K & K Sound Systems Trinity Western

Pickup features: Bridgeplate Transducer System and Internal Microphone
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Lowden O 10
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level:
Tone: Wonderful woody and balanced
Sonic evaluation: I use a PA system or a Fender acoustic amp.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Irish Folk Music

Comments: This system is absolutely amazing. The pickup itself sounds so good and true, it's unbelievable. And the mic does ad some extra air to the sound.
Installation was a little different than described in K&K's manual due to Lowden?s pinless bridge.
After calling K&K, I got some helpful advice. They recommended to temporarily stick a piece of an old low e-string through the left pre-dilled hole in the saddle slot (my guitar has two factory predrilled holes for eventual undersaddle pickup installation). Like this I got a perfect guide for the installation of the bass pickup. Then I glued the other two pickups right next to it. I did go with the direct-to-wood installation. It turned out to be very easy.
K&K also recommended a special mic placement and installing the mic was a snap.
When I first plugged in the system, I thought WOW -- amazing - this sounds terrific!
After playing around for a while I adjusted the dual channel preamp a little bit to perfectly balance mic and pickup.
I get very good volume before feedback but most important I get the tone I always dreamed of.
I recommend this system to any acoustic guitar player, it doesn't get any better than this. A perfect 10!

Pickup features: it has bridgeplate transducers and a mini mic
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Martin 00-18
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: I-Beam
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Fingerstyle, jazz
Reason for pickup change: Had the I-Beam, and it sounded terrible, guitar sounds good, needed the pickup too also

Perceived output level: it is very high output with the preamp, adjustable to whatever your needs are
Tone: Very balanced, as you can adjust the e.q. and dial in the sound, i found it very accurate
Sonic evaluation: i am using a Trace elliot acoustic 50watt and a p.a. system by yamaha. I have a 37 Martin 00-18

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play Jazz and fingerstyle, it is completely suited for this style

Comments: I would definately get another one of these systems, the fact that you get the preamp, cord and pickup system for the price charged, i am blown away, the preamp is so clean that i never use my Rane anymore, very good job k&k

Pickup features: Soundboard (bridgeplate) transducer and internal mic system
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass:
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Fishman under saddle / mic blender system
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Fingerstyle Acoustic
Reason for pickup change: Needed a more natural sound than the Fishman system.

Perceived output level: Very high output from Trinity transducers (you can use them direct w/o a preamp)
Tone: Very well balanced and clear. Reproduces the natural acoustic sound of my guitar
Sonic evaluation: Plugged direct into board with outboard effects (reverb, some chorus).

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments: This is the pickup I've been waiting for. I tried almost everything on the market and for my money, the Trinity system is the best sound and best value available anywhere!

Pickup features: condensor mic and 3 tranducers glued under bridge. Comes with a 2 channel/preamp. Active system, but can be used passive.
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Martin D-15
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Dean Markley ProMag
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): fingerstyle
Reason for pickup change: Wanted a more natural sound.

Perceived output level: Strong output with the preamp. Gain is adjustable for the mic channel and the transducer channel. I have run the tranducers passively and output was acceptable and this can be used easily without the preamp.
Tone: I think the tone is great. No quack. Treble and bass are adjustable on the mic channel and treble, middle and bass are adjustable for the tranducer channel in the preamp. I tweaked the settings for my guitar and I think it sounds like my guitar. It is very natural. I doubt you will be satsified with the sound until you set it up for your guitar and equipment. I cut the bass completely on the mic channel to avoid feedback and reduce boominess. The mic channel adds a nice airiness to the sound.
Sonic evaluation: I run my guitar into PA systems. My system at home is a Ross 100w system and at the club we are running into a Behringer board, Crown amps (1000w)and all the equalization, feedback suppression, etc. you could want. It sounds great on both systems.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play fingerstyle mainly. At the club I play blues, rock and country leads and rhythm. It works well in all situations.

Comments: I have been playing for 34 years. I am very satisfied with this system and highly recommend it. I am really surprised that more pros are not using this system. I was afraid feedback would be a problem with the mic, but it has not been so far (although I am not playing at ultra high volumes either). My only concern about this system is that the preamp gain and tone controls are trim pots inside the preamp. I think it would have been nice to be able to have sliders or knobs available to set these on the fly. There are volume controls for each channel however. In all fairness it does seem to work well to set them and forget them. The equalization can be done on the PA board or on the amp. I chose this product after considering several options. I definitely wanted a two source system with one channel being a condenser mic. I ruled out all the under saddle systems because I hate that sound. I considered systems that used magnetic pickups. However, I really did want anything in the sound hole. Other than installing the jack, the guitar looks unaltered. I think this is a great system and it should be looked at seriously. The one I bought had a slight flaw and was sold on eBay. Slight is the word - almost not noticable. (A tranducer was slightly misshapenned). It is a pricey system so I give it an overall rating of 9, but for the price I got it for I give it a 10.

Pickup features: piezo and microphone blender system
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson J-100
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Duncan Sadducer
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): various
Reason for pickup change: I was looking for something that better represented the tonal character of my guitar.

Perceived output level: Comes with variable gain preamp. Very hot if needed.
Tone: Natural. Depends on what your guitar sounds like.
Sonic evaluation: I was always of the opinion that acoustic pickups were a necessary evil. I play a Gibson jumbo and with the Deuncan Sadducer in it, it sounded OK, but a $200 guitar with the same pickup would have sounded the same. This rig brings out all of the character of the instrument. Nice round lows and low mid, crisp highs and the mic does a great job of filling in the "wood." It really brings out the open tone of the guitar.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: If your guitar fits your style, this pickup will also. Designed for steel stringed guitars.

Comments: I have heard at least a dozen different acoustics through our house. Baggs loaded Martins, Fishman stuff, Taylors, Tacomas just to name a few. I stand on this Trinity as being the most natural sounding of all. It is also one of the most affordable duel source rigs out there.

Pickup features: Combination of 3 passive (under-the-bridge) tranducers, sound hole condensor mic, and two-channel preamp
Impedence or other specs: Refer to http://www.kksound.com for more advanced technical information

Model of guitar or bass: 1954 Martin D-18 Acoutic Guitar
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: L.R. Baggs Piezo Bridge Saddle
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: In my opinion they all should be using this pickup system ---- WOW!
You musical style(s): Jazz, Folk, Country, Pop, Fusion, etc. (most styles)
Reason for pickup change: Wanted something of much higher quality and much more versatility --- And did this thing ever deliver the goods --- Incredible. I would recommend that all premium acoustic guitar manufacturers stop applying such vastly inferior onboard amplification systems on such nicely crafted guitars and contract with K&K sound for their amplification systems.

Perceived output level: Since this trinity system comes with a very nice preamp, which can be used for acheiving a blend of either pickup, or e.q. for either channel output is virtually limitless
Tone: Their preamp allows you to shape the equalization of either pickup. So you can dial in a very sparkly high to very warm tone or anything in between.
Sonic evaluation: This thing works well direct into a board, into any acoustic amp I've tried. I happen to own a Trace Elliot Cube amp, but I've even tried it through various fender guitar and boutique amps, not really suitable for acoustic amplification, and this still replicated the acoustic sound without any problem. Seriously folks, if you don't already have an onboard system in your acoustic guitar, or simply perceive that an improvement could be had, look no further. This is the holy-grail --- the mother of all acoustic pickup systems. I nearly crapped my pants when I heard it. And believe me I've heard plenty of acoustic pickup systems in my day.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: A variety of styles. Obviously not recommended for metal, but just about everything else!

Comments: If it were stolen, I'd buy another one within 5 minutes of finding out it was gone. Unfortunately, my 1954 Martin D-18 would probably be gone right along with it. I've been playing 25 years. My list of guitar gear is too long to mention without boring someone. I compared it to about 70% of the most popular acoustic amplification products reviewed on this HC site. This includes comparisons to Taylor's systems, etc. By the way, their technical support is unreal! My Luthier had a couple of installation questions that were handled promptly and with great technical apptitude, courtesy of K&K sounds technical engineer. I don't hand out 10s very easily. In fact if I could, I would give this thing an 11 --- one louder!