#1
|
|||
|
|||
ES2 retrofit or Anthem SL
I started reading last night after pondering about the added cost of shipping both ways to get my W10 retrofitted with the ES2. I read several posts of people replacing the ES system with the the LR Baggs Anthem SL. How much better of a pickup system is it versus the the ES2? I will be playing my guitar mostly in a loud band situation but also on Sunday’s at church. $200 for shipping(both ways combined) could be well spent somewhere else!!
__________________
Education is important! Guitar is importanter!! 2019 Bourgeois “Banjo Killer” Aged Tone Vintage Deluxe D 2018 Martin D41 Ambertone (2018 Reimagined) 2016 Taylor GS Mini Koa ES2 |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Does the W10 currently have any kind of pickup installed other than the K&k you mentioned in your other thread? If not, then if it were me personally I would not want to put holes in it by installing the ES2.
I have an Anthem SL installed in one of my Martins. I like it overall - pretty natural sound and no issues with feedback at loud band volumes. I feel it does require a few EQ tweaks to make it sound it’s best. Also, some people report that the Element undersaddle pickup part of the Anthem has an impact on the acoustic tone/volume of the instrument. I’ve never had that issue personally, but as always , YMMV. Maybe also check out the Barbera Soloist pickup for your guitar. Pretty natural tone for a pickup, good at loud volumes and very little impact on the guitar in terms of the install. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
In my experience, the Anthem SL can have an overly strong frequency response near the "crossover" frequency of 250Hz. (At that frequency, it appears that both the UST and the mic are picking up plenty of signal.) If you can tame it with some decently flexible EQ, however, its hard to find a better analog pickup.
I use a Zoom A3 with my Anthem SL rig. In addition to having a six band graphic EQ and a two band parametric EQ which can be used in series, the A3 has an additional basic three band EQ which can be used for "quick and dirty" adjustments at the gig. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
It only has the K&k In it. I run an Ultrasound Di plus with it. Even using a feedback buster in the soundhole, I would get horrible feedback when I took my guitar off and put it on the stand to just sing. It would have to be muted through the system to stop it. I don’t have a lot of extra money to spend on preamps and pedals, so I’m looking for the best and most simple active pickup that just works. I know I’m limiting myself, but I can’t get past the look of sound hole mounted pickups, so those are out. I’m not super knowledgeable in the electronics area of acoustic guitars plugged in, so I’m looking to you experienced folks to point me in the right direction. That Barbera soloist does look pretty cool, but I’ve never heard it mentioned much.
__________________
Education is important! Guitar is importanter!! 2019 Bourgeois “Banjo Killer” Aged Tone Vintage Deluxe D 2018 Martin D41 Ambertone (2018 Reimagined) 2016 Taylor GS Mini Koa ES2 |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
guitar.jpg Last edited by DenverSteve; 06-24-2018 at 08:05 AM. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
Education is important! Guitar is importanter!! 2019 Bourgeois “Banjo Killer” Aged Tone Vintage Deluxe D 2018 Martin D41 Ambertone (2018 Reimagined) 2016 Taylor GS Mini Koa ES2 |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
What does the practice area look like. Sometimes it's just too small to avoid feedback. If it's not the room size, it's the monitor/speaker/pa placement relative to the guitar. K&K's feedback far less than many other pickup systems.
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
You don’t hear much about Barbera but a number of pros like Pierre Bensusan and Richard Smith use them. Also first-rate luthiers such as Kirk Sand and Buscarino are installing the Barberas in their guitars. The pickups are a little pricey but again minimally invasive to the guitar and they provide a strong output signal so you could use them without an internal preamp. On the other hand, you might like the Anthem, it’s definitely one of the better systems out there IMHO. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
http://schattendesign.com/player_preamp.htm Personally, I'd rather get an outboard preamp which can be used with multiple guitars. I was able to get an old (1st generation) Fishman Platinum Pro EQ off ebay for $70 (if cost is an issue). There are a few of them (priced crazy cheap) on ebay right now. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fishman-Pro...ty!44109!US!-1 I recently pulled a Barbera Soloist out of one of my guitars because it isn't very compatible with my ToneDexter preamp (in my opinion). It is highly feedback resistant, however, and it sounds better (raw) than most undersaddle pickups. One caveat is that the lead wire is rather delicate. (My luthier complained about that and spliced a thicker piece of lead onto it for the connection to the strap-jack. I had to remove the spliced piece to pull the pickup out of the guitar, but the remaining lead length is more than sufficient for any guitar.) I'll be selling the Soloist cheap, but you'd need someone who's good with a soldering iron to deal with it effectively. You'd also likely need to shim it for a proper height in the saddle slot - and a 1/8" saddle slot is required. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
I think I’m just gonna hang on and when my 810 with the Matrix Infinity is out of the shop, use it and keep the W10 like it is for church. I REALLY like the sound and playability of the W10 better, but it’ll save money and hassle just to switch guitars and roll with it. I can always have it in on-hand as a back-up if necessary. I never thought I’d have to deal with this because I thought my 810 was unbeatable sound/playability-wise, but the W10 is a hands down better guitar.
__________________
Education is important! Guitar is importanter!! 2019 Bourgeois “Banjo Killer” Aged Tone Vintage Deluxe D 2018 Martin D41 Ambertone (2018 Reimagined) 2016 Taylor GS Mini Koa ES2 |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
I’ve been looking at the Play Acoustic since I’m the lead singer of our band. How does it compare to the tonedexter?
__________________
Education is important! Guitar is importanter!! 2019 Bourgeois “Banjo Killer” Aged Tone Vintage Deluxe D 2018 Martin D41 Ambertone (2018 Reimagined) 2016 Taylor GS Mini Koa ES2 |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
The Barbera pickup is an excellent choice for guitars with non compensated bridge saddles not for guitars with compensated saddles. Since most guitars come with compensated bridge saddles Barbera needs to sell a compensated version.
__________________
Taylor V-Class 814ce, 717e BE WHB, 520ce, 454ce, 420 Cedar\Maple, T5z Classic Martin D18E Retro Cordoba C10 Crossover Emerald X20 Rainsong H-OM1000N2 Voyage-Air VAD-04 Custom Les Paul Hot Rod Deville 410, Fishman Loudbox Performer |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
I don't own the ES2 but have tried it numerous times. I did have the Anthem SL in my Taylor for a short time. In my opinion, the SL always had a bit too much of a hollow/thin tone to it. I made adjustments but I could never get enough warmth/bass out of it. I really want to try the full Anthem some day. Baggs employees have said that the SL tends to have a clearer tone with a bit more headroom which on paper seems great but I think it lacks a little warmth as a result. Just my opinion.
The ES2 is really nice but I found it to be a bit inconsistent. It does have the adjustment screws though. personally I would try the full anthem. The retrofit is a bit pricey and you are then having to screw into the bridge. At least the anthem can be pulled out easily. |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
I don't have a TC Helicon PlayAcoustic but have the TC Helicon VoiceLive 2. I also have a ToneDexter. The TC Helicon products are good but the ToneDexter sets the stage for the TC products or other geegaws in a signal chain to do their thing. I suggest going with the ToneDexter first and then step off into the ether from there if you still feel you must do so ...
__________________
Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |