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What undersaddle PU to get

husky9000

By husky9000
in Acoustic Guitars

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husky9000 Newbie

husky9000

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I'm a newbie to the forum...but have been using the site for details on guitars, and tabs...so here goes.......

 

I just got a New/old stock Tacoma DR-20, and I want to put a pick-up in...

 

I am a rookie when it comes to this...I don't want to cut a hole in the side for an on board preamp...but other than this, I'm open.

 

I don't have a clear understanding of active vs passive, and some say they have a pre-amp in the endpin jack...so do I have to tear it apart to change batteries?

 

I will use it some at church, with a complete sound system...I am currently using an ovation, with the OP-30 sysytem...but I don't need all that it offers...and would be just as happy with the preamp on the floor next to a direct box, or in the direct box, like the LR Baggs box...

 

I have been looking at the Martin gold plus (Fishman), Fishman, and like what I read about the Dean Markley Sweet Spot, and west cost series.

 

 

Thoughts on this would be a great help

 

Thanks

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LosBoleros Newbie

LosBoleros

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It depends what yo are into. If Quality sound is the most important thing, then a SBT pick up like the K & K Pure or PUTW 54, but if playing loud is more important than you will have to settle for the Quacky sound of an UST pickup.

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Terry Allan Hall Newbie

Terry Allan Hall

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Actually, Los...that is a recording done "from the board" at a festival and my guitar was mic'd with a Shure SM-57...no P/U at all.

In addition, the dogs were completely acoustic (the stage was next to a pet-rescue booth), as were the percussion.

The bass was plugged in, though...:)

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Fleabitten Newbie

Fleabitten

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If you play with a band, I wouldnt use the K&K. I love my dreadnot with my K&K's but they feedback too easy. You can eq it out, but with that you lose alote of warmth. I have a Fishman Matrix in my Gibson J45, and love it. You have t instal them correct and play them correct. But no feedback ever.

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LosBoleros Newbie

LosBoleros

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Originally posted by LosBoleros

It depends what yo are into. If Quality sound is the most important thing, then a SBT pick up like the K & K Pure or PUTW 54, but if playing loud is more important than you will have to settle for the Quacky sound of an UST pickup.

 

I don't see that any of that is not sound advice. The way that I am able to achieve good live tone and no feed back is that I play quietly on stage. Just lound enough to cut over the percussions and that's it. This way I am able to EQ it the way I want and get the best sound. Volume is the key but it takes an entire band to make this work. The loudest instrument in our group is the Saxaphone and we play up to his volume. I do the same thing if the gig is a very large one exept that we will all send a line to the board and the sound man can give us more volume on the mains. I think that if you are playing in a church setting that we are talking about low volume stuff.

 

By the way, my recording was straight into the board from my preamp. Not bad for a direct line heh?

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sdelsolray Explorer

sdelsolray

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Originally posted by LosBoleros


By the way, my recording was straight into the board from my preamp. Not bad for a direct line heh?

 

 

Hard to tell. Sounds decent, but it's only a sample of single string work on a guitar that's not really a guitar, placed in a band setting. Most here are playing 6 string instruments. Some are playing solo or in smaller ensembles, where the guitar is polyphonic and more prominent.

 

You use a SBT and internal mic. That's a good dual source combination. But it's not the only combination that works well. Your pre and amp are good prosumer items, but certainly nothing to write home about. Other pres and amps exist which simply blow your gear out of the water.

 

No offense intended, just perspective.

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JohnnyF Newbie

JohnnyF

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Originally posted by LosBoleros


I don't see that any of that is not sound advice. The way that I am able to achieve good live tone and no feed back is that I play quietly on stage. Just lound enough to cut over the percussions and that's it. This way I am able to EQ it the way I want and get the best sound. Volume is the key but it takes an entire band to make this work. The loudest instrument in our group is the Saxaphone and we play up to his volume. I do the same thing if the gig is a very large one exept that we will all send a line to the board and the sound man can give us more volume on the mains. I think that if you are playing in a church setting that we are talking about low volume stuff.


By the way, my recording was straight into the board from my preamp. Not bad for a direct line heh?





Let's see, now - You use a Crate CA-125 amp but never turn it up, which is kind of like swatting a fly with a sledge-hammer, isn't it? ;)

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fingerpicker Newbie

fingerpicker

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but if playing loud is more important than you will have to settle for the Quacky sound of an UST pickup.

 

 

 

I don't think thats a fair statement, and I would not think you would call my sound "Quacky"--but I use a UST.

 

I used K&K in two Taylors(and I used to have your exact Crate amp but with a paisley tolex covering)--

 

K&K is good, but not the be-all end-all pickup. Plus alot of unwanted extra noise for percussive playing, and as a sole signal source not quite ideal at high volumes without doing alot of eq tweaking.

 

 

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LosBoleros Newbie

LosBoleros

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Originally posted by JohnnyF





Let's see, now - You use a Crate CA-125 amp but never turn it up, which is kind of like swatting a fly with a sledge-hammer, isn't it?
;)


Exactly! Having all that headroom makes for a cleaner signal.

Hey! There is no system for everybody thats for sure. I am a perfect candidate for a SBT because of the levels I play at and that's all. If I had to compete with a loud drummer and a marshal stack then a SBT would not even work for me. At low levels and in the studio, it really is sweet.

Originally posted by sdelsolray

Other pres and amps exist which simply blow your gear out of the water.


Anyone here who says they have the best system is full of it. It is fair to say though that the system I have is not bad at all. As you know I am happy with the K & K. It's natural tone really pleases me and feedback is not an issue for me. The Crate Amp is a good amp. Acoustic Guitar Player Magazine named it Players choice for nine years in a row. Does that mean it is the best? No. but is is good. You really got to try one. As far as my Fishman Blender goes, It does the job of blending two inputs and gives me the phantom power I need. The output out of the 1/4" is not so good but the XLR puts out a nice signal. I have not ever tried any other blenders but I know there are most probably better units out there. For now this is rugged and dependable.
:cool:

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vetstudent Newbie

vetstudent

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Maybe I missed it while scanning the above posts but I didn't notice anyone mention the Element from baggs. I have the I-mix which has both the element and I-beam in my Martin D-15. I would never say the element (UST) is "quacky" Heck if I'd have known how amazing it sounded in my guitar by itseld I probably would have gotten it alone.

I think the Element is by far the best sounding UST I've ever heard. It also has a soundhole volume remote which comes in mighty handy! I haven't had the luxury of comparing to a lot but it blows Fishman out of the water in my opinion.

Good luck!

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