Poll: LR Baggs pickups change acoustic tone?

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by stevecuss

Ah yes. An extra 30 seconds on my part, with the search feature of AGF would have figured that out.



That with the Baggs mic could be really something.

Agreed! The Baggs mic is very good. If their two channel preamp was adjustable gain for the piezo, it would be better.

[Brent Hahn]

I have an M80 magnetic in my Ibanez dread, and it may have diminished the volume ever so slightly, but it hasn't affected the tone.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

Did you install yours yourself? I’ve been considering them for sure. Do you use the onboard preamp?

Nope, had my luthier fit it (and remove the K&K's at the same time) - I use the external Stage DI preamp. It's a stunning solution, and I've tried most

[jennconducts]

Originally Posted by stevecuss

Well since you mentioned it, we need someone on AGF to try this guy!

The Ultra Tonic!!

Supposedly a K&K improver device. That with the Baggs mic and their amazing Anthem crossover would be the bees, I bet

It may be a matter of semantics, but it's not a K&K "improver". It is, in my view, an improvement on the K&K concept. Better balance of the 1st string, and less bass woofiness. At the January NAMM show, I played demos for a few hours with a guitar with the Ultra Tonic and the ToneDexter. Just marvelous. I'll be installing the Ultra Tonic in my new Baranik when I receive it.

[stevecuss]

Originally Posted by jennconducts

It may be a matter of semantics, but it's not a K&K "improver". It is, in my view, an improvement on the K&K concept. Better balance of the 1st string, and less bass woofiness. At the January NAMM show, I played demos for a few hours with a guitar with the Ultra Tonic and the ToneDexter. Just marvelous. I'll be installing the Ultra Tonic in my new Baranik when I receive it.

Thanks for that correction - its a valuable point. I may be confusing the link I sent with an aftermarket solution that James offers for existing K&K users. That second option is a true 'improver' and as you mention, the first one is a stand alone pickup solution.

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Petty1818

I think the fact that Baggs employees have confirmed there is often a change is enough proof for me. I installed the SL in my Taylor and noticed a drop in volume but I had also switched to a new saddle material and the saddle height was changed. I think if there is a change, it's very slight.

With that said, I have never noticed a change with the Fishman Matrix. I don't get why the Anthem doesn't just use a harder UST material? I know there's probably more to it but considering the fact that most people use a blend of mostly the tru-mic, then the UST tone is probably not all that crucial.

I think it would be smarter to use a harder UST too! I going to chance putting an Anthem into one of my guitars but I've had some balance issues with more than one element, so fingers crossed!

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by jonfields45

There is no reason to believe that the polymer piezo materials in the Matrix and Element are actually different (they are both probably polyvinylidene fluoride).

I have reason to believe it, I've had three different guitars where an Element didn't work because of balance problems (mainly the B&E strings), along with two Dtar systems with their flexible element-like UST. Soon as I went to Matrix infinity systems in those guitars, the problems went away. Then I changed the Infinity systems to B-band UST based systems and experienced no problems with that either. But I want to try the full anthem system in a guitar, so I'm going to chance that element UST again!

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

I have reason to believe it, I've had three different guitars where an Element didn't work because of balance problems (mainly the B&E strings), along with two Dtar systems with their flexible element-like UST. Soon as I went to Matrix infinity systems in those guitars, the problems went away. Then I changed the Infinity systems to B-band UST based systems and experienced no problems with that either. But I want to try the full anthem system in a guitar, so I'm going to chance that element UST again!

I have had (4) different guitars with Anthems. None of them exhibit hotter or weaker string volumes. That's my personal experience.

[martingitdave]

I had a chance to gig test my guitar this weekend. I tested with the Anthem and it was problematic in the guitar. The install was not done correctly. The UST shorted and cut out when I hit hard.

So after pulling that, I tested K&K at home with the Anthem. It was Ok. Not bad but the pickup is too hot and caused some balance and impedance issues. Then, I tried the K&K passive and with a Schatten Player II preamp. The results.... several wasted sets of strings and no closer to a solution. So, I pulled it all out, cleaned the bridge plate and re-installed the Lyric in the back position. It was great. Did the sets live and it sounded great straight to the house through a passive DI box.

Here’s my take on pickups: If you have a very special sounding guitar, don't bother installing anything. Otherwise, pick your poison.

This (plus a 9V battery) must do something to the tone of an acoustic guitar made of light weight woods.

[Monsum]

I'm one of those who could hear a clear difference when the Element was or wasn't installed.
In one guitar the change was so obvious for the worse that I couldn't bear the sound of this guitar and I sold it. So that has been my stand on this issue.

Today I carried out a test and you can listen to the results of it in the clip below.
Firstly I recorded the guitar with the Element transducer removed from under the saddle and then (starting at 0:52) you can hear the recording with the Element back on.
I tried to keep all variables the same which is the same guitar, strings, pick, microphone and its distance and position, room and audio interface.
The clip hasn't been compressed (so it's a bit quiet), only normalized.
Sorry for the background noise.

Can you hear a difference?

[MrErikJ]

Originally Posted by Monsum

I'm one of those who could hear a clear difference when the Element was or wasn't installed.
In one guitar the change was so obvious for the worse that I couldn't bear the sound of this guitar and I sold it. So that has been my stand on this issue.

Today I carried out a test and you can listen to the results of it in the clip below.
Firstly I recorded the guitar with the Element transducer removed from under the saddle and then (starting at 0:52) you can hear the recording with the Element back on.
I tried to keep all variables the same which is the same guitar, strings, pick, microphone and its distance and position, room and audio interface.
The clip hasn't been compressed (so it's a bit quiet), only normalized.
Sorry for the background noise.

Can you hear a difference?




https://soundcloud.com/spirit-on/lr-...nt-pickup-test

Not hearing a difference.

[Doug Young]

I hear virtually no difference in the fingerstyle part, the strumming sounds a bit less edgy with the pickup, and is an improvement to my ears.

[Groberts]

I agree with Doug. No difference and if there is, one could argue it sounds maybe a little better. I continue to conclude; Great PU! I have a couple Anthems in my Martins and I am very pleased acoustically and amplified.

[Petty1818]

I still believe we often hear what we want to hear. I wonder how many of us would notice a change if we didn’t know before hand that this was an “issue”? I just look at the numerous professional musicians with high end or vintage guitars who are using the Anthem and have no issues with it. I like to think they have a better ear than me.

On a side note, I gigged with a matrix blend system for years. When I finally pulled it out, my guitar lost something. It just lacked warmth. I think in some cases, if there is a change, it can actually be a good thing.

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by Monsum

I'm one of those who could hear a clear difference when the Element was or wasn't installed.

In one guitar the change was so obvious for the worse that I couldn't bear the sound of this guitar and I sold it. So that has been my stand on this issue.



Today I carried out a test and you can listen to the results of it in the clip below.

Firstly I recorded the guitar with the Element transducer removed from under the saddle and then (starting at 0:52) you can hear the recording with the Element back on.

I tried to keep all variables the same which is the same guitar, strings, pick, microphone and its distance and position, room and audio interface.

The clip hasn't been compressed (so it's a bit quiet), only normalized.

Sorry for the background noise.



Can you hear a difference?









https://soundcloud.com/spirit-on/lr-...-pickup-test-1

Did you use two different saddles to keep the strings at the same height from the top?