Avalon Acoustic Guitars

by **dale warner** » 11 Jan 2009, 14:18

Hi
It's come time for me to think seriously about what pickup to put in my L325 guitar for live work. I fingerpick, no strums and I've quite a light touch. I don't want to modify my Avalon in any way other than taking out the wooden strap button. What would A) forum members and b) Avalon staff recommend?
Thanks in anticipation,
Dale

by **Ross A** » 11 Jan 2009, 14:32

I don't think there is a definitive answer to this question, but I would recommend the K&K pure pickup. It's a transducer pickup that you attach to the underside of the soundboard. It's a bit tricky to fit, but sounds great. It has no preamp, but still has quite a high output. Also it's not too expensive.

by **Ross A** » 11 Jan 2009, 21:55

the greypicker wrote:What Ross said!

I have the same in my Eclipse, but I have a little K+K pre-amp between the guitar and the AER Compact 60. It floats my boat!

John

I've recently bought the K&K XLR Preamp, which is very nice indeed. Sounds ace, and is so much easier to use than the preamp that comes with the Trinity setup.

by **Loki** » 11 Jan 2009, 23:19

+1 on the K&K
There is one of the little Pure Westerns here that usually just goes straight in to an AER60; sounds good.

One of the Avalons had one of the Headway split bridge under saddle pick ups in it, and while the amplified sound was good it wasn't a purely stage instrument, and the detriment to the purely acoustic sound of a truly lovely instrument resulted in its removal.

So, on both sound and cost, for me that k&k takes it.

fwiw ymmv etc. Good luck.

( if one were needed a Hartke Acoustic Attack would go between guitar and amp, but hasn't been yet )

by **dale warner** » 12 Jan 2009, 21:16

Many thanks for the replies so far. The K&K was a choice I had already considered. What do people think of the Fishman blend or the rare earth?
Might I ask JB's and Steve's opinions?
Thanks again for the help,
Dale
PS
I started this reply, went to check out my Avalon to have a look at the end block, gave it a picking with some traditional Welsh dances and some Martin Simpson tunes and found I'd been gone 45 minutes.

by **adhamh** » 15 Jan 2009, 18:54

Hi Dale,

I have the Fishman Blend installed in my Avalon Rio and my Avalon Bevel model. I have to say I love it. It has no graphic equaliser, so its up to the sound man to sort that out. But I think it really does a great job of amplifying the natural sound of the guitar, without distorting it, especially with a nice amount of internal mic. BEAUTIFUL.

Hope that helps.

Adhamh

by **Walesy** » 15 Jan 2009, 19:31

I have the rare earth in my Fylde Alexander and i'm considering changing it for something else, its not terrible but I dont feel that it does the guitar justice!

i've been thinking about a K&K too.

by **dale warner** » 16 Jan 2009, 00:12

Thanks for your adds to the topic, very helpful. A Rio and a Bevel, Adhamh - you lucky, lucky person. I'll not make up my mind yet but the K&K looks to be the probable solution for me.
Cheers
Dale

by **chris c** » 16 Jan 2009, 10:34

I have a Fishman Ellipse blend in my L32-12 string and I like it very much. Very natural sound thanks to the transducer/mic combination, and good headroom.

by JB » 18 Jan 2009, 12:45

The K&K is a great option if you want a passive system, no fitting batteries but it is a quieter system that a pre-amped one.

The Fishman Blend has been very popular with us and for good reason, it gives a great balance of transducer and mic, very handy for those players with percussive tendancies too.

I think you'd be happy with either system, both have their strengths.

edit: How's that for sitting on the fence

by **dale warner** » 18 Jan 2009, 16:34

Thanks Chris and JB.
I'm not a percussive player, probably not a good idea with the cedar top of the L325?
I'm still favouring the K&K. Will it require widening the bottom strap button hole?
Nothing wrong with sitting on the fence - it's my favourite place!
Cheers
Dale

by **Ross A** » 18 Jan 2009, 17:46

I had the Fishman blend in a Taylor guitar I owned, and whilst it's a pretty solid system it does not sound as natural as the K&K. The K&K trinity system has the mic and transducer which you can blend together, but in reality it's not worth it.

If you're playing live you won't use the mic, and if you're recording you might as well use a 'proper' mic.

Let us know what you decide to go with.

by **Fletch** » 26 Jan 2009, 11:30

Hi Dale, I have a K&K pure fitted to an S325C rio- the guys at the factory fitted it no problem. ( I am using the XLR pre Amp). I stumbled across Andy McKee discussing his setup (in his L32), he seems to favour the K&K as well, sounds like he's using the Trinity system, which is based on the Pure. Just another opinion for you to consider.

here's the url

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfsHyhbWAjk

Hope it all works out

Fletch

Avalon Acoustic Guitars

pickups

pickups

pickup

pickups

pickups

Who is online