Finding the right pickup for my OM-35 MFG - LR Baggs iBeam content

[edocaster]

My brain works in bullet points, so here we go

Brief history:

• After struggling with EQ-ing a K&K pure mini + pre-phase control in a Recording King ROS-06, I eventually found a sound I was happy with
• Bought a used OM-35 MFG online (NGD post) and sold the Recording King
• On to a journey to finding the right pickup for the Martin

What I want:

• Something non-invasive
• Something that doesn't alter the integrity of the guitar, for example inserting a UST
• Something that isn't too expensive
• Minimal need of outboard gear

What I play:

• Pretty much from fingerstyle to heavy strumming and everything in between, playing church music, pop and blues
• Playing unplugged at home
• Playing plugged in at church - always with in-ears monitoring system
• Gear wise I have a Fishman Pro-EQ Platinum (the old grey one)

So with that in mind, I came down to these:

• K&K Pure Mini passive installed with tape instead of power glue. The one in the Recording King was boomy with very hot mids, I like the neutral highs though.
• LR Baggs iBeam active
• DTar/Duncan Wavelength Duo - a bit on the expensive side
• Baggs Anthem - a lot on the expensive side and has a UST. This is also used by the elites in my circle of musicians
• K&K Trinity (the one with an SBT and a mic) - expensive and has a big PCB inside a guitar

So...despite and due to the inconsistent praises and curses of the iBeam active, I got curious and I bought one.

My findings so far:

• Bloody hard to get the right position, lol
• A little boomy but nothing overwhelming
• But has a zingy, stringy, steely sound - I have to cut treble and brilliance a little to tame the zing
• And hot mids, way too forward compared to the unplugged sound - I have to cut mids by around 10dB midway in the mids frequency band
• And after all that still not 'my acoustic but louder' sound

I'm not happy with the iBeam but I'm glad I took the plunge and found out what all the fuss was about. I'm already considering getting a passive Pure Mini and be done with it. A part of me also wants to do the other extreme and shell out and get the Anthem and join the elites. I haven't decided yet.

[GuitarLuva]

Let me save you a lot of hassle get a Schatten HFN passive pickup. Probably the easiest pickup out there to install/remove, it's a SBT, and it sounds amazing. Oh I forgot to mention it's way cheaper than all those other pickups that you mentioned. If you want more info there's a couple of recent threads going on the Schatten HFN with audio samples and vids you should check them out. I did a video upon request from another member comparing the Schatten to the Baggs Anthem SL. There were several people in those threads who hopped on board when they heard it. If you want anymore info let me know.

[edocaster]

Originally Posted by GuitarLuva

Let me save you a lot of hassle get a Schatten HFN passive pickup. Probably the easiest pickup out there to install/remove, it's a SBT, and it sounds amazing. Oh I forgot to mention it's way cheaper than all those other pickups that you mentioned. If you want more info there's a couple of recent threads going on the Schatten HFN with audio samples and vids you should check them out. I did a video upon request from another member comparing the Schatten to the Baggs Anthem SL. There were several people in those threads who hopped on board when they heard it. If you want anymore info let me know.

Thanks GuitarLuva, I hadn't heard about them until now. I shall have a look.

[GuitarLuva]

Originally Posted by edocaster

Thanks GuitarLuva, I hadn't heard about them until now. I shall have a look.

I haven't either up until a month ago. Than I bought one, than I was amazed how this one eluded me all these years after going through pickups like they're going out of style!

[edocaster]

Originally Posted by GuitarLuva

I haven't either up until a month ago. Than I bought one, than I was amazed how this one eluded me all these years after going through pickups like they're going out of style!

The price isn’t bad. Still a bit more than K&K. I’d probably go with the HFN VT if I do get one.

[edocaster]

Just to provide closure. I bought a used full Anthem system and installed it in. I was pleasantly surprised that sanding down a TUSQ saddle was easier than I thought.

Used it for live yesterday and I'm quite happy with it. It turns out that I still have a soft spot for that quacky UST sound, so having the option to go all piezo is good.

[Petty1818]

Originally Posted by edocaster

Just to provide closure. I bought a used full Anthem system and installed it in. I was pleasantly surprised that sanding down a TUSQ saddle was easier than I thought.

Used it for live yesterday and I'm quite happy with it. It turns out that I still have a soft spot for that quacky UST sound, so having the option to go all piezo is good.

Awesome, but doesn't that go against the goals you had going in (non-invasive, won't alter the tone of the guitar etc.)?

[edocaster]

Originally Posted by Petty1818

Awesome, but doesn't that go against the goals you had going in (non-invasive, won't alter the tone of the guitar etc.)?

Yes it does. I practically took the plunge and compromised when the Anthem came up at a good price.

Upon installing the piezo I found a plugged up piezo hole where a piezo pickup must've been inserted through previously (unless Martin preps the bridges with these holes?). And the material that plugs the hole was spilling out and went between the saddle and bridge slot base. So relatively speaking, the guitar now sounds acoustically better

If I get bored with the Anthem, the Schatten will be the next one to try.

[MrErikJ]

Yeah, I had a passive iBeam in my Guild and it sounded nice for recording but didn’t have much power live. With a little EQ through a Para DI or Tonebone PZ, it sounded nice but just didn’t really have any “balls.” I replaced it with a M1A, which isn’t as natural sounding but far more effective for a variety of settings. I’m sure power isn’t as much of an issue with the active iBeam but, despite its sound quality, it’s never succeeded to become a “tried and true” pickup amongst players.

[guitaniac]

Originally Posted by MrErikJ

Yeah, I had a passive iBeam in my Guild and it sounded nice for recording but didn’t have much power live. With a little EQ through a Para DI or Tonebone PZ, it sounded nice but just didn’t really have any “balls.” I replaced it with a M1A, which isn’t as natural sounding but far more effective for a variety of settings. I’m sure power isn’t as much of an issue with the active iBeam but, despite its sound quality, it’s never succeeded to become a “tried and true” pickup amongst players.

The iBeam is quite unpopular in this forum, but its working well for two folks in my area. I have to think the Baggs folks are still selling them for some reason.

The iBeam in my old D28 is too feedback prone for bare-fingered picking in a noisy setting, but its very nice for strumming. I expect to be blending it with a mag at some point. (UST systems haven't worked well in that guitar because there isn't enough saddle extending above the bridge to apply proper pressure on the transducer.)

[SpruceTop]

Trance Audio Amulet M. I've gotten consistently good results with every installation I've done with this system. It's an active system but the only alteration necessary is reaming the endpin hole for the jack, which you've already done.

[MrErikJ]

Originally Posted by guitaniac

The iBeam is quite unpopular in this forum, but its working well for two folks in my area. I have to think the Baggs folks are still selling them for some reason.

The iBeam in my old D28 is too feedback prone for bare-fingered picking in a noisy setting, but its very nice for strumming. I expect to be blending it with a mag at some point. (UST systems haven't worked well in that guitar because there isn't enough saddle extending above the bridge to apply proper pressure on the transducer.)

Absolutely agreed. Every pickup has its place and it hasn't been discontinued for a reason.

When I had my M1A installed, the tech asked if I wanted to wire the iBeam to its ring connector. I said "sure" as I'd rather not throw it out and that would probably sound nice as they would augment each other nicely. That said, I received the guitar back without the iBeam wired to the ring nor the new strings I included on the guitar.