#16
|
|||
|
|||
The same thing happens here plugged straight in with very little adjustment and as splash of verb it sounds really good.
|
#17
|
|||
|
|||
I don't prefer the Element but it's a sensitive UST and is much more dynamic and responsive than many comparable models. I find that I prefer the cleanliness, power, and passive nature of the Baggs LB6 to the Element, but it is a very good piezo and the basis of Baggs' dual source systems these days.
I think it will sound very nice w/less heavy handed styles and I've known some people who have added the PUTW Quackbuster with great results. The DTar Wavelength is supposedly the same UST element (get it?) but with the Turner high-headroom pre-amp. Many claim the Wavelength reduces quack and distortion, others don't hear much of a difference. I'm in the latter as I think the compression of the element under a saddle can't be fixed w/a higher voltage preamp, hence my preference of the LB6. Personally, I would say a passive-LB6 run into a good preamp is better than both but who am I to judge?
__________________
Alvarez MC90 Guild GAD-50 w/Seymour Duncan Mag Mic Taylor 352ce Taylor 514ce Zoom AC3 https://linktr.ee/erikjmusic |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
I have an Element in my Gibson J29, and I don't love it on it's own either. I picked up a Fishman Aura 16 pedal and found a few images that really help the sound of that pickup.
__________________
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany La Michoacana Classical (my Dad's guitar) Beat to heck Seagull S6 Ovation Celebrity 12 string Fender CD 60 dread that lives in Greece Harmonicas in a Farmer rack |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
I actually like the Element. It's not perfect, it's not 'my guitar but louder', but it works well. I especially like that it makes it so my guitar fits in a mix of instruments and on its own it doesn't sound terrible (certainly not as bad as USTs used to sound). It's also plug and play simple into lots of different systems with small eq tweaks. I also haven't had any appreciable effect on my acoustic sound.
__________________
"We got both kinds of music, we got country and western" ~ from The Blues Brothers |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
Taylor GA3 Taylor 150e Taylor 224ce-K |
#21
|
||||
|
||||
The Element will kill your unplugged tone (because of the soft material it's made out of) so as long as you don't care about that, it may be an ok choice. Like many here - not a fan of any UST I've ever tried.
__________________
"One small heart, and a great big soul that's driving" |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks for the replies guys!
Apologies for using the word 'consensus' on a guitar forum Anyway there seems to be more love for the Element than I expected. A lot of options and opinions that I'm going to explore, maybe I will just start with a good preamp with EQ. |
#23
|
||||
|
||||
Hey folks, wanted to revive this older thread.
I just bought a new gorgeous Blueridge BR-160A and will eventually be adding a pickup. A buddy of mine is sending a Baggs Element for free. I general despise all pickups and have for forty years. And this is coming from someone with two Trance Audio rigs in high-end guitars and Baggs Anthem, Baggs Lyric, etc., in others. In particular, I dislike USTs. What might I do to make the Element sound better? Add a Lyric mic? Appreciate your suggestions and insights. scott memmer |
#24
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I have recently purchased 3 Baggs Elements (used, from owners who pulled them and installed something else) to use in semi-acoustic fretless basses I've been building, and they sound great for that use. Not so much for guitar IMHO. |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I'm thinking you should give it a good try without a Lyric before investing in any other stuff. Oh, and free is a good price. |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
The Baggs element UST is generally quacky like all the others of its type. There are those who despise it a little more because it tends to impact the unplugged tone of guitars due to the braided design. If you have access to a good acoustic amp, like the Fishman loudbox series for example, you can eliminate the quack really well. If you don't have access to an acoustic amp and are looking for a new preamp a Tonedexter will work well with it as it does with all UST's.
|
#27
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Actually, this guitar would most likely get played at open mics, so it would just be going into a DI and then the PA, with little or no control from me. So I pretty much need something plug-and-play. Sounds like maybe not the best p/u for such a situation. Thanks, Jim. Been too long. scott |
#28
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
scott |
#29
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#30
|
|||
|
|||
My Emerald X20 came factory equipped with a Baggs Element pickup that would give me random problems with a boomy low E string. I thought I had the problem solved when I found some unsecured internal wires...it improved but still came back. I could not EQ it out through my Fishman Loudbox amp without completely killing the lows. Perhaps if I were a better tech, I could have solved the problem by shaving the saddle, etc.
I replaced it with a K&K Pure Mini. Problem solved. I also believe the guitar sounds better unplugged now as well, with better tone and resonance.
__________________
Angie |