K & K Pickup-String Balance

[Firebird]

I have a K & K pickup in my guitar that works well but I am not 100% satisfied with the volume of the high E string when amplified. My guess is that the one transducer needs to be repositioned closer to the E string.

Any comments on this situation and how to resolve it?

[sharkydude50]

You nailed it- experiment with the positioning of all 3 transducers (in the case of the PW mini) using the 2-sided tape. Once you get the optimal position located- pencil mark the spot, remove the tape & super glue them in place.

[wthurman]

I make a jig and use it to put on the sensors - they end up right under the saddle and very much equally between each string. It has always worked perfectly for string balance.

You might also make sure your saddle is truly, completely flat. Variances in direct vibration can show up much more dramatically with SBT's.

[jamison162]

My "G" string is noticeably weaker than any other string. I've been talking about this for a couple yrs now.

[min7b5]

I had my repair guy move them after they were glued in. Worked great. I think it was $50

[sirflyguy2000]

My Kronbauer has this on both E strings. It is (for this guitar design, anyway) a function of the bracing Trevor uses (A bracing). K&K mentions that if there are braces very near the sensor that it might not allow enough vibration to make the pickup "pick up". I just mix in a little mic and it sounds great. Probably, yours is just a positioning issue.

[Chicago Sandy]

Originally Posted by jamison162

My "G" string is noticeably weaker than any other string. I've been talking about this for a couple yrs now.

The core wire of the G is the lightest solid vibrating mass of all your strings (despite the wrap wire), which is why it also breaks more often for most people. Conversely, the B has the heaviest solid vibrating mass (thickest solid wire) and is usually the hottest unless your pickup compensates for it.

[sirflyguy2000]

The K&K system is the best sounding pickup system I have used so far (this isn't disrespecting Rick Turner's system; I just haven't used it or heard it up to this point; I hope to in the future). I haven't had to use it in super-high volume situations, so I haven't had any problems with feedback unless the floor wedge is pointed right at me (and as I mentioned, I mix in some mic with the SBT signal, so the feedback is the mic, not the SBT's). I think you will be able to work out the problem.

[Firebird]

Great input guys. I'm intrigued with what Wade was saying about the saddle. I was planning on replacing it anyway so I'll see if that makes a difference. The current saddle is a little wobbly when the strings are removed. Can't be a good thing.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Firebird

Great input guys. I'm intrigued with what Wade was saying about the saddle. I was planning on replacing it anyway so I'll see if that makes a difference. The current saddle is a little wobbly when the strings are removed. Can't be a good thing.

Hi Fb...
I own four guitars with K&K Pure Western Mini, installed by a luthier, and not one of them has hot or weak string issues.

He has done probably 50 installs of K&K. One of the four is a Kronbauer mini-jumbo. n chatting with him, I think he is doing pretty much what Wade suggests.

[Rob DiStefano]

There are three important concerns for installing the K&K PWM ...

1. transducer location - each mini should be situated directly on the saddle line and between a pair of strings

2. glue the transducers - don't use tape, and do a proper job of gluing (follow the K&K directions for using super glue)

3. use my jig method for the PWM installation! - it works perfectly, even for klutzes! http://frettech.com/kk/

[Forensicguy]

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

There are three important concerns for installing the K&K PWM ...

1. transducer location - each mini should be situated directly on the saddle line and between a pair of strings

2. glue the transducers - don't use tape, and do a proper job of gluing (follow the K&K directions for using super glue)

3. use my jig method for the PWM installation! - it works perfectly, even for klutzes! http://frettech.com/kk/

Rob:

I've used your jig method and website as a guide for three of my K&K installations so far and I'm happy to report it's all been great! Thanks for posting that for everyone.

Russ

[Sari]

From the K&K Web site:

The high E string seems to be lower in output. (Pure)

This is a tough one. First of all, this is not caused by a weak high string transducer. This phenomenon seems to happen only on guitars with tight X bracing. The brace closest to the high strings seems to inhibit the vibration on the high E string area of the bridgeplate. This seems to affect bridgeplate pickups in general. LR Baggs reports the same problem with their I-Beam.

Acoustically, these guitars sound fine and balanced, the phenomenon affects only the bridgeplate.It may be corrected by adding a fourth transducer beyond the X brace on the high string side. This one would be glued to the soundboard. Soldering is necessary here.

It may also help to relocate the e-b string transducer towards the high string side X brace as far as possible. These remedies may not correct the problem 100 percent.

The “surefire” way to correct this problem is to ad the K&K FanTaStick undersaddle pickup. This would mean upgrading to a PowerMix Pure system.

You could also try to add the Trinity Mic and aim the mic towards the high e string, but the additional undersaddle pickup is a lot more effective.

The good thing is that you do not need to blend in a lot of undersaddle pickup to amplify the e string. Unwanted undersaddle characteristics like quack or harsh tone will not show in the entire sound picture. It really works great!