K and K Pure Mini Pickup and Preamp Demo

[@JTroskaTV]

Wow that preamp and your settings make a world of difference. I honestly had never understood the appeal of the K&K pickup (based on KZbin demos). It always sounded like listening to a guitar in another room through a closed door, to me. But the way you dialed it in sounds great.

[@TaylorSchlupp]

@@JTroskaTV thanks! 3 years later and about 550 shows later, I haven't touched the settings.

[@TaylorSchlupp]

@@JTroskaTV oh I'm sorry I thought this was my other K and K video with my Martin and my 10 band eq. I've been using that setup for 3.5 years now.

[@Purple_Pixel]

This pickup literally sounds 100% better with a very high impedance (input) preamp and some EQ. I would go so far as to say that a preamp is mandatory for any passive pickup like this.

[@keithsmith1123]

I just added a k&k pure to my Blueridge 000. Decent on its own through a Fender acousasonic-30. But when ran through the valeton gp-100 processor it's a dream. I00% love it!

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Hey Keith, how much did your K&K Pure Mini pickup cost? Because in this video from 3 yrs ago, this fella says it was "only $99"..........but recently, I've been seeing them priced at $255. That's a heck of a price jump. ??????????????????

[@honkeytonkjohnnygumbo1137]

What settings do you use?

[@keithsmith1123]

@honkeytonkjohnnygumbo1137 Ga-type which is p95 is my favorite. But the om-type and j-type also sound good.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

I needed to come back on here to correct myself: the prices I've seen for the K&K Pure Mini were from music stores featuring acoustic guitars with the option of PAYING TO HAVE THE SYSTEM PRE-INSTALLED FOR $255. So their labor cost is even more than this amazing system itself. The K&K is indeed $100. I've studied several of the better videos on how to install them myself, and this will definitely be the route I take. The mounting jig they provide makes installation nearly fool-proof, so long as a person is skilled with their hands & takes their time to do the job carefully & follow the instructions.

[@martinspreiter8240]

Wow what a sound. It is the sound out of your fingers. I love it!!!

[@sboy1955]

Good job on this demo! I run the Pure Mini on a D18 straight into a Mackie ProFx mixer, works great. The mixer allows for high Z input (with gain, FXs, and compression) into 3 band EQ with a parametric EQ mid adjustment. Seems to me I have to do a big cut around 500hz, but it’s a sweet set up.

[@saddleroadband]

I ditched the LR Baggs in my Hummingbird and installed a K&K Pure mini with this pre amp and it sounds way better now.

[@markconn3781]

Love the sound of your K & K pickups

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Thanks buddy 😎

[@davidhowse4537]

Good stuff Taylor, will be installing a K&K Pure Mini this week in my Alvarez that the onboard preamp no longer works . Will definately be adding the Pure Preamp as well. Great soundand style. Take care, stay safe.

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Thanks David, hope you enjoy it!

[@jasper_north]

You play so good! I just bought a D18. Guess I can’t go wrong with a KKmini for playing in small clubs? Do you recommend a pre-amp?

[@wallfishmusic8063]

I prefer the tone without the preamp. Sounds amazing actually. Bought one for my 000 and plan to replace my Anthem in my D-18.

[@Majnun74]

Great video! I didn’t understand the necessity of the preamp in other videos.

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Thanks! Yeah it's become a necessity for me

[@picker63028]

I use a JJB similar style pickup and a Fishman Aura Spectrum for preamp. Can't beat the sound. Works great.

[@raulands]

Thanks for the video. What I like the most of the K&K is that it's the least invasive pickup. But even though the sound with the preamp is very good, I still find there is still something lacking in the sound I've heard not only from this video but also from other demos on KZbin. Even though, as it's the least invasive, I'm planning in getting one and will try to improve it with one of the IR pedals out there, maybe the Nus Optima.

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Thats why I love it. Doesnt take up much space at all. It sounds very natural to me. Go check out my video on how I eq it. Maybe that will help.

[@Edward_Hazebroek]

That sounds awesome! I do own the Eastman E1SS-LTD-CLA. Did you replace the pick up system, or wasn’t there one in your guitar?

[@TaylorSchlupp]

These ones don't come with one. I had the k and k installed.

[@Edward_Hazebroek]

Ok, thanks!

[@TaylorSchlupp]

@@Edward_Hazebroek no problem!

[@sboy1955]

Thanks for the demo 👍🏽

[@darrylday30]

Great playing!

[@TaylorSchlupp]

@@darrylday30 thanks!

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Man I sure appreciate your video, everything sounds really good to me. I have been trying to decide between going with this set up, or the Baggs Hifi. Trying to balance which would sound the best and feedback the least lol.

[@jayman1338]

Yeah it’s a huge difference

[@robertahli3738]

It sounds soo awesome..i am going for it

[@TaylorSchlupp]

You'll love it!

[@geamax1]

Go Eastman

[@fgoindarkg]

Sounds crisp.

[@blufordbirdsong1834]

hi great video. Just wonderring is this still your main pickup and guitar?

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Same pickup but I use my Martin d28 for everything mostly. Still have this guitar though

[@johnsugden1073]

I use K and K in one of my guitars and it’s great but probably should have got the pre amp….I use a Mackie mixer / zoom ac2 which I guess does a good job. So many options

[@TaylorSchlupp]

The preamp balances everything out. Hard to get the same quality of sound without it honestly

[@dw1208]

Hi, How are you getting that warm airy electric sounding tone. I am new to this and just installed a K&k mini and playing it straight into a Bose s1 pro speaker and the sound is nothing like What you are getting. What am I missing.thanks

[@charliewelch328]

Looking at getting KK pure mini. That sounded great going thru your Mixer. What Yamaha mixer do you have. I have two QSC K10 powered speakers and looking for a mixer.

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Yamaha MG10xu

[@charliewelch328]

@@TaylorSchlupp thank you

[@brianrollins7275]

Thanks for doing this review, good job. Nice guitar and tasteful playing as well. Sounds great to my ears. I have the pickup and I like it but I do have to crank my amp quite a bit. Sounds like this preamp is the way to go. I was stuck for a while between this setup and the lr bags m80. I do love the sound of the k&k in my all solid mahogany guitar but I’m curious what the lr bags m80 would sound like. Do you have any experience with lr bags and if so what are your thoughts?

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Hey Brian, I have a new video coming out on Saturday about how I'm running my acoustic rig now. I switched to the Baggs units for a few weeks. Nothing compared to the K and K and what you can do with it with EQ. I tried every Baggs pickup. They are great, but if you don't always have control over your sound they can be a hassle. Also, the first one I tried was an Anthem SL and it was defective. Something that a lot of members in forums have said they had issues with. The K&K is very natural sounding and it's very equal in terms of volume on every string. That is not something that I could achieve with any of the baggs units. The final Factor why I did away with all of those units, was the fact that they have so much stuff to them and take up so much real estate inside of your guitar that when I would play unplugged, I noticed the change in the tone. Stay tuned for the new video. I think you'll like it. Thanks for watching!

[@brianrollins7275]

@@TaylorSchlupp Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it. So it sounds like I made the right choice with k&k. I don’t like the look of soundhole pickups and the baggs anthem takes up a lot of room in the guitar which is not ideal either. Same as you, I don’t want to lose the sound of my guitar when it’s unplugged and the k&k didn’t change that for me at least. Had my luthier drill the hole for the jack and I installed the transducers and I am happy with the outcome. Thanks for confirming that baggs are not the best or better than k&k. Now I can stop wondering if I made the right choice and just enjoy what I have. Still on the fence about the preamp as I don’t gig or anything. Just have always loved the guitar and have been playing at home for many years. But I still want the best sound possible from my gear. I’ve heard of some people using a boss ge-7 eq with the k&k so I might hook mine up and see what happens. Not sure if they are using just the boss or a preamp too. Would you suggest buying the preamp for a home player like me? If so which one? The k&k pure preamp or the xlr? Thanks again for your input and I look forward to watching your new video.

[@TaylorSchlupp]

That's another thing, with a sound hole pickup you can't use a feedback buster. At least it makes it a little more difficult too. I'm always having to use one in my acoustic shows. In the new video I talked about how I started using an mxr 10 band eq, and it completely changed everything. I still plug the guitar into the K&K Pure preamp but I leave everything flat on it and EQ with the mxr

[@jeffhilliardmusic1767]

Brian, I would honestly suggest using the m80 on passive, using a soul food type pedal with the m80 (crank the volume all the way up and drive all the way down), and using the k and k with a separate input jack. You can run each one into different channels. And you get the best of both worlds. Got that great magnetic pickup sound with the k and k body sound aaand you can control the volume on each. Did this on my D18 except I’m using a DiMarzio black angel with the k and k

[@byteflight651]

Can i used for harps? thanks

[@honkeytonkjohnnygumbo1137]

I have the pur mini in a blueridge. The guitar sounds great just acoustic. But straight to pa sounds harsh . Tried behringer acoustic pedal, di, sonic cake acoustic pedal, no luck. Just ordered k&k preamp. We shall see.

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Could be an issue of how it was installed. Also the preamp really helps even things out.

[@victorcordova5719]

Hi Taylor dou you think like me that the k&k sometimes sounds like a ust or quack.. I feel a bit of this in your video

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Yes I kind of get that vibe

[@victorcordova5719]

@@TaylorSchlupp maybe a bad installation ?

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Oh no, not in this instance. I've felt that way with the one installed in my j45. It's just a matter of EQing that out

[@TempoDrift1480]

Ah man, I wanted to sing Lola!

[@aleonyohan6745]

What are you using for a reverb?

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Digital reverb in Cakewalk

[@aleonyohan6745]

@@TaylorSchlupp sweet that's the same d a w I use.

[@My3_iCKyCCTBO]

Besides the volume, does it really improve the sound?

[@TaylorSchlupp]

The preamp?

[@boodanobbs8409]

Sounds great

[@paulloveridge8619]

Hi Taylor, does this feedback at high volume. I play in an acoustic trio in pubs and bars. I will be using a boss GE-7 Eq pedal?

[@TaylorSchlupp]

I use this combination into an MXR eq and haven't had a feedback issue yet. I play at pretty loud volumes through my EV evolve 50s but I also use a feedback suppressor in the soundhole. Check out my other video on the preamp. I use my EQ pedal in that video show how I get my acoustic to sound pretty natural in a live setting, without feedback. It's all in the EQ pedal. I don't EQ it on my mixer or on the preamp. 😎

[@jonathangill6678]

Thanks for this video. I have been wanting to get a K&K Pure mini for awhile. The only thing that has stopped me is no volume control on the guitar. I like to constantly play with my volume levels. I have thought about getting this pickup system and trying a volume pedal, but I am thinking that it would need to go in the chain after the preamp? Have you tried putting any pedals before or after the preamp? any signal loss?

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Check out my other video on the K and K with an EQ pedal. A volume pedal should work well after every before you hit a mixer

[@TaylorSchlupp]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gabUZ4qbZ7WtiKs

[@merickel1]

Do you cut the mids at all? My d28 is getting a k&k next week. I currently play a Taylor 814ce. Really not a fan of the es system. I run a bbe acoustimax which cleans it up a lot, but not enough. Way to much quack out of es system.

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Yes watch through the vid. I show my EQ settings and how to get rid of that.

[@handrm]

Helpful video; thanks.

[@SergeUnplugged]

lovely sound and great string buzz indeed!

[@My3_iCKyCCTBO]

Please write. Is it worth spending money on a preamp or is K&K Sound Pure Mini enough?

[@TaylorSchlupp]

The preamp evens out the sound between all of the strings. The pickup on its own can be a little weird dynamically. Definitely go for the preamp if you have the extra money.

[@My3_iCKyCCTBO]

@@TaylorSchlupp Understood. Thanks!

[@jalimansaharunakuyateh1932]

Its sounds great

[@TaylorSchlupp]

Thanks!

[@masonkanterbury3007]

L-O-L-A!!!!!