Official Luthiers Forum!

Theres a friend that wants me to install a pick-up on his guitar. He plays at church mostly and says he doesn't care about price....he just wants the best.

I dont no much about his guitar except it's a Yamaha..

So i would like to hear your input on the different pick-ups out there!

Thanks,
Jeff

http://www.maurysmusic.com/pickup_comparisons

Check those out. All the pickups listed on the list are links to sound samples. He has most quality brands except Godin. Even if you don't buy them from that site, it's a very useful tool. But you should let him decide since he knows what sound he is looking for.

That8s a great link!

I personally think the K&K pure western is the best sounding one. and the tak tube 100% to be my second choice. I currently use an LR Baggs M1 active through the para DI paired up with a fishman classic IV piezio and am only 75% happy with it.

Alot of people love the K&K's but they aren't for everyone. Being a closet banjo player I lightly plant my pinky on the soundboard, and this sounds like a bad drummer with a K&K. The more natural sounding pickups (like a K&K) are more prone to feedback. I believe most situations where a K&K type pickup will work, would be better suited for an external condensor mic. I either use a condensor mic (audio technica pro 37), a LR Baggs M1, or a blend of both. Pickups are no different than most things guitar YMMV.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I use the K&K mini western through their Pure XLR Preamp which goes directly to our sound system. I like the fact that the preamp uses the phantom power from the XLR connector so I don't have to worry about an external power supply. Our venue is an orchestra in an 800+ seat auditorium. I also plant my pinky or even several fingers on the top while I play. Some time ago while I was still using an under-saddle transducer I found I was moving my fingers up and down off of the top and when I brought them back down it was hitting the top hard enough to cause the 'bad drummer' sound; I agree it doesn't sound good. It was especially bad when I was playing a driving rhythm with some picking mixed in. It took some work and a few months but I was able to modify my technique so I don't bang on the top anymore.

Because of the nature of the K&K it does pick up more of the soundboard vibrations and you have to be aware of this when performing. But this is also why it produces what I consider to be a superior sound.

I don't find feedback to be a problem - i.e. striking a note and having the guitar amplify that note. It probably helps that we use earbud monitors so the amplified volume from my guitar is not that great on the stage. Sometimes when certain people are speaking my guitar will start to resonate but its pretty easy to just lay a finger on the strings and stop it or turn the volume off on the preamp which I mounted on the stand with the monitor controls.

We mic the brass, woodwinds and the strings and some of the percussion. We could mic the guitar too but the sound crew prefers the sound of the K&K.

Just goes to show that everyone needs to figure out what works best for them. Just cause it works for me doesn't necessarily mean it will work for you and vice versa. Like Woody said: YMMV.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"