Anyone got/experienced these soundhole pickups?

Lestratcaster · July 2021

1. LR Baggs M1 Active
2. LR Baggs M80
3. iRig acoustic stage
4. Seymour Duncan Mag Mic.

Used a condenser mic for some live clips and it was feeding back horribly and it was picking up the speaker monitor playback so I think I'll have to look into a soundhole pickup as I don't want to permanently modify my D28 - not yet anyway. Long term I want to put an LR Baggs Anthem in it but that's not for a while.

The M80 was my first choice but the others are meant to be decent too for live use, as I may be playing the D28 on stage later in the year.

Any recommendations welcome.

ICBM · July 2021

I prefer the Fishman Rare Earth to the Baggs ones, when comparing equivalent models.

Lestratcaster · July 2021

Hmm, I played a HD28 with a Fishman in it (don't know which one it was) but I wasn't a major fan of the sound.

Oh and the Mojo NC-1 has entered the list, I just checked out a demo and it does sound great! But I think its a relatively new release and hard to source in the UK.

jazzlemming · July 2021

To mention a related one, I use the Fishman Blackstack which is good for high volume gigs and works well with FX. I really like the sound but obviously it’s more on the electric side. Great if you’re into John Martyn!

When I was looking, the M1 active seemed to be the gold standard for sound hole pickups, and probably sounds more ‘acoustic’ and sparkly than the blackstack.

Lestratcaster · July 2021

@ICBM is the Fishman you're referring to the humbucking active one or the single coil passive one? The Humbucker one doesn't sound too bad actually, and its easier to source in the UK.

More of a strummer as opposed to a fingerstyle player on the D28 too so would want that acoustic sound and not a metallic electric guitar one!

poopot · July 2021

Do what I do!…

Sounds aces

TheBigDipper · July 2021

I bought an iRig Acoustic Stage and returned it. Sounded quite natural at low volumes but suffered dreadfully from feedback when amplified. The mounting wouldn't fit over the slightly thicker wood around the soundhole on my Brook (it's slighty thicker than the rest of the top) but had no problem on my L'Arrivee. I think it's best used for recording/broadcast rather than amplifying.

stickyfiddle · July 2021

I gigged an M1A for 18 months or so and it was fantastic. That was 8 years ago, so it's possible newer stuff is better, but I'd be happy to use one again in future.

DiscoStu · July 2021

I've got an M1A in my Stonebridge and it's great. I bought it years ago following forum advice and I really love the sound from it, it sounds natural and woody rather than that piezo quack.
It records well too.

Winny_Pooh · July 2021

M1 etc get good reviews but I have not tried it.
I have a rare earth and SD magmic.
The RE sounds better as mag only but with mic blended in the SD is more natural, albeit bigger physically.

Lestratcaster · July 2021

TheBigDipper said:

I bought an iRig Acoustic Stage and returned it. Sounded quite natural at low volumes but suffered dreadfully from feedback when amplified. The mounting wouldn't fit over the slightly thicker wood around the soundhole on my Brook (it's slighty thicker than the rest of the top) but had no problem on my L'Arrivee. I think it's best used for recording/broadcast rather than amplifying.

One use will be broadcasting and some live clip recording but later on I will want to use it live if I haven't installed the Baggs Anthem yet (unless I find another soundhole p'up I like more). The iRig gets a bit of negative review with the flimsy wire to the DI box thing and the feedback issues.

Lestratcaster · July 2021

stickyfiddle said:

I gigged an M1A for 18 months or so and it was fantastic. That was 8 years ago, so it's possible newer stuff is better, but I'd be happy to use one again in future.

I think soundhole pickups have come along a bit in the past few years with all sorts of brands available now. I did like the sound of the M1 active when I checked out demos though, and the price isn't too bad and relatively simple to use it looks like. Did you need to use any additional DI box preamp/EQ thing or just straight from the pickup?

Lestratcaster · July 2021

DiscoStu said:

I've got an M1A in my Stonebridge and it's great. I bought it years ago following forum advice and I really love the sound from it, it sounds natural and woody rather than that piezo quack.
It records well too.

Yeah natural strummy sound is what I'm after, it doesn't have an internal mic though so I don't know where that woody sound would come from.

Lestratcaster · July 2021

Winny_Pooh said:

M1 etc get good reviews but I have not tried it.
I have a rare earth and SD magmic.
The RE sounds better as mag only but with mic blended in the SD is more natural, albeit bigger physically.

Which Rare Earth version do you have? E.g the single coil/humbucker etc. I like the idea of the gooseneck mic with the blend version, with 50/50 mic/pickup it sounds quite natural.

Winny_Pooh · July 2021

Lestratcaster said:

Winny_Pooh said:

M1 etc get good reviews but I have not tried it.
I have a rare earth and SD magmic.
The RE sounds better as mag only but with mic blended in the SD is more natural, albeit bigger physically.

Which Rare Earth version do you have? E.g the single coil/humbucker etc. I like the idea of the gooseneck mic with the blend version, with 50/50 mic/pickup it sounds quite natural.

The humbucker, no mic

Lestratcaster · July 2021

Winny_Pooh said:

Lestratcaster said:

Winny_Pooh said:

M1 etc get good reviews but I have not tried it.
I have a rare earth and SD magmic.
The RE sounds better as mag only but with mic blended in the SD is more natural, albeit bigger physically.

Which Rare Earth version do you have? E.g the single coil/humbucker etc. I like the idea of the gooseneck mic with the blend version, with 50/50 mic/pickup it sounds quite natural.

The humbucker, no mic

Ok. What guitar have you got it in? Would the internal mic cause feedback if its plugged into a PA?

ICBM · July 2021

I also really dislike internal mics on acoustic guitars. They never sound 'right' like an external mic, and always cause more feedback than a plain pickup. That's also one of the things I don't like about the Baggs M1 - it's more feedback-prone than the Rare Earth due to having a body motion sensing coil as well.

Supportact · July 2021

As another option the Schertler Ag6 is s a very good soundhole pickup. A bit expensive but really full sound, and it's got an extra input where you can blend in a second source if you want.

Keefy · July 2021

I had or have the following:
(1) Fishman Rare Earth single coil (active) - Sounded pretty good but I lived in fear of the battery giving out.
(2) Fishman Neo D single coil (passive) - Bought to replace (1) but turned out to be way too weak in output for live use.
(3) LR Baggs M80 - Sounds excellent but if you hit it while playing you and the audience will know about it! Really long battery life and a handy level indicator actuated by a tiny push button. Bloody spendy though!

I kind of wish I had gone for the K&K Pure Mini although apparently that system can be ‘challenging’ to install.

Winny_Pooh · July 2021

Lestratcaster said:

Winny_Pooh said:

Lestratcaster said:

Winny_Pooh said:

M1 etc get good reviews but I have not tried it.
I have a rare earth and SD magmic.
The RE sounds better as mag only but with mic blended in the SD is more natural, albeit bigger physically.

Which Rare Earth version do you have? E.g the single coil/humbucker etc. I like the idea of the gooseneck mic with the blend version, with 50/50 mic/pickup it sounds quite natural.

The humbucker, no mic

Ok. What guitar have you got it in? Would the internal mic cause feedback if its plugged into a PA?

Used it in an Advanced Jumbo & GS mini
It's quite feedback resistant live and it has a thumb wheel balance knob which I set to 50% up. If I get any feedback then I just turn the mic off. The mic does sound great though and that's why I use it over the rare earth.

Lestratcaster · July 2021

ICBM said:

I also really dislike internal mics on acoustic guitars. They never sound 'right' like an external mic, and always cause more feedback than a plain pickup. That's also one of the things I don't like about the Baggs M1 - it's more feedback-prone than the Rare Earth due to having a body motion sensing coil as well.

Hmm see the Fishman mic blend sounded pretty nice to me with the 50/50 mix. But I don't know if this will cause feedback issues with a big PA system. If I'm right the Anthem is an internal mic but I like the way that sounds, just costs £350 for the thing then I'd have to pay someone to install it!

Lestratcaster · July 2021

Supportact said:

As another option the Schertler Ag6 is s a very good soundhole pickup. A bit expensive but really full sound, and it's got an extra input where you can blend in a second source if you want.

Just looked it up and its decent, though not many UK retailers selling it that I know of, same with the Mojotone one.

Lestratcaster · July 2021

Winny_Pooh said:

Lestratcaster said:

Winny_Pooh said:

Lestratcaster said:

Winny_Pooh said:

M1 etc get good reviews but I have not tried it.
I have a rare earth and SD magmic.
The RE sounds better as mag only but with mic blended in the SD is more natural, albeit bigger physically.

Which Rare Earth version do you have? E.g the single coil/humbucker etc. I like the idea of the gooseneck mic with the blend version, with 50/50 mic/pickup it sounds quite natural.

The humbucker, no mic

Ok. What guitar have you got it in? Would the internal mic cause feedback if its plugged into a PA?

Used it in an Advanced Jumbo & GS mini
It's quite feedback resistant live and it has a thumb wheel balance knob which I set to 50% up. If I get any feedback then I just turn the mic off. The mic does sound great though and that's why I use it over the rare earth.

I don't suppose you have any recordings of it at all?
Oh so its basically the pickup without a visible external mic that goes inside the soundhole? My main issue is doing live videos and it picking up the speaker playback.

Lestratcaster · July 2021

Keefy said:

I had or have the following:
(1) Fishman Rare Earth single coil (active) - Sounded pretty good but I lived in fear of the battery giving out.
(2) Fishman Neo D single coil (passive) - Bought to replace (1) but turned out to be way too weak in output for live use.
(3) LR Baggs M80 - Sounds excellent but if you hit it while playing you and the audience will know about it! Really long battery life and a handy level indicator actuated by a tiny push button. Bloody spendy though!

I kind of wish I had gone for the K&K Pure Mini although apparently that system can be ‘challenging’ to install.

With the M80 it looks like it goes nearer the fretboard end than the bridge though? And my playing means I strum/pick more towards the bridge side of the soundhole so I shouldn't, in theory hit the pickup! If its better (as in more natural sounding) than the M1 I'd consider getting one.

jellyroll · July 2021

Forgive my ignorance...does a sound hole pickup work with regular acoustic strings ?

Lestratcaster · July 2021

Yes, its magnetic and works the same way as it would with an electric guitar albeit different sound.

wrinkleygit · July 2021

I’ve been using the passive version LR Baggs for a couple of years with no issues, also have a KK mini in another guitar, have to say I prefer the M1.

ICBM · July 2021

jellyroll said:

Forgive my ignorance...does a sound hole pickup work with regular acoustic strings ?

Provided they have steel cores, yes. (ie steel-string acoustic strings.)

Not with nylon classical strings... I have come across people who have tried! Which sounds like a 'stupid' mistake to someone who knows how they work, but if you don't then it's forgivable. Not helped by one of the old cheap models you could get in the 1970s/80s being described as a 'guitar microphone'.

jellyroll · July 2021

Thanks guys.

english_bob · August 2021

M1A user of many years. I lent a cheap Yamaha acoustic with my M1A in it to the singer in my old band because she wanted a spare guitar in DADGAD for one song.

Through the venue PA system it did not embarrass itself next to her Taylor.

"Tone is in the fingers, expensive PA, decent sound guy" caveats all accepted.

sev112 · August 2021

I’ve still got an iRig Acoustic Stage - the one with the pre-amp “box” you clip on your strap / pocket

ive never had stage feedback probs, as there’s a quite successful / clever feedback cancelling button on it, with multiple “levels”/frequencies which can be cancelled,

You used to be able to buy just the clip on mic on its own, and that certainly has potential for feedback, but I bought and quite like the natty pre-amp box. It also has half a dozen different tones for nylon or steel strings, so I used to use it for Uke as well.

don’t use it these days as I bought and electro-acoustic just to get a better guitar

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Anyone got/experienced these soundhole pickups?

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