LR Baggs Soundhole Pickups?

llew · #1 07-01-2022, 01:34 PM

I've never used a sound hole pickup and am considering it in a Yairi all mahogany OM (FYM66HD). I know the M1 comes in either active of passive models. I imagine the latter needs a good preamp like the K&K Mini? Also thinking about the newer M80 which can do active and passive styles. Any input regarding any or all of these three pickups is appreciated...many thanks!

Goat Mick · #2 07-01-2022, 01:52 PM

I actually prefer the Baggs M1 passive over the active. The active sounds a bit harsh to me. I never use a preamp running into my Fishman Loudbox amps and it sounds great. If I'm going into a PA or my Bose S1 Pro I use a Baggs Para DI. I'm a big fan of the M1 passive and have them in 2 of my gigging guitars. They sound great, don't feedback and are bulletproof.

j38guitar · #3 07-01-2022, 01:55 PM

I have the M1 active and really like it. Easy to install, good sound and no feedback issues.

jricc · #4 07-01-2022, 08:41 PM

I have the M1a and the M80. I like them both but prefer M80. It's nice to have active and passive. Lately I've preferred it passive into a Fishman Tonedeq.

llew · #5 07-02-2022, 06:46 AM

Thanks for all the responses. That one feature (active/passive) is what's drawing me toward the M80.

Brent Hahn · #6 07-03-2022, 11:21 AM

I've had a few over the years and my fave for general-purpose use is the M80. My favorite for "jazzbox" tones, though, is my Bill Lawrence from the 70's. Terrible if you want to sound like an acoustic guitar, but brilliant if you want Wes Montgomery. And it has no pole pieces, so it doesn't care how many strings you have. Works great with acoustic basses, nice and tubby.

Rick Jones · #7 07-03-2022, 11:41 AM

I got an M1 pretty much the week that they were available in the UK. I have owned and used two over the last decade, and for a while I was really fond of them, but I did always notice a kind of 'phasey-ness' that really stood out to me one night when I swapped to my then-new weissenborn copy that had a Sunrise in it at a gig.

Nowadays I like the vernerable Sunrise and the humble Rare Earth 'bucker more, but they're both best with a second source. If I was going to run a single-source soundhole magnetic I'd likely use an m80.