You have $250 - you have a Baggs Element - you want a better sound ...

[myersbw]

Originally Posted by Doug Young

The Baggs pickup is active, so it's already buffering the impedance of the raw pickup, and sending a relatively low impedance out. The input impedance of a preamp/amp has very little impact on the sound of an active pickup. It matters when you have a passive pickup, like a K&K. To me, the element is an example of a pickup that has a distinctive sound (most do, but the element is one I really tune into). If you don't like it, another pickup is probably the most effective choice. If you must try a pedal, I'd vote for the Baggs Session DI.

Oh, duh! (Been a long day!) LSHOL!

[RogerPease]

I know you were hoping for a new pedal but...

For that money I'd recommend upgrading the Element pickup to a
Baggs Anthem SL. The Anthem SL is basically an Element with an
added contact mic stuck to the bridge plate inside the guitar.

No new holes need be drilled and you can reuse the cable clips, etc.
from the Element install. So it's a very clean upgrade. You do need
to spend some time tweaking the balance between the added Tru-Mic
and the under saddle transducer (i.e. the "Element"). It's touchy but
once done it's pretty well set.

Probably save you ~$100 bucks from your budget since the SL is
usually on sale for 15% off this time of year. The Anthem SL is
different than the full Anthem. I'm recommending the SL.

Cheers.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by loco gringo

Save 69 more dollars and get a Trance Amulet M-VT.

+1 Trance Audio Amulet M Dual Mono M-VT!

[rschultz]

Originally Posted by Doug Young

The Baggs pickup is active, so it's already buffering the impedance of the raw pickup, and sending a relatively low impedance out. The input impedance of a preamp/amp has very little impact on the sound of an active pickup. It matters when you have a passive pickup, like a K&K. To me, the element is an example of a pickup that has a distinctive sound (most do, but the element is one I really tune into). If you don't like it, another pickup is probably the most effective choice. If you must try a pedal, I'd vote for the Baggs Session DI.

Doug, tell me what you like so much about the Session...

[rschultz]

Originally Posted by RogerPease

I know you were hoping for a new pedal but...

For that money I'd recommend upgrading the Element pickup to a
Baggs Anthem SL. The Anthem SL is basically an Element with an
added contact mic stuck to the bridge plate inside the guitar.

No new holes need be drilled and you can reuse the cable clips, etc.
from the Element install. So it's a very clean upgrade. You do need
to spend some time tweaking the balance between the added Tru-Mic
and the under saddle transducer (i.e. the "Element"). It's touchy but
once done it's pretty well set.

Probably save you ~$100 bucks from your budget since the SL is
usually on sale for 15% off this time of year. The Anthem SL is
different than the full Anthem. I'm recommending the SL.

+1, everything he said is absolutely correct. Ditto.

[Mike_A]

If you have multiple guitars, the aura pedal can be used on all. a pickup upgrade will be useful for that one guitar only.

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[Doug Young]

Originally Posted by rschultz

Doug, tell me what you like so much about the Session...

It's an interesting gizmo. I dismissed it when I first heard about it. Compression - never cared for it on acoustic. And distortion? No way. Then I tried it. It's quite subtle, but it can fatten up your sound very nicely in a way that EQ can't. The combination of the two controls just makes for a bigger, smoother sound that goes a long way toward taming that "pickup" sound. The compression is multi-band, and has some interesting effects since it's basically a dynamic EQ. It tends to reduce the harshness of the upper mids, which is an area pickups can turn nasty. It seems to be even more effective if you strum hard, vs quiet fingerstyle, but it helps both. The TC BodyRes is also surprisingly effective, and works a bit differently.

I don't use either of these regularly because I almost always use a dual source setup and a high quality internal mic handles a lot of the load, and these gadgets are mono-only. But for a mono UST, I find them pretty effective. Everyone's taste is different of course, but the Session (and the BodyRez) are worth checking out.

[big jilm]

Well, thanks everyone for the input. I'm going to try the Fishman Aura 16 pedal - Musician's Friend has them on sale with free shipping, so we'll see.

[TwinandTwang]

+1 Red Eye

[Kalani]

Since the pickup is already in there, I would definitely try a preamp pedal like the LR Baggs Para DI, Radial Pz or Fishman Platinum Pro---can't hurt.

I have the Fishman and I love how all of my instruments sound thru it. You'll also have the extra tools to eq and control feedback.

[Mike_A]

Originally Posted by big jilm

Well, thanks everyone for the input. I'm going to try the Fishman Aura 16 pedal - Musician's Friend has them on sale with free shipping, so we'll see.

That is the way to go. It removes quack like no EQ can. I guarantee you can hear a dramatic effect if you listen via transparent amplification (studio monitor/headphones/PA).

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[Mike_A]

One more thing before you go out and get the aura, check this out.

https://youtu.be/ttva8l7nyXA

This one of the best demos. Jump to 4:00 mark. There he will play the guitar with aura and without the aura (pickup only). So you can hear the effect clearly. Use headphones to hear this demo better. This is exactly the kind of effect I experienced with the aura. If u like what it does to the sound (mic'd without the rubber quack) then go for it! If not then time to check the other suggestions. Ps I am not paid by fishman for this. Just want to help.

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[big jilm]

Originally Posted by Mike_A

One more thing before you go out and get the aura, check this out.

https://youtu.be/ttva8l7nyXA

This one of the best demos. Jump to 4:00 mark. There he will play the guitar with aura and without the aura (pickup only). So you can hear the effect clearly. Use headphones to hear this demo better. This is exactly the kind of effect I experienced with the aura. If u like what it does to the sound (mic'd without the rubber quack) then go for it! If not then time to check the other suggestions. Ps I am not paid by fishman for this. Just want to help.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Thanks, Mike! The Aura Sixteen will be here tomorrow, according to tracking. I hope it does what I need. I do like the difference in tone on that demo, so we will see! Thanks for the link.