Pickup for my Martin D35

[MikeInBethesda]

Hi all, I pulled the trigger on the new reimagined D35 last spring and it’s been my go to guitar ever since. I gif with a j45 vintage that has a k&k pure mini pickup, and want to start gigging with the Martin. So I’m looking at pickups to install and thought I’d check with folks here. I could install another K&k but want to consider other options as well. For example Martin seems to go with Fishman electronics in their production models... should I consider the Fishman Matrix? What other pickups might work well with the d35? Thanks for your thoughts!

[MikeInBethesda]

Bumping this up.... any thoughts?

[BT55]

Mike,
There are tons of threads about pickups. The one common thread is that there are a lot of great pickups on the market from $99 to $400+. You need to decide weither you want active or passive. If passive you may need to select a pre-amp. If active do you want a piezo, mike or combo design. There is no clear answer without narrowing down the categories and then you still have a lot of choices.

My recommendation is to play as many guitars with different pickup options and then make your decision.

[D41Fan]

I can only say that I have a K&K mini on my Madagascar D41 and it is light years better than any Piezo under saddle. I am very satisfied.

[Nick84]

If your happy with the K&K in the J45 I’d stick with the K&K. Least intrusive and probably not much else out there that’s much better.
Baggs Anthem and Baggs M80 are well worth a look if you really want to look at other options.

[MikeInBethesda]

Thanks for the comments. I’ll probably go with a k&k as I have indeed liked it for my j45

[noledog]

Originally Posted by Nick84

If your happy with the K&K in the J45 I’d stick with the K&K. Least intrusive and probably not much else out there that’s much better.
Baggs Anthem and Baggs M80 are well worth a look if you really want to look at other options.

+1...my bud who is also a full-time musician like me uses a K&K in his D-35 and I use an M80 in my D-18; both sound excellent, both need outboard EQ to optimize their potential. I use a Baggs Align EQ.

[jonfields45]

Unless you need a backup electric acoustic, why not leave the D-35 pristine and mint? Short of a K&K w/Tonedextor, I find most acoustic pickups kind of sound the same across the guitars in which they are installed.

[rawchuck]

Been using the Anthem dual source in my HD28. Sounds great. I gig a lot, usually 10 plus nights per month. Just bought a 2nd Anthem to go into another guitar....

[Mbroady]

Originally Posted by Nick84

If your happy with the K&K in the J45 I’d stick with the K&K. Least intrusive and probably not much else out there that’s much better.
Baggs Anthem and Baggs M80 are well worth a look if you really want to look at other options.

I’m hearing great reviews about the K&K though a tonedexter pre and is something I’m gonna sample next week.

If you already have a decent mic to to do a sound sample for the tonedexter then it might just fill your needs.

Tonedexter does add to the cost.

[MikeInBethesda]

Wow they are pretty pricey! Good be a good investment though

[6L6]

All of my acoustics, including my ‘69 D-35, have K& K pickups.

Yep, I love ‘em!

[drive-south]

I'd get another K&K and play both guitars through the same external preamp. I'm using the LR Baggs Para DI with my K&K pickup.

[AlfredFelix]

I play a dearly loved, albeit not expensive in comparison, Martin DM, and I have loved the LR Baggs full Anthem system in it. I play it alone, in a trio with guitar, mountain dulcimer, and bass, and mix it with a mic for recording. There are many great options probably, but I would not trade this one for anything I've heard so far personally.

[gfirob]

The combined cost of a K&K and a Tonedexter is $500. That is probably the cost of the three different pickups you'll buy trying to find the best setup and being disappointed (more if you buy preamps). Buy once, cry once...