Members J. Posted February 3, 2007 Members Posted February 3, 2007 I'm going to play a very small bar gig in the near future playing old country covers from the 50's and 60's, backed by an upright bassist and a percussionist/drummer. I've got my Taylor Big Baby but no amplification as of yet, so I'd like to get an inexpensive soundhole pickup to rig up for the show. I'm probably going to go direct into an amp (most likely my Genz Benz NEO400X 112T... it's not an acoustic amp but it's much better than a regular electric guitar amp at least) and possibly a little through the PA. It's a tiny club, so there won't be volume issues. Anyway, I'm looking at the following:L.R. Baggs M-1Fishman NEO-D Are there any other contenders? I see soundhole pickups by Lace and others offered but haven't heard much of anything about them. I know I didn't like the Dean Markley ProMag I had years back.
Members min7b5 Posted February 3, 2007 Members Posted February 3, 2007 Fishman is going to be selling a new humbucking model NEO-D soon, that might be worth looking into.
Members J. Posted February 8, 2007 Author Members Posted February 8, 2007 Well, I went ahead and ordered the passive LR Baggs M-1. I wanted something that could be switched between guitars and didn't sound like complete garbage. The reviews I've read on the M-1 seem to be mostly positive, and I'm sure I can get a reasonable tone out of it especially if I get good preamp later down the line. I also have an old Schatten dualie that the upright bassist gave me. I might try that later today and see if I can get any satisfactory results.
Members min7b5 Posted February 8, 2007 Members Posted February 8, 2007 I used the LR Baggs M-1 passive before, it sounds just fine. If you're using an acoustic amp with a gain control not using a preamp should work great, but keep your cable runs short if you can.
Members pipedwho Posted February 8, 2007 Members Posted February 8, 2007 Well, I went ahead and ordered the passive LR Baggs M-1. I wanted something that could be switched between guitars and didn't sound like complete garbage. The reviews I've read on the M-1 seem to be mostly positive, and I'm sure I can get a reasonable tone out of it especially if I get good preamp later down the line. I also have an old Schatten dualie that the upright bassist gave me. I might try that later today and see if I can get any satisfactory results. If it's not too late, I'd recommend changing your order to the M1 Active. You can switch it between passive and active modes, and the inbuilt preamp is very good and gives you a tiny, but convenient volume control right there on the pickup. Either way you'll be very happy, I just find I use mine in active mode almost entirely and was glad I went that way.
Members J. Posted February 9, 2007 Author Members Posted February 9, 2007 Well I couldn't change the order but I'd really like to try the active version of the M1. I suppose if I get a pre like the ParaDI it won't be as big of a deal. I'll report back with how it sounds out of my bass combo (The genz benz has a 12" neodymium woofer and a small bullet tweeter) with some eq.
Members pipedwho Posted February 9, 2007 Members Posted February 9, 2007 Well I couldn't change the order but I'd really like to try the active version of the M1. I suppose if I get a pre like the ParaDI it won't be as big of a deal. I'll report back with how it sounds out of my bass combo (The genz benz has a 12" neodymium woofer and a small bullet tweeter) with some eq. Don't get me wrong, the passive M1 is still a great pickup. And with a PADI you'll get fantastic results. The primary advantage of the active is that you don't need a PADI, and you have a little volume control on the guitar (which isn't always necessary if you're like me and don't like playing with volume during a performance). Anyway, have fun exploring your new pickup when it arrives!
Members heymelbs Posted February 9, 2007 Members Posted February 9, 2007 When I've needed some eq or a little more signal for my M1, this has worked for me: http://cgi.ebay.com/Acoustic-Guitar-Mandolin-Pickup-Preamp-Equalizer_W0QQitemZ160081211425QQihZ006QQcategoryZ22670QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Members J. Posted March 1, 2007 Author Members Posted March 1, 2007 I'm now in love with the LR Baggs M-1 Active. I'll try to make a long story short, so this is what I posted in another thread: Well I just got my order from AMS today. I'd ordered an LR Baggs M1 soundhole pickup and a set of Martin strings. They got the strings right, but instead of the pickup they gave me an LR Baggs PARA DI. I don't know how someone could mistake a DI box for a pickup, but I guess it's possible. Funny thing is, when I took the DI out of the box the bottom plate didn't come with. The screws that hold the bottom metal part of the DI on were laying at the bottom of the box. Weird. They got the invoice right and charged me for the M1, but gave me something different. I had a gig the next night and I didn't have time for AMS to send me the right thing, so I went to guitar center and tried to buy a Fishman Neo-D. They had one but it was missing parts because whoever returned it must've kept the screws and the bottom clamps. Unfortunately they didn't have another one (nor did they have any passive M-1s) so I bought an active M-1. I realized quickly that the active M-1 didn't come with a regular detachable cable - only and endpin jack and a short cord for permanent installation. I didn't know if I wanted to do that so I went to another store and purchased an overpriced Fishman Neo-D for $75. I hate paying too much but when you're in a jam you do what you have to do. I gigged with the Fishman that night and hated it. It was really noisy (much moreso than other single coil soundhole pickups) and favored the top strings. It also had a very 'electric' flavor which I know is a characteristic of soundhole pickups, but it was a bit much. I got through the night with it. I had another gig in a couple of days so I rigged the LR Baggs M-1 Active to work. I just installed the pickup and let the short cord dangle out my sound hole and around my strap where I plugged it into another cable. I love the sound of the thing. Granted it's more than twice the price of the Fishman Neo-D but there's absolutely no comparison. The LR Baggs M-1 Active is by far the best soundhole pickup I've ever used. Nothing even comes close. I've decided to do a permanent install on my Taylor Big Baby.
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted March 1, 2007 Members Posted March 1, 2007 I had a gig the next night and I didn't have time for AMS to send me the right thing, so I went to guitar center and tried to buy a Fishman Neo-D. They had one but it was missing parts because whoever returned it must've kept the screws and the bottom clamps. Unfortunately they didn't have another one (nor did they have any passive M-1s) so I bought an active M-1. I realized quickly that the active M-1 didn't come with a regular detachable cable - only and endpin jack and a short cord for permanent installation. I didn't know if I wanted to do that so I went to another store and purchased an overpriced Fishman Neo-D for $75. I hate paying too much but when you're in a jam you do what you have to do. I gigged with the Fishman that night and hated it. It was really noisy (much moreso than other single coil soundhole pickups) and favored the top strings. It also had a very 'electric' flavor which I know is a characteristic of soundhole pickups, but it was a bit much. I got through the night with it. I had another gig in a couple of days so I rigged the LR Baggs M-1 Active to work. I just installed the pickup and let the short cord dangle out my sound hole and around my strap where I plugged it into another cable. I love the sound of the thing. Granted it's more than twice the price of the Fishman Neo-D but there's absolutely no comparison. The LR Baggs M-1 Active is by far the best soundhole pickup I've ever used. Nothing even comes close.I've decided to do a permanent install on my Taylor Big Baby. If you'll put a 1/8" male/female juncture between the P/U and the tailpin jack, you'll be able to easily swich the p/u to another guitar, should you decide to upgrade from the Taylor BB...
Members J. Posted March 2, 2007 Author Members Posted March 2, 2007 The great thing about the M-1 is that the little cord attaches to the pickup housing with an 1/8" jack. A smart move on LR Baggs' part.
Members Shart Posted March 2, 2007 Members Posted March 2, 2007 Does MF not carry the Active m1? I dont see it
Members J. Posted March 3, 2007 Author Members Posted March 3, 2007 Huh, I don't see it on MF's site either. That's weird, since they usually have quite a selection on their website. Check this auction out: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140082737325&rd=1&rd=1It's possible to get one for a little bit less than the $169 they usually sell for. It's from a licensed dealer so you'd have the warranty and everything.
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