What's your favorite pickup for X20?
 

I'm not very happy with the very low output of my Anthem pickup in my X20. Just wondering what other X20 owners are using for a pickup in their guitar. How does the LR Baggs Element pickup sound? I'm either going to use a booster pedal every time I plug in or I will pull the Anthem out a put something else in.

Dan

Schatten HFN is what I replaced the Anthem with. Couldn't be happier.

Just replaced my Baggs Element with a K&K Pure Mini...as I stated in a post a few days ago. The results are very good so far: high level of output, and balanced tone. First gig yesterday, and had gain on my Fishman Mini set at 9 o'clock, and was able to get it plenty loud with no feedback issues.

Did you get active with vol and tone controls ?

I went with the passive version as I wanted as few things inside the guitar as possible. Very easy to install and sounds awesome. I did a video for some folks in a different thread comparing in to the LR Baggs Anthem SL I'll link you the video so you can check it out:

https://youtu.be/w2hjQgYsTsI

Thanks for that video. Was the amp at the same volume level for both guitars? Kinda gets me thinking, do I really need a preamp inside the guitar. Your emerald sounds awesome. I may be going the same route as you. I love my X20, but the Anthem was a big disappointment. BTW, some pretty fine guitar playing there.

Dan

Thanks for your compliments. Yes both channels were the same volume, EQ flat on both channels and the Gibson with the Anthem SL had the volume on full. The passive Schatten is a little louder than the Anthem SL. At least that's the way it is with these 2 guitars. It's possible that the results will vary for different guitars. I find the Anthem gets muddier as you increase the volume whereas the Schatten don't miss a beat, you can EQ it of course. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the Anthem systems but I find the Schatten to be more natural sounding. Kind of hard to believe since the Anthem has an actual condenser mic as part of the system.

I've gone with K&K on both my Emerald customs. On my X20 it's a great choice and provides a very predictable output signal.

I installed an Anthem in my X20 and could not be happier. The sound is tunable during setup and it sounds great!

Mine sounds good too, but the output is so low that I have to put it through a booster pedal to get any volume out of it. Im ordering a new pickup and then the Anthem is gone.

Kudos on the video - very nicely done indeed. Both guitars sound great, and it's a very fair comparison between the two, given that it's not exactly A-B.

Likewise just got an x20 woody with the "upgrade" Anthem setup....sound guy is still pissed....

Keeps saying can you turn it up!

My other one with the Element cranks.... what a disappointment.

Have a Fishman platinum coming ...but preamp into preamp!

Thank you and yes you're absolutely right, 2 totally different guitars. Hopefully anyone who watches can differentiate the tonal qualities of each pickup. I tried my fair share of pickups over the years and I must say I was totally surprised by the Schatten, especially considering I never heard of them.

This is another issue with the Anthem. Too many people reporting varying levels of output. The full anthem system that I pulled out of the emerald was so much louder than my anthem sl Gibson. Its still a good system overall but those varying output levels are really bothersome.

I'm ordering a Schatten tomorrow. I'm getting the one with a preamp and vol & tone controls.

There's a member in the other thread I was referencing who has the passive version like me but his friend just ordered the same one you just mentioned. I believe its Schatten HFN Active w/volume and tone controls. I must say their Artist version that can be powered by either phantom power or a 9v battery is very interesting as well. If I ever decide to go the active route again I might give that one a try. I hope it all works out for you either way.