Archtop Pickup - K&K Pure Archtop or Pick up the World?

**Norman931** · 12-25-2011, 07:05 PM

I want to put a pickup in my Eastman 810, and I really don't want a magnetic PU. I like not having a pickguard, and I want to continue using bronze strings. So, I've been looking at the K&K and the PUTW pickups, and I'd like to get some comments from the folks who have used these. My main concern is to avoid the quacky sound that you sometimes hear with piezo pickups. I like the idea of the K&K, but I'm leary of super-gluing anything to the soundboard of my rather expensive guitar. Any thoughts?

**kamlapati** · 12-25-2011, 09:47 PM

I like both, although I wouldn't say they were a replacement for a good mic, more like they're a way to amplify with minimum fuss.

I used to have a PUTW on a '46 Epi Blackstone (Now in residence with my daughter.) I never noticed any piezo quack. and in open mics with fast setup and innocent soundman it sounded pretty realistic.

I have a K&K Pure Archtop on my Trenier Magnolia. It's still pretty new and I haven't played it out yet, Through my PA I don't hear any piezo quack, but it does have some weird resonance, and it feeds back at pretty low volume. EQ will be required. I still have mine stuck on with a temporary putty, not super glue.

Wish I could say more, but these things take a long time to evaluate. Be prepared to experiment and be patient.

**RayC** · 12-25-2011, 10:35 PM

I have the K&K Pure Archtop on my mid-30's Kalamazoo KG-31. I run it through a Fender Acoustasonic Junior. I think it sounds pretty natural, the sound isn't colored much IMO. Be prepared for it to sound pretty much like your guitar. If you want a different sound you can add another PU later (floating or otherwise). I glued the transducers in per the instructions and it runs out of the guitar via an end pin from Tapastring (1/8" jack), no soldering involved. I'm pretty happy with it. It can feed back, but I don't have this problem much with my Fender. When I played through a borrowed amp it was hard to tune that out. I don't have a pre-amp so the Fender's EQ is dealing with the feed back so far.

The people at K&K are nice on the phone too.

Ray

**calgarc** · 12-26-2011, 04:32 AM

have you ever thought of retro fitting a pro mag onto your guitar... sounds like an interesting idea

**oldane** · 12-26-2011, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by calgarc

have you ever thought of retro fitting a pro mag onto your guitar... sounds like an interesting idea

1) The OP don't want a magnetic PU.

2) The Promag is for mounting in a round flattop soundhole, not on an archtop.

**calgarc** · 12-26-2011, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by oldane

1) The OP don't want a magnetic PU.

2) The Promag is for mounting in a round flattop soundhole, not on an archtop.

thats why i said "retro fitting" modding the piciup to fit.

**BenThayer** · 12-26-2011, 02:55 PM

I've used PUTW in my '77 Martin HD-28 (12 or so years) and on my stand-up bass (2 years). I love 'em. They sound just like the un-amped instruments, only louder. Have only run them thru SS amps, never tubes. Interstingly, the Martin's transducer was installed w/ a dab of Scotch tape, as recommended by PUTW.

BTW, PUTW is pretty much a one-man show. When you call, he answers the phone and has lots of advice regarding placement and so on. Also, I recommend you get his little pre-amp. Then you can unplug w/o the soundman's attention and tweak your volume away from the amp.

No experience w/ K&K. Good luck!

Ben

**oldane** · 12-26-2011, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by calgarc

thats why i said "retro fitting" modding the piciup to fit.

Then a floating PU attached to a pickguard would be a more obvious solution on an archtop. But still, the OP don't want a magnetic PU.

**SamBooka** · 12-26-2011, 04:11 PM

I think what Calgarc is trying to say without saying it is that:

I think the OP doesnt want a mag pu because he wants to stay with bronze strings.If that is the ONLY reason the OP doesnt want to use a mag pu, maybe the OP doesnt realise that there are mag pu's voiced specifically for bronze strings. Bronze and magnetic PUs are not mutally exclusive.

I have used a ProMag on my acoustic for going on 20 years and prefer that to the piezo/under the saddle PUs. I have even tried it with nickle strings.. after a day I cut them off and went back to 80/20s.

**Norman931** · 12-26-2011, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

I think what Calgarc is trying to say without saying it is that:

I think the OP doesnt want a mag pu because he wants to stay with bronze strings.If that is the ONLY reason the OP doesnt want to use a mag pu, maybe the OP doesnt realise that there are mag pu's voiced specifically for bronze strings. Bronze and magnetic PUs are not mutally exclusive.

I have used a ProMag on my acoustic for going on 20 years and prefer that to the piezo/under the saddle PUs. I have even tried it with nickle strings.. after a day I cut them off and went back to 80/20s.

Well, I'd rather not try to put a Dean Markley soundhole pickup on my archtop!

But seriously, are there any magnetic pickups voiced for bronze strings that aren't designed to mount in the soundhole of a flattop guitar?

**calgarc** · 12-26-2011, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by Norman931

Well, I'd rather not try to put a Dean Markley soundhole pickup on my archtop!

But seriously, are there any magnetic pickups voiced for bronze strings that aren't designed to mount in the soundhole of a flattop guitar?

oooh looks like something to google

(my inner nerd kicking in)

**Norman931** · 12-26-2011, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by calgarc

oooh looks like something to google

(my inner nerd kicking in)

I've been googling as well. Let me know if you find something. Thanks for the replies! I'm leaning toward the PUTW at present. For those who have it, are there any installation issues I should be aware of? I plan to do the work myself.

**kamlapati** · 12-27-2011, 12:29 AM

The PUTW is the easiest to install, and the easiest to reverse. Loosen the strings, slip under bridge, done. Are you going to wire the endpin jack?

**Norman931** · 12-27-2011, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by kamlapati

The PUTW is the easiest to install, and the easiest to reverse. Loosen the strings, slip under bridge, done. Are you going to wire the endpin jack?

Yes. I'm a little nervous about the endpin jack. I've installed several in flattops, but never in an archtop. Pretty sure I can handle it, though.

**billymac** · 02-28-2013, 02:57 PM

would be nice if someone made a pickup shaped like an f hole. adjustable length with tone and volume thumbwheel pots. get two for stereo!

**Spook410** · 02-28-2013, 03:32 PM

K&K's are pretty popular in the flat top world. Someone posted a sound byte of an archtop model here awhile back and it sounded quite good.

I'm always fighting this with flat tops. Nothing is perfect. I do wish someone would come up with a mag pickup made to mount on a pickguard to run bronze strings. Pickguards are very easy to put on and take off.

**Geert** · 02-28-2013, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Spook410

K&K's are pretty popular in the flat top world. Someone posted a sound byte of an archtop model here awhile back and it sounded quite good.

I'm always fighting this with flat tops. Nothing is perfect. I do wish someone would come up with a mag pickup made to mount on a pickguard to run bronze strings. Pickguards are very easy to put on and take off.

Perhaps you are referring to my thread about the K&K pure arch top I used to have installed in my The Loar Lh-600 which is locate here: https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...e-archtop.html

G