Pick Up Comparisons--Baggs Ribbon, Fishman, Martin

Brewbaker · March 14th, 2004, 04:18 PM

I need to put a pick up in my Go Guitar (Travel Instrument). Because it's impossible to access the inside of the instrument---the soundhole is too small to get your hand in--I can only install an under-the-saddle type PU. I'm looking at the baggs Ribbon Transducer, the Fishman Matrix I, and the Martin Thinline (?) model.

I'm on the fence about whether to go active or passive because I don't really want to cut a hole in the guitar for the battery installation. The Fishman Matrix sounds like it would be good though, and that would be the only choice that requires that decision. I have a Baggs Para DI, so I'd be all set to use the Baggs Ribbon or the Martin.

Has anybody compared these or have any experience that might point me in the right direction?
Thanks as always.

Lyle Caldwell · March 14th, 2004, 05:54 PM

I've extensively used the Takamine system, the Fishman/Martin undersaddle, the B-Band UST, and the LR Baggs ribbon.

Of these, the B-Band and the Baggs are far and away the most natural sounding. Of these two, I prefer the Baggs, but that's with the Baggs Dual Source pre compared to the first generation B-Band "Core 99" pre. I've heard that B-Band's subsequent pres are much better and that they've improved the UST as well.

The Baggs and the B-Band are similar sounds, but in my guitars, with the pres noted above, the Baggs has a much higher output with no noise. If I had a more recent B-Band system to compare with, I don't know if the Baggs would be such a standout in comparison.

That said, I'd highly recommend the Baggs and B-Band undersaddle systems to the Fishman or Martin systems.

Note: though I have the Dual Source (combines the ribbon with an internal omni mic), 90% of the time I'm just using the ribbon, as I can only use the mic on stages where the monitors can have their polarity reversed. At least until I get the Para DI as well, when I can reverse polarity myself. Anyway, I just wanted to state that I really am hearing the ribbbon by itself most of the time, and that I still find it very natural sounding.

Also note that my Baggs ribbon-equpped Southern Jumbo has been used by a lot of my friends at a songwriter's open-mic I frequent, so I've heard it from the audience, and have compared it's sound to other high end guitars with various other amplification systems, from the new Taylor system to the Fishman Matrix to the Rare Earth to various Taks, Ovations, the Martin Thinline, etc. The Baggs Ribbon wins hands-down to my ears.

beez · March 15th, 2004, 10:03 AM

http://www.schertlerusa.com/bluestick.htm

I just bought a Gibson LC-1 and it came with that model. The gut's of the thing is only about 2 inches wide, and can be attached to your guitars insides with double sided tape, and the volume control can be attached the same way just inside the sound hole. Plus, it has a lithium battery that will only drain when the jack is input....and they say it is good for 1000 hours of playing time, so you could play that guitar nearly 3 hours every day for a year before you would have to change it.

Sounds really good (better than a lot of piezo's I have played through).

March 14th, 2004, 04:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Brewbaker Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cape Elizabeth, Maine Posts: 258	Pick Up Comparisons--Baggs Ribbon, Fishman, Martin I need to put a pick up in my Go Guitar (Travel Instrument). Because it's impossible to access the inside of the instrument---the soundhole is too small to get your hand in--I can only install an under-the-saddle type PU. I'm looking at the baggs Ribbon Transducer, the Fishman Matrix I, and the Martin Thinline (?) model. I'm on the fence about whether to go active or passive because I don't really want to cut a hole in the guitar for the battery installation. The Fishman Matrix sounds like it would be good though, and that would be the only choice that requires that decision. I have a Baggs Para DI, so I'd be all set to use the Baggs Ribbon or the Martin. Has anybody compared these or have any experience that might point me in the right direction? Thanks as always.

March 14th, 2004, 05:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lyle Caldwell Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 535	I've extensively used the Takamine system, the Fishman/Martin undersaddle, the B-Band UST, and the LR Baggs ribbon. Of these, the B-Band and the Baggs are far and away the most natural sounding. Of these two, I prefer the Baggs, but that's with the Baggs Dual Source pre compared to the first generation B-Band "Core 99" pre. I've heard that B-Band's subsequent pres are much better and that they've improved the UST as well. The Baggs and the B-Band are similar sounds, but in my guitars, with the pres noted above, the Baggs has a much higher output with no noise. If I had a more recent B-Band system to compare with, I don't know if the Baggs would be such a standout in comparison. That said, I'd highly recommend the Baggs and B-Band undersaddle systems to the Fishman or Martin systems. Note: though I have the Dual Source (combines the ribbon with an internal omni mic), 90% of the time I'm just using the ribbon, as I can only use the mic on stages where the monitors can have their polarity reversed. At least until I get the Para DI as well, when I can reverse polarity myself. Anyway, I just wanted to state that I really am hearing the ribbbon by itself most of the time, and that I still find it very natural sounding. Also note that my Baggs ribbon-equpped Southern Jumbo has been used by a lot of my friends at a songwriter's open-mic I frequent, so I've heard it from the audience, and have compared it's sound to other high end guitars with various other amplification systems, from the new Taylor system to the Fishman Matrix to the Rare Earth to various Taks, Ovations, the Martin Thinline, etc. The Baggs Ribbon wins hands-down to my ears. __________________ "Everybody sings about Memphis, but nobody ever does anything about it."

March 15th, 2004, 10:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
beez Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 755	check out the Bluestick http://www.schertlerusa.com/bluestick.htm I just bought a Gibson LC-1 and it came with that model. The gut's of the thing is only about 2 inches wide, and can be attached to your guitars insides with double sided tape, and the volume control can be attached the same way just inside the sound hole. Plus, it has a lithium battery that will only drain when the jack is input....and they say it is good for 1000 hours of playing time, so you could play that guitar nearly 3 hours every day for a year before you would have to change it. Sounds really good (better than a lot of piezo's I have played through).