Emerald X7 - LR Baggs Element pickup

SausagesBeGone · #1 01-13-2017, 01:59 PM

I'm looking for a bit of advice.

I am about to purchase an X7 and, although I don't really need a pickup, have gone with the Baggs Element pick-up in order to future proof the guitar.

I can't say I've ever liked the sound of any under saddle pick-up I've heard and doing some research I've not heard great reviews of the Element system. If I ever needed to "amp up" I've always thought a condenser mic. would be the way to go.

What do you think, should I cancel the pick-up ?

jonfields45 · #2 01-13-2017, 02:15 PM

I would leave it. It will sound good enough to most people (though most people don't participate in this forum :~). I currently gig with the similar MiSi Trio. The Boss AD-2 I bought improves the sound but so far I've not been sufficiently motivated to bring it with me to a gig.

The Element is a decent sounding pickup and in a small guitar, which might not have the acoustic voice of a full sized guitar, you might be better off with the sound of the pickup instead "my guitar louder"...

bizango1 · #3 01-13-2017, 02:40 PM

I got an X20 with the Element VTC pickup w/vol & tone controls in the soundhole because Emerald had an X20 with it already installed when I placed my order. It's fun and sounds fine to my ears plugged into my Loudbox Mini amp. The pickup can also be retrofitted with an additional mic or magnetic pickup later if you prefer as the supplied endpin jack has stereo capability making it even more future proof.

From the installation instructions:
Adding a mini-mic: To add a mini-mic, solder the hot lead to positive and the ground lead to negative of the auxiliary passive input and run both
pickup and mic down a stereo cord to a 2-channel mixer with phantom power for the mic (see figure 8). The mic will be on the ring channel.
Adding a magnetic pickup: Add a magnetic pickup the same way to the auxiliary passive channel, and run both signals down a stereo cord to a 2
channel mixer or use a stereo Y cord and two Para D.I.s. The magnetic pickup will be on the ring channel.

121 · #4 01-13-2017, 03:32 PM

Emerald will do K&K mini installations too, if that interests you,

String King · #5 01-14-2017, 03:09 AM

Upgrade to the LR Baggs Anthem system. Not much more and you will love it. Undersaddle pickup and actual mic system. You will blend them both. The undersaddle will provide the low end you need while the mic gives you a very natural sound. Very crisp studio sound. The best acoustic pickup I've ever heard. I've used almost all of them over 20 years.

dogdog49 · #6 01-14-2017, 02:12 PM

+1 on the Anthem for sure.

AZLiberty · #7 01-14-2017, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SausagesBeGone

What do you think, should I cancel the pick-up ?

Never been a big Baggs fan myself. Might consider ordering it with a K&K if you don't mind hauling around the extra gear to make the K&K work right.

SausagesBeGone · #8 01-14-2017, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZLiberty

Never been a big Baggs fan myself. Might consider ordering it with a K&K if you don't mind hauling around the extra gear to make the K&K work right.

"Extra gear". Can you not just use the EQ on the amp to get the desired result?
I'm leaning toward the K&K.

AZLiberty · #9 01-15-2017, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SausagesBeGone

"Extra gear". Can you not just use the EQ on the amp to get the desired result?
I'm leaning toward the K&K.

Depending on the house system, with the K&K sometimes you can plug in directly to the board, sometimes you need an external preamp, or at least a DI box with ground lift.

So, even though the K&K is considerably less expensive than an active pickup, sometimes you need to add a preamp to keep it from getting "woofy".