Product: B-Band A4.2
Price Paid: US $$200.00+/-
Submitted
12/09/2004
at
02:16pm
by
Mike Griffin
Email: mgriffi3 at twcny<dot>rr<dot>com
Features
:
Pickup features: Active / On- Board Pre-amp
Impedence or other specs:
Instrument
:
Model of guitar or bass: Martin D-1
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Fishman/Martin Thin-line Gold Plus max
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Worship
Reason for pickup change: I was really tired of trying to compensate for piezo "Quack" and also wanted on-board controls, i.e. volumn,eq, etc
Sound
:
No Opinion
Perceived output level: the output is really quite good. I play through an effects unit as well as a direct box and have no problem being found in the mix
Tone: This is actually a duel source system comprised of an under-saddle filiment and an under-bridge electet condenser mic material. I installed the unit myself with relative ease. I had to drill holes in the guitar to install the discrete on-board pre-amp unit. The pre-amp allows you to mix between the mic and the saddle pickup to attain the most natural sound that I've heard in an acoustic system. Top resonance is attainable and blendable. Awesome unit!
Sonic evaluation: This system is installed in an early 90's Martin D-1. I recently purchased a Boss AD-3 (totally awesome)chorus/reverb effects unit and when playing live I also run it through a Behringer DI box(great). Finally, after many years of buying and selling stuff I've found what I've been looking for in both sound and control. Much more natural than the Fishman system I had in this guitar. And far more presence than the LR Baggs active I- Beam system that I had in it.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I am not a great finger picker and use this set-up primarily for worship stuff. The many new open alternate chords really ring true with this combo. Cutting through the mix is no problem. Much more natural sound than the traditional piezo sound of Fishman. I have had some of my friends do the finger picking thing with it and it really sounds great!
Overall Rating
:
10
Comments: This thing gets a 10 all the way across the board. If I ever replace this guitar or buy another one...It Will Have A B-Band system in it. They are standard equipment on all new Larivee guitars. They also make an A2 system that has the same pick-ups with a stereo end pin jack that lets you mix them separately with your mixer or say a PreSonus AcoustiQ external pre-amp..these require no cutting or drilling of the body of the guitar other than for end pin jack installation. The A6 system has an even more sophisticated on-board pre-amp. Good Stuff
