Gear
Instruments
Sunrise S-2
Sunrise Pickups are handbuilt by Jim Kaufman in limited numbers, but this allows the finest attention to detail and craftsmanship. Each pickup has individually adjustable pole pieces to give you maximum control over string balance and tone. They also come with a transferable lifetime guarantee—no doubt because of their remarkably sturdy construction and high-quality internal components. Jim also builds preamp/buffer boxes to accompany the pickups. We strongly recommend using these even if you already have some sort of outboard preamp you're using.
All Sunrise pickup models start with the exact same award-winning pickup; the only difference between the different versions is the length and design of the connections. The S-2 package includes an installation kit along with the pickup. The kit comprises a stereo endpin jack, in-line mini jacks, and a Mogami low-noise cable. The S-2 is our top seller, and it's my recommendation if you're looking to use the Sunrise as a single-source pickup.
Once you understand that nothing will reproduce the sound of your guitar in a P.A. (except a very good - and expensive - condenser mic but at rather low volume), you have to think about what compromises you are ready to make.
The Sunrise pickup is very good at dynamics and feedback rejection. The sound is fine although not that of my guitar. I installed it in my Gibson J200 with a passive Schatten Design under saddle transducer. With a stereo output jack, I can run them in parallel or separately.
In bars or restaurants, I plug it right in my four inputs AER amp (Two singers, male and female, and a guitar). For bigger venues, I use a Focusrite ISA 430. It's almost perfect (given that you have assimilated the first line).
I do not regret this choice and highly recommend it.
Greetings from France
I have Sunrise pickups in my other acoustics, they are the very finest magnetic pickups I have ever tried or used in my guitars. The best natural reproduction of the acoustic qualities of my guitars to date !! Highly recommended.
This is the second Sunrise pickup I've ordered. I use it in a Cuban Tres and it works very well - eliminates all feedback issues I was having and sounds quite natural too. Great service from Shoreline Music - they are very responsive to questions and shipped both pickups out same day I ordered them.
Thanks!
I've owned a Sunrise pickup before, so I knew what to expect. I was not disappointed. The S-2 in my Gibson Hummingbird, combined with the SB-1 Buffer Box, into a Bose L1...beautiful, crystal clear highs, pleasing mids, wonderful clarity in the bass, with power and authority. No feedback issues, no batteries on-board. I highly recommend tweaking the individual pole pieces while running through YOUR signal chain to get the maximum eq benefit. I've been a Shoreline customer for many years, and John is the best. The service simply could not be any better.
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