Product: K&K Sound Systems Ultra Pure Mini
Price Paid: USD 130
Submitted
07/31/2009
at
08:08am
by
ballynally
Features
:
K&K pure mini transducer. 3 mini round contacts under the bridge plate.Pre amp with Gain, Bass, Middle and High, magnatically attached to metal underneath soundhole.3 small screws to define the colouring (B/M/T)Gain slider.
Instrument
:
Installed in a 70's Yamaha d-28 style dreadnought, rosewood B&S, spruce top.I was looking for an alternative to a piezo type system and didn't want to hack into the guitar too much.
Sound
:
7
The output is quite high, especially with the pre amp attached. In use with 80w schertler (david)amp and with 200w PA (ev speakers). Cuts across nicely.I also use a Zoom a2 acoustic guitar preamp box.
This 70's yamaha was cheap so i thought i'd give the K&K a go. I have a beautiful lakewood jumbo with a great pickup and preamp (JR Baggs),but didn't want to take it to crowded pubs where someone might knock it over. I play fingerpicking and strumming guitar, blues, folk, jazz, rock, country
Installation was relatively easy with the added kit.Preconceived ideas:a broader sound,less ultra high then a piezo system.More warmth and depth.So..the sound WAS broader, due to the contact with the bridge plate, but it picked up a:more contact noises from the spruce top, and b:unwanted frequencies in the bass and bass/middle area (100-500 hz).Also, the highs were not as nice as i hoped.They sound a bit 'glassy'.
I wouldn't say it was warmer nor had more depth.The sound was more direct, with great attack, but too much i.m.o.A lot of unwanted sound. I had to filter some of the frequencies out with my Zoom preamp.I am of the opinion that the straight sound should come relatively close to what you want, and then fine tune it with preamps etc.It will sound ok with a small acoustic amp, but solo and not with a band. Not a complete success with my Yamaha, but might work with less 'boomy' guitars.I would go for a piezo system with a good preamp instead of the K&K. Unfortunelaty the pickups are superglued to the wood, so that's gonna be hard to dismantle.
Overall Rating
:
7
I've been playing for 30 years .I would go for a piezo system with a good preamp instead of the K&K. Unfortunelaty the pickups are superglued to the wood, so that's gonna be hard to dismantle.
It is not as good as a top piezo/preamp system and not as bad as a cheap piezo.Slightly better then a soundhole system like Rare Earth.Cannot compare it to dual systems
