Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Pickups

Anybody have any recommendations for acoustic guitar pickups? I’ve heard the LR Baggs are good, but I don’t wan’t to be able to see the pickup though the sound hole. I’d want a pickup that you can’t even tell it is there until you need to use it.
(I’m getting a guitar built and I’m considering having them intall a pickup.)

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I think the K&K pickups are good, I know @Flatpickin_Libby has the K&K Trinity system in a few of her guitars, you can see the microphone in the sound hole since it’s a pickup and microphone (which is the best part of it, you can blend them to make it sound the most natural) but the pickup is hidden.

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Yes I do like the K&K Trinity Pro and you don’t need to see the microphone through the sound hole. I kinda like the look - I’ve always thought it looks kinda classy - but you can easily hide the mic inside the guitar just by positioning it differently and bending the flexible cable. Jake Workman hides his these days so you wouldn’t know it’s in his guitars. He said he got tired of seeing it. :slight_smile: It is a great sounding mic & pickup and I like that you can adjust how much of each you want to hear.

https://a.co/d/5dYyErQ

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K&K Pure Mini is also a great pickup. I have one in my Larrivee OM-03 and play through a Fishman Aura DI. Sounds great with plenty of gain.

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So you would recommend one with a pickup and mic for the best sound?

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I also have the K&K Trinity Pro in my guitar and really like it! I like how balanced the sound is because of the mic and pickup option!

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I would, if you don’t mind there being a preamp. One comes with the Trinity Pro, because the microphone needs to be powered by the battery in the preamp. I think mics give the best sound though.

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Anyone considering a K&K Mini (I have one in an OM and like it) should investigate the Journey EP001K. It is very similar to the K&K and sells for half the price. I recently had one installed in a flat-top for my grandson and both he and the luthier were very happy with the pickup.

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The K&K mini is really great for what you describe. It is all but invisible (three transducers on the soundboard and a wire). It does NEED a particular type of amp or preamp (1 M ohm input impedance) though. With a significantly different impedance, it sounds really tubby. Get a good impedance, and it sounds really natural compared to under saddle transducers.
I don’t have a trinity, but it sounds like a nice setup.
My recent directions have been to go with post processing/modeling. I have a fishman aura setup (built in to a guitar) as well as a tonedexter for other instruments. The tonedexter works well with everything I have thrown at it (but you do have to train it with each instrument).

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Thank you everyone for the suggestions!

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