K&K Pure Mini sounds waaay different in my '70 D-25 compared to the '74 D-25, any ideas?

[West R Lee]

If the fastening tape is deteriorated, mushy, or thick, you'll get bad sound. Cleaner sound with very thin tape like Shurtape or Rhino carpet tape. Best coupling is often epoxy, but then it's permanent.

That's kind of what I was going to suggest. Did you install the K&K's E-type? It possibly could be an issue with pickup placement in relation to the bridgeplate/strings, OR it could be an adhesive issue with one of your pickups. The K&K mini has three pickups under the bridge plate, correct? It might be worth checking.

West

 

[JohnZ]

I've just finished pulling two Fishman and three Baggs under saddle pickups on two Guilds, two Gibsons, and a Martin, and replacing them with K&K's...three with ultra pure preamps and two passive. The passive ones go through a RNP preamp, Most often I use Xvive U2's for I need the mobility but haven't noticed much difference between wireless and cable. I run all instruments through a Bose Tonematch before going to an amp; Bose, other active PA or passive PA. I've used three so far on stage and all are a little different, but in my opinion, better and more natural and less quack, but can get a little hooty, The Taylor T5 preset clears most of that up. More important, they all sound better acoustically, especially the two Guilds; a DV-52 and a rare F50-R Special. All in all I'm really happy with the results.

 

[E-Type]

I’ll be taking it into the guy who installed the K&K in both in a couple of weeks to check placement differences. That using a cable of an X-vive makes a huge difference tells me I can “fix” this without a new pickup. We’ll see! And I’ll certainly report back.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Love the way my K&K sounds on my spruce-top flatback D-35. Not boomy. (And I hate boomy!) Don't know why it would be boomy on yours.

One of life's mysteries, I guess. Comments above about mahogany tops might explain it. They can sound darker than spruce.