LR Baggs M1A soundhole pickup

[mcgannahan]

I am leaning towards ordering this and would appreciate hearing from anyone here who has one. I am looking for a pickup that sounds halfway decent fingerpicked or flatpicked. I've had bad experience doing the latter with undersaddle pickups which just get too quacky and ice-picky.

[Jethro]

Originally Posted by mcgannahan

I am leaning towards ordering this and would appreciate hearing from anyone here who has one. I am looking for a pickup that sounds halfway decent fingerpicked or flatpicked. I've had bad experience doing the latter with undersaddle pickups which just get too quacky and ice-picky.

No quack or icepick with the Baggs M1A. It's an incredibly accurate and warm sounding pickup. The pole pieces are adjustable as well depending on your action. You can always do a temporary install and give it a trial run before you go ahead and wire it through to the endpin....for that matter I know people who always use it that way with the wire hanging out so they can swap it between acoustics. On the rare chance you don't like it you could easily sell it as there is a lot of love for these pickups

[chezdeluxe]

I have both the M1(passive) and the M1A(active) pickups and thoroughly recommend them. The M1A active is brilliant into a PA but not as good as the passive version if you are plugging straight into a guitar amp.

The Takamine Tri-Ax is the same LR Baggs pickup but switchable between active and passive modes and comes in black instead of ivory.

[ac15]

Originally Posted by chezdeluxe

I have both the M1(passive) and the M1A(active) pickups and thoroughly recommend them. The M1A active is brilliant into a PA but not as good as the passive version if you are plugging straight into a guitar amp.

The Takamine Tri-Ax is the same LR Baggs pickup but switchable between active and passive modes and comes in black instead of ivory.

I use the Tri-Ax. I recommend it highly. I went with the soundhold pickup because I don't like piezo quack either. Also, I have seen some people use the m1a live and I thought it sounded great.

As with any magnetic pickup, the lowest 4 strings sound the best.

[aunchaki]

I love mine! I have the passive one and run it through a L.R. Baggs DI into PAs. Very natural sound.

[carbon ribs]

Count me in as another fan of the M1. I have the passive version in my Epi Masterbilt AJ-500R and run it through a Baggs ParaDI. Great sound, easy to dial in and very feedback resistant.

Have had quite a few compliments on my tone, even from guys who hate sound hole pickups!!

[guitarboy57]

I have one...and i do like the sound better than under saddle pickups.

But I don't like the nice thunk through the PA when I inadvertently hit it with my flat-pick...not saying that all Baggs pick-ups will do that...but mine sure does.

I'm looking for another solution...

Good Luck!

[aunchaki]

Originally Posted by guitarboy57

But I don't like the nice thunk through the PA when I inadvertently hit it with my flat-pick...not saying that all Baggs pick-ups will do that...but mine sure does.

I've had to be more careful about strumming. I used to hear clicks that turned out to be me hitting the pickup with my pick. Once I became aware of it, I stopped doing it.

I actually like that the second coil is used to detect vibration. I like to tap out beats on the top of the guitar and these get picked up by the pickup. Double Plus Good (for me, YMMV).

[carbon ribs]

Originally Posted by guitarboy57

But I don't like the nice thunk through the PA when I inadvertently hit it with my flat-pick...not saying that all Baggs pick-ups will do that...but mine sure does!

I was worried about this too because I primarily play at church. The last thing I needed was to have a nice quiet moment ruined by my pick clunking off the pickup. Luckily, I naturally strum just far enough back that I have not had an issue.