antipesto
C.O.G.
Transformed into a total nutjob.
Posts: 272
My main instrument is: Super cheap Sigma acoustic and Faith Naked Venus
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Post by antipesto on Jan 17, 2018 22:08:15 GMT
Greetings!
I have an acoustic with an LR Baggs M1 passive, which I'm rather fond of. The output being low can be an issue at times, and using a Hartke acoustic pre-amp is a nuisance, (I like light and simple stuff).
I hate and detest under saddle piezo pick ups. That sound just grates with me, which is why I use an add-on. I know... That's probably just me.....
Now the question. Apart from miking up the guitar, (which will produce the best sound, if done well), what ACTIVE pick up system, (which can be fitted with relative ease, would you buy? Why?
Thank you.
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stringdriventhing
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Post by stringdriventhing on Jan 18, 2018 8:28:57 GMT
I have a Fishman Rare Earth humbucking soundhole pickup which I used to use. It's now fitted on my old tenor guitar which I gave to my daughter. To be honest I didn't rate it that highly and I now use K&K minis on everything that I gig with.
Pros: strong signal, easily removeable if you don't get the endpin jack installed and don't mind the cable hanging down the front of your guitar. Definitely better than an undersaddle pickup.
Cons: sounded too bright and trebly to my ears. I had to use an EQ/preamp to get it sounding ok through a PA. Batteries were a fiddle to change. Didn't sound "like my guitar".
I like the sound of the (passive) K&Ks and the weaker signal isn't an issue if you use a preamp or di box. I also like the fact that there's no batteries to change... one less thing to go wrong during a gig. The major drawback with them is that once you've installed one you can't really remove it again.
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Wild Violet
Artist / Performer
Posts: 3,556
My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
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Post by Wild Violet on Jan 18, 2018 11:09:59 GMT
My go-to pickup is either a K&K or the less expensive copies made by JJB. Sometimes I run them through a Redeye preamp but for the most part they sound great and very natural on their own. I have installed them all myself except for the one in my fancy Martin, when I didn't want to chance messing it up so had AJ Lucas's daughter Rose install it for me. Riverman 's J45 came with an LRBaggs M1 Active already installed and I like it very much. If you like the M1, why don't you try the M1A? As far as I'm aware all you would need to do is unplug the M1 and plug in the M1A - no need to mess with the endpin jack. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong...
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Post by jangarrack on Jan 18, 2018 12:03:25 GMT
I've got Fishman Rare Earth humbucking soundhole pickups fitted to my Brooks, 1 is the Blend model with a mike, 1 without and both are used with an AER 60 amp. I really like them, not sure how truely 'acoustic' they sound and probably the Blend sounds slightly more 'acoustic.' I also have a Taylor with an Expression 2 system, which works well and sounds very true to the original acoustic sound.
I did at one stage have a Headway undersaddle pickup, which produced an uncannily detailed sound, which I found a bit too unforgiving for my playing abilities, a great pickup though for a better player I'm sure.
The pickup that really surprised me was a McIntyre Acoustic Feather pickup which I had fitted to a Martin OM-28 I once owned. The Martin previously had an onboard Fishman Aura system which was very muddy and nasal sounding and although the McIntyre Acoustic Feather was significantly cheaper was a terrific improvement, probably the most natural acoustic sound I have ever achieved through an amp, I really liked it and would certainly consider one again.
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Post by andyhowell on Jan 18, 2018 12:16:26 GMT
I did at one stage have a Headway undersaddle pickup, which produced an uncannily detailed sound, which I found a bit too unforgiving for my playing abilities, a great pickup though for a better player I'm sure. The pickup that really surprised me was a McIntyre Acoustic Feather pickup which I had fitted to a Martin OM-28 I once owned. The Martin previously had an onboard Fishman Aura system which was very muddy and nasal sounding and although the McIntyre Acoustic Feather was significantly cheaper was a terrific improvement, probably the most natural acoustic sound I have ever achieved through an amp, I really liked it and would certainly consider one again. I'm not sure about the better player thing but you have described the Headway very well. Apparently they use the heavy coaxial cable that Highlander and BBand use. It is a very detailed and full sound, one which always gets compliments !!! As for the Feather Martin Simpson told me a few years ago that he is now blending one of these with hi Highlander UST, in fact I think PRS have now adopted this system and brand it themselves. SaveSave
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antipesto
C.O.G.
Transformed into a total nutjob.
Posts: 272
My main instrument is: Super cheap Sigma acoustic and Faith Naked Venus
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Post by antipesto on Jan 18, 2018 16:11:33 GMT
Hey, thanks folks. This is great 'n' valuable stuff!
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Post by andyc on Jan 22, 2018 19:59:00 GMT
I use a DiMarzio Black Angel (on the recommendation of Nick Benjamin)in conjunction with a K&K Trinity Pro - if it's good enough for Mike Dawes, it's good enough for me!
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Jan 23, 2018 0:18:44 GMT
I use a DiMarzio Black Angel (on the recommendation of Nick Benjamin)in conjunction with a K&K Trinity Pro - if it's good enough for Mike Dawes, it's good enough for me! Hi AndyC - welcome to the forum. Your name seems vaguely familiar Phil
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Post by flashart on Jan 23, 2018 17:10:34 GMT
I'm currently considering the DiMarzio. Does anyone here still use just a microphone? (I'm particularly interested in mics used outdoors)
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Post by andyc on Jan 23, 2018 17:41:33 GMT
I use a DiMarzio Black Angel (on the recommendation of Nick Benjamin)in conjunction with a K&K Trinity Pro - if it's good enough for Mike Dawes, it's good enough for me! Hi AndyC - welcome to the forum. Your name seems vaguely familiar Phil Ha! Thanks for the recommendation Phil - much appreciated. (For the benefit of other readers, Phil and I conversed on the Acoustic Guitar Forum and he pointed me in this direction...!)
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Post by andyhowell on Jan 23, 2018 19:02:30 GMT
I'm currently considering the DiMarzio. Does anyone here still use just a microphone? (I'm particularly interested in mics used outdoors) Mics outdoors are always a problem. I’ve used them blended with a USB but the last time I tried I just had to give up as the feedback was really problematic. And then there’s wind . There’s a reason pickups are popular. Most audience are not that bothered whether you are using a mic or any type of pickup.
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Post by andyc on Jan 23, 2018 20:17:14 GMT
In my experience, the DiMarzio works well as part of a multi pick up system.
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