Pickups for 12-String?

[personatech]

Hi all,

I'm seeking pickup recommendations for my newly-acquired Alvarez AD60 12-string (think of your typical solid sitka top/laminate hog back and sides dread). As of now, I'm thinking JJB Prestige 330 with the 20mm transducers, but I'll consider anything that doesn't involve an undersaddle transducer - soundhole, soundboard transducer, mic.

Of course, it may be that any pickup will do, but I suspect some are particularly good (or bad) for the chimey chorus of a 12-string.

Thanks,

Tom

[martingitdave]

That pickup will work well. Just check to make sure the discs will fit. I use a standard K&K pure mini in my Guild F-512 and it works well.

[6L6]

Very happy with the K&K I have in my beloved '71 Guild F-312NT.

[personatech]

Thanks, guys! Anyone else have a suggestion?

[guitarman68]

I use a K&K Trinity system in my Guild 512 and it came out a bit too boomy.
Some months ago I installed a K&K Double Helix (sound hole mag) combined with a K&K trinity internal mic in a friend's Larrivee 12-strings, preamp is K&K Trinity - sounds fabulous. We also tried a combo of K&K Double Helix and Schatten HFN passive through the K&K 2-channel preamp and it sounded great, too.

[DCCougar]

I had a K&K pure for 12-string put in my Guild F512. It's OK but I'm not real crazy about it.

[Mandobart]

I've used JJB SBT pickups in 4 stringers, 6 string, 8 string, 10 string and 12 string instruments.

[James May]

Pickups are pretty agnostic when it comes to how many strings the instrument has, so long as they cover the area needed by the string span.

The most important question to ask is: How loud do you need to play?

[jle]

James May installed an Ultra Tonic Pickup (passive) in my Guild F212-XL. When I got the guitar back from him, I plugged it directly into an ancient Fishman Performer acoustic amp (using no preamp). I was puzzled, thinking that one of the condenser microphones in the studio was somehow in the circuit. After unplugging all the microphones, I realized that what I was hearing was "just" the sound of the guitar through the Ultra Tonic. The sound coming out of the amp sounded exactly like the unamplified guitar, only louder, far exceeding my hopes and expectations.

In an earlier reply, James May said "so long as they cover the area needed by the string span." The Guild F212-XL string spacing at the bridge (lowest to highest string) is 62mm. James chose to install extra discs on both high E and low E sides to get the balance right (I wanted the most balanced sound possible, not the high end "jingle-jangle" that some 12-strings have).

I have never had better service, nor experience a better acoustic sound through a pickup.

[personatech]

Originally Posted by James May

Pickups are pretty agnostic when it comes to how many strings the instrument has, so long as they cover the area needed by the string span.

The most important question to ask is: How loud do you need to play?

Not loud. At home and small open mics eventually. I do experiment with effects some but that probably won't be necessary (or even desirable) with a 12.

[martingitdave]

James sells a very highly regarded Ultra Tonic pickup for players who like the sound of a sound board transducer but need the feedback rejection of an under saddle. Moreover I agree entirely that the number of strings makes no difference. This was my discovery in using the same pickup for all my acoustics.