B-Band A2.2
Submitted at: 6:34, 12/1/2005
Product Info
Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: US $150
Purchased from: ebay
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Yairi DY-61
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:
Sound
Perceived output level: The output level is adjustable since the A2.2 has a volume/gain control. It also has a mix control that balances the two pickups. The output level is more than adequate since it has an active preamp powered by a 9v battery.
Tone: The tone is excellent since you can balance the two pickups. The AST (Acoustic Soundboard Transducer) is very bright and I find that I have to tone it down more towards the UST side. The preamp has their XOM technology which is just a fancy term for a crossover between the two pickups. The AST handels the high tones above 700hz and the UST handles the low tones below 700hz. Being able to control the balance between the two pikups really lets you dial in the perfect tone.
Sonic evaluation: Sonically, the pickups sound great. The AST picks up every single tiny sound while the UST seems to be more muted, but maybe that is just the crossover working.
Three great things about this pickup combination: 1) It sounds great 2) It is easy to control your own volume and tone. 3) You can't even notice that it is installed.
If you have an expensive instrument that you do not want to do major surgery on, this is a great way to add unbelievable sound to it.
I installed this myself and I consider myself to be mechanically inclined. If you are going to do it yourself, take your time. The most tricky parts of the installationa are:
1) Making sure the drill bit does not hit a brace when you drill a hole for the UST. It is difficult to estimate where the hole beneath the bridge will come out by just feeling around inside your guitar. Mine came out fine and it was about 3/4" from one of the braces. When you drill this hole, just make sure that you stop when the bit makes it way through. Definitely install the UST FIRST! You do not want to accidentally drill through the AST.
2) Make sure that the UST and AST do not touch. The lead for the UST comes out of the hole in the bridge and you just have to make sure that the AST does not touch it. There was not much room to work with, but I was able to make sure they did not touch.
3) You may need to trim the cardboard template that they provide. Try positioning the AST several times making sure sure it does not touch the UST.
4) Take is slow drilling the hole for the strap-jack. I did not have a reamer, but I progressively made the hole larger using multiple drill bits. I finished with a 1/2" wood bit. I put making tape on the bottom to prevent any scratches.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play at home, at coffee houses, and in a church service.
Overall Rating
Comments: I would buy this again in a heartbeat. I also considered the Baggs Imix, but it was more expensive.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value
Submitted by: Goobie <gubitose.safe@netzero.com>
Submitted at: 7:47, 8/21/2005
Product Info
Pickup features: UST and AST pickups with preamp and soundhole volume/mix control
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: N/A
Purchased from: First Quality Music
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Gigson J-45
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: b Band UST/mike combo
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): fingerstyle, folk, blues
Reason for pickup change: I wanted to be able to run a mono output and eliminate the occasional feedback problems I got with the microphone.
Sound
Perceived output level: pretty good as far as reproducing a natural acoustic tone
Tone: AST pickup is too bright and must be turned down
Sonic evaluation: I play through a Boss AD-3 then right into the board. The signal is weak and the volume at the board must be cranked.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play lots of fingerstyle. Other than the problems I described abolve it's a pretty good system.
Overall Rating
Comments: Here's the problem. A few months after I installed the system the volume/mix contol unit broke. It's pretty flimsy.I've been emailing B Band for two months. They keep saying they'll send me a new control unit but I haven't seen it and don't expect to. Horrible customer service! I can't play the guitar, so I'll probably pull the system out and try a Highlander. I've put this B Band in two other guitars, and now I'm just holding my breath.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 1 - What a hunk of Junk!
Submitted by: Mark Quinn <marktq@yahoo.com>
Submitted at: 11:18, 12/30/2004
Product Info
Pickup features: Two transducer system, with preamp and volume + mix controls
Impedence or other specs: Medium output
Price Paid: US $180 shipped
Purchased from: MF
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Larrivee
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:
Sound
Perceived output level: Medium, more than ample to drive a mic or amp input
Tone: Balanced, with a blend knob
Sonic evaluation: Larrivee OM5, medium concert body. Straight into PA, recording console, or Fender Acoustasonic Jr amp.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues, Pop rock
Overall Rating
Comments: This is a great setup. What else could you need? The install was a thoughtful experience, not what I would call 'slam dunk', but very do-able. I did not follow the previous reviewer's suggestion to placee the inside gtr pup along the 'bass brace' - How could this be done without the pup sitting half-on and half-off the plate that sits under the saddle? Unless you were to move it much further away? This doesn't make a lot of sense to me, the suggestion, but the author seems to know what he is talking about. Maybe a follow up from him then? At any rate, I would be curious to know how he was able to try this pup in a few different positions, because once this baby is down, it is very much down? Eh?
So, yes, then, if he assured me that he did try it in the factory position and then made another decision based on personal experience, then I would maybe give it a go. The thing is, the factory placement sounds great to my ear, why change it?
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value
Submitted by: rooster
Submitted at: 8:53, 7/26/2004
Product Info
Pickup features: Dual Source Preamp w/Vol & Blend (requires the SBT & UST elements)
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: N/A
Purchased from: RK Music (www.rkmusicstore.com)
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Santa Cruz DPW, Taylor 710LTD, Martin OM
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Most everything that's been made.
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): All
Reason for pickup change:
Sound
Perceived output level: Medium Output
Tone: Acoustic; woody; resonant!
Sonic evaluation: Plugged into multiple PA's, an Ultrasound amp, AND direct recording...
Very easy to get a great acoustic tone. The SBT offers the woodiness (better than the iBeam) while a little bit of the UST yields presence and directness. Very easy to control with the onboard Vol & Blend. Good feedback resistance (even better than a Taylor ES and Baggs M1!).
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:
Overall Rating
Comments: Overall, this is the best gigging setup I've used (and I've installed just about everything). Offers the best attributes of a dual source setup with the ability to blend and control volume onboard - all without cutting holes into the guitar OR using an outboard preamp/blender. It can be as easy as one guitar and one cable! Offers the ease of the Baggs DS, but with significantly better tone, less feedback, and nicer looking controls (not so big and obtrusive).
About B-Band: I've been using the B-Band elements and preamps since their introduction ~10 years ago. Compared to everything else I've tried both in the past AND recently (USTs, SBTs, & Mags by Baggs, Fishman, PUTW, KKSound, Taylor ES, Sunrise, etc), my guitars sound truer and more acoustic! The A2.2 couples the best attributes of B-Band's SBT & UST designs to a fantastic sounding preamp w/a great interface. For me, the A2.2 is their best sounding and best designed product to date!
Installation Tip:
1) For the SBT installation (and I've done a bunch using the B-Band 1470, Baggs iBeam, & PUTW #27), position the element on the bridgeplate ALONG the bass brace. Tone is consistently better than when mounted on the plate underneath the bridge saddle.
2) The battery holder that is presently included with B-Band's preamps is cumbersome. Until B-Band switches back to the metallic battery clip w/a velcro security strap (THE BEST), I'd recommend some other method (perhaps even a standard battery clip from Radio Shack affixed w/3M red 2-sided tape).
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value
Submitted by: Rocky Jones <rock@bluegrass.net>
Submitted at: 14:33, 5/25/2004
Product Info
Pickup features: Dual active pickup system with UST and AST features AND clever soundhole volume and mix between the two pickups sources.
Impedence or other specs: Very unobtrusive system with easy installation.
Price Paid: US $175.00
Purchased from: Shorline Music in San Diego, CA
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Guild D30
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Christian Worship and Praise
Reason for pickup change:
Sound
Perceived output level: Normal
Tone: Balanced and natural with the luxury of using one or both sources.
Sonic evaluation: I just put this baby in myself and have yet to test it out in our church's PA system, but thus far, this pickup sounds awesome - I've plugged it into one of my home Fender amps and it comes through nice and clear. This is such a nice pickup without the intrustive cutting and sawing into the side of the guitar!
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock, folk, hard strumming with some ballads here and there...mostly Christian contemporary rock-edged music.
Overall Rating
Comments: OK, this is going to be the standard by which most pickups will now be judged. I was previously in love with the Highlander IP1 for how it sounded and combined the under-saddle sound with the nuances of the guitar's soundboard, but this B-Band A2.2 may surpass it in terms of live control with the soundhole volume and blend controls. I took the risk of purchasing this pickup without previous reviews of it and I also decided to install it myself. The B-Band website was VERY helpful in terms of guiding me step by step through the installation - and I saved $100.00 in the process! I was very close to buying the A2 from B-Band a few months ago because of the dual pickup system and because I heard that Larrivee was installing them on their top-of-the-line guitars. But this A2.2 surpasses that system with their XOM technology and the ease of blending it on the guitar itself without having to reply on an additional mixer. I'm totally psyched to get this pickup going and I will report back in 6 months to a year to give you all a progress report. God bless.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value
Submitted by: Jan <jlee2@altrionet.com>