Yet another pickup thread (YAPT): thoughts for 32-year-old D25?

[jeffcoop]

Hi folks. As my sig shows, I have a fair number of Guilds at this point. The first, though, and the only for about a dozen years, is my black 1990 D25, which was a law school graduation present in May 1991. One of the reasons I liked it was the built-in Fishman pickup--I had recenty started playing open mics, and I wanted something that sounded better than my laminated Yamaha with a soundhole pickup (I think it was a Seymour Duncan Woody), and the Fishman fit the bill at the time. It's fair to say, though, that it has not aged well; I now think of it as the Fishman Quackmaster. So I've begun thinking about replacing it. I know there are lots of options, and I have a general sense of the board's preferences, but I find myself wondering what would work best with the D25's arch back specifically. In particular, how does a hybrid system that includes an internal mic, like the Anthem, work with the arch back body, which obviously creates a different internal sound profile than a flat backed guitar? Thoughts?? (Also, it would be nice to have a pickup that allowed me to continue to use the built-in external volume and tone knobs, but this is less of a priority).

 

[Westerly Wood]

I want to say K&K mini passive pup and any DI box...?

 

[twocorgis]

I just put an Anthem in my D40T, but I haven't played it enough yet to give an accurate review. The similar Anthem SL sounds terrific in my Martin 000-17SM, which I think you've played at an LMG. I do like Baggs stuff. Even their updated I-Beam sounds good in my M40, and I never liked the original much.

 

[Br1ck]

The Anthem is a tried and true favorite, and it's under saddle pickup will reject feedback better if you ever need to play loudly like in a band situation. There are two versions, one of witch is more flexible. The more expensive one of course. LR Baggs has just releised the new HiFi soundboard transducer to decent reviews. The K&K is not favored by me because of the amount of EQ needed to make it sound good. I've taken them out of guitars I bought. My go to, seven times now is Dazzo.

Keep in mind that Baggs will be coming out with a HiFi based dual system sometime in the future. This may be instead of or in addition to the Anthem. So much of your decision will be a your tolerance for having a battery in your guitar. I'm a fan of SunnAudio preamps myself, but maybe not with the K&K as it won't have the Hi pass filter you will likely need.

 

[jeffcoop]

I want to say K&K mini passive pup and any DI box...?

I have the K&K Pure Mini in a number of guitars, including an arch back D15, and I think it's reasonably good, but there's no question that it needs an external pre-amp/equalizer to show its best, and I often don't have the time or space for such tinkering at open mics. On its own, I've come to find the Pure Mini's sound kind of metallic. So I think I'm looking for something else for the D25.

 

[jeffcoop]

I just put an Anthem in my D40T, but I haven't played it enough yet to give an accurate review. The similar Anthem SL sounds terrific in my Martin 000-17SM, which I think you've played at an LMG. I do like Baggs stuff. Even their updated I-Beam sounds good in my M40, and I never liked the original much.

I did indeed play the 00017SM at LMG IV, and, weird as it was to play a Martin at a Guild gathering, it sounded terrific.

 

[Westerly Wood]

I have the K&K Pure Mini in a number of guitars, including an arch back D15, and I think it's reasonably good, but there's no question that it needs an external pre-amp/equalizer to show its best, and I often don't have the time or space for such tinkering at open mics. On its own, I've come to find the Pure Mini's sound kind of metallic. So I think I'm looking for something else for the D25.

Maybe I should consider something better for me F30R then. Anthem?

 

[twocorgis]

I did indeed play the 00017SM at LMG IV, and, weird as it was to play a Martin at a Guild gathering, it sounded terrific.

Yes, I do remember that! That was along the time @ladytexan got stung by the bee.

 

[jeffcoop]

I remembe

Yes, I do remember that! That was along the time @ladytexan got stung by the bee.

I remember there were bees everywhere. You can see some in the video I took of Doyle Dykes. Apparently there was a nest under the stage.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Cut your loses, buy a nice new Shure SM57 and a low Atlas mic stand with a (Atlas) mini boom...

Says the grumpy old 'geezer...

 

[jeffcoop]

Cut your loses, buy a nice new Shure SM57 and a low Atlas mic stand with a (Atlas)I've already got the mic and have used it. mini boom...

Says the grumpy old 'geezer...

I already have the mic and have used it. There's no question it sounds good, but feedback is an issue (sometimes).

 

[Br1ck]

I have the K&K Pure Mini in a number of guitars, including an arch back D15, and I think it's reasonably good, but there's no question that it needs an external pre-amp/equalizer to show its best, and I often don't have the time or space for such tinkering at open mics. On its own, I've come to find the Pure Mini's sound kind of metallic. So I think I'm looking for something else for the D25.

I used to sub for an open mic, and I got so tired of folks with $3,000-6,000 guitars plugging their K&ks into the board direct that I had Sonny at SunnAudio build me a blender in a box. We don't give anyone a choice unless they have brought a pre already set up. It works wonders. Makes all the $400 imports with pickup systems sound better too.It is still being used five years later. I learned to roll off the bass on K&K equipped guitars.

 

[karlo]

I just got a Mojotone NC-2. It’s a single coil with mic blend. I like it. Check it out.