Explain Your Live Rig, Gear Thread Options

[Mark Kolnes]

Im curious to know how those who play out do so. I just put in a K&K Pure Mini and have been contemplating getting K&K's XLR Preamp, I run this through a PA that supports two guitars and two vocals. Comments on this setup and descriptions of your own would be appreciated.

[David Hilyard]

Hi Mark,

Sounds like a good basic system. I have something similar. I have a K&K Trinity in one of my guitars and use the K&K Trinity Preamp with it.

http://www.kksound.com/trinitymini.html

I also have K&K pickups in two other guitars, but they are the Pure Western passive pickups. I use a LR Baggs Para Acoustic D.I. Preamp with those.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--LRBPARADI

My classical is just mic'ed and goes directly to the PA or my Ultrasound acoustic amp.

[woodenuff]

Im curious to know how those who play out do so. I just put in a K&K Pure Mini and have been contemplating getting K&K's XLR Preamp, I run this through a PA that supports two guitars and two vocals. Comments on this setup and descriptions of your own would be appreciated.

I use B Band A2.2 XOM systems in some of my guitars, a K&K Trinity with the external Trinity preamp on one guitar and a K& K with B Band mic also with the Trinity preamp, and a JJB (similar to K&K) soundboard transducer with a Radio Shack condenser mic capsule on a homemade mount inside the guitar throughthe Trinity preamp. The capsule was less than $4.00 and the JJB about $50.00. That little jury rigged system gets a lot of compliments.

[M Sarad]

I use a Shure Beta condenser mike through a Mackie 800 series mono mixer into three JBL cabinets. Two for the house and one as a monitor.

Sounds like an acoustic guitar very loudly reproduced.

[Mark Kolnes]

The trinity looks like a great system. I already installed the K&K Pure Western Mini in my guitar (got it for a great price) Ill look into if its possible to retrofit the mic into the mini. I also found the K&K Pure XLR Preamp also for a good price so I guess Im committed now. Im playing in a duo and Ive noticed that when both guitars and vocals are going through the PA the high end tone on my guitar seems to diminish, or some clarity is taken away. Is this because the four inputs are conflicting with each other? Is it a PA quality thing or the nature of my K&K? Anyone have similar experience with this?

[woodenuff]

The trinity looks like a great system. I already installed the K&K Pure Western Mini in my guitar (got it for a great price) Ill look into if its possible to retrofit the mic into the mini. I also found the K&K Pure XLR Preamp also for a good price so I guess Im committed now. Im playing in a duo and Ive noticed that when both guitars and vocals are going through the PA the high end tone on my guitar seems to diminish, or some clarity is taken away. Is this because the four inputs are conflicting with each other? Is it a PA quality thing or the nature of my K&K? Anyone have similar experience with this?

You can retrofit the mic with what you have. You'll need to push the jack into your guitar and pul it out of the soundhole. The leads from the mic are soldered to the ring and sleeve. Make a cardboard mask to protect the top of your guitar as you'll be soldering over it. Test fit the connections and plug in to make sure you have the hot and ground in the right place.

I believe you will need the Trinity preeamp as it has a second channel for the mic and also supplies power to the mic. It only runs on a nine volt battery. The Pure XLR is a single channel pre but does run on phantom. I don't believe it will work with the mic.

I will be trying out a friend's Baggs Mix Pro over the weekend. It has two channels and supposedly provides power for the mic. I'll post back.

[Mark Kolnes]

There is a Fender Acoustisonic JR. amp on CL and i've been thinking that this might be a better way to go. It would be less of a load on the PA we use and I could use it for solo work. So a couple of questions, would you still use a preamp like the K&K's pure xlr with an amp? And any experience with Fender acoustic amps? Would it bebetter to look for another amp? I saw the review in fingerstyle magazine on the new Ultrasound, but that goes for about 1000, and the CL fender JR is 275. Watcha think?

[Cams]

Heiner: PUTW Dynamic Duo with stereo power plug and Baggs PADI
Cruz: D-TAR Wavelength with Mama Bear

Both rigs sound pretty good. I've been playing the Cruz out a lot of late and my partner has been playing the Heiner. I've been putting it through a Soundcraft Spirit passive desk and into Red Audio powered speakers.