Pickup The World 27

Passive film pickup, connects directly to the endpin socket.

Installed in my 6-string acoustic as the only pickup. NOT an easy install: I took it to a highly experienced technician, who was not pleased to do the job: he told me he's had a lot of trouble installing these satisfactorily ion the past, though he did a great job.

Output level is TINY, though any remotely-mounted preamp will be fine with it. Do NOT believe what PUTW told me, that a preamp has to be fitted close to the pickup to receive a hot enough signal: not true.

Sound is acceptable, no more: very sensitive to any taps or knocks around the bridge area.

I play bluegrass/rock/folk: a bit of a harsh sound, but not too electric-sounding.

All in all, an OK product, but whatever you do, NEVER use one of the PUTW preamps with this though: horrible build quality, lousy sound and thoroughly inconvenient.

As long as you don't use their preamps, it's OK: however it's hard to fit properly and there are easier and nicer pickups around.

Pickup features: Piezo film transducer
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Collings slotted head OOO size
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): country blues, ragtime
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Output level is very low.
Tone: The tone is very lifelike.
Sonic evaluation: First let me say that David Enke,the manufacturer, is honest and helpful to a fault. On the negative side, I've not been able to install it in a position that provides enough output. I get my best results from daisy chaining two preamps. I'm thinking of trying something that provides more than 20 dB of gain, but I'm satisfied with my present main preamp for my other guitars.

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

Comments: It's a lovely sounding pickup, almost completely uncolored. It's "just like my guitar" only not quite loud enough. The output level is whisper like, not enough for my Fishman Pro Eq II to boost enough for an amplifier or PA. Customer service is unbelievably good.
I haven't tried running it through a mic preamp, and that might provide enough gain. If I were sure I could boost the output enough to make it useful I'd rate it much higher.

Pickup features: Soundboard Transducer Pickup
Impedence or other specs: Don't Know but very low output; needs a reasonable good preamp to drive the signal to line level

Model of guitar or bass: Larrivee L09
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: N/A
Other pickups on guitar: Nil
Artists using this pickup: Don't know much about famous players using this
You musical style(s): Fingerstyle solo guitar; strumming
Reason for pickup change: I add his pickup in order to facilitate recording and free movement

Perceived output level: It's passive system, it won't work without preamp, not particularly loud; output level depends on the gain of your preamp.
Tone: Very balanced; I installed it internally underneath the bridge plate and behind the bridge pins, found a good spot to get a clear & balanced tone
Sonic evaluation: I use Ashdown Acoustic Amp and it allows adjustment for input impedence. After hooking it to a LR Baggs Mixpro, the output level is still not sufficient to me when compared to other electric-acoustic that I own. I use a Mixpro since i need something serving as both outboard blender and preamp at the same time so it is compromising choice. So if you wanna maximize the performance, buying the PUTW preamp or Para DI (LR Baggs) might be necessary eventhough it adds to your final bill.
As a fingerpicker, I am satifised with this pickup even though the installation process takes a some time for you to experience and learn. The tone produced is very transparent and truthful to your acoustic qualities of your guitar. So this won't make a loudsy guitar sound good and is practical alternative for recording acoustic parts without a external microphone.
For installation, you can't expect to do it right the first time. Some patience is required. Both Shoreline Acoustic and PUTW have been supporting the owner installation close enough. Without this, I think this process can turn new users away since preparing for the pickups (drilling/enlarging a hole at the endtail block), sticking the strip to the body..etc requires some trial and error process and can be difficult. Working with your bare hands in such confined areas (within a guitar body) is a suffering to players.
Beware of huge feedback if you turn the volume on your amp too high. This is "negative" for using soundboard transducer type of pickup in general rather than unique to PUTW alone.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For fingerstyle players and percussive style, this is good match. I am trying hard to do this but has not been successful.

Comments: I would use PUTW on other guitars if they are for fingerstyle playing. In a live band situation, I would go for under-the-saddle for cheaper guitars and magnetic pickups (e.g. sunrise) for more expensive ones.
There is no "One-size-fits-all" pickups, so you got to experience what works best for you. But in this category, PUTW is a good choice.

Pickup features: Passive
Impedence or other specs: 1 megohm

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

Perceived output level:
Tone:
Sonic evaluation: As the manufacturer of the PUTW pickup in the below review, I feel a need to clarify some things. It seems the original installer did not provide the instructions, extra mounting tape or packaging to the customer, because the reviewer did not know anything about needing fresh adhesive tape for trying new positions, calling us for tech support, or taking us up on our total satisfaction guarantee. The quality of the adhesive bond is critical to the performance of the pickups, and obviously there was very poor adhesion in the case of this review. Placement-wise, there are only two places we recommend for virtually all steel string guitars, and one of them always seems to work quite well.
I wrote the reviewer and offered to supply an extra set of instructions and mounting tape, and I also mentioned our total satisfaction guarantee. I have not heard back, so I'm wondering what's up with this review.

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

Comments:

Pickup features: passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson B25
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Folk, etc.
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Extremely low - except for the body noise from the guitar
Tone: At best - like an Ovation, normally like a cheap electric
Sonic evaluation: Ran it through a Fender Passport PA and tube preamp.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I tried about 7 positions, until it wouldn't stick anymore

Comments: Run, do not walk, away from this pickup. I should have known when the guy at the repair counter paused after I said I wanted this pickup. He did say I might have to move it around. Yes, and I did, because it sounded like crap where it was installed. And then I had to take off the strings and move it around. It sounded crappy everywhere: picking up everything you don't want to hear but not picking up the tone of the instrument. Finally, it stopped sticking from being moved around too much. The better part of an afternoon and $125.00 WASTED.

Pickup features: Passive thin film transducer
Impedence or other specs: Very low output acoustic pickup

Model of guitar or bass: 1992 Taylor 810 dreadnaught
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Fishman saddle ribbon transducer
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): A variety: folk, pop, jazz, rock,...
Reason for pickup change: I didn't like the sound of my prior pickup. It wasn't natural enough sounding. It was too electric sounding.

Perceived output level: The output level is very low, but very natural
Tone: When set up properly, it's fairly balanced, maybe a little middy
Sonic evaluation: I purchased this pickup (PUTW #27) after considering a number of other prominent pickups and doing quite a bit of research. I checked numerous other user experiences on this forum as well as newsgroups.
I use this directly into a PA or monitor speaker or both. When set up properly, this pickup produces a very natural acoustic sound, like a microphone. Although my setup had a bit of mid-range boost in the output, I could easily EQ it to get rid of that effect.
It is true that the output is very low and you need a good preamp to boost the signal. Pick-Up-The-World is very up-front about that. If you call them, they help you set up and are very friendly. I also use the L.R.Baggs Para Acoustic DI, as recommended by PUTW. I have to set the levels on this box a bit high, but it works great. The box also does DI to XLR and has an effects loop.
A reviewer below really criticized the sound quality of the PUTW #27 pickup. I would submit that they did not take the time to find the "sweet spot" for the pickup in their guitar. PUTW suggests a couple of different locations, but emphasizes that you need to experiment to find the spot that works best with your guitar since each guitar's vibration characteristics are a little different. I moved the location of my pickup a couple of times before I found a spot I really liked. It is true that you need to buy a pre-amp, but this is true of any passive pickup. For the quality you can get with the PUTW pickups, the cost is comparable to other similar products when you consider the entire package.
BTW, this really is like a microphone. So if you bump your hand on the guitar body, or it sqeaks against the leather of your belt, you'll hear it! :-)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: You asked me this already. A variety: folk, pop, jazz, rock,...

Comments: I would recommend the PUTW pickups for any appropriate acoustic instrument. If I had to put in a new pickup, I'd likely get another PUTW.

Pickup features: space age film
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: goodall
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: output is fine when used with a preamp, but I have heard other piezo pickups that were hotter.
Tone: clear, transparent
Sonic evaluation: goodall traditional with aer acousticube. sounds very much like a microphone

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

Comments: I reviewed this pickup previously and replaced an older #27 with the new and improved model. The good news is that the brass tab is gone and the whole pickup is covered in a thin kevlar scrim. Installation was completely simple as opposed to the older model, taking about ten minutes. Zero problems with adhesion to the bridge plate. No issues with hyper resonance. For a completely natural acoustic sound it is hard to beat

Pickup features: "space-age film"
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Taylor 614C
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Fishman Acoustic Matrix
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Acoustic Fingerstyle, and some Chet-influenced stuff
Reason for pickup change: Existing Fishman system sounded bad.

Perceived output level: Almost non-existent. High-quality pre-amp and cable are REQUIRED.
Tone: Like my guitar was wrapped in a blanket, being played inside a cardboard box
Sonic evaluation: Carvin AG-100, Baggs Para-Acoustic DI.

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

Comments: This pickup sounded like crap in my guitar. It was awful. It sounded like I was inside a refrigerator box, playing my guitar (which was wrapped in a blanket) into the built-in mic on a $15 cassette recorder.
To the company's credit, they bought back the pickup, so I didn't lose any money; but I wasted *countless* hours futzing with placement and installation issues; on the phone with David Enke; etc. They really tried hard, and did their best to make it right in the end; but if I had just bought a B-Band in the first place, I could have spent that time playing my guitar instead of messing with it.
For those who are considering a PUTW, please read the following. Even if the PUTW is tonally well-suited to your guitar, you need to be aware that it is a bear to install, for two reasons:
1. Placement. Being a soundboard transducer, the placement is critical. The only way to test a placement is to detune, reach inside the guitar, get the sensor properly installed in a new spot (see #2), retune, and test. After a few cycles of this, the strings are trashed, changing the tone. Replace strings, go back to step 1.
2. Installation. The big fat brass thing (BFBT) where the wire comes out of the pickup must be stuck down tighter than Britney's hot pants; even the slightest gap will result in horribly low output & feedback. This is complicated by the facts that (a) the BFBT is not flat on the side that meets the guitar; (b) the wire exerts weight and tension which pulls on the BFBT; and (c) the supplied machinists' tape IMHO doesn't stick to raw wood for crap. I had very low confidence that the pickup would remain in place over time.
Even properly installed, a PUTW is completely useless without a high quality external pre-amp such as a Baggs PADI. This will add at least $100-150 to the price of the pickup. The pre-amp quality is critical, though, because it's hard to get a good Signal to Noise ratio when there's almost no Signal, and YOU NEED TO ADD AT LEAST 50dB OF GAIN to get a useable output level. A cheap, noisy pre-amp will just make things worse.
As other reviewers mentioned, the PUTW picks up a LOT of body and handling noise -- which sounds even harsher due to the high amount of amplification needed.
I think that this product is just not ready for prime time. It's a good idea, and it obviously works for some people. But the installation and placement issues make it much harder to deal with than, say, a B-Band or Baggs system. It's a crap shoot, really. I think there are better pickups out there for the same money.

Pickup features:
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: goodall: traditional rosewood D&mahoganyGC
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): flatpick/jazz
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: normal output when installed properly
Tone: balanced&clear;similar to a microphone
Sonic evaluation: aer acousticube. The combination of this amp with this pickup sounds like I'm playing through a nice PA with a condenser mic. The tone is very close to the natural tone of the guitars I use. The amp actually has a mic input so it has been easy to compare tonal quality between the pickup and an AKG condenser mic. The pickup can provide much higher volume without feeding back, although the pickup lacks a little in true acoustic tonality when compared directly with the mic. Also, although PUTW recommends a preamp, the output is actually adequate without one (and this is using the NON-preamped channel on the aer).

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup works very nicely if one is looking for true acoustic tone. I am not sure how well it would work in a loud electric band doing club dates.

Comments: There are a few caveats. Correct installation is essential. If the brass part of the pickup is at all loose, there will be feedback, decreased output and/or heavy emphasis on midrange.Also, these pickups are delicate. They can be moved and re-installed, but care must be observed to avoid fracturing the copper tape or seperation of the brass tab from the tape filament(this can cause a ground hum). Fortunately for me, PUTW has,without question, the BEST customer service of any company I have ever dealt with, period. I am convinced that David Enke and his crew are primarily interested in making sure their customers get the best and most relable sound possible. They have been painstakingly patient with problem solving and answering questions.

Pickup features:
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Selmer style guitar
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level:
Tone:
Sonic evaluation: Earlier I posted a review of this pick up where I pretty much dumped on it. To my surprise, David, with Pick-Up-the World, wrote to me offering to help me make it sound better. In all fairness to the company, this pickup might sound great on a different gutar. This is a Selmer style guitar, which for those of you who might not know, is a copy of the oval hole model that Django Rheinhardt played. These guitars are notoriously difficult to amplify. I've worked with and have it sounding better, but still not great. However, I'm very impressed with David's follow up and sincerity on trying to help me. Don't not buy one because of my review. Unless, of course, you have a Selmer style guitar.

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

Comments: