Best pickup to move between guitars? Baggs M80 or other?

[hw2nw]

Hi guys - I've got some vintage Martins including one 12-string that I'd like to use for live work.

I'd like to use a pickup that attaches and does not require drilling, so I'm considering an LR Baggs M80 since you can attach an external cable and run the signal out that way.

Are there any other/better options from experience?

Thanks!

[nedray]

That would be my choice. Use carefully...

[chitz]

Fisherman Rare Earth.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/deta...FZQ2gQodUL0BiA

Lawrence A245C
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/acous...undhole-pickup

[benderman57]

I've tried a good many Mag pickups and the M80 is a very good one indeed.

One I may even like a little better if you don't need it to be active is the DiMarzio Angel. I really am digging it's very sweet tone.

[TOCS]

I can't vouch for anything except my Sunrise, which is really great in all aspects, however, I would imagine those spring-operated Bill Lawrence pickups would be really good (and not too expensive) to move around between guitars. They also seem to sound pretty **** good. I've seen some videos of Michael Hedges in his early days using a Bill Lawrence in combination with some Barcus-Berry soundboard transducer. And for acoustic amplification in the late 70's and early 80's, his sound was really, really great easily rivalling most of the acoustic amplified sound I've heard.

This clip (besides showing his ridiculous virtuosity) shows what I mean. Warm lows, articulate mids and crystal clear highs (if you look aside the quality of the old tape it was recorded on):

[sunpowder]

The M80 is great sounding, and you can actually buy multiple end-pin jacks with short cords that end in a 1/8" plug (I think they run about $20)....Install in all the guitars you want, and just move the pickup itself from guitar to guitar and plug in the cord. Very easy and practical. You may have to adjust pole pieces for each guitar, but that is pretty simple procedure. I loved the battery indicator on the M80 as well.

I have hear the Fishman rare earth blend sound very nice, but it comes with a hard-wired 6 or 10 foot cord attached....seems cumbersome to deal with.

Good luck.

[hw2nw]

Thanks for the replies. I heard some of the earlier LR Baggs soundhole pickups and thought they were electric-y sounding so I wasn't sure if the M80 would be any different. Seems like the best option at this point!

[hotroad]

I will mention the Shertler pickup for the soundhole. Not sure the model or name but they make one that has a more warm and calm tone than the M80 though I still prefer the M80. The Shertler has a jack out the side for the short cord to the end piece as well as a separate hole for the internal mic and there is a wheel adjustment for that second hole for the mic determining how much you want of that signal.....so there is that blend that the M80 does not have....wish it did.

[ben]

One pickup that folks don't seem to talk about much is the Fishman Blackstack. It's purported to be similar to a Sunrise, and it has a detachable lead so that it can use a cable coming out of the soundhole or be wired into the guitar, but easily removable/moved to another guitar. Can't say how it stacks up to other soundhole pickups, but it's another viable choice.

[Fret-O'File]

I don't have experience with too many different pickups to compare but the Schertler MAG-6 with S-MIC is really good. I liked it so much, I bought two sets so I didn't have to keep switching between guitars. The advantage of the active pickup and the mic is there is no need for a preamp. I've tried running it through a DTAR Solstice and it wasn't any better than when running it through just an EQ pedal.
I did install JJB SBTs in one of my guitars and when running through a good preamp like the Solstice and using a lavalier mic as a second source, it sounds as good as the Shertler combo. I mention this because originally I was in the same boat as you. I wanted something that didn't require drilling and something I could remove and use in several guitars. Now that I've been plugging in for the last six months, for some reason, I don't have the same concerns and now I'm not opposed to a permanent installation which I did with the JJB in one and the Schertler Combo in another guitar (installed the endpin jack). I have the extra set of the Schertler combo if you are interested, I'll give it to you at a good price and it's basically new. PM me if interested.

[noledog]

I gig with an M80 in my Martin D18...love the features, looks & ability to pick up percussive tones. IMHO it excels in flesh, fingerstyle attack with a surprising natural tone. Here's mine plugged straight in to a Loudbox Mini:

[Nick84]

My M80 is awesome! I also like my M1A. I've previously used a Fishman rare earth humbucker and a Shadow SH145. They both do a job but they are not a patch on the two Baggs pickups I own in particular the M80.