Ok I know that a lot of people think this is taboo. Especially for bluegrass. So lets say a friend of mine with a Collings D1-German wanted his guitar to sound natural and live what kind of pick up would he install???

Well I know that alot of the members like the K&K. I never heard of it until joining the forum, but after reading all the positive feedback I am certainly inclined to seriously consider one on my next guitar.

K&K, without hesitation. I've tried sunrise, fishman, baggs, piezo, soundhole, mini mic, 9 volt, at least a dozen types- probably more. the K&K is cheaper, cleaner, truer to the tone of the guitar it's in, is passive yet has the juice to go straight to the board without boost. And...... I've talked to Dieter, the K in K and K, and he'd developed a tube preamp that he says makes the guitar sound like it's being played through a Neumann or Sennheiser. Not cheap. Five bills or better. But the pickup is great as is. Barring further invention, I won't be looking elsewhere. tom

quote:

I've talked to Dieter, the K in K and K, and he'd developed a tube preamp that he says makes the guitar sound like it's being played through a Neumann or Sennheiser. Not cheap.

Sonoman I have a Takamine Hirade TH8SS that has the CoolTube pickup system installed from the factory and the amplified sound is absolutely amazing. The best amplified sound i've ever heard.

Thanks guys. I have an E-mail in to the company, and I"m waiting to hear back for them. Thenks for all of your help.
Adam

they also have a toll free number. it's on their website. tom

Another vote for K&K. Simply sounds like the guitar - which is the point.

I have to put in my two cents for the 'Pick Up The World' dual source setup. I prefer it to the K&K.
The version I have has the two polymer strips (similiar to the K&K system) but also has a very thin undersaddle pickup (optional) as well - you have to be comfortable with that part. If it was between the PUTW without the under saddle, and the K&K, I'd take the K&K.
Tom

I have had very good success and sound with the LR Baggs active I-Beam pickups used with a LR Baggs Para-Acoustic DI.

What I like about them is that they mount to the bridge plate rather than under the saddle.

I have heard the K&K and use one for my upright bass, but I don't think their guitar pickups sound any better than the I-Beam. My opinion and yours may be different.

I don't know if other pickups offer the option of a Ebony end pin that looks like the one that originally come on your guitar, but I know K&K offers one, and that is appealing to me.

An asterisk to all of this: if you're playing a band at a large venue with high volume, then a lot of the subtleties that K&K and other highly accurate, acoustic sounding pickups are lost. At that point, piezo or sound hole solutions might work better. Who can tell? The Eagles play Takamines for crying out loud, and they sound great in that application. Solo or low volume acoustic? I've have yet to hear any under saddle pickup sound anything at all like the guitar it's in. Same with sound hole specials, like Sunrise or Baggs M1. They sound very good, and just exactly like themselves. So, I think a lot of this discussion is aimed at small venue low volume use. That's what I use 'em for. My rock star fell out of the sky thirty years ago. tom

I'm using a Schertler Bluestick in my D1A. With the stock bone saddle it sounded pretty good, and acoustic sounded still the same. After replacing the saddle with fossil ivory the pickup tone was much more natural. The Bluestick is about the best alternative if you're working in a loud stage enviro, amazing gain before feedback. I run an open mic and have heard'em all. Unfortunately it requires a hole drilled through the top. Close your eyes and let the doctor do it! The best tone I've heard is the B Band. Anybody here use these?