#1
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Martin D-16 with LR Baggs Anthem SL
Hi Guys,
Need some help. I put this LR Baggs Anthem SL in my Martin D-16 and it just seems too heavy in the midrange. I had the same issue with the previous K & K, which is why I changed. My guitar unplugged doesn't seem to have this, but plugged in to any system seems too heavy in the mids. It's a beautiful sounding guitar and I hate to continually add heavy EQ to make this work. Any ideas on why this might be happening? It doesn't matter what I play through, the midrange still comes through heavy. |
#2
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Have you tried turning up the mic with the adjustment screw?
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#3
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It seems odd that the guitar, when amplified, exhibits the same characteristics with two completely different pick up systems. Hey, anything is possible.
If you do adjust the microphone, you should be able to dial in more treble. As previously suggested, go with that.
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#4
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The first thing to do, of course, is adjust the mic level to find the best balance you can get. After that it helps to tweak it with a good EQ. I like my Zoom A3's EQ because I can put a six band digital graphic EQ in series with a two band digital parametric EQ. In addition to those EQs, the A3 also has a manual three band EQ for "quick and dirty" adjustments at the gig. In any event, a good EQ device helps. My suspicion about the Anthem SL system is that it tends to provide an overly strong signal around the crossover frequency of 250 Hz because both the UST and the mic are contributing to the signal at that point. Whether or not the theory is correct, cutting in that area definitely helps with my particular rig. I recall that a year or two ago a player borrowed my Anthem SL-equipped guitar for an amplified set and one of his friends told him that it sounded better (amplified) than the player's own multi-thousand dollar Aura guitar. That little OM only cost me around $250 off ebay, so I credit a well EQed Anthem SL for making the difference. |
#5
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Thanks for your replies. I have adjusted the mic screw many times. I have not yet reached that optimum tone. It can help with the mids a little, but then it gets very bright and the sound of the pick against the strings is too pronounced. Its almost like the Presence needs to adjusted lower.
Guitaniac, I think you may be on to something with the crossover. I think I should have gotten the full Anthem. I have a mic/ust setting I do have the Zoom A3 and haven't used it much. I will dig it out and give both those EQ settings a trial. I was hoping to just plug in straight to my Bose S1 Pro, but I can't seem to take the mids enough. |
#6
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Quote:
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#7
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The Baggs pickup sounded harsh and brittle. Did not have that problem with my Fishman Loudbox Mini.
__________________
Nothing bothers me unless I let it. Martin D18 Gibson J45 Gibson J15 Fender Copperburst Telecaster Squier CV 50 Stratocaster Squier CV 50 Telecaster |
#8
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Here are the Zoom A3 EQ settings which I use for my cedar-mahogany OM/Anthem SL rig. You'll likely need somewhat different settings for your particular rig, but this might give you some ideas. Keep in mind that I first set the Tru Mic level for the best balance that I can get without EQ adjustments.
EFX box #1 (various guitar models) - turned off EFX box #2 - parametric EQ - turned on 80Hz, Q=1, -2db 1.2KHz, Q=1, -3db efx level at 100 EFX box #3 - graphic EQ - turned on 160Hz, -6db 400Hz, -3db 800Hz, 0db 3.2KHz, -1db 6.4Hz, -4db 12KHz, -1db efx level at 100 Be sure to have the "balance" knob turned fully clockwise to the full "wet" setting. Regarding the manual three band EQ, I keep that flat unless I need a "quick and dirty" adjustment at the gig. A nice thing about the Zoom A3 is that it allows the user to store multiple programs (up to 20) for multiple guitar/pickup rigs. A big downside is that its pretty complicated and has a steep learning curve. (Zoom must have gotten a lot of negative feedback on that, because their next preamps were simpler and more user-friendly.) Its worth noting that I can approximate the A3 settings sufficiently well with a Boss GE-7 if I accidentally leave the A3 at home. I've had to do that on at least one occasion. A general analysis of these EQ settings shows that the biggest adjustments were to cut excessive low mids (in the general area of the Anthem SL's crossover frequency of 250Hz). I also made a pretty healthy cut (-4db at 6.4KHz) to reduce some harshness in the mic tone. |
#9
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I tried using a LR Baggs Para DI but struggled to get the results I was looking for. I wanted to go direct and get an acceptable sound. I can do this for vocals. But for guitars, I just can’t seem to dial it in. I did adjust the screw more toward the mic than I ever had it and it is improved. But not using either tone match. I can use my TC Helicon Play Acoustic to get an acceptable tone, but I thought this Anthem SL would allow me to avoid all the signal processing and EQ adjustments. Thanks for all your suggestions. I will keep working. |
#10
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I will offer that the Anthem SL is one of the better pickups on the market. Apparently it isn't what you hoped for and that's a shame. Good luck and I hope you can get things the way you want them.
__________________
Nothing bothers me unless I let it. Martin D18 Gibson J45 Gibson J15 Fender Copperburst Telecaster Squier CV 50 Stratocaster Squier CV 50 Telecaster |
#11
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Thanks to you guys for all your advice. I took a little from each.
1. Worked on the adjustment screw with guitar plugged directly into my Bose S1 Pro. Moved the anthem SL adjustment more toward the mic, much further than ever before. 2. Adjusted the EQ on the S1 Pro to my liking. Not bad with no tone match used. 3. Used the Zoom A3 for only EQ with the para EQ. Mainly some cuts in the mids. 4. Made Minor adjustments in the 3 band on the face of the Zoom A3. Now it sounds great. Funny thing is, I have 3 different guitars I plugged into this set up and all I need is a little adjustment with EQ on the face of the Zoom A3 and they all sound good. Must be the room or the Bose I am getting used to that all my guitars need the similar settings. Or maybe that they all are mohogany with spruce tops. Funny that all the guitars have different pickups. Could be what my ears like to hear. Thanks again. |
#12
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As I mentioned before, one of the nice things about using the A3 for EQ is that you can create a dedicated program for each of your guitar/pickup rigs, and you'll still have the manual 3 band EQ available for any "quick and dirty" adjustments needed at the gig.
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#13
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#14
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Just an update since I had some time to play around this weekend. I took the same cuts/adjustments I made with the Zoom A3 and transferred then to the Play Acoustic. I removed any compression and just used the parametric EQ. Was able to get a better tone.
Unplugged my guitar D-16 with Anthem SL and plugged in a lower end guitar (Martin GSPRS1) with a Fishman Sonitone pickup. Actually this guitar sounded much better. Not sure if it's the pickup I don't like or maybe the guitar. I just can't seem to get this guitar sounding good plugged in. I will move the mic back further and try again . I think it is the string balance I am not liking. Could this be it? Maybe I am trying to turn a certain string down and not actually EQ? |
#15
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Quote:
https://youtu.be/MSQujy1u-3M |