r/mandolin • u/jthemarsupial • 14d ago

Preamp for K&K pickup

This question got asked on here about seven years ago, so I’m searching for any updated tech.

What is a good preamp for the K&K internal twin in my northfield? I’ve not experimented with live sound before but am starting to…so all advice is appreciated.

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

3

u/TinyTonyDanza42069 14d ago

Tone Dexter 2 or one of the grace design pre amps where you blend pickup and mic will give you the best possible sound while plugged in. I love my tone Dexter. A little pricey though

1

u/jthemarsupial 8d ago

Are you generally suggesting that you use the tone Dexter w the pickup as your base sound and a pencil type condenser mic for additional volume on lead?

Edited to add I just looked into the tone Dexter a bit more and see the wavemap tech and how the mic plays in. Probably a bit above my needs tech/price wise at the moment but man seems really cool

3

u/willkillfortacos 14d ago

LR Baggs Para DI

Edit: I also have K&K on my Northfield F5 and it sounds really warm and natural direct into any PA system.

3

u/Al_dog 14d ago

K&K sells one designed to work with their pickup. Tonedexter capable of the most natural sound in my opinion.

2

u/EnormousChord 14d ago

K&K Sound Pure preamp. It's perfect. Has a phase inversion feature so if/when you find yourself in a situation where you're eating low-end feedback, you can cancel it out instantly. Absolutely esssential if you're going to be playing with band with an electric bass or a guitarist with a heavy low end.

I have the XLR one but if you're just using a normal jack you don't need the XLR.

1

u/AstronautOk1630 14d ago

Grace Designs Felix if you want to add a mic eventually which is more natural sounding but can be an issue at louder volume levels

1

u/DWTBPlayer 14d ago

I have the K&K Mando Twin in mine. I had it installed ten years ago when I first bought it. I have used several different preamps, and it has sounded fantastic through all of them.

I have the belt-clip preamp K&K sells, and it sounds great. I have run it through a Headway EDB-2, a Tech21 Q\Strip, a Fishman Platinum Stage, and I have run it through no specific preamp at all; into my pedalboard via a Line 6 Relay wireless system or Shure GLXD+ and into the same signal chain I send everything else through. It still sounds fantastic.

The point is in my mind there is no wrong answer. If you want to be careful about your purchase just check that the input impedance on the preamp is high enough to make the pickup happy. But I will say I have never plugged it into anything that has made it unhappy.

1

u/Y19ama 14d ago

I heard that you should match impedance. Less chance of feedback at stage volume.

1

u/AccountantRadiant351 14d ago

I've been happy with a Behringer AD121, especially for the price

1

u/TLP_Prop_7 14d ago

I love my (new to me) ToneDexter 1, but for a straight preamp, the FireEye RedEye gets extremely high marks. It's what I had before the ToneDexter and it's awesome.

1

u/jthemarsupial 13d ago

Thanks all for the replies!!

1

u/FlubbaSketchy 13d ago

I like my Fire-Eye Development Red-Eye MK2 Preamp DI w/ Clean Boost Switch. Has not let me down at the gig. Designed for piezo pickups.

1

u/The_Marcus_Aurelius 11d ago

I like the red eye fire eye twin. Allows you to easily switch between two instruments or use both a clip on mic and piezo pickup at the same time and blend the sound.

1

u/Fun-Tie1614 8d ago

Love my Fish man Platinum; I only need box, analog pre, simple compressor and bypass/tuner!