Company: B-Band

Pickup: B-Band Core 99 (Taylor 914c)

Test #1   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: B-Band Core 99 (B-Band)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A 1995 Englemann Spruce, Indian Rosewood cutaway. B-Band Core 99 pickup with undersaddle pickup and B-Band Mic. The mic is installed in an alternate position sugested in the B-Band manual, aimed at the soundboard behind the bridge. The mic roll-off switch was not activated in this test. This was a new model when this test was recorded, but B-Band has discontinued it, replaced by later model. The A 2.2 is the latest in the B-Band line, and is similar, but improved.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup UST Pickup Int Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: B-Band 1470 AST (Hamblin Concert)

Test #3   Guitar: Hamblin Concert (Kent Hamblin)   Pickup: B-Band 1470 AST (B-Band)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A concert sized guitar by Kent Hamblin. Englemann spruce and Brazilian rosewood. The B-Band 1470 AST, mounted in the recommended location under the saddle.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: B-Band 1470 AST plus Internal Mic (Collings OM3)

Test #4   Guitar: Collings OM3 (Collings Guitars)   Pickup: B-Band 1470 AST plus Internal Mic (B-Band)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Sitka and Indian Rosewood Collings OM. B-Band 1470 AST with the B-Band Mic, thru and A2 preamp.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup AST Pickup Int Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: B-Band A2 (Collings OM3)

Test #7   Guitar: Collings OM3 (Collings Guitars)   Pickup: B-Band A2 (B-Band)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Hamblin Concert but with a B-Band UST/AST A2.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Company: Bob Colosi

Pickup: L.R. Baggs LB6/Bob Colosi bone saddle (Olson SJ)

Test #82   Guitar: Olson SJ (James Olson)   Pickup: L.R. Baggs LB6/Bob Colosi bone saddle (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Olson SJ with an L.R. Baggs LB6 made with a Bob Colosi-supplied bone saddle
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Company: DPA

Pickup: DPA 4099 (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #83   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: DPA 4099 (DPA)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: RME Fireface 800
Martin OM28LJB with a DPA 4099 clip-on mic. So this is not really a pickup, but like the Radio Shack mic, it's an alternative for those who are able to use a guitar-mounted mic. The 4099 can sound very different with small position changes. I had the mic attached to the upper bout, aimed at about the 15th fret.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: DPA 4099 (Ryan Mission Grand Concert)

Test #84   Guitar: Ryan Mission Grand Concert (Ryan Guitars)   Pickup: DPA 4099 (DPA)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: RME Fireface 800
Ryan Mission Grand Concert with DPA 4099. The 4099 can sound very different with small position changes. I had the mic attached to the upper bout, aimed at about the 15th fret.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic/DPA 4099 (Ryan Mission Grand Concert)

Test #86   Guitar: Ryan Mission Grand Concert (Ryan Guitars)   Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic/DPA 4099 (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
This is a different sort of test, there is only the EQd track. People often ask me what I use, and this is the direct output of my rig with a relatively new addition of a DPA 4099 clip-on mic, without the speakers. A Ryan Mission Grand Concert, with a Seymour Duncan MagMic, K&K minis, the DPA 4099, into a Pendulum SPS-1, with a TC Electronic G-Major reverb. I often have to run this system in mono, but when I can, I like to run it with slight stereo spread, the way it's recorded here. Also see Test 85.
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: Wavelength + DPA 4061 mic (Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM)

Test #93   Guitar: Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Wavelength + DPA 4061 mic (DTar)
Installation: Martin-installed Wavelength - my DPA install   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
This is an enhancement to the Wavelength, adding a small mini-condenser mic to the 2nd channel. Laurence Juber uses a similar setup with an Audix mic. After seeing his setup, I decided to try myself, and the DPA 4061 is a similar small condenser to what LJ uses. This test has the mic and pickup panned hard left and right. Also see tests 94 (mono) and 95 (a narrower stereo blend)
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup DPA only Pickup Wavelength only
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1

Pickup: Wavelength + DPA 4061 mic (Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM)

Test #94   Guitar: Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Wavelength + DPA 4061 mic (DTar)
Installation: Martin-installed Wavelength - my DPA install   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
Same setup as test 93, but the with SPS-1 set to mono out.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1s

Pickup: Wavelength + DPA 4061 mic (Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM)

Test #95   Guitar: Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Wavelength + DPA 4061 mic (DTar)
Installation: Martin-installed Wavelgnth - My DPA install   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
Same setup as test 93, but with the two pickups panned about 10 and 2 o'clock. This would be a reasonable starting point for a recorded sound with this setup. The mix file has a little EQ and a little reverb added
Pickup (Stereo)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1

Pickup: K&K Mini + DPA 4061, with DTar Wavelength preamp (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #96   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: K&K Mini + DPA 4061, with DTar Wavelength preamp (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS1
A "Frankenstein" system consisting of a K&K Mini, a DPA 4061 mic, and a DTar Wavelength preamp, which provides phantom power for the 4061. The K&K replaces the normal wavelength UST. As always the stereo file has the mic and pickup panned hard left and right, not a practical sound in most cases for live. The mono sound is more representative of how you'd use the pick in most live situations. The mix sound is a bit narrower, and optimized for a recording application, with a bit of reverb, and still a significant stereo spread
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1

Company: DTar

Pickup: DTar Wavelength (Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM)

Test #91   Guitar: Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: DTar Wavelength (DTar)
Installation: Martin Factory Install   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
A Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM, with a Martin-installed Wavelength pickup.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: Wavelength + DPA 4061 mic (Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM)

Test #93   Guitar: Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Wavelength + DPA 4061 mic (DTar)
Installation: Martin-installed Wavelength - my DPA install   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
This is an enhancement to the Wavelength, adding a small mini-condenser mic to the 2nd channel. Laurence Juber uses a similar setup with an Audix mic. After seeing his setup, I decided to try myself, and the DPA 4061 is a similar small condenser to what LJ uses. This test has the mic and pickup panned hard left and right. Also see tests 94 (mono) and 95 (a narrower stereo blend)
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup DPA only Pickup Wavelength only
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1

Pickup: Wavelength + DPA 4061 mic (Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM)

Test #94   Guitar: Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Wavelength + DPA 4061 mic (DTar)
Installation: Martin-installed Wavelength - my DPA install   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
Same setup as test 93, but the with SPS-1 set to mono out.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1s

Pickup: Wavelength + DPA 4061 mic (Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM)

Test #95   Guitar: Martin LJ-Pro Maple OM (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Wavelength + DPA 4061 mic (DTar)
Installation: Martin-installed Wavelgnth - My DPA install   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
Same setup as test 93, but with the two pickups panned about 10 and 2 o'clock. This would be a reasonable starting point for a recorded sound with this setup. The mix file has a little EQ and a little reverb added
Pickup (Stereo)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1

Company: Dazzo

Pickup: Dazzo (Taylor 914c)

Test #100   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: Dazzo (Dazzo)
Installation: Teddy Randazzo Installation   Preamp: L.R. Baggs venue
This is a pair of Dazzo pickups, a #52 on the bass side, a #60 on the treble side, wired in mono.
Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1s

Pickup: Dazzo (Ryan Mission Grand Concert)

Test #103   Guitar: Ryan Mission Grand Concert (Ryan Guitars)   Pickup: Dazzo (Dazzo)
Installation: Teddy Randazzo   Preamp: L.R. Baggs Venue
A pair of Dazzo's, a #52 on the bass side, #60 on the treble. The Mix file is EQ'd to be as close to the external Mic's EQ curve as possible, slightly stereoized with a plugin, and a bit of reverb added.
Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1s

Pickup: Dazzo (Taylor 914c)

Test #104   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: Dazzo (Dazzo)
Installation: Teddy Randazzo installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS1
This is a pair of Dazzo's, #52 and #60 (treble side), same as in Test #100, but wired in stereo, so you're hearing one pickup hard panned left,the other hard panned right. The EQd version has some very light EQ and a touch of reverb.
Pickup (Stereo)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1s

Company: Dean Markley

Pickup: Dean Markley Pro Mag SC-1 (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #74   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Dean Markley Pro Mag SC-1 (Dean Markley)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with a Dean Markley
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Company: Fishman

Pickup: Fishman Matrix Blender (Taylor 514C)

Test #13   Guitar: Taylor 514C (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: Fishman Matrix Blender (Fishman)
Installation: Taylor Factory Installation.   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A 2000 Taylor with the stock Fishman blender. Recorded with just the pickup, pickup plus internal mic with a 50-50 blend, and just the internal fishman mic. All tone controls were set flat.
Pickup (Mono)
Pickup UST Pickup Int Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Fishman Rare Earth Blend (Collings OM3)

Test #27   Guitar: Collings OM3 (Collings Guitars)   Pickup: Fishman Rare Earth Blend (Fishman)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Collings OM3, with a Rare Earth Blend. The mic was in the lower 1/3 of the sound hold, pointing up toward the strings. The "pickup only" take was recorded with the blend control all the way to the "mic off" position. The mic blend was with the blend control at it's center detente position.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Fishman SBT (Martin DM Dreadnought)

Test #36   Guitar: Martin DM Dreadnought (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Fishman SBT (Fishman)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Stringed Instruments   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin DM Dreadnaught/Fishman SBT. The Fishman SBT is claimed to be for a classical guitar, but Mike has one installed in this dreadnaught.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Fishman Rare Earth Blend (Taylor 914c)

Test #61   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: Fishman Rare Earth Blend (Fishman)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Fishman Rare Earth Blend in a Taylor 914C. Mic is completely off, magnetic pickup only.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Fishman Rare Earth Blend (Taylor 914c)

Test #62   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: Fishman Rare Earth Blend (Fishman)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Fishman Rare Earth Blend in a Taylor 914C. Mic is in the center detent position, equal blend.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: Fishman Rare Earth Blend (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #64   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Fishman Rare Earth Blend (Fishman)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with Fishman Rare Earth Blend with the mic turned off
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: Fishman Rare Earth Blend (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #65   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Fishman Rare Earth Blend (Fishman)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with a Fishman Rare Earth Blend, with the mic in the center detent position
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: Fishman Rare Earth Blend (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #66   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Fishman Rare Earth Blend (Fishman)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with a Fishman Rare Earth Blend, with the mic all the way up
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Fishman Blackstack (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #101   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Fishman Blackstack (Fishman)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1s

Company: Highlander

Pickup: L.R Baggs Ribbon/Highlander mic (McCollum Grand Concert)

Test #15   Guitar: McCollum Grand Concert (McCollum)   Pickup: L.R Baggs Ribbon/Highlander mic (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: By Lance McCollum   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A Cedar top/Koa McCollum Grand Auditorium, with an L.R. Baggs Ribbon pickup combined with a Highlander Mic, with a Baggs Double Barrel internal preamp. . The electronics were installed by Lance McCollum. This guitar was strung with Elixer Polyweb Strings.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Highlander IP-1 (Sobel Model 1)

Test #19   Guitar: Sobel Model 1 (Sobell)   Pickup: Highlander IP-1 (Highlander)
Installation: By Sobell   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Brazilian and European Spruce Sobell Model 1 with the Highlander IP-1 undersaddle pickup.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Highlander IP2 (Martin 16 Dreadnought)

Test #31   Guitar: Martin 16 Dreadnought (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Highlander IP2 (Highlander)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Stringed Instruments   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin 16 Series Dreadnaught/Baggs M1. Tests 30-32 were all done with the same guitar, provided by Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, CA. This guitar was loaded up by Mike Gold and company at Gryphon to demo multiple pickups. The guitar had Elixer Polyweb strings on it. If you have a chance to stop by Gryphon, you can try the guitar and its pickups out for yourself. All three systems are installed simultaneously. I originally intended to record all three at once, but discovered I didn't have enough inputs of the same type to be fair. I believe I ended up recording the M1 and the Trance System at the same time (along with the Mics), with the M1 running thru the Raven Labs PMB-1.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup Pickup
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Highlander IP-1 (Bown Baritone)

Test #38   Guitar: Bown Baritone (Ralph Bown)   Pickup: Highlander IP-1 (Highlander)
Installation: Ralph Bown   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Ralph Bown Baritone/Highlander IP1 pickup. Also tuned to down to B. The Highlander IP1 undersaddle pickup was installed by Ralph Bown.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Company: Joe Mills

Pickup: PUTW #27/Joe Mills Mic (Martin 16 Dreadnought)

Test #21   Guitar: Martin 16 Dreadnought (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: PUTW #27/Joe Mills Mic (Pickup-the-World)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A Joe Mills Mic paired with a PUTW #27. The Joe Mills was phantom powered from the Raven Labs PMB-1. The #27 was preamped with a PUTW Line Driver, then into the PMB-1. The line driver is something David Enke made for me that passes the second channel straight through, in this case allowing the phantom power from the PMB-1 to reach the mic as well. Slight bass cut on the mic, at the Raven Labs preamp.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup #27 Pickup Mills Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Feather/Joe Mills Mic (Martin 16 Dreadnought)

Test #22   Guitar: Martin 16 Dreadnought (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Feather/Joe Mills Mic (McIntyre)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A similar setup to test #21, but with a McIntyre Acoustic Feather in the place of the PUTW #27. Both the feather and the Mic went directly to the Raven Labs PMB-1, which again provides phantom power for the mic. Slight bass cut on the mic, at the Raven Labs preamp
Pickup (Mono)
Pickup Feather Pickup Mills Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: K&K Mini/Joe Mills mic (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #80   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: K&K Mini/Joe Mills mic (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with K&K mini and Joe Mills mic
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup K&K Pickup Mills mic
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: Feather/Joe Mills Mic (Fabrizio Alberico OM)

Test #88   Guitar: Fabrizio Alberico OM (Fabrizio Alberico)   Pickup: Feather/Joe Mills Mic (McIntyre)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A newer McIntyre Feather installed in a Fabrizio Alberico guitar owned by Anton Emery. The EQd track is "stereoized"
Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Company: K&K

Pickup: K&K Pure Western/mic (Tacoma DM-18)

Test #16   Guitar: Tacoma DM-18 (Tacoma)   Pickup: K&K Pure Western/mic (K&K)
Installation: Dieter at K&K   Preamp: K&K Quantum Blender
This guitar, a D-18 style guitar with D'Addario EJ-16 strings, has a passive K&K transducer with the K&K mic. Pickups were superglued directly to the guitar, and the installation was done by Dieter at K&K. Dieter is the designer of the K&K pickups. His comment on this recording was that it most resembled the sound he expected from his pickups. The recording was made thru a K&K Quantum Blender. The mic channel tones controls were set flat (completely counterclockwise) and all pickup tone controls were set at the 9 o'clock position. Also see example #25. Pickup installation and guitar selection by K&K Sound. The mic on this guitar was in a rather unusual position, parallel to the strings, near the base of the neck.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup SBT only Pickup Int K&K Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Sunrise/K&K mic (Taylor 914c)

Test #23   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: Sunrise/K&K mic (Sunrise)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A Sunrise magnetic soundhole pickup, along and paired with a Mic. In this case, I used the K&K Mic, which is not normally something you'd use standalone, but it was already installed, so this provides some idea of the Sunrise paired with a mic. Both the pickup and the mic were directly into the Raven Labs PMB-1 preamp. Slight bass cut on the mic, at the Raven Labs preamp.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup Sunrise Pickup K&K Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: K&K Pure Western/mic (Tacoma DM-18)

Test #25   Guitar: Tacoma DM-18 (Tacoma)   Pickup: K&K Pure Western/mic (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Same setup as #16, but using the Raven Labs PMB-1 preamp. All controls were set to flat, except for a slight bass cut on the mic. Compare this sound with #16, which uses a K&K Quantum Blender preamp designed to best match the K&K pickups.
Pickup (Mono)
Pickup SBT Pickup K&K Int Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic (Ryan Mission Grand Concert)

Test #78   Guitar: Ryan Mission Grand Concert (Ryan Guitars)   Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Ryan Mission Grand Concert with a Duncan MagMic and K&K mini. The mic on the MagMic is at about 30%
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup K&K Pickup MagMic
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic (Hamblin Concert)

Test #79   Guitar: Hamblin Concert (Kent Hamblin)   Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Hamblin Concert with a Duncan MagMic and K&K mini. The mic on the MagMic is at about 30%
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup K&K Pickup MagMic
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: K&K Mini/Joe Mills mic (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #80   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: K&K Mini/Joe Mills mic (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with K&K mini and Joe Mills mic
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup K&K Pickup Mills mic
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: K&K Mini (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #81   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: K&K Mini (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with K&K mini alone
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic (Ryan Mission Grand Concert)

Test #85   Guitar: Ryan Mission Grand Concert (Ryan Guitars)   Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
This is a different sort of test, there is only the EQd track. People often ask me what I use, and this is the direct output of my rig the way it's been for the past year or so, without the speakers. A Ryan Mission Grand Concert, with a Seymour Duncan MagMic, and K&K minis, into a Pendulum SPS-1, with a TC Electronic G-Major reverb. I often have to run this system in mono, but when I can, I like to run it with slight stereo spread, the way it's recorded here.
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic/DPA 4099 (Ryan Mission Grand Concert)

Test #86   Guitar: Ryan Mission Grand Concert (Ryan Guitars)   Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic/DPA 4099 (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
This is a different sort of test, there is only the EQd track. People often ask me what I use, and this is the direct output of my rig with a relatively new addition of a DPA 4099 clip-on mic, without the speakers. A Ryan Mission Grand Concert, with a Seymour Duncan MagMic, K&K minis, the DPA 4099, into a Pendulum SPS-1, with a TC Electronic G-Major reverb. I often have to run this system in mono, but when I can, I like to run it with slight stereo spread, the way it's recorded here. Also see Test 85.
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: K&K Mini + DPA 4061, with DTar Wavelength preamp (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #96   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: K&K Mini + DPA 4061, with DTar Wavelength preamp (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS1
A "Frankenstein" system consisting of a K&K Mini, a DPA 4061 mic, and a DTar Wavelength preamp, which provides phantom power for the 4061. The K&K replaces the normal wavelength UST. As always the stereo file has the mic and pickup panned hard left and right, not a practical sound in most cases for live. The mono sound is more representative of how you'd use the pick in most live situations. The mix sound is a bit narrower, and optimized for a recording application, with a bit of reverb, and still a significant stereo spread
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1

Company: L.R. Baggs

Pickup: IBeam Passive (Taylor 514C)

Test #2   Guitar: Taylor 514C (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: IBeam Passive (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A Cedar/Mahogany Taylor without any Taylor/Fishman electronics. The I-Beam was installed with the I-Beam tool, positioned under the bridge, but mounted with a piece of 3M double sided tape, suggested by the folks at More Music in Santa Cruz.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: IBeam Passive (Goodall Concert Jumbo)

Test #8   Guitar: Goodall Concert Jumbo (Goodall Guitars)   Pickup: IBeam Passive (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A Sitka/Indian Rosewood Goodall. Standard I-Beam placement and installation using the supplied Jig and tape.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: L.R. Baggs LB6 (Olson SJ)

Test #9   Guitar: Olson SJ (James Olson)   Pickup: L.R. Baggs LB6 (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: Installed by Jim Olson   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A 2000 Cedar/Indian Olson, with an Olson-installed LB6 pickup
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: L.R Baggs Ribbon/Highlander mic (McCollum Grand Concert)

Test #15   Guitar: McCollum Grand Concert (McCollum)   Pickup: L.R Baggs Ribbon/Highlander mic (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: By Lance McCollum   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A Cedar top/Koa McCollum Grand Auditorium, with an L.R. Baggs Ribbon pickup combined with a Highlander Mic, with a Baggs Double Barrel internal preamp. . The electronics were installed by Lance McCollum. This guitar was strung with Elixer Polyweb Strings.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: L.R Baggs Dual Source Ribbon/mic (Goodall Concert Jumbo)

Test #18   Guitar: Goodall Concert Jumbo (Goodall Guitars)   Pickup: L.R Baggs Dual Source Ribbon/mic (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Same guitar as #8, but with a Baggs Dual Source, ribbon + mic. This is the model with the controls that mount on the guitar in the soundhole. The mic is in a small foam block, and was placed on the back, opposite the sound hole.
Pickup (Mono)
Pickup Ribbon
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: L.R. Baggs Active Element (Taylor 914c)

Test #20   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: L.R. Baggs Active Element (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Taylor 914C with a Baggs Active Element undersaddle pickup.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: L. R. Baggs M1 Passive (Martin 16 Dreadnought)

Test #30   Guitar: Martin 16 Dreadnought (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: L. R. Baggs M1 Passive (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Stringed Instruments   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin 16 Series Dreadnaught/Baggs M1. Tests 30-32 were all done with the same guitar, provided by Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, CA. This guitar was loaded up by Mike Gold and company at Gryphon to demo multiple pickups. The guitar had Elixer Polyweb strings on it. If you have a chance to stop by Gryphon, you can try the guitar and its pickups out for yourself. All three systems are installed simultaneously. I originally intended to record all three at once, but discovered I didn't have enough inputs of the same type to be fair. I believe I ended up recording the M1 and the Trance System at the same time (along with the Mics), with the M1 running thru the Raven Labs PMB-1.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: L.R. Baggs Active Element (Martin DM Dreadnought)

Test #33   Guitar: Martin DM Dreadnought (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: L.R. Baggs Active Element (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Stringed Instruments   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin DM Dreadnaught/Baggs Active Element. This is a second guitar provided by Gryphon, and available to be played at the store. This one has 4 different pickups installed. This guitar also had Elixer Polyweb strings.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: IBeam passive (Martin DM Dreadnought)

Test #34   Guitar: Martin DM Dreadnought (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: IBeam passive (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Stringed Instruments   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin DM Dreadnaught/IBeam. This was a passive IBeam, run directly into the Raven Labs PMB1
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: L. R. Baggs M1 Passive (Olson SJ)

Test #40   Guitar: Olson SJ (James Olson)   Pickup: L. R. Baggs M1 Passive (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Olson SJ/Baggs M1. The Baggs M1 magnetic pickup, passive version.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: L. R. Baggs M1 Passive (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #63   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: L. R. Baggs M1 Passive (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with an L.R Baggs M1 Passive
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: L.R. Baggs Dual Source/Element (Martin Kit OM)

Test #77   Guitar: Martin Kit OM (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: L.R. Baggs Dual Source/Element (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: Tom Lamson   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A Martin OM "Kit Guitar" built by Tom Lamson, with an L.R. Baggs Dual Source with an Element UST instead of the usual Ribbon.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup Element Pickup Int Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: L.R. Baggs LB6/Bob Colosi bone saddle (Olson SJ)

Test #82   Guitar: Olson SJ (James Olson)   Pickup: L.R. Baggs LB6/Bob Colosi bone saddle (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Olson SJ with an L.R. Baggs LB6 made with a Bob Colosi-supplied bone saddle
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: L.R. Baggs Anthem (Larrivee)

Test #92   Guitar: Larrivee (Larrivee)   Pickup: L.R. Baggs Anthem (L.R. Baggs)
Installation: Baggs Factory Install   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
A prototype version of the L.R. Baggs Anthem installed by Baggs in an all mahogany Larrivee.
Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/MK41

Company: Lace

Pickup: Lace CA (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #67   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Lace CA (Lace)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with Lace CA Acoustic magnetic pickup
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Company: McIntyre

Pickup: Feather/Joe Mills Mic (Martin 16 Dreadnought)

Test #22   Guitar: Martin 16 Dreadnought (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Feather/Joe Mills Mic (McIntyre)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A similar setup to test #21, but with a McIntyre Acoustic Feather in the place of the PUTW #27. Both the feather and the Mic went directly to the Raven Labs PMB-1, which again provides phantom power for the mic. Slight bass cut on the mic, at the Raven Labs preamp
Pickup (Mono)
Pickup Feather Pickup Mills Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Feather/Joe Mills Mic (Fabrizio Alberico OM)

Test #88   Guitar: Fabrizio Alberico OM (Fabrizio Alberico)   Pickup: Feather/Joe Mills Mic (McIntyre)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A newer McIntyre Feather installed in a Fabrizio Alberico guitar owned by Anton Emery. The EQd track is "stereoized"
Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Company: MiniFlex

Pickup: MiniFlex 2Mic Model 1 (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #87   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: MiniFlex 2Mic Model 1 (MiniFlex)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS1
The EQd track is stereoized
Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/MK41

Pickup: MiniFlex 2Mic Model 2 (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #90   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: MiniFlex 2Mic Model 2 (MiniFlex)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
The Miniflex Model 2 in a Brazilian Martin LJ OM
Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/MK41

Pickup: Miniflex 2Mic Model 7 (Taylor 914c)

Test #102   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: Miniflex 2Mic Model 7 (MiniFlex)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: AEA RPQ - studio preamp direct
The model 7 2Mic is a 48-volt phantom powered mic. For this test, I skipped any guitar specific preamp, and went direct into my recording console, similar to going direct to a PA mixer with phantom power. The EQd file has some EQ applied to try to match the harmonic balance of the external mics on this recording, and then just a touch of reverb added.
Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1s

Company: Ovation

Pickup: Ovation (Ovation Adamus)

Test #14   Guitar: Ovation Adamus (Ovation)   Pickup: Ovation (Ovation)
Installation: Ovation Factory   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A 1985 Ovation guitar, with the Ovation pickup. Someone suggested via e-mail that Ovation was the "standard" for pickups, so I added this as a comparison point. A very different guitar than any of the others here.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Company: Pickup-the-World

Pickup: PUTW Stealth (Martin OM18)

Test #10   Guitar: Martin OM18 (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: PUTW Stealth (Pickup-the-World)
Installation: Installed by Fran Guidry   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A sitka/mahogany OM18V, with a PUTW Stealth, installed by Fran Guidry. This pickup was recorded via a PUTW Line Driver, bypassing the Raven Labs preamp. This guitar was strung with Elixer Nanoweb strings.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: PUTW #27 (Wingert Model E)

Test #11   Guitar: Wingert Model E (Kathy Wingert)   Pickup: PUTW #27 (Pickup-the-World)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
2002 German Spruce/Cocabola Model 'E'. I temporarily installed a PUTW #27 directly under the saddle.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: PUTW #27 (Wingert Model E)

Test #12   Guitar: Wingert Model E (Kathy Wingert)   Pickup: PUTW #27 (Pickup-the-World)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Same as #11, but with pickup moved to a position on the bridge plate, just behind the bridge pins. David Enke at PUTW suggested that this position had been found to work better on a WIngert guitar.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: PUTW #27/Miniflex #136 mic (Bourgeois OM "Soloist")

Test #17   Guitar: Bourgeois OM "Soloist" (Bourgeois)   Pickup: PUTW #27/Miniflex #136 mic (Pickup-the-World)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A 2002 Pantheon/Swan European Spruce/Brazilan Rosewood OM, as spec'd by Steve Swan. After hearing the Trinity, with it's soundboard transducer plus Mic setup, I wanted to try the PUTW #27 paired with a mic. Here I used a MiniFlex #136 mic, with a 1.5 volt battery attached to the mic support.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup #27 Pickup MiniFlex Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: PUTW #27/Joe Mills Mic (Martin 16 Dreadnought)

Test #21   Guitar: Martin 16 Dreadnought (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: PUTW #27/Joe Mills Mic (Pickup-the-World)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A Joe Mills Mic paired with a PUTW #27. The Joe Mills was phantom powered from the Raven Labs PMB-1. The #27 was preamped with a PUTW Line Driver, then into the PMB-1. The line driver is something David Enke made for me that passes the second channel straight through, in this case allowing the phantom power from the PMB-1 to reach the mic as well. Slight bass cut on the mic, at the Raven Labs preamp.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup #27 Pickup Mills Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: PUTW #54 (Olson SJ)

Test #26   Guitar: Olson SJ (James Olson)   Pickup: PUTW #54 (Pickup-the-World)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Same guitar as #9, but I've replaced the LB6 saddle with a Bone Saddle. The pickups are Pickup The World #54, wired in stereo. This setup i basically 2 #27's, running along the X-brase on each side of the saddle. Run directly into the Raven Labs PMB-1.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: PUTW #40 (Kay 16 inch flattop)

Test #29   Guitar: Kay 16 inch flattop   Pickup: PUTW #40 (Pickup-the-World)
Installation: Installed by David Enke   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
"Big Mo" is an an old Kay flattop, with a mono PUTW #40 (dual #20s) with the onboard stealth preamp.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: PUTW #54 (McCollum Baritone)

Test #37   Guitar: McCollum Baritone (McCollum)   Pickup: PUTW #54 (Pickup-the-World)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
McCollum Baritone/PUTW #54. The baritones were tuned to "DADGAD" in B. This one uses a stereo PUTW #54. My installation.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: PUTW Dynamic Duo (Hamblin Concert)

Test #39   Guitar: Hamblin Concert (Kent Hamblin)   Pickup: PUTW Dynamic Duo (Pickup-the-World)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Hamblin Grand Concert/PUTW Dynamic Duo. This is a PUTW Stealth undersaddle pickup with a #27 wired together in parallel.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: PUTW #54 (Taylor 914c)

Test #41   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: PUTW #54 (Pickup-the-World)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Taylor 914/PUTW54 Stereo. Same setup as test 26, but installed in my Taylor 914C. My installation. The two pickups are panned hard left and hard right.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Company: Radio Shack

Pickup: Radio Shack lapel mic (Hamblin Concert)

Test #59   Guitar: Hamblin Concert (Kent Hamblin)   Pickup: Radio Shack lapel mic (Radio Shack)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Hamblin/Radio Shack lapel mic. $24 at Radio Shack, clipped to the edge of the sound hole below the strings. I seem to get about a question a day about these tracks! Note that this "lapel mic", is not a pickup, it's a condenser (electret) microphone, just a very, very cheap mic, so it's not too surprising that it sounds a lot more "mic-like" that many pickups without a microphone. It's not terribly practical for live use because it's not made to stand up to performance use, has a short cord with a battery in it, isn't very convenient to mount on the guitar, and is feedback prone. In spite that, some people do use it, reportedly, for live use as a replacement for a pickup, which is why I added it here. I just walked into my local Radio Shack and asked for their lapel mic. I now see it online here: http://www.radioshack.com/sm-hands-free-tie-clip-omnidirectional-electret--pi-2102927_tb-techSpecs.html
Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Company: SC Laboratories

Pickup: SCLabs GFP Active (Taylor 914c)

Test #24   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: SCLabs GFP Active (SC Laboratories)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A GFP undersaddle pickup from SC Laboratories. This is an active system, with an internal preamp in the end pin assembly.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Company: Schatten

Pickup: Schatten HFN Artist (Taylor 914c)

Test #50   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: Schatten HFN Artist (Schatten)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Taylor 914C/Schatten HFN Artist Series This is a new "soundboard transducer" type pickup installed in my Taylor 914.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Company: Schertler

Pickup: Schertler DynG (Hamblin Concert)

Test #57   Guitar: Hamblin Concert (Kent Hamblin)   Pickup: Schertler DynG (Schertler)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Hamblin Concert with a Schertler DynG, mounted with putty to the treble side of the bridge. This pickup needs a lot of EQ to sound good, be sure to check out the Mixed version.
Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Schertler DynG (Taylor 914c)

Test #58   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: Schertler DynG (Schertler)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Taylor 914 with a Schertler DynG, mounted with putty to the treble side of the bridge. This pickup/mic really seems to need some EQ, check out the EQ'd version for an example of how it can sound with a bit of adjustment.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Company: Seymour Duncan

Pickup: Seymore Duncan MagMic (Collings OM3)

Test #5   Guitar: Collings OM3 (Collings Guitars)   Pickup: Seymore Duncan MagMic (Seymour Duncan)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A Seymour Duncan Mag Mic, temporarily installed, withe mic mix control set so the mic is completely out of the mix.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Seymore Duncan MagMic (Collings OM3)

Test #6   Guitar: Collings OM3 (Collings Guitars)   Pickup: Seymore Duncan MagMic (Seymour Duncan)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Seymour Duncan MagMic, same as Test 5, but with the mic at about 1/3 volume
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Seymore Duncan MagMic (Martin DM Dreadnought)

Test #35   Guitar: Martin DM Dreadnought (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Seymore Duncan MagMic (Seymour Duncan)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Stringed Instruments   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin DM Dreadnaught/Mag Mic. I put the mic about 1/3 of the way up for this test.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Seymore Duncan MagMic (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #71   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Seymore Duncan MagMic (Seymour Duncan)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with a Seymour Duncan MagMic, with no mic blended in
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: Seymore Duncan MagMic (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #72   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Seymore Duncan MagMic (Seymour Duncan)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB With Seymour Duna MagMic, mic at 50%
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: Seymore Duncan MagMic (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #73   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Seymore Duncan MagMic (Seymour Duncan)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB With Seymour Duncan MagMic, mic at 100%
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: Seymour Duncan WoodyXL (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #75   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Seymour Duncan WoodyXL (Seymour Duncan)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with a Woody XL
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic (Ryan Mission Grand Concert)

Test #78   Guitar: Ryan Mission Grand Concert (Ryan Guitars)   Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Ryan Mission Grand Concert with a Duncan MagMic and K&K mini. The mic on the MagMic is at about 30%
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup K&K Pickup MagMic
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic (Hamblin Concert)

Test #79   Guitar: Hamblin Concert (Kent Hamblin)   Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Hamblin Concert with a Duncan MagMic and K&K mini. The mic on the MagMic is at about 30%
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup K&K Pickup MagMic
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic (Ryan Mission Grand Concert)

Test #85   Guitar: Ryan Mission Grand Concert (Ryan Guitars)   Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
This is a different sort of test, there is only the EQd track. People often ask me what I use, and this is the direct output of my rig the way it's been for the past year or so, without the speakers. A Ryan Mission Grand Concert, with a Seymour Duncan MagMic, and K&K minis, into a Pendulum SPS-1, with a TC Electronic G-Major reverb. I often have to run this system in mono, but when I can, I like to run it with slight stereo spread, the way it's recorded here.
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic/DPA 4099 (Ryan Mission Grand Concert)

Test #86   Guitar: Ryan Mission Grand Concert (Ryan Guitars)   Pickup: K&K Mini/Duncan MagMic/DPA 4099 (K&K)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS-1
This is a different sort of test, there is only the EQd track. People often ask me what I use, and this is the direct output of my rig with a relatively new addition of a DPA 4099 clip-on mic, without the speakers. A Ryan Mission Grand Concert, with a Seymour Duncan MagMic, K&K minis, the DPA 4099, into a Pendulum SPS-1, with a TC Electronic G-Major reverb. I often have to run this system in mono, but when I can, I like to run it with slight stereo spread, the way it's recorded here. Also see Test 85.
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Company: Shadow

Pickup: Shadow NanoMag (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #68   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Shadow NanoMag (Shadow)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with Shadow NanoMag
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Shadow Nanoflex6/SH4020 preamp (Martin D28)

Test #97   Guitar: Martin D28 (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Shadow Nanoflex6/SH4020 preamp (Shadow)
Installation: Shadow's installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS1
The Nanoflex6 with the panorama control set to full mono position
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1s

Pickup: Shadow Nanoflex6/SH4020 preamp (Martin D28)

Test #98   Guitar: Martin D28 (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Shadow Nanoflex6/SH4020 preamp (Shadow)
Installation: Shadow's Installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS1
Nanoflex6 panorama control set to the middle position
Pickup (Stereo)
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1s

Pickup: Shadow Nanoflex6/SH4020 preamp (Martin D28)

Test #99   Guitar: Martin D28 (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Shadow Nanoflex6/SH4020 preamp (Shadow)
Installation: Shadow's installation   Preamp: Pendulum SPS1
Shadow Nanoflex6 with panorama control in full stereo spread position. Low E string is full left, high E is full right
Pickup (Stereo)
Reference Mics: Brauner VM1s

Company: Sunrise

Pickup: Sunrise/K&K mic (Taylor 914c)

Test #23   Guitar: Taylor 914c (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: Sunrise/K&K mic (Sunrise)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
A Sunrise magnetic soundhole pickup, along and paired with a Mic. In this case, I used the K&K Mic, which is not normally something you'd use standalone, but it was already installed, so this provides some idea of the Sunrise paired with a mic. Both the pickup and the mic were directly into the Raven Labs PMB-1 preamp. Slight bass cut on the mic, at the Raven Labs preamp.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup Sunrise Pickup K&K Mic
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Trance Amulet/Sunrise (Martin 16 Dreadnought)

Test #32   Guitar: Martin 16 Dreadnought (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Trance Amulet/Sunrise (Trance Audio)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Stringed Instruments   Preamp: Trance Amulet
Martin 16 Series Dreadnaught/Baggs M1. Tests 30-32 were all done with the same guitar, provided by Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, CA. This guitar was loaded up by Mike Gold and company at Gryphon to demo multiple pickups. The guitar had Elixer Polyweb strings on it. If you have a chance to stop by Gryphon, you can try the guitar and its pickups out for yourself. All three systems are installed simultaneously. I originally intended to record all three at once, but discovered I didn't have enough inputs of the same type to be fair. I believe I ended up recording the M1 and the Trance System at the same time (along with the Mics), with the M1 running thru the Raven Labs PMB-1.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Trance Amulet/Sunrise (Bourgeois OM "Soloist")

Test #45   Guitar: Bourgeois OM "Soloist" (Bourgeois)   Pickup: Trance Amulet/Sunrise (Trance Audio)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Strings Instrument   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Bourgeois/Trance/Sunrise. This is "Michael Hedge's style setup" as I understand it, a Sunrise magnetic, and the treble Trance Pickup. I panned them hard left and right.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup Trance Pickup Sunrise
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Trance Amulet/Sunrise (Bourgeois OM "Soloist")

Test #46   Guitar: Bourgeois OM "Soloist" (Bourgeois)   Pickup: Trance Amulet/Sunrise (Trance Audio)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Strings Instruments   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Bourgeois/Stereo Trance/Sunrise. This also violates my rule of "no mix", but I wanted to see how the Sunrise would combine with the stereo Trance pickups. The Sunrise is dead center, the Trance pickups panned hard left and right. The volume was approximately equal between the two systems.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Sunrise (Martin OM28-LJB)

Test #70   Guitar: Martin OM28-LJB (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Sunrise (Sunrise)
Installation: My Installation   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Martin OM28LJB with a Sunrise magnetic
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Schoeps CMC6/Mk41

Company: Taylor Guitars

Pickup: Taylor ES (Taylor 314CE)

Test #42   Guitar: Taylor 314CE (Taylor Guitars)   Pickup: Taylor ES (Taylor Guitars)
Installation: Taylor Factory Installed   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Taylor 314/ES. This new 314 had Elixer strings, all controls on the ES set to the detente position.
Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Company: Trance Audio

Pickup: Trance Amulet/Sunrise (Martin 16 Dreadnought)

Test #32   Guitar: Martin 16 Dreadnought (Martin Guitars)   Pickup: Trance Amulet/Sunrise (Trance Audio)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Stringed Instruments   Preamp: Trance Amulet
Martin 16 Series Dreadnaught/Baggs M1. Tests 30-32 were all done with the same guitar, provided by Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, CA. This guitar was loaded up by Mike Gold and company at Gryphon to demo multiple pickups. The guitar had Elixer Polyweb strings on it. If you have a chance to stop by Gryphon, you can try the guitar and its pickups out for yourself. All three systems are installed simultaneously. I originally intended to record all three at once, but discovered I didn't have enough inputs of the same type to be fair. I believe I ended up recording the M1 and the Trance System at the same time (along with the Mics), with the M1 running thru the Raven Labs PMB-1.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Trance Amulet (Bourgeois OM "Soloist")

Test #43   Guitar: Bourgeois OM "Soloist" (Bourgeois)   Pickup: Trance Amulet (Trance Audio)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Strings Instrument   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Bourgeois/Trance Amulet. Trance system recorded in stereo, panned full left and right. The pickup was installed at Gryphon Stringed Instruments. All the Trance recordings were done with the Amulet preamp running directly into line inputs on my recorder. Takes 43-46 were all done at once, they're just different combinations of the Trance and the Sunrise pickups.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Trance Amulet (Bourgeois OM "Soloist")

Test #44   Guitar: Bourgeois OM "Soloist" (Bourgeois)   Pickup: Trance Amulet (Trance Audio)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Strings Instrument   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Bourgeois/Trance. Same system as above, but panned as Trance recommends, about 10 and 2 o'clock. This slightly violates my "no mixes" rule, but it seems useful since this is Trance's recommended way to use the pickup in stereo.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Trance Amulet/Sunrise (Bourgeois OM "Soloist")

Test #45   Guitar: Bourgeois OM "Soloist" (Bourgeois)   Pickup: Trance Amulet/Sunrise (Trance Audio)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Strings Instrument   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Bourgeois/Trance/Sunrise. This is "Michael Hedge's style setup" as I understand it, a Sunrise magnetic, and the treble Trance Pickup. I panned them hard left and right.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Pickup Trance Pickup Sunrise
EQed and Mixed
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s

Pickup: Trance Amulet/Sunrise (Bourgeois OM "Soloist")

Test #46   Guitar: Bourgeois OM "Soloist" (Bourgeois)   Pickup: Trance Amulet/Sunrise (Trance Audio)
Installation: Mike Gold at Gryphon Strings Instruments   Preamp: Raven Labs PMB-1
Bourgeois/Stereo Trance/Sunrise. This also violates my rule of "no mix", but I wanted to see how the Sunrise would combine with the stereo Trance pickups. The Sunrise is dead center, the Trance pickups panned hard left and right. The volume was approximately equal between the two systems.
Pickup (Stereo) Pickup (Mono)
Reference Mics: Neumann TLM103s