K&K Experiences Please

[JasmineTea]

I've seen mentioned here that K&K pups have some feed-back issues.

 

Supposedly the mini version of the Pure Western does'nt have feed-back trouble.

 

I've only heard K&K, was very impressed with the sound, but I don't own one. I'm planning to get two installed on my guitars.

 

If they have a feed back problem I'd like to know.

I'll be using it in many situations, band, solo, loud, quiet, jazz, rock...

 

Sound hole cover?

[riovine]

From my observation and experience, in general I think soundboard transducers (like K&K and others) tend to have more feedback issues than under saddle transducers. I've tried several (K&K, Ibeam, B-Band) and have noticed this in all of these.

 

As for the K&K specifically, I had the K&K trinity in my steel string for a while. It sounded pretty decent, but seemed a little lacking in punch and presence, but it wasn't bad, although of course, it did have feedback issues (even playing in low volume duets etc.). I also didn't like the external pre-amp/volume control. I could never get used to on my belt clip.

 

I've since installed the B-band A2.2 system. To me it is a good combination of a UST and SBT, there is an internal pre-amp with a nicely designed soundhole control for volume and UST/ABT blend. That gives me the best control as to how much SBT I want and helps me control feedback better. It sounds great on my steel string, although I'm somewhat less impressed with this pickup on my nylon.

[RainsongDR1000]

Sorry, I'm one of those who pulled their K&K out after too much feedback. It was the regular Pure, not the mini, and it was in a Rosewood dread and I was playing in a bar with tile floors and high ceilings. I had a Baggs PADI (also, not the recommended impedance match for the K&K) w/ a phase inverter, notch filter and a soundhole plug. I had to roll off all the bass and still I had a few notes take off, especially when i had to turn it up for finger picked songs. I guess it works for some people, but it didn't for me. PS - i was just in an acoustic duo w/ an acoustic bass player.

300 watt PA, not what I would call a "High Volume" situation.

The mini may work for you, just be forewarned...

[RainsongDR1000]

I forgot to say. For my guitar (Rainsong Dr1000), the Baggs Element system through an Aura is about as good as it gets.

If I had a wooden guitar and didn't want to invest in an Aura, I would agree with Rovine. A UST/SBT dual source like the i-mix or that b-band he mentioned would be my choice. When i asked Rainsong why they didn't go the imix route, they said the ibeam just didn't respond to the graphite construction as well as they had hoped but the Element actually worked better than they had expected... go figure:)

[dw kleine]

I removed a Fishman piezo pup in my Martin D-15 and replaced it with a K&K Pure Western, regular size. I think I have less feedback problems than with the Fishman and the tone is much more natural sounding. I'm playing in a folk trio and I never have feedback problems. I go thru a Boss AD-5 and into the PA. The Martin sounds fantastic. Now if you were playing in a full band and really had to crank it up, then you probably would run into some feedback issues, but there are different preamps and devices for eliminating feedback.

 

DW

[JasmineTea]

Originally posted by dw kleine but there are different preamps and devices for eliminating feedback. DW

Sound hole cover? It would be great if that's the fix because it's cheap.

[min7b5]

 

Originally posted by RainsongDR1000 Sorry, I'm one of those who pulled their K&K out after too much feedback. It was the regular Pure....

 

 

Me too. I liked the tone quite a bit in my classical guitar, but with that feedback threshold I decided I might as well go back to a mic and get the rest of the tone picture.

[riovine]

Hey Eric, which K&K did you use for your classical/nylon. Like I said in a previous post, I put a B-Band A2.2 on my nylon because I liked it so much on my steel. However, I'm somewhat less impressed with it on my nylon.

 

I've just looked at the K&K site and see a lot more variations & options (some with soundhole controls) than when I last checked them out. How bad were your feedback issues and what kind of volume were you trying to achieve. They have a good amount of options for nylon/classical guitars.

 

I've heard that a UST on a nylon can adversly impact the acoustic quality of a classical because since there is less pressure on the saddle to begin with, anything that is under the saddle that can absorb some of the vibrations that would normally get transmitted to the top. Not sure if I buy that, but I have no reference with which to compare.

 

Thanks,

Ron

[d28andm1911a1]

I use a plain K&K(mini) in both my gigging guitars.

But I don't play in loud bands.

I have more feed back problems with vocal mics than with the K&K.

I use them in the simplest form, no preamp.

 

I don't think they are the best for band type playing but I have sat in with bands and not had too much problem as long as I don't aim the soundhole at the monitor

[kkyle]

I've got a K&K pure in a HD28 no problems yet, I only play in quieter situations. I'm needing to be ready for a louder venue, several times the K&K preamp has been recommended for sound, not feedback. Some people here use the BAGGS with some success, anybody use the Aura outboard yet?

[35fingerpicker]

I've got K & Ks in my Martins and have zero pickup related problems but then I rarely play in a high volume situations.

[min7b5]

 

Originally posted by riovine Hey Eric, which K&K did you use for your classical/nylon......I've heard that a UST on a nylon can adversly impact the acoustic quality of a classica.....

 

 

Hi Ron

I used the pure classical with a outboard K&K pre. Like I said it did sound very good, much better than a UST, and I feel bad because I was

[riovine]

Thanks Eric, that's too bad about the feedback issues. I'd really like to find a good system for my nylon. I use it for mostly acoustic fingerstyle jazz. From my experience, it seems like every PU manufacturer raves about their natural sound, lack of feedback etc. etc. but then when you actually lay out the bucks and spring for one the reality is somewhat different. I'd really like to find a decent system for my nylon with some soundhole controls.

 

As for mics, I've tried playing with them on ocassion, but have had issues with keeping still and not swaying or moving my body and changing the distance and orientation of my guitar WRT the mic. Have you had any problems with that. A mic could potentially work for me, I have an AER acoustcube that has a nice mic input and will supply 48V phantom power.

 

On another somewhat different subject. What kind of strings do you use on your nylon? Have you ever tried those Thomastik-Infeld soft steel core strings? I tried a set a little while back, they aren't cheap, but they have a totally unique sound. They probably wouldn't work to well for a standard classical repritoire, as they don't really sound like nylons, but they don't really sound like steels either, it's somewhat of a cross between the two. Since I'm playing jazz I can get away with a different timbre in tone. Their tensions are that of a regular hard tension nylon set, so they won't pull apart the top of a nylon.

 

Cheers,

Ron

[min7b5]

Amplifying a classical is a pain...

I think if I was really wanting to make a pickup work I