Internal Pickup for Acoustic Tenor Guitar

[Ed Goist]

I am looking to add a decent pick-up to my Blueridge BR-40T.

I'd prefer an internal pick-up to a soundhole pickup, and I definitely want something that doesn't need (or has its own) preamp. Plug and play all the way for me! Volume and tone controls would be nice too.

I'm thinking something from K&K, JJB or LR Baggs. Any specific model recommendations among these? Something else I should consider?

[Michael Eck]

K&Ks work great for me so far on guitar and mandolin. I do use mine with a Baggs Venue, but the signal is hot enough that I've used them direct as well, esp. with a soundman. If you're using an acoustic amp, most have a gain stage and that will work just fine.

[Jayyj]

K&Ks are for me the nicest sounding acoustic pickups, although I like the Baggs Ibeam a lot as well. As far as undersaddle pickups go I've fitted Headways to a few tenors, which have a nice sound but I don't know how common they are in the US. Should you ever think about amplifying your Gretsch, mine has a Fishman M100 fitted which sounds remarkably good, although ideally needs an external preamp.

[michaelpthompson]

I have the K&K as well, and it works great. No preamp, but it is hot enough that I've never missed it.

[Ed Goist]

Well; instead of getting a pick-up installed in my Blueridge, I've purchased the Harmony Sovereign below, and dropped it off with my luthier last night for a set-up and the installation of electronics.

He does great work, so I told him to use his best judgement in selecting the right pick-up for the job.

I'll report back here on the end result.

[Flattpicker]

I, too, am interested in installing a K&K pickup on a Blueridge Tenor (GDAE). Which pickup(s) are you guys using--Pure Mini, Twin Spot or something else?

[Rick Albertson]

Just installed a JJB Electronics Prestige 330 (15mm transducers) pickup (very similar to K&K Pure Mini, much cheaper) in Martin 0-18T tenor guitar. Used a Tapastring 1/8" Vintage endpin jack so didn't have to enlarge endpin hole.

Sounds really good through a small Behringer mixer and Roland studio monitors, very natural sounding, no feedback. Sounds pretty good through Simmons DA200S drum amp, a bit electronic sounding.

Will use Digitech Hardwire RV-7 reverb pedal to increase (already nice) sustain.

[WillFly]

I've a K&K in my tenor. I have a K&K pre-amp should I need one, but my Roland Cube has a nice acoustic channel, so - unless I can't reach its controls, I don't need the pre-amp on my belt.

[MdJ]

I put a K&K pure country in my 5 string acoustic .... I have been pertually delighted with that decision....

Best

MdJ

[mandroid]

Sound board Piezo fans have spoken..
Under Bridge pickup installations . Using RMC individual Piezos 1 Under each string worked well on my Electric Mandolin.

the PU pieces were Made for Acoustic flat top Guitars worked fine .. Godin uses the same PU in a double notch version
on the well regarded A8 mandolin.. and their 12 string guitars..