[martingitdave]

I can't seem to make up my mind. Depending on your point of view, there are either too many good pickup options on the market, or no good options. I'll avoid that debate for the time being.

In my quest for "my guitar only louder" I continue to try lot of different pickups. The pickup grave yard on my workbench is starting to get a bit unruly and Mrs. Martingitdave is none too happy. :-)

As you know, I may be a unique case in that I don't use the same setup everywhere I go. So, I am always searching for a great "plug and play" option. I also prefer the natural sound that works better in listening rooms to the punchy piezo tone that tends to work better in noisy bars.

Here are the systems I am employing now after some exhaustive trial and error:

Passive K&K and ToneDexter

Pros
No acoustic degradation
No batteries ot "junk" in the guitar.
10/10 "natural" amplified tone that is customizable to the venue

Cons
Using a pedal with mains power not usually feasible for me
No volume/tone control on the guitar.

Bottom Line
If I were a full time solo artist, I would probably use this. It’s fool proof and you can always plug in straight into whatever you have as a last option backup.

LR Baggs Lyric Mic

Pros
Little to no acoustic degradation
Very lightweight/low impact analog active system
9V battery with long battery life
9/10 "natural" amplified tone
It sounds like a mic because it is a mic
Can be installed in different locations to "tune" the sound. Hint: (I install behind the bridge pins. Better tone but less feedback rejection.)

Cons
Not as pleasing at high volume
Requires proper EQ at the board or with a parametric EQ pedal.
Can be very finicky played into some systems.
Not always a great "open mic" solution.

Bottom Line
If I were a full time "headline" performer with a sound-man, I might use this instead of the K&K/ToneDexter because it is a mic and has more high end definition. That is, as long as someone else is cleaning up the midrange for you. I have this in my best sounding/easiest playing guitar. It's perfect for when you are playing in a small listening room and need only some modest "reinforcement" of the guitar acoustically. In other words, when I play a room and people can hear me singing, playing, and also hear some of the speakers, this sounds really natural. This guitar also has a long glued in saddle, so under saddle systems aren't an option. That's why I have a similar guitar with...

Fishman Aura VT Enhance

Pros
Little acoustic degradation
8/10 "natural" amplified tone.
Capable of punchy "bar" tone.
Totally "plug and play" and versatile for my use.
New system does not require holes and is ultimately removable/replacable.

Cons
9V battery with short battery life
Proprietary and available only in new Martins

Bottom Line
These systems are not everyone's cup of tea for their Martin. But, for what I do, they get the job done. The latest system is their best attempt to compromise on aesthetics, preserving acoustic tone, and providing a useful feature full system. Also, if you play in bands or bars, these under-saddle Aura systems are hard to beat. If I don't know what I'm plugging into, I'm bringing this. Spoiler Alert! (If I could get the Taylor ES2 in my Martin, I would probably use that instead.)

Taylor ES2

Pros
No acoustic degradation
Very lightweight/low impact analog active system
8/10 "natural" amplified tone
It sounds like a passive K&K played through a really good preamp.
Totally "plug and play" and versatile for my use.
Onboard volume bass and treble controls.

Cons
9V battery with short battery life
Proprietary and available only in new Taylors
Not as versatile as the Fishman at high volume/high feedback applications.
No punchy "bar" tone.

Bottom Line
For what I do, the Taylor ES2 system is the best fit. But, the Taylor guitar isn't always the best fit for my music. I'm a big fan of Taylor guitars, but I really love the warmth and power from a Martin dreadnought. That said, some of my best gigs were played with a less expensive Taylor 210e Deluxe with ES2. If I could get one of those (or a 110e) with their 1-3/4" nut, I would use one of those as my gig guitar and be done with it. If you use this system in loud bars and bands, you’ll probably need a DI with notch filter or auto feedback rejection.

Future
If a new "plug and play" system comes on the market that doesn't require an under-saddle transducer, I can envision myself swapping out the Lyric and selling the guitar with the Fishman system, just to simplify things. I prefer to own fewer guitars.

Well folks, that's all I've got for now.