L.R. Baggs M1 Active

Active stacked humbucker design with floating second coil, which picks up body sound. Soundhole installation with a phillips screwdriver - 1/2" strap-pin hole installation.

Installed in a Larrivee OM40, which required no modifications whatsoever - took about 15 minutes, including the string change.

I plug into the LR Baggs ParaDI, then into the snake to the soundboard. Sound can be very full, but can take some tweaking to get it to sit properly in the mix, without it sounding like crap.

In addition to body sound, it also picks up body noise, which means every shirt, belt, arm, hand, or other contact or rub comes through loud and clear. Therefore, I highly recommend this pickup for fingerstyle players, but not so much for anyone aiming to jump around on stage.

I love the ParaDI. The pickup is easy to install or remove, at will. I would consider this pickup again, but would research other alternatives before buying.

Active humbucker with a volume control

I have an old Harmony Sovereign (great guitar) and I have not made any modification to install it. The whole work took me about 10 minutes.

I had hear good coments about the pickup but I didn't expect so good quality.
It's very natural, respecting the original tone of the guitar and the dinamics.

Doesn't sound as good as a guitar amplified with good mics, but any other system is, so I think is a good choice. Plug&Play

This is a dual coil, humbucking pickup that uniquely places the second coil below the first, so it's suspended in the guitar. This lets the pickup really project the instrument, not just the vibration of the strings. The M1 Active attaches to the soundhole, so it's removeable. It also has a strap button cord jack. The "active" part comes from an onboard preamp and volume control wheel. Another cool thing is each pole piece on the upper coil is adjustable, so you can dial in the perfect sound.

I had this installed on my 1976 Guild D40. I was using a Dean Markley wooden pickup, and the difference in sound can't even be described. The Dean amplified the strings, but with the M1 you can hear picking dynamics and any percussive sounds you make -- or make by accident.

I had to have the strap button hole enlarged for the jack, but that was well worth the $25.

This is a the most natural pickup I've tried. When I tried it out at the music store, They just tightened the pickup on to the top of the soundhole and hung the jack over the front. He plugged me into a Genz Benz acoustic amp, and I thought maybe the amp was what sounded so good.

After the slight modification to the soundhole, I rehearsed with my band running through a Behringer Vintager AC 112, and sounded just as good. At our first gig, I went direct to the PA and cut through every bit of the mix with 2 electric guitars, bass and drums. In my home studio, I'm using an ART tube preamp for recording this beautiful sound.

I thought having the pickup attached to the top of the guitar would dampen the non-amplified sound, but I haven't noticed it. I did adjust the pole pieces on the bass strings, because I was getting feedback from the slightest vibration when I stood in front of an amp.

I bought the Dean Markley pickup just to play around with and knew it wouldn't hold up in a band situation. I considered a saddle pickup, but didn't want to modify my guitar that much. I'm glad I chose the MI over lower priced Fishman's and even the LR Baggs I-Beam. It is pricey, but there are also much more expensive pickups out there.

LR Baggs M1 A (Active) Sound Hole Pickup.
Has a little volume control (spin wheel) on the pickup.
Easy enough to use, works very well, but too sensitive and too big for fingerstyle when using a thumb pick.

Guild GAD 30R.
Required drilling out the end pin hole a bit wider; not a big deal if you use painters tape around the end pin hole, a NEW bit, and drill carefully.

The sound is very good, except that the pickup is VERY sensitive and will transmit every little squeek one's hand may make on the neck...
I suggest keeping the neck polished and one's palms dry.

The tone is quite good, and the pole pieces are adjustable.
As to output level, who cares? If I need it louder I just turn up the amplifier.

Problem: As a finger picker using a thumb pick, I can't find a placement that will allow me to avoid occasional tapping on the pickup's cover. This is a big disadvantage in using a sound hole pickup. I thought about fabricating a mount that would place the pickup lower in the sound hole, but there are other mike/pickup systems readily available.
I will replace this pickup with an I-Beam or undersaddle style pickup to avoid the problem.

Overall, I like the pickup, but I use a thumbpick, so it's gotta go!

Pretty well known pickup by now. This is the active version, soundhole, humbucking. The unique feature, according to the manufacturer is that the second pickup, which is normally only there to cancel noise, actually works to pick up the sound within the body. Not as good as an internal mic but a pretty good approximation.

I've installed the M1 on a custom made jumbo style guitar patterned after a Europhon. I was replacing a Memesis which I've had for many years. The Memesis design was bought by Fishman and became the Rare Earth.

The Memesis is a fine pickup especially for fingerstyle guitar. However I found that under hard strumming it went a bit "quacky". After 10 years of using this pickup I felt there must be something better in the modern world. I contemplated the iMix system but my guitar has indidiviual saddle pieces and so the undersaddle Element can not be used.

The output is hot enough without being silly. The only effect I use is a guitar cable and a Para DI. I usually run either an AER combo 60/II or into the PA.

I first tried the M1 without the Para DI. I found the string balance much better than the Memesis, particularly the low strings. I use the bottom E and A quite a bit. The M1 was very balanced and warm with these notes. The top was about the same as the Memesis, very clear and bell like. However, the middle was again a bit harsh though somewhat better than the Memesis.

I then added the Para DI and took out some of the mids. A definate improvement. The M1 was now able to handle the hard strumming without quack. Again better than the Memesis with Para DI.

I play a wide range from old school rock and roll, soul, honky tonk country, to blues and folk.

Yes I buy another one. It suits the job and the guitar for which it was purchased.

I've been playing for 42 years and own all sorts of gear.

The sound of the M1 is excellent, especially for the money, though it does have its limitations. It is not the most wonderful thing in the universe for acoustic guitar but I still don't know what is. The volume control is a very useful feature.

On the downside, you have to be very careful about body noise. It picks up fingernail taps and string squeeks like nobody's business. It takes a little getting used to but is easily adapted to. You can even use this factor to your advantage. I do a lot of hard string mutes with the right hand and I can get that percussive effect pretty cool.

The color is off putting for some and I can understand that. They've made it a sort of aged ivory. I kind of like it in that it is a retro look. I also like that they made the LR Baggs signature fairly discreet. Something Seymour Duncan might want to consider. It would look better if it would actually age but being hard plastic that is unlikely.

I researched quite a bit for other pickups but wasn't able to try anything in advance. I went for the M1 on the basis of reviews, both press and user, and my experience with the Para DI, which I found to be excellent.

I also found it to be really a performance to get it in the soundhole. Be sure to measure your guitar before purchase. It was one of those situations where I thought it wasn't going to fit then suddenly I hit on the correct angle of the dangle and it went in easily. The problem is I don't know what I did.

Bottom line it's still a pickup on an acoustic albeit a very good one.

Humbucker Active.
Check www.lrbaggs.com for details.
It comes with some accessories (pole pieces adjustor, end pin jack...).

I installed it in a Fender DG22S NAT.
I got the guitar tech to make the back endstrap hole larger to fit with the female end pin jack.
Many artists using this pickup, recently OASIS Rythm Guitarist on his gibson guitar. Check Youtube.com and type LR BAGGS M1A
or better than that : www.fingerpick.com for HQ videos. The M1 passive version being compared to the other pickups like Sunrise, Fishman, DImarzio and others.

The output is great enough to feed the amp or the PA or the soundcard for DI recording.
It is a great bassy pickup (you can have so easily jazzy tones with it), the mid are great too, but the highs seem to be not so natural, pretty thin and thick to my ears (but so far better than a piezzo).
It is extremely balanced, especially if you asjust the pole pieces using a Level measuring tool (I used the Sony Sound Forge Software to adjust the levels).
Warning: Crap strings and very used strings may make u Mad. THis pickup will not be balanced if your strings are crap or overused! Before having an idea of what this pickup is, change ur strings to new (DEAN MARKLEY ALchemy, D'addario, Elexir, fender PHO BRO).
This is pickup sound greater with Medium strings.
Strumming, Power Strumming, riffs, Solos, Fingerpicking, All is matched. I love it!
For equalization I was obliged to get the LR BAGGS PARA DI and the sound is just fantastic.
I play jazzy Alternative Rock, and some weird Bluesy Stuff.
Don't put this pickup in the middle of the soundhole! You will have more bass and this will lead to some feedback whatever this pickup is feedback resistant and it is not the fault of the pickup! Unless you're DI recording.

If it was stolen, I would get it again or get a nother version of it which is not yet released!
I love the electro-acoustic sound coming from it! I own an LR BAGGS DI.
Do not dream to get a real acoustic sound with this pickup! IT will give u an electro-acoustic sound. If you want acoustic sound, blend a Condenser microphone with it.
One more thing, If ever you want to use distortion or overdrive! This is the perfect Pickup for you. Check youtube to verify!
I will update my review soon with some videos and audio samples links!

Active humbucking acoustic pickup. I had read some good reviews so I found this one on ebay.

I installed it on my Gibson WM45. A fairly simple procedure but had to get my wife to reach into the soundhole for the fiddly bit of attaching jack socket etc. See....she has her uses!

The jack socket is the only thing I dont like, as I have to pull the jack out by about 2mm to get contact! I need to fiddle with it.

The level of output is more than enough and can be easily varied by the small volume wheel. I am using a V-Amp 2 to add specific reverb and effects, into an AER or Marshall acoustic amp (sometimes straight into PA). The sound is, well, exactly like my Gibson WM45. Well balanced, full range. Picks up all the subtleties, harmonics, taps and string slaps......I love it! I play mainly blues based stuff, plus some popular general songs and the M1 Active suits all styles. This is the best acoustic pickup I have come across.

If it was lost I would buy another. If I buy another acoustic I would buy another. Why dont they make one for my Dobro?

Some bits of kit are made for gigging. This is one!

Active dual humbucking pickup. Adjustable pole pieces. Fairly easy to install.

Using it on a Jubal Jumbo ('34 Gibby hand made replica).

Output level is great. Volume can be adjusted, however the location for the control knob is poorly place. I find my pick is hitting hit and changing the level. Very good tone though. Very balanced. The pole pieces can be adjusted up and down. The higher they are the more string you hear. The lower they are the more of the guitar resonating.

Probably get another down the road for other guitars. I love the thing but the main drawback is that it dampens the guitar when it's unplugged. I'm constantly taking it in and out which is a pain. Also I really wish the volume knob was somewhere else. Maybe I'll try flipping it around so the knob is on the other side of the sound hole. But I'd say for the price it's an great deal and it's all you need. Just the M1-A and a good PA/amp.