Solved Adding pickup to acoustic-only?

[danny.guitar]

I've got a guitar in mind that I'm going to buy and it's not an acoustic/electric. Just acoustic.

I don't usually hook up my acoustic at all, except sometimes when recording. Mostly I just mic it. But I was recommended the K&K pickups which sound really, really good and was wondering about how much it costs to have someone install a pickup system and everything to an acoustic-only guitar?

I've finally found a good tech that knows what he's doing. He charged me $75 to cut and install a new bridge on my guitar in the past.

Anyway, can anyone tell me about how much it costs? The tech is gone on vacation for 2 weeks so I won't be able to ask him now. Just trying to get a general idea on how much it will cost me.

Thanks in advance.

 

[muttley600]

Danny, which K & k pickup? They do a few. Pure, Ultra pure, Trinity etc.

Ultimately only the guy that you give it to can quote you. He will have his own pricing structure. From what I remember you got a real good deal on that bridge repair. I couldn't have done it for nearly that money and broken even. I would wait until he gets back and talk it through with him.

What acoustic did you get in the end? I know you looked long and hard. I hope your happy with it.

Ooopps just re read your post. What guitar are you thinking of getting??

 

[danny.guitar]

Danny, which K & k pickup? They do a few. Pure, Ultra pure, Trinity etc.

Ultimately only the guy that you give it to can quote you. He will have his own pricing structure. From what I remember you got a real good deal on that bridge repair. I couldn't have done it for nearly that money and broken even. I would wait until he gets back and talk it through with him.

What acoustic did you get in the end? I know you looked long and hard. I hope your happy with it.

Ooopps just re read your post. What guitar are you thinking of getting??

Thanks, muttley. I really liked the Trinity system, it's about $400 if I remember but completely worth it on a guitar that I'll be using for a long time.

Also, I've managed to get decent-enough recordings for now on my 6 string. So I'm going to be buying a Seagull 12-string. And save the 6-string for later. I'd really like to have something different to play around with and record.

For the 6-string, I'm going to be getting a Martin D-15. I've played 3 of them. 2 sounded okay, but the 3rd actually sounded drastically different and really good. But I'll be getting that after the 12-string.

 

[muttley600]

Whatever way you decide to go. Installing a pickup should be done primarily for amplified work. The system you use should be chosen depending on how you are going to use it live or amplified. You'd get much better results bang for bucks wise if you took that $400 and spent it on decent mics. If you are going to use the guitar live yeh the K & K are a good if pricey option.

 

[danny.guitar]

Whatever way you decide to go. Installing a pickup should be done primarily for amplified work. The system you use should be chosen depending on how you are going to use it live or amplified. You'd get much better results bang for bucks wise if you took that $400 and spent it on decent mics. If you are going to use the guitar live yeh the K & K are a good if pricey option.

Yeah, they are pricey but I've never heard a pickup system that sounded anywhere close to how they sound. I don't think it'd be worth it to buy one at all unless it sounds good.

It will be used for the rare occasions I hook it into an amp or when I record direct+mic.

 

[muttley600]

As long as your OK with the it thats good. I'd still say get a decent mic for recording and a decent pickup for live work but it's your call. #They are very good pickup systems regardless of price.

 

[danny.guitar]

Going to be getting a Shure SM81 whenever I get the money. But the mics I got now seem good enough in the mean time, especially with a good sounding guitar.

 

[muttley600]

Danny, I'm not saying your wrong in any way at all but I would just advise that you take some time to evaluate what your objectives are. No matter how much you spend on an onboard acoustic pickup from where ever, you would get better value from a recording point of view spending it on mics instead. If you want a good live or amplified sound your money would be well spent on a decent onboard pickup. You will NEVER get equivalent results by spending that money on a single solution for both situations. YMMV..

 

[Nateman01]

My guitar player just got it done on his Martin and he said it cost over $100.
I do not know any of the details, such as what pickup or who did it for him and if others charge the same, but i can tell you that is what he paid.

 

[danny.guitar]

Danny, I'm not saying your wrong in any way at all but I would just advise that you take some time to evaluate what your objectives are. No matter how much you spend on an onboard acoustic pickup from where ever, you would get better value from a recording point of view spending it on mics instead. If you want a good live or amplified sound your money would be well spent on a decent onboard pickup. You will NEVER get equivalent results by spending that money on a single solution for both situations. YMMV..

Yeah, a good mic is definitely much better than recording direct. But lately, I've been recording with a mic at the same time as direct, and using both signals and have gotten really nice results. So I figure I can use the pickups for that and also when I play live (I've just started playing with my friend at his church). So that's the main reason.

My guitar player just got it done on his Martin and he said it cost over $100.
I do not know any of the details, such as what pickup or who did it for him and if others charge the same, but i can tell you that is what he paid.

Thanks. I'm sure it will vary by whoever does it (of course) and by the guitar/pickup system.

 

[muttley600]

OK mate, as long as your aware of the likely benefits and drawbacks of each you r good to go. Let us know what you decide.