K&K mini sensor placement

[Taylor Ham]

I willbe installing a K&K pure mini and I'm wondering if anyone has experience with differen sensor placements on the bridge plate. I know the instructions say to put the treble sensor inder the e string and the other two, between the other two pairs of strings. However, I'm worried this would lead to a weak b string.

[pieterh]

Originally Posted by Taylor Ham

I willbe installing a K&K pure mini and I'm wondering if anyone has experience with differen sensor placements on the bridge plate. I know the instructions say to put the treble sensor inder the e string and the other two, between the other two pairs of strings. However, I'm worried this would lead to a weak b string.

I had a placement issue that I couldn’t fix (put the treble sensor too close to the middle one). I asked K&K about this and their response was that it wouldn’t matter much as the signal out is a combination of all three and that all three are picking up the vibrations from the bridge plate. I can confirm that the sound from my Furch OM with the Pure Mini is excellent and none of the strings is over- or under-represented in the signal.

In other words don’t over think it but just follow the instructions.

[Taylor Ham]

Thanks. I'm installing it on a new top and I will have good control over exactly where they end up, so I wanted to make sure I can pick a good spot.

[RoyBoy]

I haven't put in K&Ks, but several of the JJB equivalent. I used their standard placement recommendation and all came out very balanced. The preamp or soundboard you run it through will have a greater impact on balance than moving the disc 1/4".

[Mr. Jelly]

All on mine where installed according to the instructions. With no expertise I don't see any reason you would over ride the design engineers knowledge and experience.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Taylor Ham

I willbe installing a K&K pure mini and I'm wondering if anyone has experience with differen sensor placements on the bridge plate. I know the instructions say to put the treble sensor inder the e string and the other two, between the other two pairs of strings. However, I'm worried this would lead to a weak b string.

Why would you not follow the manufacturer's instructions?

[Rudy4]

Dieter from K&K has years of experience with the Pure Mini and his suggestion to slightly shift the sensor located between the B and E strings is the result of practical experience.

I personally don't think it makes all that much difference, but I defer to his advice for installation.

I have done maybe a dozen K&K Pure Mini installations and have been pleased with the results in every case.

I recently picked up a JJB 3 sensor pickup to try out that's going in a new Ronroco build and I would expect the results to be similar, although the transducer faces are noticeably cupped. Since they will be bedded in epoxy gel it most likely won't matter.

[Taylor Ham]

Originally Posted by fazool

Why would you not follow the manufacturer's instructions?

Not looking to be unique. Just wondering if there's a critical difference in sound depending on where the sensors are.

[James May]

Originally Posted by Taylor Ham

Not looking to be unique. Just wondering if there's a critical difference in sound depending on where the sensors are.

Depending on the exact construction of your guitar, there can be a big effect in string to string balance as a result of small variations in the sensor locations. Basically, the stiffer the bridge plate, the more it matters. It won't however change the basic sound of the pickup, only the string balance.

In a LOT of cases, in my experience, three sensors are not enough to get the high E string loud enough with respect to the other 5 being properly balanced. If I was putting a K&K system in, I would buy the 4-sensor model, put 3 of them exactly centered under E-B G-D ad A-E, and use the 4th as en extra on the high E side. If you have a guitar with no bridge plate or a very flexible plate, then you probably won't need to do this.

[dnf777]

I have KK minis on breedlove, OM21, Maton, and Eastman, all IAW instructions, and they all sound great and well balanced. I typically use a tonedexter, but they sound good even without.

[tadol]

I’d say put them where they say, then when you realize you want it a little better, install the Ultratonic upgrade kit, and discover it’s suddenly a LOT better -

Or save yourself the hassle, and install the Ultratonic from the beginning -

[hubcapsc]

I didn't do it, I can't say whether it was a good idea or not...
here's my new-to-me guitar...



-Mike

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Taylor Ham

Not looking to be unique. Just wondering if there's a critical difference in sound depending on where the sensors are.

Pretty certain the manufacturer knows best where to put it since their engineers did the R&D, design and testing of it. Why do you not trust them?

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by hubcapsc

I didn't do it, I can't say whether it was a good idea or not...
here's my new-to-me guitar...



-Mike

If it sounds good and it's balanced then it Rocks!

[Taylor Ham]

Originally Posted by hubcapsc

I didn't do it, I can't say whether it was a good idea or not...

here's my new-to-me guitar...







-Mike

yikes.....