezo only, without the K&K contact pickups. I am looking at one of their in-stock guitars with such a setup. So, in this case, the question becomes, which is better, the Ghost Piezo or the under saddle Baggs Element.
The Ghost has the advantage of adjustable string height and intonation.
The sound of the Ghost on one of the X10 videos is fantastic.
The X7s with the Ghost Piezos also appear to have a "barn door" compartment, I presume for the battery installation. This appears to be an advantage also.
How do you get at the battery in the Element set-up?
Help me decide!

Captain Jim · #8 10-23-2022, 02:32 PM

The battery on the Emerald models with the Element is easy to access: reach inside the sound hole; the battery is inside a pouch that Velcros to the side of the guitar. There is enough wiring to extend it to the soundhole to change the battery.

jwood1 · #9 10-24-2022, 12:33 PM

I just ordered an X7 Green from the in-stock inventory, direct from Emerald, not Reverb. The guitar was built with only the Ghost piezo pickup installed, no K&K contact pickups. I emailed them about it and they said they could add on the K&K for $150.00 and it would take 3-5 days. I said yes! That is no more than if they had made it that way from the beginning.

This is good to know that you have the option to upgrade because there are many other X7's in their inventory that only have the ghost system.

So, I will be getting a new X7 with the ghost + K&K system in about 2 weeks. Since there isn't a lot of information about the ghost +K&K system on Emeralds, I will try to provide a review here when I get it.

dgaemc2 · #10 10-25-2022, 04:38 PM

It is good to know that Emerald offered that to you.

I think you will enjoy having Ghost + K&K and blend to taste.

David Eastwood · #11 10-25-2022, 05:06 PM

I now wish I’d had the pickup prep work done on my X20 when I bought it in 2018. I find myself wanting to plug it in these days, which is a tad hard to do without a pickup.

I’m contemplating another one, and I’ll probably just go for the standalone K&K - although a K&K/Krivo combo would be ideal for me.

JWO2nd · #12 06-13-2023, 08:54 AM

I'm guessing Vol 1 is for the Ghost Piezo and Vol 2 is for the K&K but don't know for sure - can anyone confirm this?

dgaemc2 · #13 06-17-2023, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWO2nd

I'm guessing Vol 1 is for the Ghost Piezo and Vol 2 is for the K&K but don't know for sure - can anyone confirm this?

I'm not sure which you are calling Vol 1 & Vol 2? The K&K control is closest to neck and Ghost Piezo is the other IIRC. It will be obvious to the player because K&K adds warmth and Ghost adds brightness and cut. It works great!

JWO2nd · #14 06-17-2023, 01:30 PM

The controls on my X20 are labelled Vol 1 & Vol 2 and yes Vol 2 happens to be the one closest to the neck - thanks for the confirmation.

dgaemc2 · #15 06-18-2023, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWO2nd

The controls on my X20 are labelled Vol 1 & Vol 2 and yes Vol 2 happens to be the one closest to the neck - thanks for the confirmation.

You bet. I never noticed the controls were labeled. I played an acoustic duet session with my X20 yesterday. The Ghost Piezo + K&K sounded fantastic!