Brian Holwerda
Both of my main acoustics—a ’95 Martin D-35 and a ’66 Guild D-50—run the K&K Pure Mini. I plug straight into my preamp with just a touch of compression, EQ, reverb, and delay. What I like is how natural it stays. It sounds like the guitar I’m holding, whether I’m recording in Nashville or playing a small room back home in Montana.
I use the K&K on all my acoustic work, whether I’m on stage or tracking in the studio. A live mic blended with the Pure Mini direct has become my go-to—natural tone, easy to work with, and it always finds its place in the mix.
Brian Holwerda is a songwriter based in western Montana, where he lives on a 37,000-acre ranch along the Blackfoot River. A three-time San Diego Music Award winner with sync placements in Super Troopers 2 and Franklin & Bash, Brian spent years working in the Southern California and Nashville scenes before settling in Montana. His writing leans toward Americana and folk—simple, direct, and shaped by the places he’s lived.
For his acoustic tone, Brian uses K&K Pure Mini pickups in both of his main guitars: a 1995 Martin D-35 Anniversary Model and a 1966 Guild D-50. He runs them direct into his preamp with only slight compression, EQ, reverb, and delay—leaning on the Pure Mini to deliver a clean, natural signal that stays consistent in both live and recording settings. What he hears from the guitar is what comes through the board.
Brian records his solo material in Nashville with longtime collaborator Ben Simonetti (Zac Brown Band) and will begin releasing new singles in February. A free pre-release download is available at brianholwerdamusic.com. When he’s home, he plays a weekly acoustic night at a local Montana bar and performs around the Pacific Northwest.
