Anthem vs Anthem SL

[gbesson]

Can someone explain what I get for another 100 dollars. I see the control is different. It looks like the pickup hardware is the same. Thanks for any education you can provide.

[dilver]

From what I understand, it’s more control over the balance between the UST and microphone (some people need this; others don’t), phase reversal button and a battery indicator. Size of the control panel is also a factor.

[DownUpDave]

Originally Posted by dilver

From what I understand, it’s more control over the balance between the UST and microphone (some people need this; others don’t), phase reversal button and a battery indicator. Size of the control panel is also a factor.

This above. If you are playing a lot of gigs in different rooms the full Anthem will give you more control over your environment. I have the SL in one guitar and really like it, came pre-installed in a used guitar.

[Cuki79]

I don't own these but for what I can remember from the AGF posts:

* Full anthem gives you the ability to blend. You have an extra pot that lets go from

• 100% undersaddle piezo transducer (UST)
• to 100% internal mic for the frequencies above 250Hz (mid & highs) and 100% UST for eveything below 250Hz (lows)

It lets you for example go to 100% piezo when playing on a loud stage in feedback prone condition.
* Full anthem peamp is in the controller box so it adds weight to your top. People with super high-end ultra responsive guitar might not like that
* Full anthem output has notoriously weaker output.

Anthem SL is
* set to 100% internal mic for the frequencies above 250Hz and 100% UST by default.
* The preamp is inside the endpin jack. It does not add weight to the top
* the output is significantly stronger

I use dual source pickups with an external preamp similar to the anthem and I mostly set my blend between 50% to 75%. 100% Mic sounds nice but I quickly miss the bite of the piezo.

my 2 cents,
Cuki

[jjbigfly]

I have had both….the full Anthem was worth the $

[gbesson]

This is very helpful. Thank you

[Joe.Manganese]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

I don't own these but for what I can remember from the AGF posts:

* Full anthem gives you the ability to blend. You have an extra pot that lets go from

• 100% undersaddle piezo transducer (UST)
• to 100% internal mic for the frequencies above 250Hz (mid & highs) and 100% UST for eveything below 250Hz (lows)

It lets you for example go to 100% piezo when playing on a loud stage in feedback prone condition.
* Full anthem peamp is in the controller box so it adds weight to your top. People with super high-end ultra responsive guitar might not like that
* Full anthem output has notoriously weaker output.

Anthem SL is
* set to 100% internal mic for the frequencies above 250Hz and 100% UST by default.
* The preamp is inside the endpin jack. It does not add weight to the top
* the output is significantly stronger

I use dual source pickups with an external preamp similar to the anthem and I mostly set my blend between 50% to 75%. 100% Mic sounds nice but I quickly miss the bite of the piezo.

my 2 cents,
Cuki

No!
Full Anthem has NO crossover in ust and Mic.
You can use Mic 100% if you want.
Its a huge difference with anthen sl.
And i can say so because i do really own a full Anthem.

[jricc]

Originally Posted by gbesson

Can someone explain what I get for another 100 dollars. I see the control is different. It looks like the pickup hardware is the same. Thanks for any education you can provide.

Just be sure to check your guitar can accept the Full Anthem control panel, the larger control panel may or may not fit near the bracing of the soundhole. A friend of mine with a Taylor had to use the SL because the Full Anthem control wouldn't fit.

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by Joe.Manganese

No!
Full Anthem has NO crossover in ust and Mic.
You can use Mic 100% if you want.
Its a huge difference with anthen sl.
And i can say so because i do really own a full Anthem.

Hi Joe,

can you then explain me what's written in the manual:

[dilver]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

Hi Joe,

can you then explain me what's written in the manual:

That thing is gigantic. If you’re regularly playing out, full Anthem seems to be one of the go to options, as well as the Fishman Matrix. But for me playing mostly at home unamplified, I’d rather not have something with that much surface area attached to the top of the guitar.

[Cuki79]

From the LR Baggs Anthem patent



The patent number is US 8,989,399 B2.

It's clear the mixer mixes signals that have been filtered. Joe you can check the schematics in the patent if you don't believe me.

[Cuki79]

Here is a post from the LR Baggs official forum. The post was written by the administrator Caleb Elling who works for LR Baggs.

[j38guitar]

I have an Anthem SL and it sounds awesome! Can't go wrong either way. But I do like the smaller control of the SL.

[Petty1818]

Originally Posted by Joe.Manganese

No!
Full Anthem has NO crossover in ust and Mic.
You can use Mic 100% if you want.
Its a huge difference with anthen sl.
And i can say so because i do really own a full Anthem.

Not entirely correct. You are correct that when the blend is all the way to the UST, there's no crossover. However, all the way to the tru-mic, the UST is still providing the low end. You cannot get the full frequency with the tru-mic with either the full or SL versions.

[jseth]

I would REALLY recommend calling Baggs and talking to one of the techs there!

When I was looking to get either the "Full" Anthem or the SL, I spoke to a couple fo the guys there, and they explained everything thoroughly, regarding the differences between the two units.

I'm not going to get in the middle of the "discussion" that's already ensuing - just call Baggs and get accurate information from the guys who built the thing!

(p.s. For my needs, I ended up going with the SL, and had that in both my 6 and 12 string acoustics for about 10 years. They sound good amplified!)