K&K Twin Spot Pickups?

[halfamind]

Howdy, all...

It's time to start looking for pickup options for my Rover RM75... I'm seriously thinking about the K&K Twin Spot (http://www.kksound.com/twinspotinternal.html), mostly based on price and the recommendation of bass guru Bob Gollihur (I'm primarily a bassist).

Does anyone have any experience with the K&K gear, or any other pickup recommendations for less than $150?

unfortunately, money is an issue.

Thanks!

[Strange1]

Hey 1/2 I have one of those pickups and seems to work really well. Just wish it had a volume control on it but I use it with a little belt held preamp and all goes well. I have it on an MM7. Good luck to you.

Jack

[dan@kins]

I like the K and K pure western mini for acoustic guitar.

I've used the K and K b@%$#%jer pick up as well.

I can't comment on the mandolin pick up but wanted to say the other pick up sthey make are good quality for the $$$.

[mando bandage]

Love my K & K. Came on the recommendation of a custom guitarmaker who said it's the only brand he recommends to his customers. Thoroughly satisfied.

R

[halfamind]

Thanks everyone! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[dr.jazz]

K&K seem to be one of the better P/U systems I've ever used.
Even without the ubiquitous Para-DI they sound pretty darned good.
The Para-DI is definitely worth the extra bucks, though.

[mando_toss_flycoon]

I have a K&K Twin Spot that I used for a while. It sounded very, very good, but I didn't care for the hassle of adhering and removing the pickup multiple times. (I didn't want to leave it permanently on the mandolin.) I think an internal mount would be the best way to go with this pickup, but I know that's not always an easy solution.

Doghouse players: Give the K&K Bass Max a try. I replaced my old Fishman with a Bass Max and haven't looked back.

[halfamind]

I went with the internal, and just finished installing them... a lot of held-breath with that 1/2" bit slowly carving through my baby! The installation was fairly easy... especially once I figured out that using a bit of the supplied adhesive on my pinkie tip made it a cakewalk to go in through the f-hole and place the transducers.

They sound GREAT DI'd into my Mackie Onyx board's preamps!

As for the Para-DI... I am, once again, the luckiest man alive... one of my band's guitarists just bought a spankin' new Fishman Aura, and at it's debut Wednesday, he said "Levi, you wanna use my L.R. Baggs for your mando?"

"ummmm YES!!!"

I'm heading over to the rehearsal studio to grab it as soon as I finish this post.

woohoo!!!!!!

[Strange1]

Hey 1/2 if you haven't purch yet look at K&K Sound outlet store site. the pickup I have is on there at 52.00 Seems I gave in the 80's for mine..

Jack

[halfamind]

Thanks Strange, but I already got it for $57.50, new, from an ebay reseller.

[mandofire1980]

Anyone have tips on installing one of these twins internally on a weber absaroka?Do i need to drill through the tailpiece???any help is greatly appreciated!!

[mandroid]

You take the tailpiece off , first.
Stewart MacDonald has the tools to do it right. look at their website.

[Palomorado]

i have the Big Twin on my F5. it's great.
i tried a few and decided on the big twin. it's designed for piano, harps, and double bass but seemed to give me the low-end i wanted.

now if i could only mount it internally!!!

[seththedude]

What are the differences between the Twin Classic and the Mandolin Twin? They both appear to have High ohm response. Has anyone had experience with both that can comment on the Mandolin Twin improved ability for mandolin? If not, I might purchase the Classic and put the money saved toward a professional installation.

[alespa]

Can anyone tell me if the K&K is a better solution for a Mid-Mo M1 than a McIntyre Acoustic Feather? I don't want to stick anything on the outside, and would rather go internal if anything at all. From what I can tell, these are two different types of pickups.

I may try using a Shure 58 mic this weeendk and see if that works well enough to hold off spending more dough.

Hey 1/2 . . . what did you use to ream/widen the hole?

[hellindc]

I'm also thinking about putting a McIntyre Acoustic Feather in my F (Alvarez A-900 made in the 1980s). Someone recommended getting a volume petal. Comments? Advice? Thanks.

[halfamind]

Hey 1/2 . . . what did you use to ream/widen the hole?
a new (and very sharp) standard twist bit, with a good variable speed drill, very, VERY slowly... basically carving it out...

Unless you have a serious mastery of that instrument, though http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif you really shouldn't attempt it. I would definitley recomend the stew-mac hand reamer.

[alespa]

Unless I'm looking at the wrong thing, Stew-Mac has an Endpin Jack Reamer for $ 61.96 . . . I think I'll pay the store $8 to do it.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[halfamind]

Eight bucks is definitely better! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[jeffvog]

I had Carl McIntyre install one of his acoustic feathers on my F a couple years ago, and he recomended & I opted to drill a hole in the side, a few inches from the tailpiece, under the idea that if I had the jack run thru the tailpiece, I'd have to unsolder if I ever wanted to remove or replace the tailpiece. Archtop guitar pickups in sides are done thisway. Made sense to me, and works fine-- drilling into the side next to the endblock is not flimsy at all as you might imagine, and has worked for several years. The feather is a great pickup, though maybe not as hot as k&ks.

[jeffvog]

I had Carl McIntyre install one of his acoustic feathers on my F a couple years ago, and he recomended & I opted to drill a hole in the side, a few inches from the tailpiece, under the idea that if I had the jack run thru the tailpiece, I'd have to unsolder if I ever wanted to remove or replace the tailpiece. Archtop guitar pickups in sides are done thisway. Made sense to me, and works fine-- drilling into the side next to the endblock is not flimsy at all as you might imagine, and has worked for several years. The feather is a great pickup, though maybe not as hot as k&ks.

[alespa]

Okay, I think I'm losing my mind!!! #When I said $8, I was thinking of having my strap button put on the heel of my Mid-Mo . . . the local store charges $45 to install a pickup through the tailpiece, which is still cheaper than buying the endpin jack reamer, and gives me peace of mind, since these guys make various stringed instruments onsite.

Okay, I think I'm back on track now . . .