I just got a D-05 with a mohagany top and want to install a saddle pickup for performing, not recording. I have an LL Baggs in my old D-03, which I like, but I'm curious as to whether a Fishman or some other type of pickup might be better. I dont use a pick and I use a lot of tapping and harmonics when I play. I also play melody/bass notes on the a string and low e string frequently. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
Just put a JJB Prestige #330 in my OM-05 MT - same pickup as K&K Western Mini. Got them in all my guitars and won't use anything else. Even took a perfect B-Band dual source pickup out of my Larrivee L-09 Snakewood and added the JJB....
Sounds good - picks up harmonics - useful if you want to tap the top for percussive effect.....and no quack; no interference between the saddle and the bridge. I love 'em!
I perform with my L-07 which has the K&K system in it and it is really great. You need to have a pre-amp, but you would need that for a UST anyways, right? I Haven't really tried other systems, so I can't offer much about them.
There are a couple of other fairly recent threads about this topic that might be worthwhile to search out.
Kurt
My hogtop 000-50MT is outfitted with a K & K pure western mini. In the past I've used an LR Baggs M-1 soundhole pickup, a Fishman under-saddle, and a Dean Markley soundhole pickup .
The K & K is the best in in my opinion although they each do an adequate job.
Is there a "best" pickup? - I don't think so - each to its own and its application.
By default Mics sound the best but they're also feedback prone - more so in bigger venues.
UST's tend to produce piezo quack. AST's are probably the most versatile and magnetis soundhole pickups can be driven in the live set-up.
Now having said this all there are some combinations that work better than others - Baggs' Anthem has great ratings with their combo of Mic/UST combo.
I had a Fishman Ellipse Matrix with a Mic/UST combo in a Walden guitar that I used in a small church setting with great results.
B-band's UST's are great performers - I personally prefer their Acoustic reproduction above all other UST's, and Baggs' I-beam, B-band's AST and K&K' s Pure are great AST's.
The folks on this forum (including me) love their K&K's, and Rob his I-beams.
You can't go wrong with any of these mentioned, and like I said - each to its own.
With your hog top I'd say K&K's pure or a sound-hole p/u like Baggs' M1.
I have used the the LR Baggs iBeam (active) with vol. control. Installed on my Taylor GA, sounds pretty good and easy to install. Does not necessarily need a pre-amp. I just bought K&K Pure minis (passive), I haven't installed them yet, but a lot of people here say they're very good. Will install it on my OM-03R and on the J-03.
I also have the LR Baggs M1A soundhole pick-up. I kept the M1A for the reason that I can move it around to different guitars if I need to.