Customer Testimonials

We're fortunate to have amazing customers who often contact us via e-mail or social media and tell us about their experience with our products. We're happy to share some of their comments here.

Bass Master

"Thanks a bunch. I never though my bass could sound so beautiful. The Bass Master blends a fat punchy signal with a clear acoustic microphonic signal. In short, it's a dream. I realize now how much my Realist was limiting me." Jeremy Averitt

"I just wanted to let you know how much I like the Bass Master Pro pickup system that I purchased from you a few weeks ago. The flatness and evenness of the response across all four strings is wonderful. It makes my travel bass, an early '50's blond Kay, sound great through an amplifier. The rest of the musicians in the band noticed the difference in my on-stage sound immediately... Once again, I think this is a great system, and I plan on buying another one for my other bass in the near future." Greg Hippen (Principal Bassist for the Minnesota Opera Orchestra)

"I recently purchased the K&K Bass Master Pro and wished to let you know how much I've been LOVING this setup! I'm especially happy that I went with the fourth piezo element because (with some careful "futzing") I was able to tame an aggressive D string on my instrument. For me, this setup is especially great because I move my bass over a few different amplifiers and I can dial in a great sound on each by playing with the balance between the pickups. Thanks for helping me enjoy my bass all over again!" Eric P. Wallack

"Although it took a few minutes of twiddling to get all the trim controls correct, I am absolutely impressed with [the Bass Master Pro], from the construction of the pickups to the sound and lack of feedback. I do need to tweak positioning a bit, but this blows away my Fishman in definition, clarity, and flexibility. Finally, a moment of peace in this never-ending quest..." Lawrence Gallick

"ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! I wish I had taken the initiative to buy your system last spring when I got my bass - would have saved a few blisters on my fingers that I earned trying to increase my volume the 'old way.' I'm playing a gig in two nights and can hardly wait. Your directions and tips are outstanding - enough, clear, straightforward. And again, the sound is just awesome!" Steve McKeag

"At our gig last night, we got continual compliments on the wonderful smooth, rich bass sound. Well gang, it's YOUR pickups and YOUR preamp that are the foundation of that sound!"

Bass Master RB

"I am a believer! After several more gigs with the K&K Rockabilly pickup I am convinced that it is the best one on the market today for accommodating the Rockabilly slap bass player. I have tried the Underwood, Fishman, David Gage, AKG C149, and the Schaller pickup, and the K&K is by far the best for the Rockabilly player... Another thing I think you should emphasize... is that this pickup can be used at much higher volumes, (before feedback) than most of the competition. This is the most common complaint I hear from Rockabilly bass players - Is that their sound is good at home, but once they get going with the drums, they have to turn up and then the sound turns to mud. I have not had that problem with the K&K." Lance (The Hillibilly Hellcats)

"I love the Rockabilly pickup! ... The pickup is plenty loud, and sounds great! I've played it in several clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area, and it's been fantastic." "I have tried other pickups and none of them worked well at all. They would feedback and didn't have the sound that I was looking for. I received the K&K rockabilly bass pickup with preamp about two years ago and use it almost daily. It is durable, sounds great and is fairly priced." Shawn Burrell (Founder of RockabillyBass.com)

"I got the the K&K Rockabilly Slap Special Wednesday and used it for the first time Thursday night. It was great! It really sounded like MY bass. The band complimented me all night about my new bass sound...I will be recommending the K&K pickups to my URB buddies!" Tex Waggoner (Bass player for Blue Combo)

"I just played out with the rockabilly setup and it is absolutely the only pickup (that I've had on *any* instrument) that I've ever actually been happy with!!! I'm not even really slapping, but it picks up little fingerboard nuances which make a huge difference in the sound, it's so much more real. The wing sound, so rich...mmmmmmmm." Sean Thomas McBride

"Last weekend I played my first gig with the new pickup: WOW! It is so great. I could play so loud with an incredible sound. It's perfect. I will recommend this pickup to all Slappers I know." Dirk Wunderlich

Bass Max

"I was in the market to buy a pickup for my 5/8ths size upright bass. It had to be durable as I am very hard on my equipment. The K&K Bass Max is the fifth pick-up I've used and it is now by far my favourite. I play with The Club Django Sextet of Toronto and handle all the MC work for the band....I don't want to be concerned about my bass clipping or pocking. The Bass Max is worry-free." Abbey Sholzberg (Toronto, Canada)

"I have been extremely happy with my Bass sound after the addition of your Bass Max pickup. My Bass is getting a very full, natural sound, but also very articulate and punchy. I have gone through a small financial fortune and and many years looking for something that could deliver like the K&K Bass Max, and now the search is over!!!" Tom Kennedy (January 2004 Artist of the Month)

"I just got a K&K Bass Max and love it. I couldn't believe the sound - I had tried the Fishman and Barcus-Berry, and thought the K&K would only be an improvement, but it was a transformation! The sound out of the amp sounds like my bass. I play as much arco as pizz', and the smooth sound is wonderful." John Nystedt

"Wow! What a great sound. I heard comments like, "Nice," "Clean," "Solid," "Warm." Thank you for a great product at a really good price." Lynn Eberhardt

"Just wanted to say thanks for supplying me with such a fantastic pickup, the Bass Max. It was worth it just for the improvement in sound when I play 'unplugged'. I could believe how much my Fishmans had been muting my sound, it was nuts. I had to learn how to tune again, hearing harmonics I had been missing for a few years!" Mike Liston

"Suffice to say that in a wide range of applications the Bass Max has performed superbly. Whether I'm going for balls-out thumping bottom end or authentic wooden slap tone or something more delicately acoustic I've found the tone I need with a minimum of of knob twistery. I've been able to run the Ampeg IV Pro with all the tone controls flat. Consider me most satisfied..." Joe Kyle, Jr.

"I bought the Bass Max because I still wanted to blend it with a mic. Was I surprised during the sound check. The Bass Max was way better than the mic. Big, round sound. The ol' Kay "thump" never sounded so good. So I ended up using the Bass Max on its own. Sounded great...the sound guy was very happy...said it was no trouble to set up on the board. The rest of the band (even the drummer) said how great the bass sounded. At intermission several members of the audience came up to me and said how nice it was to hear an upright bass sound so good. All I know is I could hear it very well all night and it sounded just the way I like. I did not feel the sound was much different from the unamplified sound. Absolutely no feedback problems..simple to set up. It did not feel like was playing an electric bass either...The K&K stuff certainly delivers as promised. Amplifying the Kay is no longer a headache. I will be more than happy to recommend it to others." Martin Chapman

"A week ago I received the Bass Max pickup and Power Pack preamp I ordered from you. I just want you to know that I'm extremely happy with this unit. Until now I have not found a single one that I that I was completely satisfied with. I think the pickup is simple, very well built, but most of all it sounds fantastic. I have, (for quite some time now) been looking for some kind of pickup system that could recreate or at least come close to the natural, unamplified of my bass (a 50s German Wilfer strung with Spirocores). Also, I think the preamp is very flexible soundwise not to mention the size of it. Keep up the good work, you just got a fan in Sweden." Mats Grönberg

"From the time I opened up the package, it only took me about 15 minutes to install the pickup. This install time includes filing down the bridge to fit the transducer snug and also putting the battery in the preamp. I was up and playing when done installing. What a sound!! Speaking of the preamp, what a difference versus just plugging directly into my bass amp with out the preamp. I can get what ever sound I choose with the K & K preamp.. Perfect!! I don't mean to sound to excited but you were absolutely correct. Both the Bass Max pickup and the K&K Power Pak preamp work well together with my Kay.. I would highly recommend this to others." Jamie Gomez

"I've got to say that at this point, I'm really tickled to death with the product. The pickup itself installs without any gluing, drilling, etc., you just stick it in the Bass side of the wing of your bridge, clamp your input jack on the A&E strings, and you're ready. I like that, because it comes off and on so easily. The little pre-amp(the Power Pack), I was really impressed with. It's the epitome of simplicity, which is tailor made for me, with bass, treble, and Gain control knobs. And of course it clips right on your belt which is neat, but the thing that surprised me the most, was the range of tone response I got out of the little bugger. I'm running it through my little Dean Markley KB 200, and I'm going to try it through a PA also, to see how it sounds that way, but so far I'm extremely pleased." Mark Vestich

"I just had to let you know how happy I am with my new Bass Max! I am a novice 1st year bassist, although I have played acoustic guitar for over 30 years. I have only listened to a few acoustic bass pickups, but I definitely notice a warmth with the Bass Max that I have not heard before. I was especially happy with the balanced sound across the strings. It was thrilling to touch the low E string ever so lightly, and project such a wonderful sound. We played some Christmas music today which sounded real nice. I also got the chance to jam with some bluegrass types. They were extremely impressed with the sound of my bass." George Ireton

"I finally got to really check out what my new pickup sounds like. It's great! Even the sax player noticed I sounded like my bass. I played mostly pizz. The sound just filled up the room. On the preamp I put the volume all the way up, just as I do my electric bass, but left the treble and bass completely off. I turned off the graphic eq on my rig, using just a little parametric; it's a lively room. The sound was SO natural.... Thank you. You've been most helpful." David Kaczorowski

Big Shot

"I installed the big shot in my ukulele. Plugged it in my P.A. and WOW it came alive! I had a Dean Markly pickup that sounded dull. It sends a strong enough signal to work my efx no problem. I'll buy more K&K for my other instruments. Thank you!" Robert S.

"I just received and put into service a Big Shot transducer for my mandolin and a Twin Spot Classic for my tenor banjo. Not only is the sound superb but the output is phenomenal!" Bennett Cohen

Big Twin

"I installed the Big Twin on my harp and it is fantasitic... Way better than I have been able to achieve with any other system. It sounds great plugged directly into my little Peavey amp. I also recorded direct into Cakewalk using the Big Twin through a Presonus Bluetube preamp and was very pleased with the results. It puts a lot of expensive mics to shame!" Matthew Lyon

"I am absolutely stunned by the sound the Big Twin produces. I've used a Fishman cello pickup in the past, but the Big Twin surpasses it in terms of sound quality and low noise. The signal is incredibly clean and robust, and the icing on the cake is the fact that it's so reasonably priced!" Mike Alvarez

"I've been looking for a pickup for my sitar for a long time and the Big Twin is perfect." Kerry L.

CXM5 Saxophone Mic

"Thanks for the great Mic! I will be using it for a gig this weekend and have already tested it through my Behringer PA and it works superbly! I will be recommending this product to all my fellow professional wind musicians." Mark Ward "The SaxmanDJ"

"This mic has great response and picks up the upper register notes very well, which I was skeptical of. The mounted mic lets me focus on my music and entertaining instead of centering my horn on the mic. For the first time I'm roaming around stage and facing up with the other soloists. That brings me to durability and dependability. I put my new Yanigasawa T991 in the sax stand, forgot I was connected, and walked away. It put quite a yank on the mic system, luckily the guys caught my horn before it hit the ground. Mic passed with flying colors, it's built sturdy. Thanks much! You've got a cool product." Brian Williams

Double Big Twin

"I recieved the pickup yesterday. It took less than five minutes to hook the Double Big Twin up and start playing. I have had a few different mics and all have failed to capture even a little of the potential sound I had wanted and all were very prone to feedback at even low levels. From the first note I played I knew how great this pickup was. Pure, clean, and very balanced. There was not too much finger noise, but also enough to be interesting. I am a giging bassist and play everthing from standards to rock and roll and when I hooked up a guitar pedal or two I got some really fun types of sounds and no feedback (not possible with any of the mics I tried). All in all I'm totally satisfied and really want to tell people that. I only wish I had found it years ago! Thanks!" Eric Olson (Broomfield, CO)

"I wanted to let you know that I am very happy with my recent order. I replaced my Fishman piezo with the K&K, and there's really no comparison. The K&K is much more natural sounding and it was cheaper, too. The installation was simple and your instructions were clear. I was just about to fork over half a grand for a better pickup than my Fishman when I came across your web site, so thanks! You saved me money and I am quite satisfied. I don't have the best bass in the world by a long shot, but it sure sounds better with the DBT." John Burns

"The Double Big Twin is the best upright bass pickup bar none. Lots of output, clean detailed sound, reasonable price, and easy installation via doubleback adhesive. Mounts right on the bridge and sounds great." Andy Fuchs

"I was instantly satisfied after installing the Double Big Twin on my Engelhardt bass. The pizz sounds great, and the problems I had with 'woof' and feedback from other pickups was gone. I'm a convert!" Anthony Burton (March 2005 Artist of the Month)

"The sound... I love it! I left my venerable BB (Barcus Berry) on in order to A/B the two. No contest. The K&K is extremely clear w/a very complete and flat response across the desired frequencies, and a nice little oomph in the low-mids---makes for a great-sounding A string. I especially like the lack of emphasis in the "finger-noise" region. I find the K&K a bit less microphonic than my BB or my Shadow... I can turn up the preamp gain w/out a lot of increased finger noise, and the clarity jumps right out. It's nice not to have to worry about distortion (not even close) the way I did when I used the Gage (Realist) pickup. Judging from my headphone test, I'd call it more "natural-sounding" than the Gage...(Realist)" Tom Buckley

"My impression so far is that I'm getting a warmer, more natural tone from the K&K than from my Fishman pickup.... I believe than the K&K pickup is an improvement over the Fishman, it certainly sounds less electric, and I'm happy with it. The big test occurred Saturday when I played it at a job. I have been playing the bass through my amplifier a lot this past week, tweaking this and that to hone in on my preferred sound. I was able to achieve a sound that I liked. I've also found that, at higher volumes, the K&K pickup is less prone to feedback than the Fishman was. The overall volume at the job was moderately loud and I experienced no feedback. My Fishman used to feed back easily on an open A, unless I adjusted the amp settings and then the sound quality suffered. This problem did not exist with the K&K. The bottom line (bottom line! I'm killing myself) is that I like the K&K and find it superior to the Fishman in tone and feedback busting capability." Larry Dolamore

Golden Trinity Systems

"Balancing the mic and the Bass Max produces the best and most natural sound I've heard, ever, from an upright...In rehearsal and jams the set up was convenient, flexible and effective, I was able to solo with WAY more subtlety and nuance, and it was much much easier to keep a good swing--the whole note came through, and it really breathed. The drummer and guitarist in the trio both remarked on how much better it sounded. The best evidence of the pickup came at the gig. When I stepped on the stage I figured I was screwed--tiny, crowded, no place to put the bass except exactly between my amp (swr redhead) and the monitor, angled right up at the bass. I turned the pickup up very cautiously, expecting massive feedback--nothing...Turned it up as loud as I needed, no feedback. The band started playing, and I loved the tone--big, warm, deep but also clear. There were four bass players in the crowd, and they all complimented me on the tone. In short this is an excellent setup--flexible, very effective, convenient, natural sounding--I can't wait to use it again." Mike O'Malley

"I just bought an SWR Workingman's 10 amp and am very happy with the sound I'm getting with the Bass Max/Trinity unit. The K&K allows such a wide 'tonal palette' with which to experiment that I would be very surprised if a bassist could not find their ultimate sound regardless of amp setup or venue." Mark Steel

"I tried my new K&K Golden Trinity Mic and Preamp in our hometown of Richmond in front of about 6,000 people and it was AWESOME!! I loved the sound of the mic, I loved the sound of the preamp, I loved the 'tweakability' of the preamp, I loved the compact size of the preamp. I truly enjoyed playing with a mic! We use an in-ear monitor system and having the mic helped me hear a lot of the upper overtones of the notes and even helped with my intonation..." Jordan Medas (Carbon Leaf)

"I got my K&K Trinity a few days ago, and I have to say, it sounds amazingly basslike! ... On my bass, it did exactly what I needed: beefing up the sound on the top 3 strings (esp. the G), and adding a little clarity to the whole thing...In addition to sounding extremely clean and acoustic through my Baby Blue II amp for live situations, it also records incredibly well as a line/mic signal running directly into the board...The Trinity signal sounded every bit as good direct as a mic placed 6-9" away from the bridge, and the response was so even across the entire range of the instrument that I can almost get away without doing any post production mixing on the bass at all...On the whole, it's a helluva bargain for the buck. Kudos to K&K...This may be the coolest piece of gear I've bought in a long, long time." Chris Fitzgerald

"I got my Golden Trinity in the mail today. It really does what it promises folks. After about an hour of tweaking the mic and the EQ inside the preamp, I finally, for the first time heard my bass coming out of my amplifier. I spent several minutes bending over with my ear in front of the bass, and then the amp's speaker. They're so close it almost brings tears to my eyes. So the Golden Trinity Upgrade package passes the wallet, shipping, and living room tests!" Posted in the TalkBass forum

Pure Piano

"If you're going to move a one ton instrument and tune it nightly then it's gotta sound real or you might as well just hook up one of those ironing board looking electric things. My piano sounds like a piano and it's loud as hell and that's because the Pure Pianos have been a major part of my piano sound for years now. Punchy, bright and real sounding. Whether mixing it in with mics and other sources or using it solo, the Pure Pianos provide the air and ambience that keeps the piano sounding acoustic and not electric." Ben Folds

"I think it was 1997 when I first happened on the K&K website during a desperate Google search to find a stable, good sounding piano pickup for my friend Ben Folds' piano. I ordered a Pure Piano pickup and a Pure Preamp completely as a shot in the dark, and 8 years later it remains a staple of the Ben Folds piano sound. From club gigs to to Royal Albert Hall to Japan's Fuji Fest, K&K has always been hiding under our piano. I thank them for their consistency and support. I never leave the house without my PP." Leo Overtoom (Sound engineer for Ben Folds)

"I have tried all conact pickups for pianos and have found the Pure Piano the best sounding." Pete Plympton (Sound tech for Pink Martini and Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR)

"I'm so glad I was able to use the Pure Piano during my last mini tour. It actually sounds like a piano! What a great addition to my bag of tricks." Edmund P.

"I have tried all contact piano transducers and have found the Pure Piano to be the best sounding, by far."

Pure Resonator

"I just had your pickup installed today on my latest acousic resonator. I was blown away! I've used everything from Fishman to Sound Checker and your pickup is much better. The true sound of the cone comes through perfectly and the resistance to feedback is amazing! I cannot say enough good things about this pickup. As a matter of fact, I'm changing all my resonators over to K&K pickups. Please keep up the good work!" J. Michael Hester (Tampa, FL)

"Finally, a pickup for the National Steel that works!! It's the hardest guitar to design a pickup for, and K&K has come up with a solution that sounds great, and even more importantly - it is reliable." Sturgis Nikides

Pure Classic

"I own two beautiful hand made classical guitars. I was very reluctant to go the pick-up route, but continued to be frustrated by the unpredictable challenges using an instrument microphone introduced, feedback being the chief obstacle. I came upon the K&K system in Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine. I called K&K and had a lot of questions. They were very patient with me and clearly understood my dilemma. I ultimately went for it and had the pick up professionally installed in my Giambattista Spruce Top Guitar. This was the best money that I have spent on equipment in the last five years! I could not believe the clarity I got the first time I plugged it in. Initially I was a bit under whelmed by the volume, but after running it through the Pure Preamp I was completely satisfied. This system is quiet, clean, and with proper speaker placement I know longer deal with feedback. In fact, the quality was so good that I ran it straight into my mixer and into to my digital recorder to record with. It is on par with a decent condenser microphone for recording and much easier to deal with. Fantastic Job Guys! I will recommend this product to all of my friends!" Bluford Birdson (May 2006 Artist of the Month)

"Prior to this discovery I was simply just not using my nylon guitar in public. I just wouldn't put a hole in the side of guitar, and I'm not a fan of under the saddle pickups.... For me the Pure Classic was a slam dunk. I now have great sound with something that doesn't require me to have a battery inside my guitar or piezo quack. It's a very easy and affordable way to get to a 'plug and play' set up. So now, for some of the Bossa tunes I do live, and I reach over very confidently and grab my nylon string. Thanks guys." Eric Skye (October 2004 Artist of the Month)

"The Pure System sounds great on both, my Steel String and my Classic Guitar. Since I installed the Pure Classic System I play a lot with my Classic Guitar. It is the best system I have encountered yet and I tried many others. Good job guys!" Kip Dobler (Bandon, OR)

"Your pickup is GREAT! I am going to put a link at my web site." Lou Hinkley (Daedalus Music)

"I purchased one of your Classic Pure System pickups for my 8 string guitar around six months ago and it has performed fantastically. I am really loving the sound that I can get both live and when recording at home. Thank you." David B.

"I actually thought something was wrong with my amp for this pickup to sound this good without a preamp. The instrument was loud, full, warm, and responsive. It was all you could ever want in a pickup and it's simple to apply."

Pure Mini

"In my 20 years of playing electric and acoustic guitar, I've always had acoustics with factory installed, under bridge active pickups and of course I have never installed a pickup before. I was concerned about which pickup to choose not even knowing much about them at all... I did some searching on the internet about pickups and ran across your website along with a couple reviews and comments on various other sites. I was convinced that the K&K Pure Western made sense for me but was a bit concerned about installing the pickup myself... Last night, I did the installation following the instructions. After about 1.5 hrs of careful work, I received the payoff when I plugged directly into my small PA system. I turned the volume up and played about 30 seconds and couldn't believe my ears. My guitar that sounded great to start sounded rich, full and bright in a way I've never heard any amplified acoustic... I read the reviews, I took a bit of chance on a product I had never heard of before from a company I was unfamiliar with and I got a huge payoff. What a great product! It simply sounds amazing. Thanks--I'll be recommending this system to other players!" David Nix (St. Paul, MN)

"I wish more acoustic guitarists knew about your pickups. They are truly outstanding. I no longer have to modify my playing style to fit the pickup. The Pure Mini is now part of the guitar. (It truly is with the superglue attachment.) It sounds like my guitar when I'm not plugged into a PA system or amplifier...just louder. I've also received many compliments about the sound of my guitar while playing at a local coffee shop. Customers say that 'I' sound great, but really the guitar sounds better with the Pure Mini." Pete Kovalcik (Hinesville, GA)

"This transducer system sounds awesome, even without a preamp between it and the mixing board. Tonight was the first night I leant my guitar to another while I sat in the audience... it sounds great. I recommend the Pure Mini to anyone with a natural and warm sounding guitar." Jesse Rivest (Calgary, Canada)

"My system arrived yesterday and I went to my Luther's and dropped off the system. I have had to mic my J 200 Gibson since 1979. I have even bought two different pickup systems in the last five years (an Equis II and the best Fishman money could buy) but just could not make myself cut a hole in the side of this old lady, to install the preamps. Before I had made it very far down the road, my luthier was calling me on my cell, saying that he just did not believe the sound, that it sounded god*&#@ good. Well I turned around and went and picked it up. The real test came when I got home and plugged in. NO more mic. Well just could not put it down played most every song I could think of, even did some recording some of the stuff I had did with the mic, downloaded it and then burnt a CD. The system was much cleaner. None of the outside noise you get with a mic. Your system is GREAT, COULD NOT ASK FOR BETTER." Jeff (Oklahoma City)

"After using LR Baggs LB6 pickups for years, when it came time to replace yet another LB6 because of electrical connection problems, I began doing some research and took the advice of many fellow musicians....'Try the K&K....you'll love it!' So I did, and I love it! Here's what transpired. I had a B-Band UST in my Martin OM16GT that sounds decent, so I decided to move the B-Band to my Guild and install the K&K in the guitar I use most on stage, the Martin in DADGAD tuning. By the way, I play in an Irish Celtic band. I only use the Guild for a few songs in standard tuning, so the B-Band does fine. The Guild is a 1970, and the Martin is nearly new. The Guild has a wonderful, clear, deep and ringing tone all the way up the neck. For a new Martin, the OM16GT is amazing with better bass then the Guild, and naturally, just an overall different character. Bottom line is they both sound great. BUT....when run through our sound system, the K&K is such an obviously better sound! ing system than the B-Band! Very strong, true acoustic sound and excellent balance, even without the preamp. It's amazing how good it sounds, and the volume it produces without the preamp. With the preamp, it just gets better. I run it in line with a Boss TU2 pedal tuner to cut the signal when tuning on stage, and I'm good to go. Excellent acoustic sound with the K&K. It took a few test runs to make sure I got the positioning correct before gluing, and I got one just slighty off, but it still sounds incredible and very well balanced. K&K says there's some room for placement error with no effect on performance...and they're right....thank God! If you want a truly acoustic sound that brings out the best in your instrument, do yourself a favor and try a K&K." Denny Cannon (February 2006 Artist of the Month)

"My pickup arrived and I installed it late last week - just a quick mail to let you know just how good it sounds... I installed it on a £250 Crafter guitar (which I love, but it was not so expensive that I didn't mind letting myself loose with a drill on it) and its just superb!! It is THE closest to a true acoustic sound that I have ever heard (my friends thought I was using a microphone!!) - I now feel so very, very confident doing 'my thang,' because i know that I can achieve that 'holy grail' sound live... Furthermore, your service and advice were superb. I'll be recommending you to everyone I meet, many, many thanks. :-) Best wishes and several more big big thank yous!" Jon

"I was unhappy with the ES system in my 2003 Taylor 615ce. I took the whole ES system out and installed a K&K Pure Mini . I had already installed K&K Pure Mini pick-ups in two other guitars that I own. The K&K is so easy to install yourself and the sound is better than any other pick-up system I have used. The K&K Pure Mini has never let me down in any of the three guitars I have installed it in. The Pure Preamp is the easiest guitar preamp I have ever dealt with. It is built like a tank and has a rock-solid feel. It has made playing out a worry free situation when it comes to the sound of my Taylor 615ce. I can dial in the sound I want. The folks at K&K have always answered my questions and made me feel like I was their #1 priority." Matthew Carver (January 2006 Artist of the Month)

"I am 51 years old and have played acoustic guitar professionaly in live venues since I was about 19. I'm only writting this to save you 30 years of experimentation. I have personally used nearly every brand of pickup system that has ever been created for the acoustic guitar. In my opinion the K&K pickups and preamps will give you the most natural amplified acoutic guitar sound that you can achieve at any volume - or studio mix. I would like to add that if you go with K&K then do everything you possibly can to get excellent cables. No sense in getting the best pickup system without going the final step. If you want a true acoustic sound - K&K will do the job." David Lane (Wolfeboro, NH)

"I've been on the quest to find the perfect pickups for decades. I've tested prototypes for many other companies but never found the ideal pickup for my guitar and my playing style until I tried the K&K Pure Mini." John Standefer (2002 National Fingersyle Championship)

"The sound of the K&K Pure Mini System is quite distinct from any other pickup I've used. It captures the depth and drive of the low notes...and the delicacy and warmth of the mid and high notes. I choose my guitars carefully, and I have found it a challenge to reproduce their sound so well in concert. [The Pure Mini] is an excellent solution...Brave and thanks for your excellent work. I look forward to continuing to let people know about this fine gear." Brad Warren

"I installed a K&K Pure Mini in all three of my Avalon guitars, on the advice of John Fowler at Shoreline. I was looking for a natural-sounding soundboard transducer to compliment the factory Fishman USTs. The K&K pickups are superb! Very natural and articulate sounding . . . they capture the sound of my guitars better than any other pickup I've tried. I'm completely impressed!" Jim Tozier

"The sound is so clean and more resistive to feedback than most systems I've compared. The Pure Mini signal is strong enough you don't HAVE to use a preamp and it's NOT a trial and error install. I have installed at least 6 K&K's so far and everyone a very happy customer. After the first one I stopped using the tape as it isn't as good as gluing directly to the bridge plate (in my opinion). Believe me, you won't ever want to reverse the install (but if you do, superglue solvent does the trick). You can compare the K&K with a good mic on your guitar and the mic will sound bad compared to the K&K. Go for it!!! You won't be disappointed." Jim McCall (McCall's Music)

"Ever since I switched to the [Pure] Mini's, I've been happier than ever with my sound. I have tried just about everything out there, I mean everything, and the K&K system is absolutely the most reliable, reproducable sound for acoustic guitar that I have found. No harshness whatsoever, clean, and very real!" Tony Kaltenberg (August 2005 Artist of the Month)

"I've tried just about any system that's been out there. You name it, I've had it. In my humble opinion, this is the most natural system so far. In fact I'm planning to record my next CD with it. Being a fingerstyle player and recording on a digital system, I couldn't detect any hiss or self-noise. I'm so happy with this system that I'm ordering another one to install in my Alvarez Yairi W1, and try and blend the piezo pickup with the Mini Mini. All in all, my search for a transducer is over. I couldn't be happier with this product. Thanks a lot." Perio Urban

"The K&K Pure Mini is by far the best pickup I have ever used. I've tried dozens of others, and I keep coming back to this one for ease of use & transparent tone." Maury Rutch (Maury's Music, Coaldale, PA)

"Over the years I have collected a quality assortment of didgeridoos and acoustic guitars. There has to be something unique or compelling about the sound of an instrument be it guitar or didgeridoo to make it into my personal collection. This being said I am equally as pickety about any after market sound system I might install on a pricey instrument. I recently installed the Pure Mini system in a new Martin 000-28 that comes without onboard electronics, and wow! I am looking forward to performing with it as it reproduces a totally natural sound of the guitar and is very non-obtrusive. The Pure System is all everyone claimed it to be in the reviews. Nothing was over represented the slightest. Must say I am 110% happy with K&K's system. Very doubtful I will buy another expensive acoustic guitar with the typical pre-amps cut into the side of them now that I've experienced K&K's quality of sound." Walt Young (December 2004 Artist of the Month)

"I would be the first person in line to try out the iBeam in my guitars if I hadn't found what I believe is the best transducer on the market today. I am writing because I think you should check it out yourself and let the folks know about this great product. I have mounted the Pure Mini transducer by K&K Sound in three small bodied acoustic guitars and am amazed at the accurate reproduction I get out of them--with and without pre-amplification...The K&K Pure Westerns are easy to install and sound absolutely great. I have several more guitars that I plan to convert over to Pure Mini transducers. I bet there's a ton of AG readers out there that would LOVE to check out K&K if you folks told them. This is no paid endorsement or anything either--I am seriously amazed and overwhelmed by the beautiful sound I get from the K&K transducers. Please check them out and let your readers know!" Mike Kavanaugh (in response to an article in Acoustic Guitar Magazine)

"In my acoustic travels I've tried several types of pickups and some were pretty good however they all left me a little wanting. The first time I tried a K&K Pure Mini I knew I'd come to the end of the rainbow! Great balance with very little color. I have them in both of my hand made Blanchards. Now my guitars sound like acoustic guitars when I plug them in. Since then it's been K&K ALL THE WAY." Steve Wildey

"Until [I found out] about K&K pickups, I was lost in the world of 'almost sounding good' pickups. Every guitarist who hears one of my K&K amplified acoustic guitars asks me how I get such a big, open and natural sound from my guitars. My good friend David Morreale (also a performing songwriter) told me after one song that 'no guitar should sound that good'." Todd Walker

"I've been a full-time player for a number of years and am a self-confessed "tone-freak" when it comes to guitar. The quest for a natural-sounding amplified tone has been an ongoing one. Good sound, ease of use and something affordable on a working musician's income have seen me trying numerous pickup variations over the years. The quest ended recently when I finally had a K&K Pure Mini installed in my OM acoustic. The sound is immediately wonderful with little or no eq adjustment and I'm surprised at how 'hot' the signal is from a passive system. I noticed right off the bat how little trouble sound tech. guys are having getting me a great acoustic punch as opposed to the laborious and often unsatisfying sound checks gone through with some of my previous rigs. This product is about as close to 'plug and play' easy as one can get while offering tonal options tremendously superior to standard under-the-saddle pickup arrangements. At this point, I would not hesitate to recommend K&K products to my touring friends." Doug Alan Wilcox (September 2004 Artist of the Month)

"Seriously folks, look no further. This is the holy-grail --- the mother of all acoustic pickup systems. I nearly crapped my pants when I heard it. And believe me I've heard plenty of acoustic pickup systems in my day..." Oscar H.

"Love my K&K Pure Mini pickups! I've had one on my Collings D1A for over a year now and its worked out great. Small venues or large, I always get great tone and plenty of volume. I'm constantly getting comments on how good my Collings sounds live. And that's without a mic!" David Berchtold (June 2004 Artist of the Month)

"I just purchased the Pure System and want to let you know how great I think it is. It does exactly what you said it would do. It sounds great, unlike saddle pickups and it is resistant to feedback. I'm really surprised at how much output it has for a passive system..." J. Willis (Houston, TX)

"I run the transducers dry into a Carvin Stage Mate portable PA . I get better sound running the K&K's dry than I have heard with any other transducer regardless of how they process the signal..." Mike K.

"I have installed the Pure System and I am very impressed. The amplified sound is very true to the acoustic tone and it sounds full, warm and woody through an amp. I was pleasantly surprised at the high output even in passive operation..." Jack R. (Bolton, MA)

"The sound these transducers reproduce is warm, woody and full bodies with an incredible sparkling range. My trusty Guild 12 String never sounded better!" Rick H. (Dayton, OH)

"...I installed the Pure Pickup in a 1938 d-18 Martin and plugged it in my test amp. I actually thought something was wrong with the amp for this guitar to sound so good without a preamp. The guitar sounded loud, full, warm and responsive. It is all you could ever want in a pickup and it's simple to apply. Even as this was my first time with your pickup, I can assure you it's not my last..." R.E. Griffin (Griffin Guitars, GA)

"I bought the Pure Mini pickups for my main guitar and it really make it come alive, so much so that within a few weeks I bought the system to use on my other stage guitar. Excellent system, service, and transaction!" Tom B.

"The bottom line is that this pickup has got to be the most natural sounding, least obtrusive embellishment to any acoustic guitar I have had the pleasure to try. It retains the sound characteristics of my Taylor, only adding volume via the sound system it's plugged into. Absolute acoustic sound. That is what I've been looking for and am I glad I tried it." Walter Noller

"I received the Pure Mini and I love it. It is truly the best pickup I've ever used. Also it is the only one that is absolutely quiet when recorded. Thank you!" Gary S.

"Revolutionary for the acoustic guitar! Great Product; Great Service. Thanks! AAA+" Ebay user strum4u

"I bought the Pure Mini Pickup for my main guitar and it really made it come alive, so much so that within a few weeks I bought the system to use on my other stage guitar. Excellent system, service and transaction." Tom B.

" I could not believe the great acoustical sound I got from this product. It's great!! K&K, you're the best!!" Edgar V.

Silver Bullet Mic

"Great Product (even better than described)! Fast Service! Highly Recommended!" Ebay user evilgeniusorchestra

"I just want to say that the Silver Bullet is amazing! I play in a Celitc duo and had just been playing my Irish flute through a Shure vocal mic. Only with the Silver Bullet do I realize the sound that I've been missing. It's like someone turned on the light! The flute comes alive! Thanks a lot!" Bruce Hedman

Trinity System

"I just wanted to tell you how absolutely thrilled I am with your Trinity Mini pickup system. I had cringed through many months of ear-splitting feedback from another pickup system - which shall remain nameless here, when I stumbled upon a user review at Harmony-Central.com. Actually the review was for another pickup system - which shall also remain nameless - that praised your pickup over the one that was being reviewed. ... I took a deep breath and installed the system myself. It took about an hour - start to finish - to install, and with great trepidation, I plugged in... Oh my word! I did not realize my guitar could sound so good through a PA! The sound engineer at the venue was very impressed with the Trinity System, and the musician, who shared the bill with me, was blown away by the warmth and quality of the sound. (I think your system has made a believer out of him as well.) I had searched high and low for a dual source system that was both reasonably priced and acoustically accurate in sound amplification. The Trinity Mini system is all of those things - and more. It's perfect! Thank you very much." Julie Payne (Jackson, WY)

"I use the K&K Trinity System simply because it is the best pickup system. Working in a guitar shop I have heard and tried many different pickups and none compare to the Trinity. The majority of the songs on my album, Pick It Up , were recorded with the help of this system. On the next album they all will be. I beginning to perform and promote my new CD and the K&K Trinity System will be right there with me. It is a dream in live situations." Bryan Roberts (West Virginia)

" In the middle of a recording session, but I just wanted to tell you that the Trinity System REALLY SOUNDS PHENOMENAL! Mike Gillies, who is engineering our sessions, said, 'It's absolutely remarkable. I just don't believe it. It's so well balanced and natural sounding. It's THE SOUND we want!' This is a guy who's heard it all, Metallica has EVERY GUITAR and possible setup you can imagine. Hundreds of guitars. So this is a big feather in your hat. We put it in Hayley's new Webber OM size guitar, which sounds totally amazing by itself... but the pickup translates it perfectly." Richard Sales (GlassWing Studio, Vancouver Island, BC)

"I tested the Fishman head to head with the K&K, and the difference was startling. The Trinity won hands down when compared to both the Natural 1 and Rare Earth Blend pickups, producing a truer-to-life sound compared to the harsh, electric sound of the Fishman. With the Trinity newly installed, I made recordings to compare the quality of the K&K with an AKG C2000B Studio mic - and found VERY LITTLE difference between the two systems. Gone now are the harsh, metallic and over-rich midrange of the Fishman, and instead - just the pure tone of my acoustic guitar. I'm going to replace all my Fishman units with K&Ks. This was a remarkable find and the best investment I have made to get a pure sound in both live performance and even recording. Thank you, K&K." Gregory Lygon

"I tried the the Trinity Classic on my new Goodall Crossover Nylon from the suggestion of Premier Guitars. I was reluctant based on the status quo of equipment I've used for years. But boy was I surprised. This is the most natural pickup I've heard, and I had previously tried everything but K&K. I'm in the process of choosing which system to go with for my steel string guitars!" Chris Bucheit (September 2005 Artist of the Month)

"The Mini Pure is just what i needed. I am using it in my Martin OOO28H. I wouldn't have done anything to alter that guitar, but I did want to be able to use it on occasional special gigs and recitals with a rhythm section, meaning just a mic wouldn't cut it. The Mini Pure adds no discernable weight to the guitar, and it sounds real, like a nice guitar should. So much better than an undersaddle sound; so logical. Fantastic pick up. Can't wait to get one for my nylon string." Jane Miller (May 2005 Artist of the Month)

"I was blown away with the pickup after using it for the first time with my Santa Cruz OM/PW without a preamp. The sound was clear and distinct. Very balanced overall without any nasty frequencies that usually show up if you use such a system without a preamp. I was instantly convinced that this is the system I'm going to use for all my guitars. I'm touring a lot and needed a hastle-free sound solution. K&K provided it!" Hans York (April 2005 Artist of the Month)

"As a 10-string guitarist, it has been a unique challenge, all the way, to create music, to find the best strings and to capture the resonance of the instrument while projecting it powerfully and clearly through sound systems at concert venues and festival systems. When I discovered and installed K&K's Trinity System, the challenge of sound enhancement got resolved. After I shock the "sound guys" at venues with the size of the 10-string guitar, I confidently proceed to plug in and balance my sound during the sound check. My performances include the virtuosic playing of my husband, Alan Brennan on jazz violin, who also uses the K&K System. Balancing our acoustic sound has become an easy and quick process no matter the size of the hall. When I travel and perform with my quartet, getting volume and a good sound with a 10-string acoustic guitar with a keyboardist and percussionist is another kind of working out. Again, with my own volume control when the music gets hotter during the performance, I can project my solos and accompanying without losing the crispness of the 10-string. I fully endorse this product." Janet Marlow (November 2002 AotM)

"The Trinity System sounds great. It was easy to install and the sound quality exceeds anything out there. Thanks for such a great guitar sound! Whoever invented this thing should be very proud of themselves." Chris Leatherman

"I have been extremely pleased with the installation of the "Pure Mini" mini-sensors and mini-mic in my 12 fret 000-style acoustic. Along with the Trinity 2 channel preamp, this system has exceeded my expectations of how good an onboard pickup system can be. Sound techs at the venues I've played have said the same." Paul Asbell

"I will be putting these in all my guitars. It is very natural, yet picks up nuances and harmonics beautifully. The Trinity is the best pickup I have ever used bar none." Tom Gindorf

"This is an amazing unit and I highly recommend it! Other pickups just don't sound like my instrument. This pickup sounds so good and natural!"

"With the Trinity System, I have the acoustic setup of my dreams! I could not ask of anything better. I love the pure and transparent quality of your Trinity system. It actually amplifies the acoustic sound of my guitar without tainting it with it's own sound. It's exactly what I was looking for."

"We installed your system into one of our guitars and....CONGRATULATIONS! I can say that it's a great system!"

"I compared it to about 70% of the most popular acoustic amplification products reviewed on Harmony Central. This includes comparisons to Taylor's systems, etc. By the way, their technical support is unreal! My Luthier had a couple of installation questions that were handled promptly and with great technical aptitude, courtesy of K&K sounds technical engineer. I don't hand out 10s very easily. In fact if I could, I would give this thing an 11 --- one louder!"

"If Beethoven were here today, he'd choose K&K!" Ebay user strum4u

Twin Spot

"After trying nearly every kind of acoustic instrument pickups on the market, I was convinced that noone was manufacturing a really good pickup for banjo or resonator guitar. Then I tried the Twin Spot Internal on my banjo, and I am impressed by the sound quality I am now able to achieve in live concerts. I now use K&K pickups on almost all of my instruments. Even without an expensive pre-amp, my K&K pickups deliver a sweet, warm acoustic tone without the thin, shrill, tinny sound common to most other acoustic instrument pickup systems. I personally own five K&K pickup systems. They seem to work great on just about every kind of acoustic instrument." Alex Kirt (October 2005 Artist of the Month)

"I just received and put into service a Big Shot transducer for my mandolin and a Twin Spot Classic for my tenor banjo. Not only is the sound superb but the output is phenomenal!" Bennett Cohen

"I installed the Twin Spot Internal into my mandolin this weekend and WOW! What a terrific sound! You guys make an awesome, AWESOME product!! Thanks again!" Robert Rexrode

"I have two Twin Spot Internals, one for my octave mandolin and one for my tiple. They both sound incredible! Very transparent, they don't colour the sound, they reproduce the instruments sound faithfully. Thanks so much for making incredible sounding, affordable pickups for the oddball instruments I play! Also, while switching one of the pickups to a new instrument, I couldn't find some of the leftover sticky tape, and I e-mailed you folks to buy some more. K&K Sound mailed me some immediately, along with another set of installation instructions, for no charge, not even postage! Company support like this is virtually unheard of nowadays, and it made my next purchase easy." Greg Turcotte (Ontario, Canada)

K&K Vibraphone Amplification System

"Thanks so much for the system. It is the best I have ever used." Lionell Hampton

"There is ONE midi-audio-vibe system on the planet that works. It's compact, virtually indestructible and easy to use. I recommend the K&K system highly to vibists." (Midi system has been discontinued, audio system is available, K&K) Mike Mainieri

"The K&K MIDI /audio system is reliable and road worthy. It consistently sounds great!" (Midi system has been discontinued, audio system is available, K&K) Dave Samuels (Caribbean Jazz Project, Spyro Gyra)

"Finally, a technically mature system that really works. The octave separation is extremely valuable." Manfred Burzlaff (Professor for Vibraphone)

"K&K pickups for my marimba are great- at last I can be heard. They sound crystal clear with best sensitivity." Bill Molenhof

"I've been using the K&K vibraphone pickups since 1995, and they've been rock solid and consistent from day one. The pickups have allowed me to completely transform my sound, turning my vibraphone into an electric instrument and allowing me to make extensive use of effects processing like chorus, delay, and pitch shifting. While I have (from time to time) used the picukps purely to amplify the acoustic sound of the instrument, it's in this electronic application where the technology really shines." James Walker

"K&K vibraphone pickups and the Midi Master having been traveling with me for 15 years and I've been loving them from day one! I can crank them to eleven like a guitarist if need be, while using cool effects to enhance my vibe sound, or get a beautiful sound in the studio. You can hear them on my latest CD 'Transition Sonic' where the pick up sounds blend with the trumpet effects of Cuong Vu (Pat Metheny). Or come on out to one of upcoming shows (below) while on tour." (Midi system has been discontinued, audio system is available, K&K) Matthias Lupri (June 2005 Artist of the Month)

"My vibe pickup and the marimba system, they're fantastic!" Mauro Refosco (Vibe and marimba, David Byrne Band)

"Thank you for all, your mallet MIDI / audio system is truly excellent!" (Midi system has been discontinued, audio system is available, K&K) Dr. Ney Rosauro

"I have been using the K&K Midimaster and the audio pickup system for over 10 years. It's been extremly roadworthy and survived baggage handlers everywhere. A few years back I had my Marimba wired with K&K pickups. I have been using it live and for recording. I recently played marimba on 2 tracks on a Larry Vuckovich recording 'Blue Bulkan, Then & Now'." (Midi system has been discontinued, audio system is available, K&K) Tommy Kesecker

"K&K vibraphone pickups are 'happening'. They give the true sound of the instrument and enhance any Midi device you use with it." Emil Richards (Member of PAS Hall of Fame)

"I have used the K&K System in every possible musical context from big bands and fusion groups down to the most intimate duo situation...great sound and absolute reliablity...there is nothing better on the market." Tom van der Geld

Violinissimo

"The K&K Violinissimo is the new wounderthing for violinists who want to amplify their instrument. The pickup gives you a full and powerfull sound in soft and loud situations, always maintaining the acoustic range and natural qualities of your violin." Rudi Berger (June 2006 Artist of the Month)

"I love the Violinissomo! It gives me a more natural sound on my fiddle than anything I have ever tried. It seems to sound best with basically no EQ at all. Thanks for such a great sounding pickup!" Jim E.

"The pickup has a gorgeous and full sound that has helped land us a regular spot at the bar we debuted. I just wanted to let you know that your product and service are exquisite." Craig N.

"The Violinissimo is vastly superior to the Barcus Berry transducer I was using. Now my amplified sound is 'musical' and natural sounding instead of 'touch-tone like.' I've gotten many compliments on my sound." Joel B.

"I play just about every style of violin and the pickup is so natural sounding. It makes it fun again to play with a sound like the Violinissimo gives my instrument!" Jimmy