magnetic pickup question/introduction

[arievds]

HI All,

I'm new to the Cafe.
I also have a practical question.
I play a Spruce/Rosewood dread ( Bourgeois ) I want to take out gigging ( once in a while ). I need amplification for this. Since I don't want any permanent modification, i've narrowed my choices to magnetic soundhole pickup, either a sunrise or a Baggs M1 .
Do any of you favour one over the other? Would you share your experience with me?

MTIA,

Kindest Regards,

Arie
.

[Spose]

no experience with the Baggs M1.....we do use the Baggs I-Beam tho...nice pickup after finding the right placement.

I have worked with many players using the Sunrise .....and it is truly one of the best soundhole pickups made IMO....very natural sounding....you can't go wrong with this choice.

sorry I couldn't be more help.....but I wanted to reply and welcome you to the forum.

WELCOME !!

[Dwell]

Both are very good pickups, but neither will sound good without a dedicated preamp. Just running either one into a club's Mackie (or other PA mixer) will sound harsh and noisy.
You don't have to spend a ton- Raven makes a good one, or the Baggs Para DI will do. But plan on getting a good pre to go with whichever pickup you choose.

[Spose]

right on.......good point Dwell!!

we use a Fishman Pro preamp...but the Baggs is a DI which is nice.

take note - the new peterson strobostomp is a DI also..woohoo!!!

[arievds]

Hi All,

Thanks!
I'll definately use a pre-amp. I think I'm gonna need eq. anyway.
Maybe I'll try finding a shop that will let me try both ( the m1 and the sunrise pickups that is ) and let me decide on 'field experience'.
I really want to try them at gig volume, I have bad experience with purchases based on music store tests at music store volume levels.
I need to know if they are :
feedback resistant,
have enough 'cut' in a band setting.

Do you know if they will 'fit' ?
In the Bourgeois there are some small braces around, very close to, the soundhole......

Thanks so far, and:

Kindest Regards,

Arie

[Dwell]

Well, the M1 is very recent, so feedback's still coming in (no pun intended). But so far, the word is very positive. The Sunrise is a time-tested product, used everywhere from small clubs to stadiums. Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, and Leo Kottke all do fine with the Sunrise.

I have the Baggs Dual Source in my Southern Jumbo, which I got after hearing Dan Tyminski use a Dual Source in his Bourgeois. If you're at all open to very slight modifications (a small hole beneath the saddle, shaving the saddle 1/64", and putting an endpin/strap button in), the Dual Source is a more realistic sounding option. The only visible mod is the endpin jack/strap button, which you'd probably want to add for the Sunrise or the M1, unless you like taping a cable to your guitar's face.

If I'm using a Para DI or the PA can reverse the polarity of my signal, I blend the mic and the undersaddle ribbon and get fantastic results. If I'm just sitting in sans DI or the PA can't reverve the polarity, I just use the undersaddle ribbon, and it still sounds damn good, much better than any piezo or magnetic system I've heard.

It's as close as I've been able to come to the actual sound of an acoustic guitar on stage (save for those rare stages where I can use condenser mics).

[RnB]

Baggs is set to release a newer version of the M-1. It's an Active pickup. It uses a couple of those 2032-sized batteries, about the size of a quarter, that slip, conveniently enough, into the bottom of the pickup. It is supposed to be more natural sounding than the original M1. Wouldn't you know it....just when I was getting accustomed to my M1! :wtf Still an eq is nice to have from the PARA DI.

The Pic is kinda small, but it's straight from Namm:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/Rnbguitars/BaggsM1activePU.jpg