Pickup Options for my Guild

[F30]

I have always used K&K but if someone has had good experience with other options please let me know.
So many options and I'm certainly not close minded on the subject,
What is working for you when need your acoustic in the mix in larger venues.

 

[Br1ck]

I'm a big Dazzo fan, but Teddy has done all my installations, but it is really not a big deal if you are willing to use epoxy and nothing else. If you are playing in a band the Anthem is popular as the under saddle part is more feedback resistant. You can blend in the mic. Tried and true for ten years now. A magnetic pickup is even more feedback resistant. The Dazzo can be tailored to your guitar so as to negate the need for EQ for the most part. Paired with a SunnAudio pre, it's my go to, six times over now. Soon to be seven as my Santa Cruz came with an Element.

 

[cactusflower]

I have always used K&K but if someone has had good experience with other options please let me know.
So many options and I'm certainly not close minded on the subject,
What is working for you when need your acoustic in the mix in larger venues.

I'm a big fan of K&K! I have the Pure Mini in my '63 M20 and it sounds incredible. I've never had an issue with the sound at larger venues (theater size and above), but I also bring my own DI. It's usually the smaller venues or inexperienced sound people who have trouble with the passive pickup thing.

My guitar tech suggested LR Baggs. I haven't used one but have heard nothing but good things.

 

[plaidseason]

My goal is always a great live sound, but not necessarily a "natural" sound. I kind of hate imaging/modelling, etc. I love a mic on an acoustic, but just as much, I love a good soundhole pickup. I have three guitars equipped with Fishman Rare Earth pickups (two humbuckers, one single coil) and I run them through a Fishman Platinum preamp-EQ with a good amount of compression. And I nearly always have some kind of reverb (or tape echo) going on. Varying from a sort of room/tiled room/air/ambience to hall/cathedral/spring reverbs.

Over the years, and by addition and subtraction, I came to determine what I liked. And often it was sounds that involved magnetic pickups like the Gimmer Nicholson/Terry Manning/Big Star, Daniel Lanois, Merrie Amsterberg, etc.

 

[Maguchi]

Sunrise pickups, expensive, but the best there is!

Sunrise Brochure

 

[crank]

Happy with my K&K. I did a set last week opening for a friend's band and just plugged into the PA, no eq or preamp, just took the lead out of my buddy's Ovation and plugged it in and it sounded great and the volume was just right. What are the odds of that ever happening I wonder?

 

[D30Man]

I have had good experiences with K&K, JJB, Fishman and the proprietary dual source pickups Mitchell Morrison designs / builds / installs at Morrison Guitars here in Rockwall. I have found with all of them a good EQ box and / or pedal enhancer helps. You might not always need one, but good to have one on hand.
I use the body rez from TC Electronics. Great sounding pedal.

 

[jgmaute]

I really love the Baggs M1 active. You can see one on my D55 in my profile picture. I had mine professionally installed in my three performance guitars, my D55 and my Martin 00-18 and Martin 00-16DBR. They are hassle free and have a great natural sound.

 

[Westerly Wood]

K&K passive in the BR. Straight into PA. Always cut thru mix and replicated the tone well. A lot of that had to do with mine being all hog dread.

 

[BruceGA]

I'm not one to always get the nuance, but decided to take the under saddle pickup out of my Taylor. Pretty sure it sounds better acoustically, so I'm leaning towards the K&K to add back in.

 

[Br1ck]

I think we've arrived at a definitive consensus. Wasn't that helpful?