K&K pure Acoustic Bass Guitar pickup...should I buy?

bassingeorge · #1 05-24-2010, 06:46 PM

Hello!
Ok, so I posted a lot of new threads about building a custom bass, buying this and that....Lately I haven't gotten to any of those projects...mostly to privatization, lack of money and work.

what I do want...is to upgrade and fix/set up the equipment that I already have! Plus I'm taking music classes next semester (bossa and jazz improv workshops) to get rid of the work related stress issues!

I have a 2003 Michael Kelly Acoustic bass guitar...this is the first Gen firefly 5 string bass...and it's 32" scale.
It's a BEAUTIFUL looking bass! it's bound and has a stunning quilt back. But it sucks electronically! I don't use it that much, because string choice is very limited, and the B string is floppy as hell! the end pin jack pops and squeals and it's not adjusted properly...it has never been set up...

What do you suggest on electronics...

I've read about the K&K pure ABG pickup....looks very simple...no EQ...and I can install it...

Is it worth it? Can I use my current SansAmp programmable DI pedal with it?

Any other suggestion is greatly accepted!

Thank you!

Mingo Sanders · #2 05-24-2010, 08:46 PM

Here's a cheaper alternative:

JJB Electronics

If you don't find all the info you need here, the guys over at the Acoustic Guitar Forum can talk pickups:

Acoustic Guitar Forum/Electrified!

bassingeorge · #3 05-24-2010, 11:01 PM

Ok ok they look nice! Lots of options, and cheaper!
Thank you!
One thing though...Can I use my current on board preamp with a system like that of jjb?

Mingo Sanders · #4 05-26-2010, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassingeorge

Can I use my current on board preamp with a system like that of jjb?

I don't know. Give them a call or shoot them an email. I know almost nothing about technical matters, but I'm guessing that compatibility comes down to whether the input impedance on the preamp is high enough or is "buffered."

Philbiker · #5 05-26-2010, 08:18 AM

If that were my bass I'd put a transducer pickup in it and restring it E-C. The pickups that Mingo links to look to be a low priced K+K clone. Seems entirely appropriate for a Michael Kelly bass.

You can use your existing preamp with K+K models, I would assume that a copy would behave similarly. You may need to turn the "bass" down on your preamp. I have a K+K in my Seagull acoustic guitar and I use an outboard preamp/DI when I electrify that instrument. It has no preamp built in.

bassingeorge · #6 05-27-2010, 08:12 PM

Well I emailed the JJB pickups guy, and he was very helpful actually! Told me he could fix my electronics, put a new endpin jack, and hook up three transducers with the existing preamp found on my bass...I just have to send him the stuff, which is not to big of a deal for me.

I'm actually playing my bass right now....I fixed...I don't know how, the popping and squealing of the imput jack....it sounds good, even though I do want to try something else. I'm using my SansAmp external DI box which helps A LOT!

peekypoo · #7 05-11-2011, 11:47 PM

subscribed..

jibreel · #8 05-12-2011, 07:51 AM

I had poor results with the K and K in my Tacoma Thunderchief.

Boxing and muddy sounding.

4Mal · #9 05-19-2011, 10:49 AM

That would be bad transducer placement. I have the K&K in my chief and love it. I had a luthier do the install. He had done several of these installs in the past. He told me that he tried a few different locations on the chief before finding the sweet spot on the chief.

I really like the K&K a lot. It is extremely warm and woody. This can make it seem 'slow' I suspect. I'm planning on installing a really good piezo under saddle soon. I would like to take them both out the end pin to a 'blender' of some sort. I think that just might he the optimal ABG setup. A little piezo dialed in for punch under the dominat sound of the K&K.

90% of what I do is with acoustic instruments so having my T'Chief dialed in, has become something of an obsession...

walterw · #10 05-19-2011, 08:45 PM

i've always wondered how a good ABG would sound with something other than a saddle piezo and the stringy, piano-y tone that gets. does the K&K give your tacoma anything approaching upright tone?

rlfbman · #11 06-21-2011, 01:12 PM

I have Martin B-1 with the K&K transducers. It sounds very upright-like.

chadds · #12 06-28-2011, 05:59 AM

I installed a pair of K&Ks in my Taylor. Here was a warm full upright sound. I left the original electronics alone. I placed the old output jack aside so it doesn't rattle and put the K & K's. Gone is the clacky cheap preamp and piezo sound. It now sounds woody and real. I use LaBella black tape wounds.
It's not loud for campfire playing it just sounds so good!

Slowgypsy · #13 06-28-2011, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

i've always wondered how a good ABG would sound with something other than a saddle piezo and the stringy, piano-y tone that gets. does the K&K give your tacoma anything approaching upright tone?

I put a K&K in my Tacoma Thunderchief. With flats on it, it does have an uprightish quality. Initial thump, warm woody tone with rapid decay sort of thing. The dealbreaker for me, however, is the ease with which this instrument does the feedback thing. And yes, I did have a custom teardrop shaped plug for the soundhole... really didn't help. There's no electronics to speak of... pretty much direct out. I did the install myself, and perhaps I could have placed the 3 or 4 (don't remember anymore) transducer things better, but I think I got pretty close to under the saddle, which is where I was advised to aim for. Anyway... just my $.02