Best Acoustic Pickup? Why I Switched to the K&K Pure Mini
Рет қаралды 73,235
Күн бұрынFree resources, lessons, Helix presets, & contact info - www.AlexPriceMusician.com
When I bought my Martin HD-28 a few years back, I foolishly had an undersaddle piezo pickup (the Martin Thinline Gold Plus) installed. The whole purpose for buying that model was that it was a dedicated acoustic guitar that didn't come with any electronics that would diminish the natural resonance of the instrument so I'm not quite sure why I did it. I wanted to move back to a more simple setup that only involved a wire that went straight to the output jack and so I decided on the K&K Pure Mini acoustic pickup. This solution also got rid of the undersaddle piezo element that was keeping the bone saddle from properly making contact with the bridge. In return, I ended up bringing back the bass response and acoustic volume I had lost years ago.
In this video I'll explain my thought process behind switching to the K&K Pure Mini 3-piece transducer system, as well as provide a few playing sample for you to base your own judgement off of. This pickup in combination with the Red-Eye Preamp and the Line 6 Helix/HX Stomp pedal ended making a huge difference in my acoustic tone for those times that I need to plug in.
K&K Pure Mini - amzn.to/3nxfprH
Red-Eye Instrument Preamplifier - amzn.to/3nC7KIq
Line 6 HX Stomp - www.zzounds.com/a--3971116/it...
▶️ Highlights
0:00 - Introduction
1:25 - Why I stopped using undersaddle piezo pickups
3:40 - Playing samples - Chords/Strumming
4:53 - Playing samples - Arpeggios with a Plectrum
5:43 - Playing samples - Single Lines with a Plectrum
6:28 - Playing samples - Light/Heavy Strumming Test
7:22 - Playing samples - Fingerpicking
8:04 - Outro
#PureMini #AcousticGuitar #Pickup
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Hi! My name is Alex Price. I’m a professional musician based out of Pittsburgh, USA. I make a living between touring, performing on cruise ships, and while I’m home, teaching. Check out my new uploads every Tuesday and Friday for gear demos, lessons, and performance clips.
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@RedPillAwake 2 жыл бұрын
This is how all comparison videos should be. So many others waste time and are not clear about what is happening. You took the extra time to make sure information was clear so we know exactly what was being compared. Very well done sir.
@RedPillAwake 2 жыл бұрын
I'm returning my "woody" today and replacing it with this one.
@wmrustycox 3 ай бұрын
K&k definitely has more presence... sounds good . Thank you for sharing... I'm looking at a guitar with a k&k and don't have much experience with them.
@chadkelley 3 жыл бұрын
I like the Pure Mini without the preamp or any effects. I think it sounds great as is!
@AlexPriceMusician 2 жыл бұрын
It's a great pickup!
@theFluff7 Жыл бұрын
Me too. I think I'm going to put one in my Faith Neptune FSGNHSY
@shibainuacoustic4358 Жыл бұрын
Is it loud enough using with the preamp?
@bluenotecat 3 жыл бұрын
Great video Alex. I love the sound you get with the SMD 421. There is a lot more bass presence and warmth. Sound is full and complex.
@robertmayer6866 2 жыл бұрын
Glad I stumbled onto this channel. I've been looking for a pickup for my D 28. Love just the guitar and the mini! Thanks
@theshadowtalks 3 жыл бұрын
Great job! Thank you. I installed a K&K mini in my M36 Martin. Great review.
@pbarru2440 3 жыл бұрын
Just found you looking for review of K&K Mini. Great demo! Very helpful. Thank you
@mmypainting 3 жыл бұрын
Just considering what to buy for my acoustic guitar, this has been a great help. I'll investigate the K&K plus pre amp and helix.
@tomanderson8768 Жыл бұрын
Really helpful, thanks. Putting a Pure Mini into an HD-28, and sorting out pre-amp decision.
@Jdverismo 3 жыл бұрын
The search continues. The mic allows for the music to be heard. Every other configuration highlights some aspect of individual sounds. Night and day difference. Big kudos, though, on the straightforward and comprehensive comparisons. Excellent video, thank you.
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@davefribush5992 Жыл бұрын
Thanks! Super helpful, and well done and thorough in how you did all the different playing styles. I definitely like the sound best with the preamp, but not the helix.
@jimmyhowe7883 2 жыл бұрын
Excellent video! I just bought a Pure Mini but I haven’t installed it yet. Just getting as much info as I can before I dig in. Seems with a little EQ you could easily dial in a tone that mimics the microphone convincingly. Nice work!
@markfisch1396 2 жыл бұрын
The Pure Mini sound fine to me by itself! Thanks you solved my problem!
@rawiriwhite651 5 ай бұрын
Just found your channel. I love it when yters are self aware and tell us how much we need to skip to get to the nitty-gritty.
@kolkmeiester 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this comparison video! Just purchased one through your link.
@muzikchic555 Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much. I’m sure this took a lot of time to record and produce. Very helpful.
@maraviyoso8473 3 жыл бұрын
Every time an idiot says: "mic wins" or something similar, I'll know someone who doesn't get it. OF COURSE A MIC WILL ALWAYS "WIN." That's not the point of using a K&K or any other acoustic pickup. That Sennheiser, in a REAL stage situation is totally useless, especially if you play with a band.That's when an acoustic pickup enters.
@hiramgonzalez1367 3 жыл бұрын
I liked the sound of the mini + pre. I’d like to give that mini a chance. Thank you!
@AnMuiren 3 жыл бұрын
You've convinced me to find and listen to a K&K live in person, as well as subscribe to your channel.
@sboy1955 3 жыл бұрын
I have been running a Pure Mini on my D18 for years and love it. I run it straight into my mixer using a channel strip that has a High Z input and parametric mid EQ. Cut the frequencies around (500hz +/-) and bump the high and low as needed.
@nickspearience 10 ай бұрын
How’s it do when you dig in and strum hard? I have a Trance Amulet in my D18 and usually I love that pickup, but it’s not liking the D18 so well
@sboy1955 10 ай бұрын
@@nickspearience - Don’t play the D18 out much but as I recall it does fine, just roll off the volume a bit. I have a cable with a built in volume control I use when going direct to mixer.
@doradarling6423 2 жыл бұрын
I have the K&K mini in my Nathan Ball guitar, and I have just bought the K&K pre (because the K&K pickup on it's own is not working for recording). Listening to all that you did in this video I preferred the sound of the K&K and pre every time, + helix it always sounded a bit muffled, but I guess it is down to personal preference, thanks for the info and demos
@dosty3 Жыл бұрын
Fantastic job making this video. I thought the pure mini sounds nice but pretty thin. I have an hd28 and went with the KnK trinity pro system which has a pure mini + a suspended mic in the sound hole which is pretty discreet. It also comes with a preamp which you can hook stereo. The microphone gives it more bottom and some natural air that the pure mini doesnt have. The preamp that comes with the Trinity Pro also has EQ settings and separate volume controls for the mini and the mic. It’s been rock solid for 3 years and still going. KnK makes great stuff. Dude I’m really liking that Helix though. Gives it such a fuller more bass tone and takes out all that tinny high range and mid. Thanks again.
@tomdaoust 3 ай бұрын
Great job. I just bought a Martin D-18 with a K&K Mini pickup. I bought the guitar intending to only use it acoustically, but it's nice to have the option to plug it into an amp. Thanks for what you do. The screen titles are fantastic. Let's me know what I'm listening to, without a lot of explanation interrupting the demo.
@howardroark4227 Жыл бұрын
Great vid!!
@yourforeignlocal 3 жыл бұрын
This really clears things up for me- I have a Rode NT1 and Motu M2 interface but was looking to get a preamp/pickup as I thought direct input would sound better :p
@osmanberathamurcu 3 жыл бұрын
thank you this video demonstrates nothing can sound as natural as a good mic
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
Too true
@osmanberathamurcu 3 жыл бұрын
@@AlexPriceMusician Btw do you have tabs for that beautiful piece you are playing?
@gottliver 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this. It would be interesting to hear the k and k and the red eye with some equalizer and compression.
@jkenneymusic 3 жыл бұрын
Yes Alex! This is quality content. Need to replace the pickup on my acoustic and you may have swayed me with this one
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
Hey what’s up man! Glad it was helpful
@sculptureshard377 2 ай бұрын
I live in Saskatchewan and a few years ago I took me Seagull S6 through to Sawchyn Guitars (now closed unfortunately) in Regina to have a pickup installed. Peter recommended the K&K Mini and I agreed. It was an excellent choice, so much so that I bought another, and after training at Timeless Instruments, I recently installed this K&K on my own acoustic creation. What a joy it is to listen to my acoustic through an acoustic amp.
@princetim Жыл бұрын
That intro was reassuring. 👌
@steverolfeca Жыл бұрын
I found your Helix patch too coloured. I actually liked the red-eye better without it. Great job of setting up the demo, levels, etc. Thank you!
@ElcoWeitering 3 жыл бұрын
super interesting, thanks! I bought the HX stomp to get rid of the ugly quacking sounds the piezos make in my earbuds. Still tweaking though. There is a mic pre block that you can switch from line to instrument, I use it on all my acoustic presets. But all my pickups are battery operated so it might nog have enough juice for a passive system. I really love the rare earth pickup. Some presets I control the gain and volume on the mic pre block with my expression pedal.
@PanewsONE Жыл бұрын
Sounds pretty good out of the box!
@timbranniganmusic3458 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the great video! I use my Helix (Floor) for my acoustic guitars as well. I also have setups for guitar + vocal that sound pretty awesome. I also use Helix Native to record acoustic guitars. I record one channel with a mic and one channel of DI for Helix. I use a Helix preamp as the first Block that works well. That pickup system sounds much better that the piezo I have in one of my guitars and you’re right that, that system is harmful to the sound of the instrument. I did it to my 1954 Gibson LG-2! 😭
@jeremyhickersonsalem 2 жыл бұрын
very thorough comparison, thanks!
@AlexPriceMusician 2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@chrisstout8451 3 жыл бұрын
The Martin has a very good sound through the mic which is to be expected. That’s going to be hard to beat. The K&K mini sounds better than most under bridge piezo pickups but lacks the depth of the mic setup. It’s missing the presence of the strings. It’s almost like you’re not playing on steel string. It could be my ears, KZfaq or something else but I really don’t hear much difference when the Red Eye is added to the setup. (KZfaq adds a lot of compression and crunches the frequencies). And the Helix makes the guitar sound like it’s in a cavern lacking mid tones. I would not use the Helix. I would add a little more highs and reverb. I’ve been interested in a K&K system but I’m not sold on it from this video. Your guitar playing is spot on and great to listen to.
@BattleRiverBlues 3 жыл бұрын
love the opening remarks
@catfishfry336 2 жыл бұрын
Great job displaying the tonal characteristics…….gonna go buy it now….
@AlexPriceMusician 2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful! Hope you like it
@borojammin6509 2 жыл бұрын
Interesting video. I considered the K&K Pure Mini, but decided on the LR Baggs Anthem. No regrets.
@DirkParker 3 жыл бұрын
Nice job as always. Love how consistent and controlled your tests are. Personally, I use an IRig acoustic stage but I’ve never heard of this before. So the idea of having the system in each of my guitars in the future is intriguing.
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I appreciate it. Tell me about the iRig - does it interface with your computer?
@DirkParker 3 жыл бұрын
@@AlexPriceMusician The irig stage comes with a preamp that can be calibrated automatically per guitar - and it has usb out and 1/4” out. I use it at home to record guitar and it gets me legit 90% of the way as my Neumanns I have at work. And it rejects noise really well (great since I have a baby and dog lol). They can be had around $50 used in reverb.
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
Wow that’s nuts. I have one of the smaller iRigs from years ago. I got it for practicing with GarageBand on my phone when I was working cruise ships. Decent product! Mine is basically just a headphone jack with a send and return.
@mississippieast9028 3 жыл бұрын
I enjoyed the k&k with the pre. But I wasn’t at all pleased with the sound of that processor. It was very hollow in a can sounding. But definitely impressed with the kk
@maraviyoso8473 3 жыл бұрын
The K&K NEEDS a preamp that can match it.
@jacobeames4093 8 ай бұрын
such a great review. You earned a sub
@joebowers3060 2 жыл бұрын
The K&K pure mini by itself was really close to the Sennheiser setup. It’s impressive and it sounded great. The helix changed your tone. A lot. I don’t know if it was your settings or something else, but if it were me, the helix would get pulled from the signal path.
@karlcountry2363 11 ай бұрын
I guess it's a matter of taste. I would leave the Helix
@up211music3 Жыл бұрын
Well, for what it’s worth, to my ear, the sennheiser was the purest acoustic sound: well balanced. The k & k by itself sounded the thinnest & weakest of the bunch…. Noticeably thin to my ear. Adding the pre & the stomp to the mix? Wow, now that to me was a game changer! That tone was 2nd only to the mic. Nice job on the sampling. It really did give a realistic comparison between all the settings.
@jefferyclark351 3 жыл бұрын
Best review on a K&K mini I have heard. Good job man ! Highly professional review ) I’ve been using the K&K mini for 3 years now in hd-35 & ad-18 . After trying the best pickups out there I went to K&K. Even my luthier who worked for Martin guitar for 19 years says they are the best for your true acoustic sound.
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
That’s awesome to hear! Thanks Jeffery
@vespass225 3 жыл бұрын
Hi! I bought and installed the by so many extremely highly regarded LR Baggs Anthem, but was VERY disappointed. Even after weeks of tweaking the mix between transducer and mic, and experimenting with partly covering mic with absorbent materials, I could never get a tone free from that nasty harsh upper mids. Not at all sounding even close to natural sound. A few months ago I heard a professional classical guitarist try out acoustic amps in a music store here in Gothenburg, and immediately noticed the surprisingly natural amplified tone of his nylon string guitar. Of course I just had to ask him what mic/ pick-up system he used. "K&K Pure Mini" was the short and simple answer.
@jefferyclark351 3 жыл бұрын
Magnus Wickström did the same thing but a double dose ! Left my HD-35 & D-18 off my luthier with two LR baggs mic and piezo pickup system. Best out there $300.00 each plus installation. Best for me not so / too bright and didn’t sound right . One year later replaced with K&K $100.00 each . Now I have volume and true acoustic sound . Any adjustments can be made through the Fishman amp. Some love the LR baggs not me
@vespass225 3 жыл бұрын
@@jefferyclark351 Some love the LR Baggs, me neither!! Will buy K&K Pure Mini.... Cheap and good is a combination I can live with.....
@turinreza 3 жыл бұрын
@@AlexPriceMusician how does the KK do with percussive hits?
@edt.5118 3 жыл бұрын
The K&K + Pre + Helix seems to have much more of the guitar's soul available for processing and modelling for venues.
@davidadkins2563 6 ай бұрын
I feel the k&k sounds great alone,,and for $109. Can’t beat it,, just bought a used Eastman ac422 can’t wait to put a k&k into it. Thanks for a great reviews or demo I should say
@MrResomaker 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the great vid. I'm a K+K fan already--have one in a jumbo acoustic 12 string and love it. I had a hard time telling much of a difference between the mini and mini+pre. However, I liked both of those over pre+helix. The helix sounded too scooped for my liking. It was missing some of the mids that you could hear with the mic.
@prongs0611 2 жыл бұрын
Hi, I'm looking to put a K+K pickup in my 12 string guitar. I was wondering - did you have to use the K+K 12 string pickup or just the regular mini one? And do you know if there's even a difference? Thanks!
@MrResomaker 2 жыл бұрын
@@prongs0611 When I bought it several years ago they did not offer a 12 string version. It was called a K+K Pure mini western back then. It is passive and the type that mounts with superglue. I have been very happy with it. According to K+K website, sounds like the new 12string version is made to boost low end and mids to compensate for janglyness. Mine was designed for 6 strings but it sounds well balanced on my 12. You might want to ask them. If your 12 already has a good bass (like my jumbo) you may not need the enhancement. Good luck!
@prongs0611 2 жыл бұрын
@@MrResomaker Thank you very much for the detailed reply!
@rickraydubs 2 жыл бұрын
Just looking for something to add to my FG800 (which I really enjoy), something to play out with, and something for the studio. I've had a couple of Martin's and they were great, but I needed the cash at the time, so here we are, starting again. I sound like a country song.
@Piemanrudy 2 жыл бұрын
This pickup was recommended to me by the guy who fixes my guitar. I like that is it not intrusive, you don't need to fuss with a battery, and it is not under the saddle. What I found interesting is that when you are finger picking, I could hear the individual notes much clearer than with the microphone, which is picking up all the notes at once. It seems a good idea to have 3 pickups in this system. It also allows for using the Helix, which sounded good as well (I've never tried modeling before). Exciting, thanks for making a clear video.
@AlexPriceMusician 2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful. And yeah - by my “best” definition, I’m mostly referring to how low profile it is.
@thomasstankiewicz6914 2 жыл бұрын
No battery in the guitar. IT will play passively thru a PA. But sound will be improved with an external preamp
@ren1818ren 2 жыл бұрын
Great review. Thank you ,
@AlexPriceMusician 2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@joeybuckethead 8 ай бұрын
I bought a Martin D35 from a guy who had a K & K Trinity installed in it and I immediately un-installed it. I love the K & K pure mini but I hated this thing. BTW, I liked the sound of yours with just the Red Eye without the Helix. Thanks for the info!!
@oreally8605 3 жыл бұрын
Brother you've sold me, I was going to get the Fishman pre-21 (something or other) I called my shop in Evanston IL, they recommended the K&K - I KZfaq'ed it and there you are Thanks! (The other Alex I met was Alex Turner of the Arctic monkeys lol) two Alex- great music from both!
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Sheldon! Glad it was helpful
@shed54et 2 жыл бұрын
Using an impulse response along with a pickup is a great way to restore some of the information we lose when not using a microphone. However, one of the key elements to making it work is choosing the right impulse response. What I hear in the Helix examples is phase misalignment in the mid to lower frequency range. You need to find an IR with phase content that compliments your signal source…and remember that the phase will vary over different frequency ranges! The important thing to listen for is time and not frequency. I think that often gets overlooked. Nice playing!
@barbeus 2 жыл бұрын
L.R. Baggs LB6 is a saddle actually. Worth to check it out also.
@RomainMadar 2 жыл бұрын
Hey Alex, thanks for your video! It's a great comparison! I was wondering: did you ever try/heard the Fishman Rare Earth Mic Blend (pickup + mic)? What would be your thought on how it compares to this pure mini system? Thanks again, thumb up!
@dwightshumate7614 2 жыл бұрын
I'm thinking about this for my Martin Authentic series OM18.
@deanallen927 2 жыл бұрын
I like the mic the best, K&K with or without preamp was almost identical but nice, brighter, and I found the Line 6 to sound like the guitar was down a big plastic tube. Not too swift.
@jeanexcell1234 3 жыл бұрын
Could a Fishman ToneDEQ basically do the same job as the Red-Eye Preamp?
@chadjohnson-authormusician8072 2 жыл бұрын
Hmmm ... First off, thanks very much for the excellent video. I appreciate the work you put into it. I had some hopes for the K&K Pure Mini after reading about it and hearing you talk about it, but after hearing it on this video, I feel as though I'm back to square 1. As you said in the video, plugged-in acoustic will always be a compromise. However, this pickup doesn't cross the threshold, IMO, of acceptable compromise. To be perfectly honest, I thought it sounded really bad. And I could barely hear any difference when the pre was added - maybe a little more bottom - VERY subtle, though. The Helix was very noticeable, although, as many others have said, it sounded very boxy and not necessarily "better" to me - just different. I guess I'm still on the search. I know I've heard plugged-in sounds that were acceptable to me. I played with a guy who had a Taylor (don't know the model), and its plugged-in sound (I'm pretty sure he had the stock pickup, whatever it is) was acceptable to me. But I put an LR Baggs Anthem in my Seagull, and that sound is not acceptable to me either. So I'm not sure what to do. I'm getting my dream guitar for my approaching 50th birthday - a Gibson J-185 True Vintage - and I'm not sure what to do regarding the pickup. Maybe the technology is just not there yet for me. Anyway, thanks again for the video!
@AlexPriceMusician 2 жыл бұрын
A lot of people swear by the Anthem so that’s interesting to hear you were disappointed by it. In my experience, the best thing is to have one acoustic guitar left completely alone with no electronics and one that’s outfitted for being amplified. A complex pickup system with EQ, a mic/pickup blend, (sometimes a built in impulse response) etc. will sound better but all that weight has a noticeable impact on the tone of the instrument unplugged. The K&K is pretty minimalist and doesn’t get in the way of my Martin’s tone, but still sounds good enough so for me, this is the best one out there. Glad the video was at least helpful!
@Topsy_Krett 3 жыл бұрын
Well-done comparision video. Thanks! Have you considered adding the K&K Trinity mic system to your Mini? I may do it with mine sometime.
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! No I haven't really considered that. Though this pickup system sounds good, my main reason for going this route was to get rid of the undersaddle transducer dampening the contact between the saddle and the top of the guitar. I usually only use this guitar in recording situations, so in most cases, it'll be mic'd.
@thehahahaha88 2 жыл бұрын
Hi, I'm totally noob in this field. I'm planning to install k&k pure mini for recording on my laptop, do I need to buy the preamp like k&k powermix or just an audio interface like scarlett 2i2 is already enough? Thank you
@monkeyfinger7949 Жыл бұрын
I am confused about some things said in the video. Alex said that the K&K sensors are installed under the spruce top in several locations. Not sure if anything was different in 2020, but in the current instructions for installation of the pure mini, K&K says to mount all three directly under the saddle, on the bridge plate, in three very specific locations. Another confusing issue is how thin and nasal the K&K sounds compared to the mic. At minimum, I would think that when recording, the EQ would be adjusted to make all the samples as close as possible. In addition, I did not really hear any improvement with the preamp or the Helix. Here again K&K is very picky about which preamp they recommend - it has to have a 1k input impedance to get the proper bass response (maybe why we are sounding thin here?). In any case, very useful, professionally produced comparison video. One of the best I have seen out there. Great job!
@AlexPriceMusician Жыл бұрын
I think manipulating EQ would’ve been dishonest and I’d rather present the pickup exactly as it comes. K&K wants to sell their own preamp, but the Red Eye works just as good if not better for the addition of a few features. The reason it doesn’t sound all that different from the DI example is that the DI input on my interface was also doing some impedance matching. If I wanted to purposefully create an impedance mismatch, I could’ve but I don’t think that’s productive for the case of the demo. You can mount the piezo transducers anywhere you want. K&K recommends all three right next to each other differently under the bridge plate. If you spread them out a bit on the underside of the top of the guitar, you get a more natural sound but it becomes more prone to feedback. That’s your call if you don’t think the Helix improves the tone. From the comments, some like it, some don’t.
@73prd 2 жыл бұрын
So the mini is passive and you would run it through and active di box then into mixer correct?
@TMoody 3 жыл бұрын
You look like a youngster but talk like a master Yoda. Thank you.
@hayuro 3 ай бұрын
hi. I installed the journey tech for classical in my guitar, and headphones through a mixer. It sounds incredible, but when I used the speaker or even an amp, it just didn’t work sounded horrible. What might be the problem?
@larrydering1598 Жыл бұрын
I bought a Taylor 814ce new in 2006 and soon found the ES1 pickup had a pronounced B string with a metallic tone I couldn't eq away. Warranty replaced the pickup but it didn't cure the tone. I bought Numerous pedals trying to cure it, Fishman Aura Spectrum, Palmer DI, Baggs Para DI, and nothing helps. I replaced the system with a K&K style system from JJB that is like the mini. Instant gratification. The tone is excellent and works perfectly with the Fishman Aura Spectrum preamp or any of my other preamp and acoustic amps.
@AlexPriceMusician Жыл бұрын
I’ve heard good things about the new Taylor ES2 pickup system. I’ll have to try it sometime. It works in a similar way, reading the vibrations of the top of the guitar rather than just the strings through the plastic/bone saddle.
@windmillcancersurvivor2568 2 жыл бұрын
Is there an acoustic amp you'd recommend? I have k&k mini in a D-18
@TheMidnightModder 2 жыл бұрын
I like how you conducted this test! Playing it once and recording it 4 times was incredibly smart! But by hearing this, I don't suppose you've tried an LR Baggs Anthem before?
@AlexPriceMusician 2 жыл бұрын
Haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard great things about it. An important thing for me is keeping the electronics really minimal in this guitar since I use it for recording
@rmzzz76 3 жыл бұрын
Why can't I hear any difference between the K&K Pure Mini and when you have the Red Eye engaged? The pre-amp should be warming up the tone a lot more and the Red Eye is a great pre-amp... Interesting.
@ctcards2636 11 ай бұрын
HAve you tried teh Skysonic T-902 ? Its a sound hole with a mic on it. $50 ish. I just got one recently and its one of the best pickup systems ive used. I have it going thru my Acoustic brand 45watt amp. Its simple just two little dials so you can blend. Highly suggest trying it. I am def interested in trying this pickup you are reviewing here. Thanks for the video.
@jahjah67 4 ай бұрын
My ears liked the Sennheiser and the Pure Mini alone. It would have been interesting to hear the 421 mixed with the K&K. I think that would have made a complete guitar sound. The 421 by itself was a bit dark and the Pure Mini was a bit top heavy. I use the Pure Mini through a Two Notes Opus and sculpt the sound using IR’s. It works well. Thanks for the video. Well done.
@RockStarOscarStern634 2 жыл бұрын
It's a Trio of Transdusers (Contact Mics) that go on the top (from the underside). Some players prefer the Undersaddle Pickup because it eliminates the background noise more fully, & I'd imagine that if they we're redesigned to where some of the acoustic sound wasn't damped, that would work.
@stevec.1802 3 жыл бұрын
Nothing compares to the Sennheiser 421. Not exactly a fair comparison except to establish a baseline. Would be interesting to hear a blender pickup design A/B demo. Blender pickups tend to balance the frequencies especially with a sound hole pickup with an internal microphone.
@geamax1 Жыл бұрын
Brother. LR Baggs Anthem, it has an internal condenser under the bridge and piezo transducer under saddle. Switch the mic gain screw to minimum and the mic blend to maximum. Its a 90% to 95% accuracy to the sound of your guitar. I have itninstalled on all my guitars. All I do on live performance EQ is apply a HPF depending on the venue, and engage a compressor when finger picking depending on the guitar I am using. Guitars Eastman DT30D, E8D, E10SS/V and DT30GAce.
@superbroadcaster 2 жыл бұрын
I installed a pure mini on my guild years ago, it was kinda underwhelming. Needed signal boosting, kinda muffled tone across the strings
@djsalinas1536 Жыл бұрын
Is it best to get the k&k ultra pure preamp as well?
@deanallen927 2 жыл бұрын
I'll probably buy this and try various outboard preamps. I have a terrible Fishman under saddle/mic system in my guild and nothing in my '79 Ibanez. No thanks on the Line 6.
@michaelnielsen7406 3 жыл бұрын
Hi, I just installed a K&K pure mini in my Epiphone EJ 200, it works fantastic, way above my expectations, The EJ 200 is equipped with both a magnetic and a piezo PU, normally I have used the magnetic pick-up as I prefer that sound, and the piezo has a little hum noise. Beside the good "natural" sound of the K&K pure mini it is also nice to avoid batteries. I have also tried to use acoustic IR´s with the NUX optima air, but I have so far not go the result I was hoping for.
@Denon395 2 жыл бұрын
The microphone will always be the best sound to record.
@alanjerram9258 2 ай бұрын
Surprisingly there were a few examples where and K&K/pre-amp/HX actually sounded better than the Sennheiser. IMO you got some excellent results.
@WmLJohnson 2 жыл бұрын
I use the K&K mini and have for 11 years. What I would recommend first is to try K&K’s pre amps. They are designed to work with this pickup and they sound great. For the best in live sound use a Dual Source preamp combined with their Meridian mic. As always a good microphone is the best method to capture a great recording of an acoustic guitar. Live sound amplification has all sorts of other mitigating factors that should direct you in the method you choose. K&Ks Quantum Blender preamp offers features that are very well thought through and this is my current choice for live sound.
@AlexPriceMusician 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your thoughts Bill. With this guitar I was torn with adding extra electronics to it. I have another Eastman that has become my live acoustic that I am considering adding a mic/preamp combo to.
@WmLJohnson 2 жыл бұрын
@@AlexPriceMusician I have a Taylor 510 with a LR Baggs Anthem system. I use it with a LR Baggs Venue preamp/DI. I’ve used it with both a Keeley and a Cali 76 compressor in the FX loop. A compressor will flatten the transients that make the offensive quack. It’s one way of dealing with them. I was in a rush and wanted to replace the dead system the old Taylor came with. The anthem is pretty good. I have always liked the idea combining a pickup for mid/low frequency and a mic for mid/high and blending the two signals. This is the idea behind the anthem. I often travel light and the Taylor is an except-able compromise. I use the K&K pure mini pickup in my most sensitive, best guitars as combined with a vintage jack it’s the least obtrusive. Still run a condenser mic on a stand in front.
@jfj794 2 ай бұрын
An LR Baggs or Fishman pickup system offers a more electrified sound to an acoustic. I like that sound to be honest. The K&K Mini passes along the pure acoustic sound. I like that sound too. I think the Mini is an excellent choice for recording and live purely organic acoustic sound. Depends on what one will use the guitar for in my humble opinion. One thing I don’t like is using a step drill bit to enlarge the end pin hole. Once that’s done, it’s done. Great review all around!
@blessedwithchallenges9917 3 ай бұрын
Never thought i liked sendheiser, but it wins for me in this...although i think you were heading the opposite direction. You could try the L.R. Baggs Anthem. I have that in my Martins and it doesn't let me down - sounds great!
@AlexPriceMusician 3 ай бұрын
I’ve heard good and bad things about the Anthem. Some recordings sound really great. The reason I didn’t go for the Anthem is that I wanted a very minimal pickup system in the Martin so I could prioritize acoustic tone. The K&K is about as simple as it gets. The Anthem involves an undersaddle element, a mic, preamp, and batter pack, which adds a lot of weight to the instrument and doesn’t allow it to resonate. When I switched from the undersaddle piezo (with a battery) to the passive K&K, the different in tone unplugged was obvious to me. Your results may vary though!
@blessedwithchallenges9917 3 ай бұрын
@@AlexPriceMusician those are all considerations. I had an Anthem (i installed myself so the contact was 100% contact undersaddle) and it sounded incredible. Comments all the time about the guitar and/or pick up. I had another installed (i got lazy) and it has never been the dream my other was. The guitar is really nice, so i think the installer didn't shave the bridge to contact perfectly under the saddle. I think it effects it when you have partial contact at the bridge. But my favorite guitar came with an LB6, very high quality, but simple (no batteries, knobs etc.). I have a quality preamp outside the guitar, and i get the comments again, what guitar is that? What pickup do you have? What preamp is that?
@metricdeep8856 3 жыл бұрын
17 seconds of pure truth at the start.
@michaelkolanowski5796 5 ай бұрын
Didn’t hear much difference adding the pre amp . Why would you just use a pre amp from the hx stomp ? Btw great video!
@Ira88881 3 жыл бұрын
Does this type of pickup work for nylon strings? I’m trying to modify a Guitalele. I bought a KNA NG-2 for nylon, but have to return it because it’s too wide to fit into the bridge.
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
Yes it does! JourneyTek has a couple different versions you should explore as an alternative to K&K. 2, 3, and 4 contact versions. They're cheaper too. amzn.to/3g4rW42
@hcharton5722 Жыл бұрын
best sound is just the mic of course, I thought the most awkward sound was with the Helix. I did not enjoy that boxy reverb sound. It seemed very unnatural. I did hear a small improvement with the addition of the Red Eye compared to the KK alone.
@kerrybishop3563 3 ай бұрын
Does not having volume onboard much of a hinderance?
@mainsblanches8793 3 жыл бұрын
Day and night between the mic and pickup!!...Sennheiser wins it big time!!...
@jazzlehazzle 2 жыл бұрын
Which is not really the point.
@lewisbeeman 8 ай бұрын
So the pickup is 100 bucks basically but to get it to sound best, you need to add a 300 dollar preamp?
@kavenstpierre 3 жыл бұрын
How does it sound when you go direct from K&K to HX Stomp without the preamp?
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
It works great, however the preamp definitely adds that little bit. The K&K pure mini actually uses piezo technology, similar to an undersaddle pickup, however it amplifies from the body of the instrument rather than from directly under the string. As I understand it, piezo elements inherently change their impedance output depending on the frequency and amplitude being put through it. The Red Eye pre does a fantastic job at tracking the changing impedance and outputting a consistent one to the rest of your rig. The HX Stomp has an auto-detect input impedance setting but I can hear that the Red Eye does a slightly better job. It certainly makes a difference, but not a big one in the grand scheme of things. To me I thought it was worth it.
@mikeregan3265 2 жыл бұрын
The presence of a usp when properly installed can actually improve the acoustic sound.
@oracleboix 3 жыл бұрын
great review. qq. does it also pickup percussive sounds from the guitar body?
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
Yep
@verboproductora3225 3 жыл бұрын
Does it produce a lot of loud feedback in band situations on stage? do you need a preamp or also for those situations?
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
A preamp is definitely useful, but not needed in some cases. This pickup will feed back in the same way that an under saddle pickup will when in a loud environment.
@phoenixsound 3 жыл бұрын
Great job on the video. I’m not convinced on the k&k pure mini. It may be the best acoustic pickup but it still makes a great guitar sound like a cheap pawn shop guitar. Have you tried a clip on condenser mic?
@AlexPriceMusician 3 жыл бұрын
Yeah I’ve tried them. The issue of having a live mic on stage still stands though.
@customgtrs 3 жыл бұрын
If you add the James May Ultra Tonic k&k upgrade it takes the k&k to the next level...tone dexter with it is about as good as it gets or the baggs voiceprint with it...thanks for the review
@thcarter123 3 жыл бұрын
Are you using the James May? I was pretty much sold on K&K for my 15 year old Martin EC, but your comment sent me to James May. Wow, now leaning heavily in that direction. Some very nice SoundClouds using Martins. Not many videos out there. Also, I’d appreciate opinions of Tone Dexter vs any of the other high end preamps out there?
@nicoricha 3 жыл бұрын
👍 great job !! thanks :))
@tomdaoust 3 ай бұрын
How is it possible to test all these pickups on the same guitar? The K&K, e.g., needs to be superglued in place inside the body of the guitar.
@robertgray8320 2 жыл бұрын
I thought the mini+Helix sounded best. Didn't really get too much from the preamp.
@nikospasparakis Жыл бұрын
Hello Alex, what pickup do you recommend for an acoustic violin for my daughter! Great videos!
@AlexPriceMusician Жыл бұрын
Hey Nikos - for an easy installation, the best violin pickup is the Barcus Berry. amzn.to/3s9PbPi That’s what my wife uses. If you want a slightly better sound and don’t mind a bit of installation, consider the LR Baggs. That one replaces the bridge entirely. It may not fit perfectly out of the box so chances are it’ll be worth it to take to a luthier to get fitted. amzn.to/3TeXC85
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