Full Anthem or SL on a Martin OM-28

stefankynde · #1 10-06-2020, 12:36 PM

I know a lot of threads contains this topic.

But I’m hoping to hear from guys who have had both systems and might be able to explain why people save so few money to get the SL. Missing all those extra features.

It didn’t work out with the schatten HFN passive for me.
So now I’m going straight to either SL of full Anthem.

Tell me the reason why you chose SL over the full or other way around please.

Regards

AeroUSA · #2 10-06-2020, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefankynde

I know a lot of threads contains this topic.

But I’m hoping to hear from guys who have had both systems and might be able to explain why people save so few money to get the SL. Missing all those extra features.

It didn’t work out with the schatten HFN passive for me.
So now I’m going straight to either SL of full Anthem.

Tell me the reason why you chose SL over the full or other way around please.

Regards

100% the full Anthem. More control.

Al Acuff · #3 10-06-2020, 07:52 PM

Compared with the full Anthem the Anthem SL has higher output. It's also lighter and adds less weight to the guitar. I've tried both in the same guitar and wound up keeping the Anthem SL.

I plug the Anthem SL equipped Waterloo straight in to an AER Compact 60 amplifier and it sounds like the guitar only louder. If you want more control you can use a Session DI or Venue DI pedal for tone shaping and boosting. I own both and prefer the Session DI because it's simple and small. My guitar tech prefers the Venue DI. Both of these LR Baggs preamps work nicely with Anthem pickups.

stefankynde · #4 10-06-2020, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AeroUSA

100% the full Anthem. More control.

Ordered. Thanks. I’ll get back with results and thoughts.

AeroUSA · #5 10-06-2020, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefankynde

Ordered. Thanks. I’ll get back with results and thoughts.

I think you will love it. Play with the mic gain control and use some external EQ if needed. It’s a great live tone.

Peter Z · #6 10-07-2020, 01:51 AM

Meanwhile I'm pretty sure I made mistakes when I instaled my Anthem SL. Looks like there are different controls on the full Anthem but the sound should be more or less the same. My full Anthem sounds great, the SL sounded bad. I think that cannot be.
I will try to find the time to instal my old SL in the Hummingbird and report back.

Guitarplayer_PR · #7 10-18-2020, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefankynde

I know a lot of threads contains this topic.

But I’m hoping to hear from guys who have had both systems and might be able to explain why people save so few money to get the SL. Missing all those extra features.

It didn’t work out with the schatten HFN passive for me.
So now I’m going straight to either SL of full Anthem.

Tell me the reason why you chose SL over the full or other way around please.

Regards

If you have a good preamp-DI, go for the SL, as I did.

ZebraKing · #8 10-23-2020, 07:46 AM

Unless you can access the 9V battery quickly on your guitar, the battery level gauge on the full Anthem provides some piece of mind when heading out to a gig.

I never mess with the blend control (set it once and leave it) or ground (can do on pre-amp) or even volume (up all the way all the time).

AeroUSA · #9 10-23-2020, 09:51 PM

I’d always get the full if it fits.

Mbroady · #10 10-23-2020, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefankynde

Ordered. Thanks. I’ll get back with results and thoughts.

Look forward to hearing how you like it. I had the Anthem SL in 2 guitars. Both sounded amazing plugged in. However, on one guitar there was a noticeable change in the unplugged sound. It sounded slightly muted. So I took it out and all was good again. On the other guitar there was no perceived change acoustically, and it’s still in the guitar. Both guitar are from the same builder........

If I were switching between solo and full band gigs I probably would have opted for the full Anthem, for the added flexibility. But for solo (singer songwriter) gigs the SL is a sweet sounding pick up, through most any decent PA

6L6 · #11 10-23-2020, 11:37 PM

I bought a used Martin D-42 that was equipped with a BAGGS Anthem and didn’t care for the pickup.

I had it removed and replaced with a K&K and now I’m happy!

doublescale1 · #12 10-27-2020, 07:22 AM

I had a full Anthem put in a Martin D-18 - it was an amazing pickup that brought the full fidelity of the guitar to the PA system, no issues. I never heard any degradation of the sound of the guitar unplugged with the pickup in place - perhaps there are some with advanced dog-ear hearing capability, I'm not one of them. The guitar sounded great unplugged, and plugged in, the Anthem delivers a true, warm "mic'd" guitar tone to the room. And, I went with the Full Anthem for more control of the signal to FOH - more control is always a good thing.

James May · #13 10-27-2020, 10:26 AM

Glad you went with the full. The SL has some internal compression that can't be disabled. As a result it doesn't play well with ToneDexter. The full Anthem works very well with Dexter, should you decide to go that way in the future.

Guitarplayer_PR · #14 10-28-2020, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James May

Glad you went with the full. The SL has some internal compression that can't be disabled. As a result it doesn't play well with ToneDexter. The full Anthem works very well with Dexter, should you decide to go that way in the future.

Isn't that putting a hat on a hat?

JackB1 · #15 10-30-2020, 10:01 AM

I love the SL for it's simplicity and small footprint on the guitar. It will sound like the full Anthem with the blend at all mic, so if that's the sound you like, then no need for the full Anthem. If you play solo and never need a loud live volume, the SL should be perfect. But if you need to turn up and feedback is an issue, then the ability to dial back the mic would be an asset. Personally, I do a solo live gig and loved the SL in my J45. Great plug and play sound which needed little EQ.