iWood
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I'm seeking some well-considered advice from people who play the 12-string, as opposed to people who play the 6-string and also have a 12-string, if that makes sense. I hope it does, because I'm going to keep writing.
I've got a 2009 New Hartford F-412, with a Fishman Rare Earth Blend in it. I had a solid plan to replace that with a Matrix Infinity. Reasoning: I'm also using the Aura Spectrum DI, and although Fishman says that it'll work fine with a magnetic pickup like the REB...well, it doesn't, not really. I mean, it's not horrible, but my ears can tell that the Aura prefers the Matrix. That is, after all, what they used to record the images that the Aura technology uses. I also got tired of having my string choices limited by the magnetic pickup, and my soundboard ever-so-slightly deadened by the soundhole clamps.
But my solid plan became less so when I heard some good, untweaked audio of some K&K pickup systems (Pure, Trinity, etc.). I thought to myself, "Self! Does this mean that you might be able to get The Sound without using outboard modeling algorithms?" I was also attracted to the notion of minimal hardware onboard the guitar, and pairing the K&K with a D-Tar Solstice looked like it could meet my particular signal chain needs. (Side note: the K&K Quantum is a nonstarter due to its form factor and feature set.)
(Other side note: I did consider the LR Baggs Anthem early on, but there were a few things that knocked it out of the running for me after I heard and saw the K&K options.)
Then there's the aftermarket D-TAR Multi-source. It's on the list because it's the stock pickup for the Guild 12s, so if it's anybody's most perfect bestest favorite in a 12-string, let me hear about it.* I haven't yet called around locally to see if there's a D-TARred 412/512 for me to noodle on, nor have I been able to find any decent audio of it.
In fact, that's kind of a general problem, here: all of the audio I've heard for any of these setups is played on a 6-string. Even - I'm almost entirely sure - the audio on K&K's site for their Pure 12-string pickup! Or, if it's not a 6-string, whoever's playing seems to be allergic to octaves.
So! With all of *that* out of the way, here is my actual question: who's used these setups on their F-412 (or 512)? Any experiences to share about installation & performance? Or are there, perhaps, recommendations for other aftermarket pickups? I'm not wedded to continued use of the Aura DI, if I can get something that can do a better job without resorting to the dark arts of software modeling. And I do like the *idea* of the various K&K options...freeing up my soundboard, no need to have electronic fiddly bits stuck everywhere. You know: neat, minimalist, but with sound-shaping options. That said, I'd like to hear from someone who's got (or who's tried) the Pure 12-string pups, on its own or as part of a combination system.
Right now my requirements are primarily fidelity of tone: solo performer, fingerstyle + bouts of furious strumming, and in the studio I frequently put the guitar through some outboard effects. Eventually it'll be used with my older-model Acoustasonic Jr. amp.
All right, that's more than enough of my blather. Thanks very much for reading.
*Forum search is currently giving weird database errors...but my eyeballs show me a D-TAR thread right below this.
I've got a 2009 New Hartford F-412, with a Fishman Rare Earth Blend in it. I had a solid plan to replace that with a Matrix Infinity. Reasoning: I'm also using the Aura Spectrum DI, and although Fishman says that it'll work fine with a magnetic pickup like the REB...well, it doesn't, not really. I mean, it's not horrible, but my ears can tell that the Aura prefers the Matrix. That is, after all, what they used to record the images that the Aura technology uses. I also got tired of having my string choices limited by the magnetic pickup, and my soundboard ever-so-slightly deadened by the soundhole clamps.
But my solid plan became less so when I heard some good, untweaked audio of some K&K pickup systems (Pure, Trinity, etc.). I thought to myself, "Self! Does this mean that you might be able to get The Sound without using outboard modeling algorithms?" I was also attracted to the notion of minimal hardware onboard the guitar, and pairing the K&K with a D-Tar Solstice looked like it could meet my particular signal chain needs. (Side note: the K&K Quantum is a nonstarter due to its form factor and feature set.)
(Other side note: I did consider the LR Baggs Anthem early on, but there were a few things that knocked it out of the running for me after I heard and saw the K&K options.)
Then there's the aftermarket D-TAR Multi-source. It's on the list because it's the stock pickup for the Guild 12s, so if it's anybody's most perfect bestest favorite in a 12-string, let me hear about it.* I haven't yet called around locally to see if there's a D-TARred 412/512 for me to noodle on, nor have I been able to find any decent audio of it.
In fact, that's kind of a general problem, here: all of the audio I've heard for any of these setups is played on a 6-string. Even - I'm almost entirely sure - the audio on K&K's site for their Pure 12-string pickup! Or, if it's not a 6-string, whoever's playing seems to be allergic to octaves.
So! With all of *that* out of the way, here is my actual question: who's used these setups on their F-412 (or 512)? Any experiences to share about installation & performance? Or are there, perhaps, recommendations for other aftermarket pickups? I'm not wedded to continued use of the Aura DI, if I can get something that can do a better job without resorting to the dark arts of software modeling. And I do like the *idea* of the various K&K options...freeing up my soundboard, no need to have electronic fiddly bits stuck everywhere. You know: neat, minimalist, but with sound-shaping options. That said, I'd like to hear from someone who's got (or who's tried) the Pure 12-string pups, on its own or as part of a combination system.
Right now my requirements are primarily fidelity of tone: solo performer, fingerstyle + bouts of furious strumming, and in the studio I frequently put the guitar through some outboard effects. Eventually it'll be used with my older-model Acoustasonic Jr. amp.
All right, that's more than enough of my blather. Thanks very much for reading.
*Forum search is currently giving weird database errors...but my eyeballs show me a D-TAR thread right below this.
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