Aaron very good demo of the 'K & K' and mic system. In one of my steel six string acoustic guitar builds, recently I installed the 'JJB Prestige GS 330' pickup (equivalent of the 'K & K' pickup). The 'JJB Prestige' is less prone to feedback with its backing disc cover design. I then installed it together with the 'LR Baggs Lyric Microphone'. This involved open up the 'Lyric' and soldering the 'JJB Prestige' onto the Lyric Preamp board. I was then able to use the 'Lyric's' stereo jack out and send into my 'Grace Flex 2' preamp for blend combinations or only single pickup. The sound result was amazing with the blend setting of around 65% 'Lyric' microphone and 35% 'JJB Prestige' pickup. In my opinion its sounds better than the 'K & K' / Mic preamp blend setup. You mentioned that in your setup for live gigs too much equipment has its issues, however, depending on the type of live performance the extra setup may be the better way to go. I guess at the end of the day it is what equipment works best for your live gig setup. On another note: I have listened to a youtube video of a 'Collings' acoustic steel six string guitar with the yet to be released 'LR Baggs Hi Fi' pickup with active preamp and in my opinion the sound sample provided of the 'LR Baggs Hi Fi' pickup is much better than the 'K & K' pickup that is connected to 'K & K' preamp. It would be very interesting to setup the 'LR Baggs Hi Fi' pickup and blend it with the 'LR Baggs Lyric' microphone using the 'Grace Flex 2' preamp. I might give this a go when the 'LR Baggs Hi Fi' pickup becomes available in April 2023. Regards Wayne WJ Guitars Australia
I’ve found that the k&k minis really do well with a cut between 400-800hz (depending on your guitar). You hear that hollow, midrangey honk in the demo of just the mini? That’s that weird 400ish thing that’s pretty easy to remedy…cut that region wherever it sounds the worst and add a slight smiley face eq, BAM…you’re good to go. For better or worse, these are the only acoustic systems I use. They sound good (especially if you know how to massage them), there’s minimal “scaffolding” inside the guitar and there’s no battery to worry about. At least once a month, I’ll notice someone I work with fiddling with the battery in their guitar for some reason or another. Not me…I haven’t given my internal “electronics” a second thought in a gigging environment for years.
I have found a couple of things that improve my experience and will post an update soon. It is a great system for those that want minimal ‘stuff’ in their guitar. Regarding the EQ I was actually cutting 800hz in my other guitars yesterday. I think all pickups can benefit from that and also 2Khz.
Very informative. The k@k was suggested to me as I find all my guitars to be a bit dull sounding except for one however the problem with feedback is a pretty big deal for me since I don’t really use any kind of monitoring.
I've used the K&K Trinty 2 channel for years and have had great luck. The pod controls on the preamp have made scratching noises, but once the two pods are set, it works fine. I like the way my guitar has that "boom" to the low end. I wish I had volume control built into the guitar though.
Yes but it makes sense as that mic is sitting at the sound hole. It’s only one step away from just playing into a mic and blending that into a pickup. It’s not really practical for me.
It looks like my OM28 sounds like it too. I use the basic, passive KnK mini. Into an original Yamaha Acoustic Stomp. It has a detailed e.q., mic and preamp simulation, effects. I don't want3 preamps, a battery, a hole in my guitar, for a preamp, when I have one on the floor going into the preamp in my cabinet. I spent hundreds of dollars and countless hours in the beginning trying to tame the awful piezoelectric under saddle pickups. My life got better when I ditched those pickups and all there gear required to make them sound tolerable.
Great video. I don't use in ear monitors so not sure how that works. For me hearing a good guitar tone motivates me during a gig. I think you really have something as the "Working Musician RUclips Channel" for both experienced players looking to improve their guitars/rigs and certainly for newer musicians doing live solo/duo/band gigs. It is nice seeing you test out gear which can save musicians time and $$. If I could go back 20-30 years, with the gear available today, I can't imagine what the possibilities would have been. Keep up the good work. I really love the Anthem system in my CEO7 for live shows. Just need to get out an play more shows.
Nice demo, and in line with my own impressions having had (and removed) exactly this system from my Voyage Air dreadnaught. Perhaps part of the issue was that I installed the K&K pickup, myself, but though I followed their instructions to a T, I ended up with a boomy, mushy sound from the K&K. When I tried to balance that ought with the mic, I could never get it to sound sparkly enough without getting feedback, even at home. And I ended up detesting the Trinity preamp because you need to open the case and use a tiny (included) screwdriver to fiddle with gain and EQ adjustment. And even then I could never get the preamp to do what I wanted it to without destroying the character of the instrument. Using it live never made sense to me due to the feedback issues (both on the low end due to the K&K and on the top end due to the mic), so the guitar ended up not getting out to gigs. Now I‘ve removed the entire system, which by the way meant destroying the K&K since I couldn’t remove it gently, and I was also afraid of gouging into my guitar‘s inner surface while peeling off the pickups. All in all, a really bad experience. Perhaps if I had chosen a better (less boomy/mushy) spot for the K&K, all would have been well. I did like the „woody“ sound produced by the K&K. If I were to do it all again, I‘d have a professional install the K&K and not use the Trinity preamp with the system, but rather some other (impedance-matched, more flexible) 2-channel preamp. Looking forward to the upcoming comparison you teased on FB (about the „hi-fi LR Baggs pickup“(???).
Yes. Very similar to my experience! One thing to note: the K&K was professionally installed and only a small amount of glue was used. I am told this gave the pickup a more balanced sound that usual and also made it very easy to remove without destroying the pickup! I am glad it’s out though and looking forward to installing the new ‘HiFi’ pickup.
@@aaronshortmusic Thanks goodness for the easy removal on that brilliant guitar! And your comment makes me feel a bit less inept about the installation I might have botched. Your review of the „HiFi“ is sure to be warmly received by the community! Can‘t wait for it…
@@scottbecker3485 I think I’m done with the K&K but I do see it’s appeal and it is the least ‘invasive’ system on the market. I look forward to trying the HiFi and I still say the Anthem SL is my favorite after market system at the moment. Even though it has a soft undersaddle which may or may not affect the tone on the guitar. It sounds excellent for my playing and application.
@@aaronshortmusic That makes two of us that are done with K&K. My impression over the years is that those who are very content with it - and their are zillions, of course - might have guitars that are more conducive to it, as in less boomy in and of themselves. My dread only needed to be tapped with my hand to go off feeding back in the lows, under situations where no other pickup of mine did - even on other dreads. It‘s probably down to guitar geometry as well as the type and gauge of woods used, the bracing, the positioning of the pickups, etc. But no matter: Good things are on the way, it seems, and I sure hope the makers of the formidable Anthem have created something even better, with no squishy element.
@@aaronshortmusic what is the new Baggs pickup? I have the Trinity with onboard preamp installed in one of my guitars and I love it. I have an Anthem in GC Taylor and I HATE it! It’s so plasticy sounding. Check out the Trinity with onboard preamp that mounts inside the guitar. You don’t have to use a TRS which was one of the biggest issues i had when i had the same model you demonstrated.
@@JustinZak7 Nice! I like the Anthem though! The Trinity sounds more natural but I find the Anthem easier on loud stages. I’ll have a video about the new Baggs pickup soon. It’s a soundboard pickup like the K&K.
Informative video. I have a K&K pure mini installed in a Martin HD-28 ... would a preamp with a 1 meg input be the one to get? I am not even sure what that means. LOL Could you recommend any preamps besides the K&K one (it uses batteries). I would like to get a preamp that would work well with the K&K. The K&K is hard to work with! I haven't had a lot of success with finding something. Finally, a video explaining high impedance and how that relates to 1 meg would be awesome. You are good at explaining things on a gigging musician's perspective!
I would get the K&K preamp as it works well and is portable or the Sunnaudio Prestine DI (I have reviewed it). The Baggs Voiceprint DI is also good if you want to try making IR’s. Or take it out and install a different pickup if it is causing you too many problems.
Objective review, thanks. I put a K&K mini in a Martin 000-18 MD. I play it through a Fishman Loudbox artist and use a Fishman Platinum Pro EQ/DI analog preamp. I wanted to use the superior sounding Fishman Aura preamp but it won't work with this pickup. So, the best EQ/DI, IMO, on the market, rejects the signal of the K&K when you want to use it's excellent imaging feature. Electronics is NOT a specialty of mine, and I put in this system only because two tech guys I respect really think it sounds the best. Maybe so, but I would have been happier with a Baggs or Fishman or something a little more "invasive" that doesn't require so much tinkering around on the back end. The ease of installation and lack of controls that sell the K&K are the same lacks that mean you have to spend more and fool around with electronics on the back end to compensate what this pickup doesn't do. That said, your permutation with the interior mic sounded by far the best (most "true"), of your samples, and sounded excellent stand-alone compared to different companies. If you could get that sound at volume consistently, which many circumstances won't permit, I'd say the K&K would fully live up to it's more optimistic hype. I'd ask you, can you think of a way to dial in using the Fishman Aura Spectrum Aura Imaging DI pedal? I couldn't get it to sound the ways it's designed to sound. When blending in the imaging with this passive pickup, the sound went underwater.
I agree with you. Also the reason that the Aura doesn’t work well is that the ‘images’ were created from the Fishman matrix pickup with the specific guitars listed. It doesn’t mean it won’t work but it’s not what it was designed for. You could try the other IR pedals but I haven’t been able to get IR where I need it yet. I’m currently recommending the LR Baggs Anthem pickup or the Cole Clark guitars. Cheers!
@@aaronshortmusic Thanks for the fast reply at this ungodly hour in Chicago that us night owls are so fond of. I'll probably rip out and replace the thing. I swore I wouldn't become a gear-head the same way gamblers and dope-heads swear to things. yeah, right. Ahh well, at least this isn't destructive, and I adore music.
Heey man! I have a loudbox mini, and am thinking about buying a K&K mini… Are you saying it doesn’t work by just plugging it in, and needs a DI to work?
@@lucbrugman5551 No, not exactly. The K&k system sounds excellent with the Loudbox. You technically don't need a separate DI with the Fishman amp. Since I typed that I have gone deeper into it and tested more equipment. I have also talked to the two techs I use who I respect. First both were emphatic, that the K&K pickup is just the truest sound you can get with an acoustic system, at any price, and individual tastes "notwithstanding." I also spent a lot of time with the Fishman Artist using my 2 favorite DI pedals that also have EQ and in the case of the Aura spectrum some other features. Those pedals are used to further refine your sound. In my case it's to get the guitar to retain it's intrinsic sound as well as any internally amplified acoustic can. That's really the Holy Grail of anyone amplifying an acoustic. You can get amazing sounds, but they aren't necessarily "true." All that said, the main issue I notice just plugging straight into the loudbox without another DI was feedback at volume. While the loudbox has a very serviceable EQ and controls specifically for feedback, I found that a pedal called the Fishman Platinum pro lets me dial in an optimal sound without sacrificing tone , and still controlling feedback. That pedal also has DI. Again, you don't have to have another DI to make the Loudbox / K&K work. Possibly the guitar you are using, it's properties could influence things. I use a 000-18, but a dread might be different. The K&K lives up to it's rep for naturals sound replication but other pickup systems might create less potential feedback issues. For me , it's been worth the hassle of experimenting with pedals to retain the excellent tone the K&K can get. I use the Loudbox Artist and it does maybe $90% of the job without a separate DI .
Here's what NUX just told me: "The TRS is not really a true TRS in that it will work in stereo. This is a connection that will enable the C5RC to work with active or passive pickups. Active pickups require the TRS connection."
Would the Trinity work with the Sunnaudio MS-2 preamp? I love the sound of that pre with just the k&k. Would be amazing to have the ability to dial out the mic if needed and have the great settings for just the transducers.
@@aaronshortmusic Thanks. Would it still require using the Trinity Pro preamp, or could I plug the TRS stereo cable from the guitar strait into the MS-2?
I have a K&K in a Martin and in a Gibson and though I love the sound of them in both they don't pick up the high strings enough. It's actually kind of frustrating when I'm playing out. Searching for a solution.
Aaron, do you have any recommendations for a pickup for a 12-string acoustic (jumbo) to be used in a full band? Electric lead guitar, bass, drums, occasional keyboards plus the 12-string. The end goal is to balance as natural a sound as possible with the ability to be heard in the mix. I've been soliciting opinions and am curious for yours. I know nothing is going to be perfect, but I'm just trying to find a good balance, ideally without all kinds of surgery on the guitar. Thanks!
Thanks so much, Aaron! Quick follow up: which do you prefer and why? I don't mind spending $100 less if possible! And do you think installing an Anthem would notably impact the unplugged tone of the guitar? I've read that it does, and I don't want that to happen. Perhaps it's being overblown or I should look to something less invasive? I really appreciate what you do...I just discovered your channel and your videos are very, very helpful. I'm now a happy subscriber!
Sorry, Aaron, I just remembered one last factor... being that it's a 12-string, I don't play it in a lot of songs in a set. Really just a few...I play more electric and 6-string. So I don't need to go too crazy on this. Ok, that's it, no more from me!
@@adamalper804 If it’s for a few songs in a band I would install a Fishman Matrix Infinity (remove the control module). It will cut though and resist feedback. You can always add a pedal to improve the tone later if needed.
After listening to them all, and using both the Anthem and the Trinity. The Trinity is the winner of best in class sound of any pickup system, I had the Trinity on a Larrivee and the $2000 Larrivee sounded better plugged in than my $10,000 Martin D-45 with an LR Baggs Anthem. Un-amplified the Martin had a significant edge over the Larrivee so this pickup is really superior. Another plus is that the gooseneck mic can be adjusted to different positions to get very different sounds (like you could in the studio depending on what guitar you are using and what frequencies you wanted to bring out). There are of course some compromises. I agree with you that the look of the mic can look kind of janky and it's annoying having to bring that extra pre-amp box everywhere. I had feedback issues with wedge floor monitors but I could hear myself well enough through the house mains alone and with in-ears it sounded best in class. So all in all, I guess the question is how many compromises is the best in class tone worth....? I'm torn between picking up another one of these and waiting to see if the Hi-Fi Duet lives up to the hype.
The K&K mic system sounds good. I notice when your Travis picking, you can’t hear any volume or note separation because your using your thumb. Try a thumbpick and you’ll get definition or thumb nail. Nice pick up and guitar.
Y ahora que opinión se merece k&k trinity vs hifi duet ? Se complica la decisión? Cuál es más natural? And now what opinion does K&K Trinity vs Hifi Duet deserve? Is the decision complicated? Which is more natural?
Good stuff. This vid duplicates my experience that I prefer the K&K alone over the Trinity. I received a guitar with the Trinity already installed (I would have never tried a K&K due to the glue installation). Trinity mic sounds very boxy and unnatural to me, and still lacks the very top end. Just the mini overall, for me, sounds fine live with proper eq. AND nothing under the saddle retains the sound of the guitar when not plugged in. Anthem is still my fave for live, however it did change the sound of my guitar after the piezo installation. for better or worse is subjective. I could gig the Anthem without processing if I had to. The K&K not so much.
The K&K still sounds quacky to me on the high strings despite being a transducer, and it makes the whole instrument sound dull here. JP Cormier swears by them and he sure sounds great with it, but I imagine that's just a lot of experience more than the tech. I haven't seen anything that compares to the Yamaha SRT system in their A3/A5 series guitars, but unfortunately it's proprietary and I don't want to be limited to that range. It's a real bummer that there's been such little improvement in acoustic amplification in 20+ years.
Check out the Martin OM-28 at Sweetwater (affiliate) - sweetwater.sjv.io/1r5oQD
Hands down, that’s the best, fairest review, best audio ever. Thanks for being so thorough.
Thanks!
Aaron very good demo of the 'K & K' and mic system.
In one of my steel six string acoustic guitar builds, recently I installed the 'JJB Prestige GS 330' pickup (equivalent of the 'K & K' pickup). The 'JJB Prestige' is less prone to feedback with its backing disc cover design. I then installed it together with the 'LR Baggs Lyric Microphone'. This involved open up the 'Lyric' and soldering the 'JJB Prestige' onto the Lyric Preamp board. I was then able to use the 'Lyric's' stereo jack out and send into my 'Grace Flex 2' preamp for blend combinations or only single pickup. The sound result was amazing with the blend setting of around 65% 'Lyric' microphone and 35% 'JJB Prestige' pickup. In my opinion its sounds better than the 'K & K' / Mic preamp blend setup.
You mentioned that in your setup for live gigs too much equipment has its issues, however, depending on the type of live performance the extra setup may be the better way to go. I guess at the end of the day it is what equipment works best for your live gig setup.
On another note: I have listened to a youtube video of a 'Collings' acoustic steel six string guitar with the yet to be released 'LR Baggs Hi Fi' pickup with active preamp and in my opinion the sound sample provided of the 'LR Baggs Hi Fi' pickup is much better than the 'K & K' pickup that is connected to 'K & K' preamp. It would be very interesting to setup the 'LR Baggs Hi Fi' pickup and blend it with the 'LR Baggs Lyric' microphone using the 'Grace Flex 2' preamp. I might give this a go when the 'LR Baggs Hi Fi' pickup becomes available in April 2023.
Regards
Wayne
WJ Guitars
Australia
Good info thanks. Your rig sounds interesting!
Lol you're using a Grace Flex, I'm sure it does sound fantastic !
I’ve found that the k&k minis really do well with a cut between 400-800hz (depending on your guitar). You hear that hollow, midrangey honk in the demo of just the mini? That’s that weird 400ish thing that’s pretty easy to remedy…cut that region wherever it sounds the worst and add a slight smiley face eq, BAM…you’re good to go. For better or worse, these are the only acoustic systems I use. They sound good (especially if you know how to massage them), there’s minimal “scaffolding” inside the guitar and there’s no battery to worry about. At least once a month, I’ll notice someone I work with fiddling with the battery in their guitar for some reason or another. Not me…I haven’t given my internal “electronics” a second thought in a gigging environment for years.
I have found a couple of things that improve my experience and will post an update soon. It is a great system for those that want minimal ‘stuff’ in their guitar. Regarding the EQ I was actually cutting 800hz in my other guitars yesterday. I think all pickups can benefit from that and also 2Khz.
Very informative. The k@k was suggested to me as I find all my guitars to be a bit dull sounding except for one however the problem with feedback is a pretty big deal for me since I don’t really use any kind of monitoring.
I get too much feedback with them. What do you mean that it was recommended as your guitar sounds dull?
Yeahhhh there you are! Thanks again…was waiting for it.
This is the best pickup system I've ever used. Paired with the Grace Design Felix2, this is awesome!
Yep. I had the first Felix with mine and regret getting rid of it.
I know you like it and it sounds great direct but I did struggle with it.
Rolando, do you go thru the K&K preamp into the Felix2 or straight into the Felix2?
I have the same question... I use a SunAudio MS-2, and don't know if I need the K&K pre or not.@@aarontorgerson2563
I've used the K&K Trinty 2 channel for years and have had great luck. The pod controls on the preamp have made scratching noises, but once the two pods are set, it works fine. I like the way my guitar has that "boom" to the low end. I wish I had volume control built into the guitar though.
It sounds amazing but I can’t use it live for the type of shows I do.
Trinity blend the purest capture of acoustic sound I've heard.
Yes but it makes sense as that mic is sitting at the sound hole. It’s only one step away from just playing into a mic and blending that into a pickup. It’s not really practical for me.
@@aaronshortmusic Yeah.....the mini is probably better for actual gigging
@@johngalt6838 I use a trinity almost every Sunday and never have any feedback issues.
Great video again. The quest continues.
Always!!!
It looks like my OM28 sounds like it too. I use the basic, passive KnK mini. Into an original Yamaha Acoustic Stomp. It has a detailed e.q., mic and preamp simulation, effects. I don't want3 preamps, a battery, a hole in my guitar, for a preamp, when I have one on the floor going into the preamp in my cabinet. I spent hundreds of dollars and countless hours in the beginning trying to tame the awful piezoelectric under saddle pickups. My life got better when I ditched those pickups and all there gear required to make them sound tolerable.
Great video. I don't use in ear monitors so not sure how that works. For me hearing a good guitar tone motivates me during a gig. I think you really have something as the "Working Musician RUclips Channel" for both experienced players looking to improve their guitars/rigs and certainly for newer musicians doing live solo/duo/band gigs. It is nice seeing you test out gear which can save musicians time and $$. If I could go back 20-30 years, with the gear available today, I can't imagine what the possibilities would have been. Keep up the good work. I really love the Anthem system in my CEO7 for live shows. Just need to get out an play more shows.
The Anthem is still my favorite after-market system. Can’t wait to try the Hi-Fi!
@@aaronshortmusic Can you elaborate on what the "Hi-Fi" is?
@@JimAltendahl It’s a new pickup from LR Baggs. More info coming in a few days.
Nice demo, and in line with my own impressions having had (and removed) exactly this system from my Voyage Air dreadnaught. Perhaps part of the issue was that I installed the K&K pickup, myself, but though I followed their instructions to a T, I ended up with a boomy, mushy sound from the K&K. When I tried to balance that ought with the mic, I could never get it to sound sparkly enough without getting feedback, even at home. And I ended up detesting the Trinity preamp because you need to open the case and use a tiny (included) screwdriver to fiddle with gain and EQ adjustment. And even then I could never get the preamp to do what I wanted it to without destroying the character of the instrument. Using it live never made sense to me due to the feedback issues (both on the low end due to the K&K and on the top end due to the mic), so the guitar ended up not getting out to gigs. Now I‘ve removed the entire system, which by the way meant destroying the K&K since I couldn’t remove it gently, and I was also afraid of gouging into my guitar‘s inner surface while peeling off the pickups. All in all, a really bad experience. Perhaps if I had chosen a better (less boomy/mushy) spot for the K&K, all would have been well. I did like the „woody“ sound produced by the K&K. If I were to do it all again, I‘d have a professional install the K&K and not use the Trinity preamp with the system, but rather some other (impedance-matched, more flexible) 2-channel preamp. Looking forward to the upcoming comparison you teased on FB (about the „hi-fi LR Baggs pickup“(???).
Yes. Very similar to my experience! One thing to note: the K&K was professionally installed and only a small amount of glue was used. I am told this gave the pickup a more balanced sound that usual and also made it very easy to remove without destroying the pickup! I am glad it’s out though and looking forward to installing the new ‘HiFi’ pickup.
@@aaronshortmusic Thanks goodness for the easy removal on that brilliant guitar! And your comment makes me feel a bit less inept about the installation I might have botched. Your review of the „HiFi“ is sure to be warmly received by the community! Can‘t wait for it…
@@scottbecker3485 I think I’m done with the K&K but I do see it’s appeal and it is the least ‘invasive’ system on the market. I look forward to trying the HiFi and I still say the Anthem SL is my favorite after market system at the moment. Even though it has a soft undersaddle which may or may not affect the tone on the guitar. It sounds excellent for my playing and application.
@@aaronshortmusic That makes two of us that are done with K&K. My impression over the years is that those who are very content with it - and their are zillions, of course - might have guitars that are more conducive to it, as in less boomy in and of themselves. My dread only needed to be tapped with my hand to go off feeding back in the lows, under situations where no other pickup of mine did - even on other dreads. It‘s probably down to guitar geometry as well as the type and gauge of woods used, the bracing, the positioning of the pickups, etc. But no matter: Good things are on the way, it seems, and I sure hope the makers of the formidable Anthem have created something even better, with no squishy element.
@@scottbecker3485 We shall see…
Just got an om28, mind-blowing guitar. Was torn between that an a JM but was turned off by the simple dovetail neck joint.
The OM-28 standard is a better guitar imo. The OMJM looks nice but I prefer the sound of the standard.
Nice review! I’m still in doubt because the Schatten design hfn player passiv sounds really good! For you, what is the best pickup without mic?
There is no best!
@@aaronshortmusic do you prefer k&k pure mini or schatten design hfn player passiv? I am looking for a passive option with a natural sound 😊
@@goncalorosa2001 K&K but I don’t love either.
Im about to install this same pick up in the same guitar! Thanks for this helpful demo!
That’s cool. Mine is coming out to have the new Baggs pickup installed next week. You may want to check that out.
@@aaronshortmusic what is the new Baggs pickup? I have the Trinity with onboard preamp installed in one of my guitars and I love it. I have an Anthem in GC Taylor and I HATE it! It’s so plasticy sounding. Check out the Trinity with onboard preamp that mounts inside the guitar. You don’t have to use a TRS which was one of the biggest issues i had when i had the same model you demonstrated.
@@JustinZak7 Nice! I like the Anthem though! The Trinity sounds more natural but I find the Anthem easier on loud stages. I’ll have a video about the new Baggs pickup soon. It’s a soundboard pickup like the K&K.
@@aaronshortmusic what’s this new mysterious noninvasive Baggs pickup? Saw a short video but didn’t mention the name or specs.
@@andorrasrevenge1683 Info coming in a few days.
Informative video. I have a K&K pure mini installed in a Martin HD-28 ... would a preamp with a 1 meg input be the one to get? I am not even sure what that means. LOL Could you recommend any preamps besides the K&K one (it uses batteries). I would like to get a preamp that would work well with the K&K. The K&K is hard to work with! I haven't had a lot of success with finding something.
Finally, a video explaining high impedance and how that relates to 1 meg would be awesome. You are good at explaining things on a gigging musician's perspective!
I would get the K&K preamp as it works well and is portable or the Sunnaudio Prestine DI (I have reviewed it). The Baggs Voiceprint DI is also good if you want to try making IR’s. Or take it out and install a different pickup if it is causing you too many problems.
Objective review, thanks. I put a K&K mini in a Martin 000-18 MD. I play it through a Fishman Loudbox artist and use a Fishman Platinum Pro EQ/DI analog preamp. I wanted to use the superior sounding Fishman Aura preamp but it won't work with this pickup. So, the best EQ/DI, IMO, on the market, rejects the signal of the K&K when you want to use it's excellent imaging feature. Electronics is NOT a specialty of mine, and I put in this system only because two tech guys I respect really think it sounds the best. Maybe so, but I would have been happier with a Baggs or Fishman or something a little more "invasive" that doesn't require so much tinkering around on the back end. The ease of installation and lack of controls that sell the K&K are the same lacks that mean you have to spend more and fool around with electronics on the back end to compensate what this pickup doesn't do. That said, your permutation with the interior mic sounded by far the best (most "true"), of your samples, and sounded excellent stand-alone compared to different companies. If you could get that sound at volume consistently, which many circumstances won't permit, I'd say the K&K would fully live up to it's more optimistic hype. I'd ask you, can you think of a way to dial in using the Fishman Aura Spectrum Aura Imaging DI pedal? I couldn't get it to sound the ways it's designed to sound. When blending in the imaging with this passive pickup, the sound went underwater.
I agree with you. Also the reason that the Aura doesn’t work well is that the ‘images’ were created from the Fishman matrix pickup with the specific guitars listed. It doesn’t mean it won’t work but it’s not what it was designed for. You could try the other IR pedals but I haven’t been able to get IR where I need it yet. I’m currently recommending the LR Baggs Anthem pickup or the Cole Clark guitars. Cheers!
@@aaronshortmusic Thanks for the fast reply at this ungodly hour in Chicago that us night owls are so fond of. I'll probably rip out and replace the thing. I swore I wouldn't become a gear-head the same way gamblers and dope-heads swear to things. yeah, right. Ahh well, at least this isn't destructive, and I adore music.
Heey man! I have a loudbox mini, and am thinking about buying a K&K mini…
Are you saying it doesn’t work by just plugging it in, and needs a DI to work?
@@lucbrugman5551 It will work but for me I have to EQ the heck out of it. It depends on how loud you play though.
@@lucbrugman5551 No, not exactly. The K&k system sounds excellent with the Loudbox. You technically don't need a separate DI with the Fishman amp. Since I typed that I have gone deeper into it and tested more equipment. I have also talked to the two techs I use who I respect. First both were emphatic, that the K&K pickup is just the truest sound you can get with an acoustic system, at any price, and individual tastes "notwithstanding." I also spent a lot of time with the Fishman Artist using my 2 favorite DI pedals that also have EQ and in the case of the Aura spectrum some other features. Those pedals are used to further refine your sound. In my case it's to get the guitar to retain it's intrinsic sound as well as any internally amplified acoustic can. That's really the Holy Grail of anyone amplifying an acoustic. You can get amazing sounds, but they aren't necessarily "true." All that said, the main issue I notice just plugging straight into the loudbox without another DI was feedback at volume. While the loudbox has a very serviceable EQ and controls specifically for feedback, I found that a pedal called the Fishman Platinum pro lets me dial in an optimal sound without sacrificing tone , and still controlling feedback. That pedal also has DI. Again, you don't have to have another DI to make the Loudbox / K&K work. Possibly the guitar you are using, it's properties could influence things. I use a 000-18, but a dread might be different. The K&K lives up to it's rep for naturals sound replication but other pickup systems might create less potential feedback issues. For me , it's been worth the hassle of experimenting with pedals to retain the excellent tone the K&K can get. I use the Loudbox Artist and it does maybe $90% of the job without a separate DI .
"I have to use a TRS cable. That means I can't use a wireless system" - why is that? I have a NUX wireless system that is TRS. Ever tried that?
That uses the TRS to charge. I don’t believe it will pass audio.
@@aaronshortmusic - oh, interesting... we should test it. :)
Here's what NUX just told me: "The TRS is not really a true TRS in that it will work in stereo. This is a connection that will enable the C5RC to work with active or passive pickups. Active pickups require the TRS connection."
@@rombsix That’s what I was saying. So it won’t work.
Would the Trinity work with the Sunnaudio MS-2 preamp? I love the sound of that pre with just the k&k. Would be amazing to have the ability to dial out the mic if needed and have the great settings for just the transducers.
Yes it would work well.
@@aaronshortmusic Thanks. Would it still require using the Trinity Pro preamp, or could I plug the TRS stereo cable from the guitar strait into the MS-2?
@@aarontorgerson2563 I think you can go in directly but confirm with SunnAudio as the Trinity mic has a non-standard voltage.
@@aaronshortmusic ok, thanks!
I have a K&K in a Martin and in a Gibson and though I love the sound of them in both they don't pick up the high strings enough. It's actually kind of frustrating when I'm playing out. Searching for a solution.
Check the install. Some people also add an extra sensor (the classical version has an extra sensor).
One I reinstalled a little better but it still wasnt enough. Thanks for the recommendation though. Ill check out the classical one.
@@TrippingTheTube The K&K is on the warm/dull side by nature as it’s under the soundboard and not under the saddle.
Cool Easter eggs at 5:46 and 7:47 :P
Yes or glitchy video software 😂
Aaron, do you have any recommendations for a pickup for a 12-string acoustic (jumbo) to be used in a full band? Electric lead guitar, bass, drums, occasional keyboards plus the 12-string. The end goal is to balance as natural a sound as possible with the ability to be heard in the mix. I've been soliciting opinions and am curious for yours. I know nothing is going to be perfect, but I'm just trying to find a good balance, ideally without all kinds of surgery on the guitar. Thanks!
I would install the LR Baggs Anthem/SL but check with Baggs that it will work in the guitar first.
Thanks so much, Aaron! Quick follow up: which do you prefer and why? I don't mind spending $100 less if possible! And do you think installing an Anthem would notably impact the unplugged tone of the guitar? I've read that it does, and I don't want that to happen. Perhaps it's being overblown or I should look to something less invasive? I really appreciate what you do...I just discovered your channel and your videos are very, very helpful. I'm now a happy subscriber!
Sorry, Aaron, I just remembered one last factor... being that it's a 12-string, I don't play it in a lot of songs in a set. Really just a few...I play more electric and 6-string. So I don't need to go too crazy on this. Ok, that's it, no more from me!
@@adamalper804 If it’s for a few songs in a band I would install a Fishman Matrix Infinity (remove the control module). It will cut though and resist feedback. You can always add a pedal to improve the tone later if needed.
Awesome, thank you!
After listening to them all, and using both the Anthem and the Trinity. The Trinity is the winner of best in class sound of any pickup system,
I had the Trinity on a Larrivee and the $2000 Larrivee sounded better plugged in than my $10,000 Martin D-45 with an LR Baggs Anthem.
Un-amplified the Martin had a significant edge over the Larrivee so this pickup is really superior.
Another plus is that the gooseneck mic can be adjusted to different positions to get very different sounds (like you could in the studio depending on what guitar you are using and what frequencies you wanted to bring out).
There are of course some compromises. I agree with you that the look of the mic can look kind of janky and it's annoying having to bring that extra pre-amp box everywhere. I had feedback issues with wedge floor monitors but I could hear myself well enough through the house mains alone and with in-ears it sounded best in class.
So all in all, I guess the question is how many compromises is the best in class tone worth....?
I'm torn between picking up another one of these and waiting to see if the Hi-Fi Duet lives up to the hype.
The K&K mic system sounds good. I notice when your Travis picking, you can’t hear any volume or note separation because your using your thumb. Try a thumbpick and you’ll get definition or thumb nail. Nice pick up and guitar.
I don’t like thumbpicks.
Y ahora que opinión se merece k&k trinity vs hifi duet ? Se complica la decisión? Cuál es más natural?
And now what opinion does K&K Trinity vs Hifi Duet deserve? Is the decision complicated? Which is more natural?
Trinity is VERY natural but also not very stable. I would wait to try the HiFi Duet.
@@aaronshortmusic estaré pendiente de tua canal para ver la comparación. Mil gracias.
@@986dryy I do not have a K&K installed on any guitar at the moment but I will be reviewing the HiFi Duet.
I'm bummed that mine has no volume or tone control
I believe that you can add the controls to the soundhole.
Good stuff. This vid duplicates my experience that I prefer the K&K alone over the Trinity. I received a guitar with the Trinity already installed (I would have never tried a K&K due to the glue installation). Trinity mic sounds very boxy and unnatural to me, and still lacks the very top end.
Just the mini overall, for me, sounds fine live with proper eq. AND nothing under the saddle retains the sound of the guitar when not plugged in. Anthem is still my fave for live, however it did change the sound of my guitar after the piezo installation. for better or worse is subjective. I could gig the Anthem without processing if I had to. The K&K not so much.
I agree. I still love the Anthem.
The K&K still sounds quacky to me on the high strings despite being a transducer, and it makes the whole instrument sound dull here. JP Cormier swears by them and he sure sounds great with it, but I imagine that's just a lot of experience more than the tech. I haven't seen anything that compares to the Yamaha SRT system in their A3/A5 series guitars, but unfortunately it's proprietary and I don't want to be limited to that range. It's a real bummer that there's been such little improvement in acoustic amplification in 20+ years.
The K&K takes too much work for me. Try the new Baggs HiFi. The Anthem SL is still my favorite aftermarket solution.
You still didn’t know how many musicians love and use K&K or K&K trinity(mic) system. When you use it with K&K preamp, you will find new world.
its the guitar not the pickup.
I don’t understand.
Not much 'sparkle'
Some say the K&K sounds ‘warm’.
You’re not hearing the plastic of a normal piezo.
@@JustinZak7 Less quack but still too harsh for me with IEM’s.
Knows nothing about recording....Mic technique... Equilization....
You clearly know nothing to say that I know nothing. Thank you for commenting though it all helps the channel.
Very beautiful sound !
I agree (with the mic).