L.R. Baggs LBC

Pickup features: Undersaddle
Impedence or other specs: See the website.

Model of guitar or bass: Alvarez Yairy CY-127 CE
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Alvarez
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: see LR Baggs website
You musical style(s): instrumental pop, smooth jazz
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickup was dead when the guitar was purchased (used.)

Perceived output level: Hotter than comparable brands. Output level is greatly influenced by impedence of the device you plug into.
Tone: Very full and three dimensional.
Sonic evaluation: The LB series of pickups have been around for nearly twenty years, and I've been using them personally and installing them for others since they were introduced. They are still the best all around transducer on the market. There are newer technologies (mostly from LR Baggs) that have better attributes in particular areas, but the LB series is still the best performer. Like all piezos, the Baggs is very sensitive to what it is plugged into. It is an ultra high impedence device and needs to be buffered in order to achieve its best performance. If you plug them straight into a mixer without a buffer it will sound okay, but will require a lot of eq to get a usable sound. Adding a buffered preamp will bring out a full, three dimensional sound that is very natural and accurate. Since the pickup is bonded to the saddle material, it senses vibration in several directions and this makes a huge difference in reproducing the sound of the guitar. I removed the stock pickup and volume/tone control from a 1982 Yairi thin body classical. I installed the LBC and a Baggs Deluxe onboard preamp and I was blown away by the sound. I can get very good volume before feedback, although since this is a dedicated stage guitar I have stuffed the body with foam and installed a custom soundhole plug to reduce feedback even more. I use this guitar for instrumental pop and smooth jazz in a band situation. I also own a solidbody Chet Atkins, which can get really loud, but doesn't have the same natural tone. I also purchased a Takamine EC 132 as a backup which sucks in comparison. Any of the negative comments about the LB6 series in other reviews are most likely a result of impedence mismatch, and not a true reflection of the nature of this pickup.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play instrumental pop and smooth jazz. I play both fingerstyle and with a pick and this pickup works well for both. I've also recorded direct with this pickup and have gotten very good results.

Comments: I would immediately replace this pickup. I've been using Baggs products for nearly twenty years, and they have always been ultra reliable. I have played for about 35 years, 30 profesionally. I own or have owned a bunch of gear over the years. I also worked in a music retail store so I have had the opportunity to try everything on the market. I love the sound and reliablity of the pick-up. It is critical that the installation be done right, and nylon string guitars are especially unforgiving due to the low string tension, so it should be installed by a qualified repair person. It will reproduce exactly what it hears, so if your guitar has dead spots and uneven balance, that is what you will get. I love the fact that I can plug the guitar directly to the board via direct box and just do minimal tweaking and add a touch of reverb. The eq on the onboard preamp is also set nearly flat. How cool is that? As a side note, I've installed LB 6's in steel string guitars and they kill. I owned a small body Taylor with a LB 6 wired directly to a jack. I used a Barcus Berry Matchbox (impedence matching device) and it was gorgeous. No onboard pre-amps or batteries, just killer tone.