L.R. Baggs iBeam

Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs: Discreet volume knob

Model of guitar or bass: Larrivee D-03K
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: N/A
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Phil Keaggy, me, a bunch of other people should be
You musical style(s): Praise music, Christian rock, acoustic rock
Reason for pickup change: No change, installation on new guitar.

Perceived output level: Normal for an active pickup
Tone: very balanced, does not alter the pure sound of the guitar
Sonic evaluation: I first tried the iBeam thought the Baggs Para-acoustic DI box and it sounded great. I was unsure the pickup alone would have enough volume to cut through in a band situation. After testing it without the help of the DI preamp, I found it definitely has the presence and volume to cut through electic and percussion instruments. The sound is the most natural pickup I have ever heard. It amplifies the true sound of the guitar perfectly.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I mostly play rhythm, and the pickup is a great match for this.

Comments: I shopped around for pickups in a variety of ways. I found sites on the internet with sound clips of popular pickups, I asked dealers their opinions, I read the reviews here, and I asked friends of mine who play their opinion. I chose the iBeam after all this research and have not been disappointed. As a kicker the dealer who sold me the guitar prefers to install the iBeam over other under the saddle pickups due to its clean installation. All of the components (pickup, volume knob, battery enclosure) use double-sided tape to adhere to the interior of the guitar.
I highly recommend this pickup for anyone with a high quality guitar looking for a fairly east to install, unobtrusive, natural sounding active pickup. Please be aware that the pickup is quite sensitive and transmits the guitar's true sound and it may not work as well in a lower quality instrument.
I believe, for now, I have found the sound I am looking for.

Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Taylor 815ce
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: fishman piezo
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: check lr baggs site
You musical style(s): folk, rock, fingerstyle...
Reason for pickup change: The fishman piezo I was using was never a long term solution even though I used it regularly for 7 years. I was waiting for just the right ecenomical solution to present itself.

Perceived output level: Hot... almost equal to the active fishman piezo I had been using. Not quite as in your face.
Tone: Quite balanced to my ear, a little nasaly before I pull out some of the offending frequencies. Sounds very good after a very little tweaking.
Sonic evaluation: The iBeam really shines strait into a sound system. I have never been happy chaining all sorts of effects to my guitar to try and make this guitar sound ok through a sound system. I believe that I am finally satisfied with the sound I get strait through a PA. I have played my Taylor 815ce through a Fender Acoustasonic Junior with the ibeam and felt it was passable. I didn't think the sound was great through the Fender amp but it really has been quite good strait into the system.
I wouldn't say the sound is perfect but it is very close, very close to expressing what my guitar sounds like. In this I am very pleased. I have read some reviews that weren't complimentary of the ibeam but I'm almost certain it had to do with placement of the pickup which is very important. I stuck this thing once and was very pleased. As I said, it is not perfect but it is very close. It was such a vast improvement over the piezo I had in there that I was instantly satisfied. I have been satisfied with the sound I get for the past few months.
I have played live regularly for over ten years and I feel the ibeam produces a satisfying tone for those looking for true acoustic sound without the confines of a microphone.
I have heard this played against the fishman blender system (which costs a bit more), piezo pickups and a mic'd guitar. The ibeam does the trick for me.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup is the ticket for the kind of playing I do. It doesn't have the punch to cut through a band like a piezo pickup does but it also doesn't sound like junk like a piezo does either.

Comments: I would definitely replace this. I have been playing for 15 years, ten of those in performance situations. I own some recording gear and released an album a few years ago. Sold a grand total of 500 some odd albums. My album went aluminum.:) I give this pickup 4 and 1/2 stars out of 5. I feel that any acoustic guitar player would be happy to own it considering the other not so great options out there.

Pickup features: Active Bridge Plate Transducer System
Impedence or other specs: Do Not Know

Model of guitar or bass: Martin OM28V
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: For There Sake I Hope No One
You musical style(s): Finger Styie , Classical, Contemporary, Blues
Reason for pickup change: Play Live

Perceived output level: Output Level was below Normal to very pour
Tone: Bassy, Muddy, and just plain "Bad"
Sonic evaluation: California Blond Great Amp

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I tried 4 installations on my guitar. I even had a guitar tech install it Theres Just no hope Its a very bad sounding Pickup

Comments: I would never buy this pickup again
Ive been playing 35 years
I cant believe a company could make such a bad sounding pickup. I mean as bad as it could get!
I compared this pickup to EMG , Hylander, Fishman& more at least 6 different companies
DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PICKUP YOU WILL BE VERY SORRY!
I would give this pickup to my worst enemy because he would laugh so hard we would become freinds again!

Pickup features: passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Martin D28
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: No Clue
You musical style(s): Folk, Bluegrass, Slide
Reason for pickup change: This is my first acoustic pick-up.

Perceived output level: Transparent, true-to-life. Sounds like the instrument. (see sonic evaluation)
Tone: Balanced, does not color the acoustic properties of the instrument.
Sonic evaluation: Martin D28, ibeam into Para DI into Fender Acoustic Jr. DSP. The
combination of the ibeam/Para DI is the workhorse - unlimited
adjustment for any type of environment.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Have only had it a few months - but it appears balanced and stable anywhere on the neck.

Comments: Installation was a snap - just "follow the directions".......!
It's everything I need - could be my first and last acoustic pickup.

Pickup features: Passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson L00
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: me, and all the other guys on this page!
You musical style(s): Blues/country
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Not quite loud enough
Tone: balanced
Sonic evaluation: Because it's the passive pick-up I run it through a Baggs GigPro pre-amp before it hits the desk/amp/whatever. Otherwise there's literally no output!
I think it gives a very accurate sound of my guitar and for that reason I'm currently keeping it, however, the low output level and a tendency to pick up RF interference and hum is a concern.
I'm loath to move the pickup postion as it gives a good sound and there's not much room in there anyway, and I don't want any battery inside the guitar. I wish these things just worked!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments:

Pickup features: Contact Pickup
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Guild D55
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: HIGHLANDER IP-1
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Christian Praise and Worship
Reason for pickup change: I left the I-beam for the Highlander because the I-Beam was VERY disappointing.

Perceived output level: Medium Hot
Tone: Muddy, airy, un-crisp....
Sonic evaluation: Very disappointing pickup. A waste of money. Don't believe the hype that Baggs is putting into Acoustic Guitar Magazine! My Guild D55 is a loud, powerful guitar, but this Baggs I-beam did a deep disservice to it by misrepresenting the sound of the actual guitar. What a letdown!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Flatpicking, hard strumming, rock and folk styles.

Comments: DON'T GET THIS PICKUP! Baggs may be a good name in the industry, but this one doesn't do it. In fact, I'm now afraid of the B-Band AST and the K&K Trinity...any kind of contact pickup as a primary pickup source will be a regret...at best, it should be blended or used as a secondary source. I used to own the Fishman onboard blender system on some of my other guitars and I also owned a Fishman Rare Earth Blend sounhole pickup. The undersaddle sound, at least to me, gives the cleanest, crispest sound reproduction around - and the microphones or, in this case, soundboard contact pickups have never matched what I've been looking for. Thus far, the HIGHLANDER IP-1 has been the best investment for my money. I love it for the Guild and I had one placed inside of a Larrivee D10. I haven't been disappointed with Fishman's undersaddle Matrix pickups - but they've given me some feedback issues in the past. But any of these would do as a better choice than the I-Beam. I'm not lying. I'm trying to save you some grief! I'm not against the company at all, it's just that this product doesn't deliver on all of its promises. For my next purchase, I'm looking into the new B-Band A2.2 with a combo of the UST and AST pickups...this looks to be promising in that it also offers a soundhole volume and blend control as well as a mono output so that I can plug it right into my amp and play. No outboard hassles. It will cost a whalop to install, but it looks promising. Even then with the AST contact pickup, I suspect only blending it to 20-25% of the overall sound - reserving the rest for the UST. Well, enough rambling, I'm just wanting this to be of service to prospective I-Beam buyers - STAY AWAY!

Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Larrivee L-03
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Leo Kottke, Dave Matthews, Neil Young, etc.
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: "Good and solid"...certainly not weak, but not "Searing-my-board-and-ears".
Tone: Gorgeous. Like my guitar. I know it hasn't worked for some, but it did for me.
Sonic evaluation: I record on my Roland VS-2480 and I use that as a live board to record me and couple other guys that play out here and there. I used the active Mackie SRM450 monitors...but I just got them recently, so playing out is a relatively recent thing for me (at least as far as owning my own gear is concerned).
I'm not a tech, but I know a little more than the basics. I put this in myself over Christmas just following the directions included with the thing. It was dummy-proof and it worked great for me. The thing sounds like my guitar...it really, really does. I feel so bad for those folks who haven't been able to enjoy an iBeam in their guitar because I simply cannot believe that this quality and accuracy are coming out of a single, 1/4" jack. It's got all kinds of great "air" without being thin, it's got plenty of authentic palm-mute "thunk" without being overly-boomy, and it gave me the near-perfect middle ground (nothing's truly "perfect") between definition and warmth. I can drum my fingertips over every part of the guitar and the pickup "hears" it. This pickup takes what's going on in MY guitar and lets my translate that as best as I have ever heard through single source. It's not a Neumann; don't get me wrong. However, I'm one very happy customer.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play fingerstyle stuff...nothing "genius", but I like Kottke, Chris Proctor, etc. as well as some more standard stuff...Dave Matthews, Clapton, and a pretty standard list of stuff people like to hear at bars with one guy and an acoustic.

Comments: I would buy it again if it were destroyed or stolen.
I've been playing for 10 years, worked the acoustic department of a Guitar Center a few years ago (not that I'm now all of a sudden legitimized by that) and work part-time for the guy that built Prince's "Cloud" guitar and has an impressive clientele list. Again...not that I'M great...but HE is, and I've been able to learn quite a bit from him.
I obviously like the pickup, but it also (rather obviously) hasn't worked out for others. It's not one that will cut through the mix of a rock band, but that's not what the product claims to be and that's not what I was looking for. It sounds night-and-day when compared to my buddy's Martin w/ Fishman. The Fishman sounds like rubber-bands and mine sounds like a guitar...MY guitar.
I wish I had waited and got it with the new volume knob, but...you live and learn. I certainly don't regret the buy. I'll probably add Baggs' magnetic soundhole pickup (the M1, I belive) just to add "complexity" or whatever you want to call it, but this pickup certainly holds its own in a solo/small acoustic group setting.
I give it an 8 because nothing is a 10 and I'm open-minded enough to believe that there's a slightly better one and/or combo out there.

Pickup features: passive, under bridgeplate pickup
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson J-45 acoustic
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: phil keaggy, sean watkins (nickle creek)
You musical style(s): folk rock, americana, alt. country
Reason for pickup change: didn't have one before

Perceived output level: output level is hot, the active I beam is hotter
Tone: well balanced
Sonic evaluation: this acoustic pickup provides the most faithfull recreation of acoustic guitar sound i have found. blows away ANY piezo under saddle pickup i've heard.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: folk rock, americana, alt. country

Comments: i'll always install the I beam system in my acoustics from now on.... they sound awesome. better than the fishman pickups / eq systems installed on my previously owned Taylors....

Pickup features: Passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 1972 B45 12
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Acoustic
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Sounds like the guitar- balanced and "acoustic"
Tone: Balanced and not boomy.
Sonic evaluation: Into a Para DI into a PA

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Acoustic blues/old time

Comments: I tried a Fishman, Rare Earth, Don Lace and K&K Pure Western. All installed and played in public. Everyone asked me to go back to the Baggs. These are non musicians not gear geeks. As my daughter said it is the one that sounds like your in the living room.

Pickup features: Active Bridge Plate Transducer system
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 2001 Taylor 410 Dreadnaught
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Fishman Matrix Natural 1 & 2
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: I'm not sure who uses this pickup. Visit L.R.Baggs web page for details
You musical style(s): Wide Range from finger picking, to flat picking, to rhythmic strumming
Reason for pickup change: desperately wanted to have a pure, rich tone.

Perceived output level: plenty of quiet clean output
Tone: balanced...sounds just like the guitar you put it in
Sonic evaluation: I use a GenzBenz Shennandoah 100 acoustic guitar amplifier with my Taylor 410 Dreadnaught w/ LR BAGGS IBeam. I couldn't be happier!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: pop, Rock, Contemp. Christian, John Mayer, etc,

Comments: I would definately replace it if damaged or stolen. I do not recommend the Fishman products. Yes they are reliable, and some even sound good, but nothing compares to the rich balanced sound of the IBEAM ACTIVE. This pickup has won pickup of the uyear for the past two or three years. Visit L.R. Baggs.com for details.