K&K Mini Pickup Praise

naveed211 · Mar 13, 2017

I bought my '96 JF-30 from Chicago Music Exchange a year and a half ago and it came installed with a K&K mini pickup system. I actually plugged in for the first time last night and was blown away! That guitar is awesome, but I may even like the plugged in sound better than unplugged as primarily an electric player myself. Very high definition sounding pickup.

Can't recommend it enough if you're looking for a pickup. Great guitar enhanced by a great pickup.

Westerly Wood · Mar 13, 2017

naveed211 said:
I bought my '96 JF-30 from Chicago Music Exchange a year and a half ago and it came installed with a K&K mini pickup system. I actually plugged in for the first time last night and was blown away! That guitar is awesome, but I may even like the plugged in sound better than unplugged as primarily an electric player myself. Very high definition sounding pickup.

Can't recommend it enough if you're looking for a pickup. Great guitar enhanced by a great pickup.

Yeah, I got a K&K mini (passive) in my D25 Br and it really shines. Just plug and play. Of course the hog top definitely helps retain some warmth too vs sounding thin.

walrus · Mar 13, 2017

Yep, I put one in my D64 years ago - excellent!

Clarification - specifically, a Pure Mini!

walrus

nrand · Mar 13, 2017

My Martin, Yairi and Ukulele all have K&K's and I love them, especially through Redeye preamps.
My 'new' D55 came with its original Fishman Matix UST, which with its 9V system sounds OK, but not as clear as the K&Ks. I have a K&K ready to go in when I take my D55 in for a setup.

BTW, I keep 2 Redeye Preamps on my pedal board, one for my 6 strings, and one for my 12.
The other big advantage with the K&Ks of course is no batteries for anything. The Redeyes are phantom powered from my desk, with 9V battery operation optional, so everything is plug and play.

MLBob · Mar 13, 2017

Have always been pleased with K & K acoustic pickups. Had a Power Mix Pure ( 3 transducers on bridge plate + under-saddle piezo bar) installed in my Studio 24 shortly after I got it. Both go stereo out through a TRS cable to a small K&K 2-channel mixer box.

Last summer, I added a K&K Double Helix magnetic soundhole pickup (also passive) to the Pure Mini and eliminated just the piezo bar. Still run both into the same 2-channel box and love what the combination does for the guitar when played through an amp.

You tube link:

https://youtu.be/O0TFgL0Laq8

D30Man · Mar 13, 2017

I have one in the D-30 and it is pretty sweet. I also run my acoustic through a bodyrez acoustic pedal which is really nice to add dynamics to the overall sound.

PTC Bernie · Mar 13, 2017

I've pulled the USTs out of every guitar I've owned. I decided to put a K&K mini in a Taylor 612.

It's great. If I need a pick up in any of my other guitars it's going to be another K & K mini.

dbirchett · Mar 13, 2017

I have K&K minis in three of my guitars. I really like them. They sound better with the K&K preamp or any preamp with a 1 Meg Ohm impedance. If you have a different preamp with a different impedance such as a Baggs, you can wire in a resistor in your jack or cord to convert to the proper impedance.

I believe that Ultrasound amps and Preamps/DIs use a 1 Meg Ohm interface.

I recommend the K&K but there is another company JJB that makes a similar (looks identical) product that is about half the price. I have heard some say that they are identical and maybe they are. They also use the 1 Meg Ohm impedance. Caveat emptor. http://www.jjb-electronics.com/index.html

D30Man · Mar 13, 2017

dbirchett said:
I have K&K minis in three of my guitars. I really like them. They sound better with the K&K preamp or any preamp with a 1 Meg Ohm impedance. If you have a different preamp with a different impedance such as a Baggs, you can wire in a resistor in your jack or cord to convert to the proper impedance.

I believe that Ultrasound amps and Preamps/DIs use a 1 Meg Ohm interface.

I recommend the K&K but there is another company JJB that makes a similar (looks identical) product that is about half the price. I have heard some say that they are identical and maybe they are. They also use the 1 Meg Ohm impedance. Caveat emptor. http://www.jjb-electronics.com/index.html

Don I have used JJB sonically they are very similar. You might lose a hint of volume but for half the price?? They are virtually identical.

naveed211 · Mar 13, 2017

I'm running it into a simple little $100 Fender Mustang modeling amp, and it sounds so sweet on the Twin Reverb setting with a splash of reverb. Funny, I'm 32 and have owned over 30 amps, some vintage, some boutique, chasing the magical tone dragon, and something as simple as a Guild turned up a little bit with a bit of reverb is so inspiring. Does make me want to try it through a Roland JC or something, though.

But yeah, this K&K pickup. Single note leads in particular sound just gorgeous. It sounds like a good live record in my bedroom, minus the good playing.

Neal · Mar 13, 2017

+1 for the K&K Pure Mini. It is all I need for my stage guitar, a '12 F-50 Standard.

I run it through a BBE Acoustimax Preamp/EQ/Notch Filter and a Holy Grail Reverb pedal before it hits the mixer. Warms the K&K up a bit, gives it some punch, gets rid of some of the ice pick on the high end, and if there are feedback issues, they can be managed with the filter.

jeffcoop · Mar 14, 2017

I have Pure Minis in my New Hartford D50 and Tacoma F30 (and in my 1970 Martin D18) and a Pure 12 in my New Hartford G312. Love them all. When necessary, I run through a Pure XLR pre-amp.

gilded · Mar 14, 2017

nrand said:
.... I love them, especially through Redeye preamps.....BTW, I keep 2 Redeye Preamps on my pedal board, one for my 6 strings, and one for my 12....The Redeyes are phantom powered from my desk, with 9V battery operation optional, so everything is plug and play.

I've been thinking about using a Red-Eye. Does anybody else use these preamps? Anybody have anything more to say about them?

6L6 · Mar 14, 2017

All of my acoustics sport a K&K Pure Mini.

The Retro Rocker · Mar 14, 2017

I have The K&K Pure Mini, with volume control, on both my JF30's and my G-41. Passive system. Just amazing!
I also have the K&K Pure Pre-amp! And the Fishman Aura Spectrum. Sounds amazing live thru the amp...and I sometimes take a line out of the amp to the PA as well. That and my Earthquaker Ghost Echo makes for a big, luscious acoustic guitar sound!

If you haven't tried a pre-amp with the K&K, you're missing out on some of the tonal palette! Try it, you'l liiiike it!

Big-Al · Mar 14, 2017

I know a few guys who use Pure Mini pickups exclusively. They do sound good. Very good.

Here's the K&K setup I use, except with the mic very close to the guitar body:

I love the sound, but a Pure Mini would be more convenient. The Meridian preamp does supply low voltage phantom power to the condenser microphone. I wonder if it would work with a Pure Mini plugged into it instead. (The pickup input impedance is VERY high so it shouldn't draw much power.)

K&K Mini Pickup Praise

naveed211

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Westerly Wood

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walrus

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nrand

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MLBob

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D30Man

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PTC Bernie

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dbirchett

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naveed211

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Neal

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gilded

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