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I've been looking at the K&K as well as the PIckup the World pickups for my acoustic archtop. Any recommendations as to which is better or any tips on installation?

Thanks,
Dave

I like K&K pickups in general for acoustic guitars and installed one during construction in a guitar with f-holes. The owner said he didn't plan to plug in but wanted to cover the option in case he ever had to.



I have also installed a Kent Armstrong floating magnetic pickup on a friends archtop,



The K&K is obviously a piezo transducer mounted to the soundboard. It is passive, has a high impedance so it should go into a preamp or DI box before the amp. It has no volume or other controls on the guitar. You need access to the inside of the guitar to install it.

The Armstrong is a humbucking magnetic pickup, is mounted off the pickguard at the end of the fretboard and floats above the top. It is quite popular with jazz players, there are several similar designs. It is passive but comes with a little PCB the mounts under the pickguard for a volume and tone. Its lower impedance matches most guitar amp inputs and it can me installed (and removed) at any time.

I'll add to the above, I was not familiar with the K&K pickup designed just for archtops so I can't comment. It would solve the problem of mounting in a f-hole guitar, it looks reasonable for reaching inside the f-hole to position the transducer. Their website talks about using it in conjunction with a magnetic pickup, possible like the one I used.,

If I read their ad correctly is sounds like the pickup of the world is a flat piezo unit that goes between the floating bridge and the top. They also comment that it can be blended with a mag.

For what it is worth my friend with the Armstrong in the Anderson gigs that guitar regularly in a little jazz trio and it sounds perfect for that kind of music. He is playing thru some sort of boutique amp, with no effects, I could find out what kind if you are interested.

I've done magnetics on my archtops in the past and they sound great, but want to do something this time that keeps the acoustic sound. Probably a good mike beats them all for acoustic sound, but I'm also lazy...

I'm a fingerpicker. Play mostly thumb style on electric, and various finger styles on acoustic. I have several nice Gretsches and a couple of jazzbox electrics. This one (an Eastman 805 non cutaway) I'm trying to keep as a basically acoustic guitar.

Thanks!
Dave

I suggest the tried and true Bill Lawrence A-400. They usually sell for less than $60, and have a very "acousticy" sound.
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