Dean Markley Sweet Spot

[synkronized1]

I am having a hard time finding a distributer for the K&K Western around these parts. Have been looking at the Sweet Spot as an alternative. Many of the reviews I read online are quite positive. Anyone here use one? I'd love you point of view. I realize this is the GUITAR forum but I figured that I would fish were the fish are. :POL> The Electronics forum doesn't get nearly the amount of traffic as this one. Thanks in advance.

[dbirchett]

When I play out, I usually go electric. But I do have Sweet Spots in my Larrivees. Great little pickup. Good sound, easily installed, inexpensive. All good qualities in my estimation. They are also high output so that they do not need a preamp at all. I use a plug in volume control and call it good.

Unclrob turned me on to them and has done a lot of installations/comparative tests with them. Maybe he can join in here.

[unclrob]

This is one of my of my few pickups that I like.Very natural sounding,lots of out put ang great tone.As I say to all call me for more info. :GRN>

[wyodeb]

I like the iBeam better, but the Sweet Spots do get good reviews. At one time, they were available for a very good price at stringsandbeyond.com. I haven't ordered from them in awhile, but you might check them out.

Deb

[Daysailer]

My OM came with a DM Sweet Spot under saddle pickup.

I havent tested it, as I dont have any kind of amp.  Here is where my complete and utter ignorance of amplifing guitars begins.
I would like to at least try it and see if it works.  Do I need a guitar amp?   
Don, you said, and I have read that this pick up has high output.  Does it approach "line level" that would match up with my audio,  (harmon kardon) amp?   

I have scanned and waited for this thread to appear, so I could learn this info without exposing my........
unfortunate lack of  important and vital gutar training. 

singin' and strumin' and pickin'  ....   quietly in my corner   ( dunce cap in place )     :TON>

phill     :mellow:

[dbirchett]

Not sure about the impedance levels of hi-fi line in vs. Guitar amp input. Probably not a good match. I remember that I tried to plug an Ovation (there we go again) into the line in input of a Marantz integrated amp. Volume and tone were way down so I don't think it would work.

Works fine with a PA or guitar amp input.

[ronmac]

Here is an explanation of the various signal levels. As they say "the wonderful thing about Standards is there are so many to choose from".

Hacked from this page http://west.wwu.edu/atus/classrooms/glossary.shtml#signallevels

Signal Levels

In the audio world there are basically 4 different signal levels. They are defined below. Please see notes after last definition.

    * Mic level - Nominal signal coming directly from a microphone. Very low, in the microvolts, and requires a preamp with at least 60 dB gain before using with any line-level equipment.
    * Line level - Standard +4 dBu or -10 dBV audio levels. This would be the audio signal found on the rear of your VCR or DVD player
    * Instrument level - Nominal signal from musical instruments using electrical pick-ups. Varies widely, from very low mic-levels to quite large line levels.
    * Speaker level - The output of a power amplifier that drives loud speakers or headphones. Level, of course, is variable.

You cannot mix signal levels; that is, even if the physical shape and size of a connector looks the same or fits a connection, the electrical characteristics of the signals each type carries are different. For example, you can't plug a microphone input into a line input on a VCR or take a line output and try to drive speakers with it. Nor does using an adaptor change the signal level. Using a XLR to RCA adaptor does not change the signal level of a microphone -- a preamplifier does that.

[unclrob]

Ron once again a very smart man and a talented..............

[ronmac]

Yeah. Google and me know everything!!

[Daysailer]

Did that article say anything about a Phono level ??
I know that my audio amp has an input for my turntable that is lower than 'line level' and has a built in preamp for the phono.
I also wonder if the DM Sweet Spot would work in the MIC input on my Cassette Recorder or my Graphic Eq. then to the audio amp.

I would like to see if this thing works without buying an amp I will most lilkely never use.   Too Much Curiosity ??

Just askin' more dunce quality questions.

phill

[Gemnoc]

Years ago a friend used to plug his electric into his stereo system. No idea how though. It worked ok.

Hey, why not head to a local music store with your guitar and try it on a few amps there?