#1
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Cheapest "decent" acoustic pickup?
I have a guitar that I only play occasionally for bad weather gigs and want to replace the sonitone pickup in it. Is there anything decent for around $100?
I was thinking maybe a used Baggs Element from somewhere? A new Element is $179 and if I'm gonna spend that much I may as well get the Anthem SL for $199. Also....is there a difference between the regular Element (just volume control) and the Element VTC (volume & tone) besides the obvious?
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Gear: PRS Hollowbody II Piezo, Martin HPL 000, PRS Angelus A60E, Martin 000-15M |
#2
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The Element VTC, along with its Volume and Tone controls has built-in low-frequency compression. https://www.lrbaggs.com/acoustic-gui...ystems/element Element VTC Volume, Tone, and Compression Multi-band compression has long been a secret of mastering rooms worldwide to unlock the warmth and natural dynamics of recorded instruments. The Element VTC’s all-discrete, Class A preamp leverages this studio elixir with a proprietary analog compressor that operates below 400Hz. The compressor is tuned to reflect the actual dynamics of the acoustic guitar, creating in live performance the superior warmth and natural balance of tone achieved in professional studio mastered sound. Includes soundhole mounted volume and treble tone controls. Built-in LF compressor Soundhole mounted volume and tone control Model available for nylon string guitars
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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 |
#3
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Gear: PRS Hollowbody II Piezo, Martin HPL 000, PRS Angelus A60E, Martin 000-15M |
#4
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You can get a Martin thinline 332 for $130.00 on Amazon. I put one in an Epiphone Masterbuilt a few years ago. Just a passive pickup with no controls.
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#5
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I'd say probably I'd choose the Anthem SL over the Element VTC. I currently have the Element-related pickups installed in two guitars: a 2022 RainSong BI-DR1000N2 with Element Stage Pro and a 2019 Emerald X20 with the Element VTC. I prefer the amplified tone of the RainSong/Element Stage Pro over the amplified tone of the Emerald X20/Element VTC. The RainSong/Element Stage Pro sounds clearer and less muddy. The Emerald X20/Element VTC is usable but I think I need to go in and do some more saddle work to better balance the amplified tone. When I received the Emerald it was a lot worse for string-to-string amplified imbalance and the first thing I did was check the bottom of the saddle and the bottom of the saddle-slot. I leveled both but need to do a little more.
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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 |
#6
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Here’s a Schatten UST for around $80.00. https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...:1,prmr:1,cs:1
Not sure what you might be looking for. There seem to be few options, other than used, for that price range. |
#7
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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 |
#8
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How about going a different route...get the LR Baggs Voiceprint DI and use it with all your guitars.
It made my Fishman equipped Ibanez, which I replaced the OE pickup with a slightly better one from GFS, sound like a $2500 guitar plugged in. ZERO QUACK.
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As my username suggests, huge fan of Yamaha products. Own many acoustic-electric models from 2009-present and a couple electric. Lots of PA too. |
#9
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Buying the "cheapest" will accomplish a sound that is...the "cheapest"
You already have a "cheap" pickup (The Sonitone). Based on what you are plugging in to, it will sound shockingly crappy or pretty good. Why do want a better "cheap" pickup? This is kind of like being "almost pregnant". PS. The pickup itself is just ONE part of a sonic chain. To blame crappy tone on just the pickup when the rest of the chain is substandard is unfair. What are you plugging in to? Are you pre-amping the Sonitone? Etc... There's a zillion guitars out there with Sonitone pickups in them. Many sound like crap. And many sound good, based on how the user is treating them.
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Avian Skylark Pono 0000-30 Gardiner Parlor Kremona Kiano Ramsay Hauser Cordoba C10 Chris Walsh Archtop Gardiner Concert Taylor Leo Kottke Gretsch 6120 Pavan TP30 Aria A19c Hsienmo MJ Ukuleles: Cocobolo 5 string Tenor Kanilea K3 Koa Kanilea K1 Walnut Tenor Kala Super Tenor Rebel Super Concert Nehemiah Covey Tenor Mainland Mahogany Tenor Mainland Cedar/Rosewood Tenor Last edited by jimmy bookout; 10-14-2022 at 04:18 PM. |
#10
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I had a Baggs Element and couldn't get it out fast enough. You may have a more receptive ear. |
#11
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Tried the Voiceprint and while it gives you a sound like a mic’d guitar, I didn’t like it for live sound. The VP and most other IR type pedals give you an airy, distant quality to your tone that I don’t prefer for live play.
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Gear: PRS Hollowbody II Piezo, Martin HPL 000, PRS Angelus A60E, Martin 000-15M |
#12
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Gear: PRS Hollowbody II Piezo, Martin HPL 000, PRS Angelus A60E, Martin 000-15M |
#13
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My thought would be dont be in a hurry.
Save your money ..buy a good quality pickup. I use a sunrise. Its surprisingly non-magnetic sounding...but there are hundreds of good quality acoustic guitar pups out there.. |
#14
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Duplicate post please delete..
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#15
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Assuming you have a Preamp of some sort on the floor, my best live sound was a Baggs M1 Passive in my D15. Used they are $100.
I’m a big fan of the Baggs Element VTC, and always have been. The VTC really only adds the tone control over the Element. I find it has less quack than the Sonitone, for example. My K&K equipped guitars work well with the Red Eye. Not cheap though.
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i got tired of updating my guitars. Last edited by SalFromChatham; 10-16-2022 at 03:33 PM. |