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  #16  
Old 09-21-2017, 06:39 PM
Beagle1 Beagle1 is offline
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+ 1 on the Anthem, I like it best out of all the aftermarket pickup systems I've tried and own. I have a K&K Trinity in a Martin that sounds nice in the living room, but is less than ideal for the stage. I have an Aura Onboard system in my Taylor, which can sound OK but I miss the ambience and top/body sensitivity you get from a mic or SBT, and the system just feels stiff in terms of its response to dynamics.

That all being said, I agree with Guitaniac that the Anthem is not exactly plug and play and can benefit from some corrective EQ. At least that's the case for the Martin I have with an Anthem in it. I would love to see the Baggs folks take another look at the tone coming from the Element pickup part of the Anthem in particular. The DTAR Wavelength uses the same pickup material but sounds noticeably better than the Element on it's own.

In my opinion, if you want the best plug and play sound -- i.e. guaranteed to sound great running straight into nearly any PA/amp -- the Maton AP5 Pro is the answer. Unfortunately, you pretty much have to buy a Maton guitar to get it. I ended up getting one of the Maton 808's a couple years ago and I use it pretty much for all gigs. It's far and away my favorite system.
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  #17  
Old 09-21-2017, 06:59 PM
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Al Acuff Al Acuff is offline
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Recently had an Anthem SL installed in a Waterloo guitar. It's the most acoustic sounding pickup I've tried in this lifetime (and I've tried a few) and it's simple and easy to use with or without an external preamp. You get plenty of volume without feedback. What's not to like?
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  #18  
Old 09-21-2017, 08:45 PM
Vindellama Vindellama is offline
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Originally Posted by MrErikJ View Post
The Trance M is mono, a single output. I believe the Stereo unit allows a split of the two sensors to be EQ'd and managed separately, like in two channels of a mixer.
So not so "plug'n'play"
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  #19  
Old 09-21-2017, 08:47 PM
Vindellama Vindellama is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beagle1 View Post
+ 1 on the Anthem, I like it best out of all the aftermarket pickup systems I've tried and own. I have a K&K Trinity in a Martin that sounds nice in the living room, but is less than ideal for the stage. I have an Aura Onboard system in my Taylor, which can sound OK but I miss the ambience and top/body sensitivity you get from a mic or SBT, and the system just feels stiff in terms of its response to dynamics.

That all being said, I agree with Guitaniac that the Anthem is not exactly plug and play and can benefit from some corrective EQ. At least that's the case for the Martin I have with an Anthem in it. I would love to see the Baggs folks take another look at the tone coming from the Element pickup part of the Anthem in particular. The DTAR Wavelength uses the same pickup material but sounds noticeably better than the Element on it's own.

In my opinion, if you want the best plug and play sound -- i.e. guaranteed to sound great running straight into nearly any PA/amp -- the Maton AP5 Pro is the answer. Unfortunately, you pretty much have to buy a Maton guitar to get it. I ended up getting one of the Maton 808's a couple years ago and I use it pretty much for all gigs. It's far and away my favorite system.
Did you try the trance amulet?
From Doug Young demos it sounds much better than the anthem.
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  #20  
Old 09-21-2017, 10:24 PM
MrErikJ MrErikJ is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vindellama View Post
So not so "plug'n'play"
The M is but the stereo is definitely a pro unit.
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  #21  
Old 09-22-2017, 05:07 AM
Beagle1 Beagle1 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vindellama View Post
Did you try the trance amulet?
From Doug Young demos it sounds much better than the anthem.
I have not tried the Amulet myself. I know the Trance users here on the AGF are really happy with that system, so it must be good!

For my own preferences, I have found over time (through a lot of trial and error!) that I like dual-source systems where one of the sources is an actual mic. That is why I ended up keeping the Trinity and Anthem (even if it's not truly dual-source), and why I especially love the Maton AP5 Pro system.

I should have added that the DTAR Multisource is worth a look too. The overall tone is quite good with the 18-volt preamp for the Wavelength pickup and the sound hole condenser mic. Unfortunately, the main circuitboard for the Multisource is located right inside the sound hole, so I found the whole thing to be a little fragile for playing out a lot.

I will also say that IMO you have to be a little careful in drawing conclusions from the demos on Doug Young's site. For sure, Doug has done us all a wonderful service by providing this incredibly helpful information to compare the different systems out there. It's just that listening to the demos at home on your computer is a completely different experience from actually playing the system live through a PA/amp in a room (and possibly with other musicians in the mix). Some of the qualities you might like listening to the demos may not translate well in a live performance environment.
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  #22  
Old 09-22-2017, 05:52 AM
Petty1818 Petty1818 is offline
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I think the downside of looking into pickup choices is that you really need to try them in order to know if they will work for you. Recommendations are great but at the end of the day, it's up to your particular guitar and playing style. The Anthem for example could easily be put into the "plug and play" category. You literally pug it in, do a bit of blending (if you have the full version) and you can go from there. For me however, I found that the Anthem needed quite a bit of eq to sound good so that kind of hurt its overall ease of use. I have however played Anthem equipped guitars that were pretty much plug and play so it all depends.

The only exceptions to this rule have been with some guitars that come with pickups already installed or, aftermarket pickups that are not recommended much here. Takamine guitars for example are really plug and play. They are about the easiest pickup system to make sound good. I haven't tried the Maton and Cole Clark guitars but considering they use the same pickup system, I would expect similar results.

As for aftermarket pickups, I don't like them but UST systems were always fairly "plug and play". I used the Matrix for years and although I would at times play with eq, the sound that I would get would be consistent. It wasn't natural but it was consistent. Sound hole pickups are probably the same in that regard. I think the more natural/complicated the system gets, the more you have to start factoring in your style, venue choices as well as the actual guitar.
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  #23  
Old 09-22-2017, 08:24 AM
Vindellama Vindellama is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Petty1818 View Post
I think the downside of looking into pickup choices is that you really need to try them in order to know if they will work for you. Recommendations are great but at the end of the day, it's up to your particular guitar and playing style. The Anthem for example could easily be put into the "plug and play" category. You literally pug it in, do a bit of blending (if you have the full version) and you can go from there. For me however, I found that the Anthem needed quite a bit of eq to sound good so that kind of hurt its overall ease of use. I have however played Anthem equipped guitars that were pretty much plug and play so it all depends.

The only exceptions to this rule have been with some guitars that come with pickups already installed or, aftermarket pickups that are not recommended much here. Takamine guitars for example are really plug and play. They are about the easiest pickup system to make sound good. I haven't tried the Maton and Cole Clark guitars but considering they use the same pickup system, I would expect similar results.

As for aftermarket pickups, I don't like them but UST systems were always fairly "plug and play". I used the Matrix for years and although I would at times play with eq, the sound that I would get would be consistent. It wasn't natural but it was consistent. Sound hole pickups are probably the same in that regard. I think the more natural/complicated the system gets, the more you have to start factoring in your style, venue choices as well as the actual guitar.
I'm between the anthem full and the amulet m with the tone knob...
I guess that the anthem is the cheapest "dual source".
While the amulet m can end up being a much better dual source if you chose to upgrade later. The tone knob seems to remove the need of a preamp/di eq.

Any idea which one could be better for small guitars? L-00 and 00 12 fret
Also... Which one is easier to remove to install in another guitar?

Last edited by Vindellama; 09-22-2017 at 12:18 PM.
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  #24  
Old 09-22-2017, 04:32 PM
Petty1818 Petty1818 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vindellama View Post
I'm between the anthem full and the amulet m with the tone knob...
I guess that the anthem is the cheapest "dual source".
While the amulet m can end up being a much better dual source if you chose to upgrade later. The tone knob seems to remove the need of a preamp/di eq.

Any idea which one could be better for small guitars? L-00 and 00 12 fret
Also... Which one is easier to remove to install in another guitar?
The Amulet would be the easier one to move because there are no modifications required. In simple terms, you literally screw an endpin jack hole, put tape on the transducers and stick them into place. The thing is, the sticking into place is a bit of a challenge because you need to make a jig and get it right. However, if you make a mistake, it's easy to just pop them off.

The Anthem requires a hole through the top/saddle for the UST, the saddle needs to be sanded down and then you need to stick on the tru-mic, controls and do the endpin jack. Not insanely hard but more work than the Amulet.

I would personally recommend the Amulet but not because it's better with small guitars, but because I just like it more. The Anthem to me just doesn't have the most pleasing tone. Others will disagree but the tru-mic has this tonality to it that I just couldn't dial out. I even hear it when I am listening to professional artists who run the Anthem through insanely expensive PA systems. The Amulet feels more like it's a part of the guitar and less like a pickup. I am still trying to get mine to where I love it but I think the tone controls that I ordered will really help. I am considering also trying to reinstall the transducers with a clamp that covers the whole pickup so that I know the pressure is even.
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  #25  
Old 09-24-2017, 12:17 AM
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Charmed Life Picks Charmed Life Picks is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrErikJ View Post
Dazzos sound really good and I like the passive nature of them (anything that requires less in my guitar). However, when I e-mailed Teddy he was hard to successfully communicate with. I don't think writing is his talent (emails were hard to follow) and I think he needed pics of my guitar...it seemed complicated.

I thought Dazzo sounded better than K&K but I, personally, prefer Pickup the World and use their #54 blended with a Baggs LB6. I, essentially treat the PUTW as a mic (but a more stable one) that adds air and resonance to the steady and clean tone of the LB6. I actually mix it like the Anthem, with the LB6 providing bass and the PUTW the air and treble.

However, to your point and the OPs, this isn't a "simple plug & play" setup. I get good sound, but I have two pickups wired in stereo mixed with the Baggs MixPro and then run to another DI/Preamp or Amp. It's not terrible, but a Tak or Ovation is definitely simpler, at the expense of some naturalness.
Erik, would love to hear some more of your thoughts on the PUTW. I just heard about this one a month or so ago and am seriously considering getting one. I've been talking back and forth with martingitdave in here about this rig, and in fact just this evening sent him a followup PM.

I seem to recall him saying it works better in solo performing vs playing with a full band. Have you had any feedback issues with the PUTW unit?

Finally, if I may ask, what guitar(s) are you running it in? I am considering dropping one into an Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500M, a round-shouldered spruce over hog dread. This is an amazing cannon of a guitar. I've hated pickups for forty years and am very serious about accurate reproduction of wooden tone. I have a Baggs Anthem and a Trance Amulet in my two best guitars, both sound pretty good, but not perfect.

thanks so much,
scott memmer
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  #26  
Old 09-24-2017, 11:23 AM
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Skip Ellis Skip Ellis is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AeroUSA View Post
I am waiting on the Tone Dexter but would also like a guitar than I can plug straight into any PA/amp and get a great sound.

I feel like the Anthem is the best I have heard for this situation so far. Would you guys agree or would you suggest the Fishman Aura+, ES2 or something else?
If you want an electric guitar, get an electric guitar, don't try to turn an acoustic into an electric - it doesn't work and they all sound like crap. If you want to amplify an acoustic guitar, invest in a decent microphone.
Just my $.02..
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  #27  
Old 09-24-2017, 12:35 PM
Petty1818 Petty1818 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skip Ellis View Post
If you want an electric guitar, get an electric guitar, don't try to turn an acoustic into an electric - it doesn't work and they all sound like crap. If you want to amplify an acoustic guitar, invest in a decent microphone.
Just my $.02..
Sorry, did I miss something? When did the OP say he wanted an electric guitar? I thought this was about acoustic pickups and which ones are the best for "plug and play"?
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  #28  
Old 09-24-2017, 01:14 PM
doublescale1 doublescale1 is offline
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I just had a Fishman Ellipse installed in my new-to-me '14 Martin 000-18. Its pretty much plug & play - there are just 4 mic image's to choose from and then you blend in the image as needed. Contrary to Skips opinion, it does not sound like crap - very far from it - the Fishman Aura in any of it's configurations is a very organic mic'd acoustic guitar sound to FOH. I had a full Anthem in a Martin D-15 and it too was very, very true to a mic'd guitar sound to FOH but like any good on-board pickup system, does not make you nail your feet to the floor in front of a mic. Skip, we'll stay off your lawn ;-)
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  #29  
Old 09-24-2017, 02:46 PM
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AeroUSA: The Fishman Aura Plus, Taylor ES2, and ToneDexter are all good choices in compiling a good-sounding signal chain. The Fishman Ellipse Aura is also an excellent system and is essentially an IR tone enhancer, as is the ToneDexter. You should and will be able to get a really good amplified tone out of your guitar with the Fishman Aura Ellipse so enjoy it and concentrate more on looking at the pretty girls in your audience and relating to the crowd.
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  #30  
Old 09-25-2017, 06:02 AM
MaurysMusic MaurysMusic is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vindellama View Post
So not so "plug'n'play"
Plug into 2 channels (instead of 1) and play, no?
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