L.R. Baggs iBeam

Pickup features: Bridge plate transducer
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Yamaha Thin body acoustic
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: factory undersadle and pizeo mic mix system
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Folk, country, blues and rock
Reason for pickup change: Original pickups didn't make it.

Perceived output level:
Tone: Balanced. Sounds real, like the guitar when it's unplugged
Sonic evaluation: Directly through the PA

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

Comments: Been plucking for over 25 years. Never liked the sound of acoustic pickups including the new Tayor Expression system. The Fishman pro was the best I had heard until I tried a Seagull Artist with the LR Baggs iBeam Mix system. Definately the best I had heard. So I put an iBeam in my Yamaha and it sounds a lot better than most very expencive guitars. Highly recomended.

Pickup features: passive internal surface mount for acoustic, no drilling, no internal amp/battery
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Taylor 710
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: tons
You musical style(s): easy listening to contemporary to rock. occasional bluegrass when forced
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Clean, natural, well-balanced
Tone: near perfect reproduction of natural Taylor tones
Sonic evaluation: Used with a Baggs Para DI (another $200) to preamp the passive IBeam model. Gives a noise free and very flexible rig for any acoustic. Baggs makes an ACTIVE preamped IBeam, haven't checked it out, though would like to compare against the Para DIs preamp.
As the I-Beam is very evenly balanced, the Para DI provides a 3 (really 4) band parametric EQ with TWO adjustable notch controls. Check it out on the web.
Great for live work, haven't had the opportunity to record with it as yet. Only better combo I could imagine is added internal mic and blender. Still would keep the I-Beam in the mix. Mounting in a full acoustic heel was the challenge (no AE predrilled input jack). I crafted a custom solid brass Switchcraft 1/8" input jack for the Taylor heel that requires 45% less drilling versus the typical 1/4" installed jack. I just can't stand to have a drill bit spit out curly pieces of solid rosewood. Have a luthier do the drilling and install. No internal electronics and battery for the passive IBeam means less weight, stress on internal body components nor interference with the acoustic resonance of fine woods and NO battery changing hassle. As mentioned no drilling, etc for IBeam transducer mounting! The transducer has adhesive and you just prep the underside of the top directly below the saddle, then stick the transducer strip on! Couldn't be easier. Still...have a luthier do the jack mounting, etc. Heshe should mount the transducer for no additional charge.

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

Comments: Definitely would buy and install again. Been playing hit and miss since 1974 and acoustic heavily since mid 90s.
Typical live rig Taylor 710 w/Baggs IBeam->Baggs Para DI (EQ adjusted according to type of music)->George Dennis Stereo Chorus/Flanger/Volume pedal (noiseless) ->EH Black Finger (twin RCA black plate 12AU7s to keep the noise down)again set according to music type-> DI to the board w/EQ set even or into Peavey KB300. Taylors as a rule are very well balanced with more low and low-mids than many acoustics including Martins,Breedlove, Larivee, etc. and some Gibsons.
Love everything about the IBeam, hate nothing (so far). Like to see Baggs and other mic manufacturers create 1/8" small overall diameter input jack kits.
I've compared it to several other types (ribbon, mic and soundhole coil) and brands, Fishman, Dean Markley, Martin ribbon, Alvarez (not in the same league), DID NOT try Schertler, BBand, Seymour Duncan or and other types by Fishman, Baggs, Martin and DMarkley though would like to compare against the Baggs IBeam.
Only improvement might be to add an internal mic through either another Para DI, a Baggs Mixpro or Fishman, other high quality external BLENDER unit in order just to keep the session cargo down. Of course up goes the $$.
~peace~

Pickup features: Acoustic Guitar Bridge Plate Transducer
Impedence or other specs: Ultra-High Impedance

Model of guitar or bass: Sigma DM-18
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Schaller Chrome/Custom Built Preamp
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock/Blues/Varoed
Reason for pickup change: Wanted to see if the I-Beam was better than the Schaller system.

Perceived output level: Medium-low output-Needs a High Gain Preamp
Tone: Clear but unbalanced (see details below)
Sonic evaluation: I have 18 years experience repairing guitars and amps. When the local dealer began to carry Baggs I wondered whether this pickup would exceed the tone of my Schaller Chrome transducers with a custom-built outboard preamp I use. The Schallers have been excellent performers, but I wondered if the I-Beam would trump them. I purchased the I-Beam and pulled out the Schallers. The actual install of the pickup is relatively easy, but getting the pickup into a position where the sound is balanced is not. No matter where I placed the pickup (in my guitar there is not a great deal of area to experiment!) I could not get the pickup to produce as balanced a tone as the Schallers. Admittedly, it could have been a problem with placement, but I thought this review might give a heads-up to others contemplating purchase of this unit. I promptly ripped out the unit and replaced it with me Schaller Chromes. For a list price of $45.00 the Schaller Chromes are an outstanding performer with high output (amazingly so for a piezo-based transducer), no hum, and balanced sound. Ah, a fool and his money! For the sound the I-Beam gave, it's probably a pretty fair pickup.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: More important to match to the guitar!

Comments: Actually, I may try to lose it (Ha Ha!)

Pickup features: Active soundboard transducer with soundhole vol. Control.
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Martin D 28
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: No idea. Paid endorsements courtesy of LR Baggs can be found on their website I'm sure.
You musical style(s): With this guitar, folk, blues, rootsy country, bluegrass, country swing in a 6 piece band (The Wanted).
Reason for pickup change: Tired of hassles with mikes and a noisy Dean Markley soundhole pickup. I finally joined a band after playing mostly solo/acoustic duo for 25 years and needed something more permanent and practical.

Perceived output level: Fine, with the built-in preamp. Some soundmen have commented its pretty hot.
Tone: I've listened to it with headphones to isolate sound of the pu and compared it against live sound. Sounds natural - like the guitar - except the built in preamp has set some sort of ideal eq curve which is non adjustable (seems a bit bassy). Its fine and sounds natural when the feed back is notched out. The high end is a little weaker and not quite so natural, its a little more like an undersaddle transducer, crispy or quacky - which is fine for playing live.
Sonic evaluation:
I've had it about 6 months, and after some initial fiddling, I'm now very happy with it, it sounds more natural for flat-picking than saddle transducers I?ve heard or magnetic soundhole (M1 or Fishman Rare Earth). Used it through a PA with Baggs Para-DI (not impressed for the money). Now I have Presonus Acousti-Q which I like better(I will review this later). Have played it at home through a Roland JC 60 for practice and experimentation, and it sounds great through the Presonus with eq set properly. Played it live through a mixer into a Bose PAS which is awesome, even without the eq box. My guitar has a resonant bottom end, and was always prone to feedback even with a mike, unless the bass was eq'd way down. I now use the notch filter at about low F# and then a mid cut around the D string, and that takes care of the feed back, but leaves a nice rich natural tone and a crisp high end. I have used a feed back buster in the sound hole a couple of times and I can really crank it with the band (we are not talking Green Day here kids, calm down!). I play in an acoustic band with electric bass, fiddle/mandolin, dobro, accordion, and 2 female vocals, and can cut through in a club (100+ bodies) without feedback using the Bose PAS and a feedback buster. I play both rhythm and lead work. It is a little weaker on the high end than I would like. I can use the boost switch on the presonus to get a real lift when necessary.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Folk and Blues solo, and with the acoustic band, it has a great natural sound. Open tunings sound great, nice rich bottom end, but not overpowering. If I was playing a lot of lead above the 5th fret I probably would not be as happy. I wouldn't bother trying this if you want to play acoustic with a heavily amplified group, the feedback will probably drive you nuts.

Comments: Played 25 years, folk clubs and open mikes etc. in high school and uni., less so now with family and work, etc. but I'm getting back into it. I read these reviews before buying, so knew it was a gamble as they seem to be 50/50 for and against this pickup. Now that I've had it 6 months I'm very happy with it. I like my sound, like the price (watch the installation cost though!), the fact that you don?t have to alter the guitar, and the sound-hole volume control.
Now for the downside Words of Warning: #1 Installation and the natural tone of your guitar makes a HUGE difference to this thing. I took it home prepared to install it myself. The flimsy jig makes it impossible to do an accurate installation, unless you are professional. I took it back to a great repair guy I know and he played with it for hours before finding the best placement (Close as it can get to the high side and under the saddle, almost touching the end-pins).
#2 IF YOUR GUITAR (LIKE MINE) HAS THE X-BRACE SEATED WAY BACK FROM THE SOUND HOLE AND CLOSE TO THE BRIDGE PLATE, YOU WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE ROOM TO MOVE THE IBEAM AROUND ONCE YOU GET IT IN THERE. (UNLIKE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO SUGGEST!). I had maybe 1-2mm of play either way. The manufacturer's diagrams all make it look like you have tons of room to move it around, to adjust for tonal differences in your guitar, but not me. The less room you have to move it around, I think, the less likely you are to get the sound you want. NOBODY TELLS YOU THIS. Lucky for me, I had a good repairman who took the time to get it right and it paid off.
Word of warning #3 - some places charge you a fortune to install this thing so ask first, when you are comparing prices. The place I bought it wanted $80 to install! My repair guy who is a well-known repairman in the Toronto area did it for $30.
I like this pick-up a lot for the kind of music I'm playing and the price range. I like it a lot better than the more expensive magnetic pick-ups out there(the Rare Earth humbucker- blender did not impress me at all for the money - C$350, and then you still have to eq it anyways). I don?t like magnetic pickups for oldtimey country and bluegrass, they make everything sound like a jazz guitar, which is fine for lead work or blues, if that's what you want. On the other hand, if you want something that doesn?t require a lot of monkeying around with installation and buying a preamp with eq (I needed one anyways, or so I tell myself), this pick-up probably isn?t for you.
I don't really believe in numbers... these things are way too subjective, and every guitar is different, and the pick-up placement is key. If I had to do it again, I would probably get the same thing.

Pickup features: Active, bridgeplate transducer
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Norman B-20
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Worship, picking strumming
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Very good: never had any problem getting enough signal : into amp, P.A. ...
Tone: Bassy (in my guitar) with little high-end treble
Sonic evaluation: I play this now into a Laney LA65C but have used it in many other situations. I find that, despite it being bassy and a little muddy, it has a quality of sound which I greatly prefer to that of a undersaddle piezo pickup, even if I have to eq it significantly and watch carefully for feedback. In fact, in one situation a sound guy almost swore at me because he couldn't get it to sound right (he was sending ith through their Berhinger active direct box). When I unplugged from the box and let the signal go without any help, he couldn't believe the difference and then struggled to get the other guitars to sound decent compared to mine. You really need to take some time to place the pickup well : there is (aparently) a big difference in the optimal location depending on the guitar and some experimentation is necessary. Now that I have a real acoustic guitar amp to play through, I will probably try to move it to find a better location (better control of the bass and low mids). As I said, there is a quality to the sound which I find much more natural than any piezo I've ever heard. Wonderful.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Folky worshipy soft-rocky fingerpickingy lightstrummy stuff.

Comments: I've been playing for 16 years, have tried several Yamahas, Takamines, other Normans. I have had a Dean Markley ZH-1 for this guitar (TERRIBLE) and have had this pickup for about 2 years. I find it can't be compared to anything else. Do you want a natural sounding guitar without that piezo "twang"? This might be good for you.
I'd like to find a way to increase the high treble output (if they're not there, you can't add them with an amp) because the tone can sound a little flat. I would probably buy it again, but I would look at some of the newer stuff out there, including the M1 before. Who knows? I'd give it a ten for the natural sound but I have to take a bit off for the lack of balance and treble response.
I would probably buy the new model with a volume control in the soundhole though.

Pickup features: active transducer
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Martin D12-20
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: high
Tone: natural
Sonic evaluation: This pickup sounds great. I get compliments on the sound of this instrument all the time, particularly from sound men in clubs. Of course, you must paly through a good amp or PA. Nothing will sound like an acoustic guitar through an electric guitar amp.

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

Comments: This pickup is terrific. One thing, mine was installed several years ago before they developed the iBeam onboard pre-amp, so we used the L.R. Baggs "acoustic timbre" onboard pre-amp. I believe that this product is actually better, as it has a dedicated middle control, and the Baggs iBeam pre-amp does not.

Pickup features: active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Martin D-15
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: see Baggs website
You musical style(s): mostly contemporary Christian music, strumming, fingerpicking
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Plenty of power to plug right into the mixer
Tone: boomy on the bottom, extra crispy on top
Sonic evaluation: First of all let me say this about evaluating your acoustic guitar tone. You cannot accurately judge the tone of your guitar through any sound system while you are playing it. Some of the natural acoustic tone reaches you ears and you feel vibrations from the body. You need to make a nearly perfect recording to play back or else let someone else play and put them far away enough from the listening area so you hear only amplified sound.
I use this pickup recording direct to computer and playing live on a very well set up church sound system (yes they do exist!)
I have found that for recording I need to take a big notch out around the top's resonance freq (4th string D, or 147 Hz) boost the upper mids 2k-4k and a narrow notch out around 14k. I assume some of my eq'ing is necessary to undo some overcompensation baggs does for the sake of guitars less blessed with such abundant low end and clear high end.
For the live setup I found my eq settings needed to be pretty much the same as for recording. (I use cakewalk software to eq on computer, Behringer 5 band parametric for live)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: all styles work fine, but best tone seems to come from fingerpicking or flatpicking

Comments: The pickup by itself doesn't sound as natural or great as all the company hype would suggest, but with some careful eq'ing and proper use of effects you can get a good acoustic sound.
If the pickup were lost or stolen I would be happy because it would give me a good excuse to try to find another pickup that will sound great out of the box.
I will probably continue using the ibeam but blend it with the new M1 which seems to have the potential (once you set the pole pieces right) to have great balanced tone right out of the box. Or if I get really brave, I'll superglue a K&K pickup under the bridge and blend that with the M1.
I give it a 8 overall only because with some qualtiy eq work I was able to get a pretty good (but not great) sound. Based on plain naked pickup tone alone I would give it a 6.
One last thought, I've had this pickup for over a year and have changed the battery only once.

Pickup features: passive.
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Larivee L-01
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Lots of different ones.
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Celtic
Reason for pickup change: Like everyone else, I've been searching for that "True Acoustic Sound".

Perceived output level: Not real hot, just right!!!
Tone: Very balanced tone.
Sonic evaluation: Terrific sound and very easy to EQ if needed.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Good match for my style of celtic playing.

Comments: I'm an acoustic guitar tech at a small music store in northern California and have installed hundreds of pick-ups (piezo's, sound hole magnetic's and mics of various kinds) in my guitar and customers guitars over the years and have never been completely satisfied with any of them. The best thing I had come up with for myself was a Shure Beta-57 mic. It gave me the sound I was after but as anyone who uses a mic knows, your constricted to that mic. Movement one way or the other changes the sound.
We got a brochure about the L.R. Baggs pick-ups and as I read the description of the I-Beam and thought that maybe this is what I looking for. They described it as having the same responce as a condenser microphone. Wow! That's what I've after all along. I got one from Baggs (they are really great at customer service by the way) and I'm really glad I did. They say it is best used with a pre-amp, (it still sounds good without one, just not as hot) so I used it at my next gig with my DOD 7 band EQ pedal and I couldn't belive the sound. It was perfect. I even got a lot of comments after the gig on how good the guitar sounded.
I am totally sold on this pick-up and would recommend it to anyone.
The installation is very easy. It only takes about 10 minutes at the most. (Providing you already have a endpin jack hole in the end of your guitar. That takes about 20 minutes in itself) and they are not cost prohibitive. Considering the cost of some of the blending systems that are out there, this one beats 'em all.
Thanks to L.R. Baggs for a terrific pick-up!

Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Cort Earth 1200
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): James Taylor, Christian
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Hot
Tone: Balanced
Sonic evaluation: I bought it as I read that the sound is more natural than UST pickups. Like some of the other reviews mentioned, the feedback problem is serious. Overall, the tone is accetable but not particular fantastic either.

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

Comments: Even if it were not stolen, I'm already thinking of changing it. However, this is my backup guitar so I don't really want to waste any more money on it.

Pickup features: active under bridge plate transducer with microphonic attributes
Impedence or other specs: high - very high

Model of guitar or bass: 1984 Martin D35
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: who cares .. every guitar is different - what a dumb question
You musical style(s): CSN-JT-Van Morrison- Eagles-Clapton-Santana
Reason for pickup change: Wanted something that would capture the natural tone and the hype said this would do it. What they didn't tell you is this is so microphonic it will pickup a dog farting in the back alley. Feedback problems are now being examined for correction.

Perceived output level: Hotter than fire when going thru the Para Acoustic D.I. into a PA !
Tone: Bassy at this point but re-positioning a half-million times might do the trick
Sonic evaluation: At first this pickup sounds great in your home. Live on stage you begin to encounter feedback problems - of course I play in noisey bars & brothels, not in quiet library type settings. The I-Beam is very sensitive and produces low end feedback which I am told can be possibly remedied by repositioning the I-beam away from the bass portion under the bridge plate and closer to the X brace treble side. We'll see. If it works, I'll be impressed. My overall impression of this pickup is if you are playing in typical noisey bars, this ain't the pickup you want.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: acoustic light & classic rock - the stuff we all grew up with that sounded great

Comments: If this were stolen I'd buy something else but then no one in their right mind would steal it. I've been playing 20 years off & on. I own a Para Acoustic DI, Peavey XR600F head with 2 Impulse 10/12's; a 1984 Martin D35 & brand new Taylor Maple 12 string Special 600 with the new expression system that is orgasmic. Baggs sent me the M1 soundhole pickup as an alternative to the I-Beam if it doesn't work out - that speaks highly of Baggs trying to help out. I'll let you know in two weeks if this works or not. Since every guitar is different, what sounds good in one may sound like kaa-kaa in another.

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.

Pickup features: Passive in conjunction with a L.R. Baggs Para DI
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Larrivee L-03R
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level:
Tone:
Sonic evaluation: This pick-up sounds great. I installed it exactly as the manufacturer suggested directly under the saddle but shifted laterally a small 1/8" towards the treble side.I tried it plugged directly into our churches PA system through the LR Baggs para DI.Our church has a pro-level permanently installed system. Even with the EQ controls set on "0" the sound was very good. This indicates that the pick-up itself is good withour radical EQing. I toned the mid-range down a bit as per the manual and the sound became AWESOME. It was like my Larrivee unplugged but louder. Our church band only plays at moderate volume so I don't know how it feeds back at high volume. I tried plugging this into my home stereo through the tape deck mic input and it was very boomy so I just turned down the bass on my stereo amp and lower mids on the Para DI and it sounded fine. But not nearly as good as the church PA. Conclusion: The amplifier used has a huge affect on the sound. If you have some low power portable PA or questionable acoustic amplifier, you may have to spend time EQing it. For this reason, I wouldn't go without a quality pre-amp like the Para DI or at leat a Gigpro. I wouldn't get the iBeam active and use it without a seperate pre-amp.

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

Comments: I am very pleased with this pick-up. Installation was simple IF YOU FOLLOW DIRECTIONS! It sounds great. My only complaint-a small one-is that I have now (with the Para DI $250)invested $430 CDN in an acoustic pick-up system. But my guitar is worth 4 times that so it is a good value. I can also use the Para with my classical.

Pickup features: active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Seagull S6
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): singer/songwriter, e.g. Ron Sexsmith, Archer Prewitt
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: can't compare it to much, but was getting plenty of signal to run thorugh a PA - I'm sure the 9V helps on that end
Tone: Suprisingly balanced. I was getting "wolf tones" around low D/Db, which were easily tamed with the Para D.I. (more on that later) Pick on string sound very natural with the proper EQing.
Sonic evaluation: First let me say that in general, I hate the sound of amplified acoustic guitars. I've never met a piezo that I enjoyed listening to. I was looking for something that would sound like a microphone that I could turn up loud. Anyway...
I'm running my Seagull directly into a PA through a Para DI. A few things about this pickup: As Baggs plainly states, placement makes a big difference, and you will be rewarded with experimentation. I tired at least five different placements, each 2-3 mm different, and each with a distinct sound. I noted each placement, recorded a sample of it into my computer (or whatever you have), then did a blind comparison. I found placing it parallel to the saddle but slightly towards the pegs gave me the string attack/cut I was looking for, but also enough "body" sound so the character of my guitar shone through on quieter playing.
Another important thing: If I had bought this pickup without also getting Baggs' Para D.I., I wouldn't have dug it nearly as much. Because this pickup gives you such an honest replication of your guitar's particular resonance qualities (not just a generic, squashed, stringy sound), I found that an outboard EQ is a must for shaping it into a sound that can be properly amplified. Here's how mine is set up, and it sounds great: I deemphasized the aformentioned wolf tone/feedback note using the notch filter, took a little bit of mids out at 1kHz for a less nasal tone, added a touch of presence (really helps to get a natural "pick" sound), and but a touch of low end to help my low E resonate. And even though I didn't turn any of the EQ nobs more than 20 degrees, it made a huge difference--turned an average, somewhat nasally tone into a beautiful, almost-can't-tell-it's-not-a-mic acoustic guitar sound.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I don't bash my guitar, I don't exclusively fingerpick, but do use plenty of palm muting, percussive strumming, etc. From what I can tell, the pickup's a great match for the style -- it amplifies MY acoustic guitar's sound, which is about all you can ask for.

Comments: I would definitely replace it if it were stolen. HOWEVER, I would also replace my Para DI -- some kind of EQ is needed for this pickup, but you'll be rewarded. (BTW -- Blue Star gave me a great deal on both -- $220 for the active pickup AND the DI -- seeing as list for both adds up to $400 or so! plus I saved on installation costs since I could do it myself). I love the fact that I got such a natural sound from it, although it did take a good deal of experimentation and subtle EQing. For now I am very satisfied with the sound of this pickup, and unless a brand new "holy grail" technology comes out, I'm sticking by it.

Pickup features: Active Bridge-Plate Transducer
Impedence or other specs: Low Impedance output (due to preamp)

Model of guitar or bass: Taylor Big Baby 2002
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dean Markley Pro Mag and various microphones
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Nickel Creek and many, many others
You musical style(s): classical, folk, rock, and pop
Reason for pickup change: I needed the Big Baby to replace my stage guitar, which was stolen, and required more mobility and much better tone than what was available via the Pro Mag.

Perceived output level: It has very high output, comparable to my LR Baggs Dual Source (on my aforementioned stolen guitar). More than enough for a DI Box or straight into the board.
Tone: The iBeam active, as installed, has very balanced tonality with a slight emphasis on the bass due to pickup placement. This was intentional due to the Big Baby's less-than-average bass response.
Sonic evaluation: My normal use of the iBeam Active has been via PAs, through a DI Box (it's been through both passive and active DI boxes). I also play in my home studio plugging it straight into the line inputs of my TASCAM TM-D1000 which routes to a Samson Servo 260 amp and a pair of Tannoy Reveals. I also listen via Sony headphones (MDR-7505 and MDR-7506). I never use any signal or effect processing on acoustic guitar -this pickup included.
The iBeam Active has been very impressive from the first time I plugged it in. The nuances of various playing technique shine through. There is some compression when I play with more aggressive technique but otherwise, the dynamic range is (fortunately) unlike any other piezo-type pickup I have ever played (which, for the record, includes most made by Fishman, Ovation, Baggs, and Markley). The fidelity of the pickup is quite amazing and pretty well approximates proper microphone placement. Prior to installation of this pickup, I'd mic'ed the Big Baby with small and large diaphragm microphones (I am a classical music recordist) and I've found the tonality of the iBeam Active compared to my own microphone placement to be quite impressive.
Just like using microphones, the success of using the iBeam Active in live settings varies. In a singer-songwriter, all-acoustic instrument setting the pickup performs incredibly. In a large, mostly electrified setting, however, the iBeam can be lost amid the other instruments. This is just as LR Baggs advises on their website, though. This is not unlike using microphones, as I have said, and where I suppose I have to lend credit to the quack of undersaddle piezo pickups for their ability to "cut through" (I hate most piezo pickups). Of course, this can be adjusted with EQ and signal and effect processing but, like I said, I don't with acoustic guitar.
It is claimed that this pick-up sounds "just like the guitar it's put in" and I don't think that's 100% true. I've heard guitar recordings that sound strangely like the sound I get out of my pickup and I'm pretty sure that if I do my homework, I will find the same pickup in the guitars they used to record. It's not a bad thing, though, the pickup is indeed good enough to use in the studio without mic'ing the guitar. The iBeam Active does have its own signature sound and the only real way to hear the "true" guitar is to mic it and even micing it is a very subjective thing.
For what it's worth, the only other pickup that I have found that produces the kind of tonality and dynamic range is the Taylor Expression System (Taylor ES). Seeing that it's only available on Taylor guitars and only their more expensive models, I would say that it's not really that fair a comparison. I spend more money on microphones than I do guitars so spending an additional thousand or so dollars for a marginally better amplified acoustic guitar sound is not very practical for me.
I should mention installation as well. The most difficult part is routing a 1/2" hole for the output jack (have this professionally done if you've never done this before). Other than that, the installation jig is a cinch to use. I am fortunate that the Big Baby is a very well constructed guitar to begin with so the tone from the pick-up was right the first time with no need to experiment. The "Battery Bagg" is much better than LR Baggs' previous "Launch Rocket" (which tended to launch the battery when least expected) and tucks away from sight. The weight difference is slightly noticealbe (due mostly to the 9V battery). All in all, pickup installation was a two-hour affair

Comments: I am very glad that I got the iBeam Active and after nearly ten years of playing guitar, I have a pickup that doesn't offend me every time I plug it in. With my previous LR Baggs Dual Source, I had to compromise between the microphone and the Ribbon Transducer (a good undersaddle, but still quacky). The installation is relatively easy and doesn't require a lot of stuff in the guitar (wheras my old guitar looked like the inside of a radio). I liked the Dual Source better than any Fishman, Ovation, or Markley system and since I like the iBeam Active even more than the Dual Source...
The only thing I miss is onboard control of volume.
I was fortunate that the iBeam Active turned out the way it did -I made my purchasing decision based on written reviews and my previous experience with LR Baggs products. A risk, yes, but worth it.
So, let me digress onto some of what others have said...
I run FOH at a Cincinnati-area coffee house (check it out if you're looking for a place to play http://www.rohsstreetcafe.com and tell Matt O that I sent ya!) and play there every now and then. A few weeks ago, I opened for Paul Guerra and after we'd both finished our sets, he complimented my guitar sound. He hadn't noticed that I was playing a Big Baby and told his brother-in-law that my guitar must have cost at least $2500. When I said "not really," he adjusted his estimate to at least $1200. Then, I told him the cost of the Big Baby and he was mortified. He exclaimed that the pickup sound from the guitar was so good that it didn't match the price for the instrument (nor the pickup, for that matter). Coming from a gigging veteran like Paul, that's quite a compliment.
Another time, different venue, my friend Josh and I were playing and he hadn't noticed that I was playing without a mic'ed guitar. Upon noticing the absence of a microphone, he was astonished because my guitar "sounds so good."
The only way I could imagine going above the iBeam Active would be to get a Taylor with an Expression System. I've yet to compare them side-by-side but when I played an ES-equipped Taylor at Guitar Center, the sound was thrilling and expressive but not so much so to justify such an incredible expenditure of money. For the price of an ES-equipped Taylor, I could have two lower-priced Taylors (Baby, Big Baby, 110, or 214) both equipped with iBeam Actives and still be very satisfied with the tone.
To answer the charge of the critics of the iBeam, please remember that not all pickups will work well in all situations or in all guitars. If you think of the iBeam Active in the same way as a fine microphone, it makes more sense. Certain microphones are great while others are grossly inappropriate. Regardless of what iBeam supporters say, the iBeam Active does have its own character, one which a guitarist may or may not like or may find unsuitable for certain situations (and these situations are already noted on the LR Baggs website).
What I can say without reservation is that the pickup is easy to install, has excellent dynamic range, and sounds particularly good on Taylor Big Babies. Your mileage may vary.
Finally, if you are considering this pickup (or any aspect of acoustic amplification/recording) and are in the Cincinnati area, you can contact me and you can try the iBeam-equipped Big Baby at the aforementioned Rohs Street Cafe to hear, for yourself, the pickup that won the MIPA award for guitar pickups TWO consecutive years in a row. Happy picking!

Pickup features:
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: maton 625c custom ceder top
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: maton ap-5
Other pickups on guitar: emg undersaddle pizzo
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): acoustic rock country bluegrass and finger style
Reason for pickup change: looking for that holy grail of amplified acoustic sound

Perceived output level: not bad depending on placement of pickup
Tone: hollow and brittle
Sonic evaluation: i am a professional muso and have been for 20 years. Like so many of the musos reviews that i have come across we are all serching for that illusive acoustic sound,so being a WORKING muso and getting frustrated with my acoustic sound over the years i have pretty much tried every sort of pickup combination known to man,so when the good folk over at the baggs factory anounced to the guitar playing population of the world of a , and i quote "A REVOLUTION in acoustic sound" i was to make sure that i would try to get my hands on serial no 000000000001. Well i did get me one and after my friendly guitar tech installed the i beam and i had it back in my hot little hands it was time to give my ears the blessing they had been promised, OPPS!!!. Mr Baggs when you release a statement of such epic proportions do you actually listen to your products this pickup could quite be the biggest peice of S@#T i have had the mispleasure of using.Now maybe some of you reading this may think that i dont know nothin or didnt experiment with placement enough or just that im down right pissed, whatever i can only but warn you ,do not buy this pickup, you would be better of spending your hard earned dollars on something more usefull such as a good quality megaphone it would most definatly sound better and you could abuse the baggs people at a much louder volume

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: acoustic everthing this pickup is suitable for paper weight , fly fishing, and a handy baking utensil pretty much anything but amplifing an acoustic guitar .

Comments: i can only hope that the gobblins come in the middle of the night and steal this pickup but leave the guitar. Allas my search continues

Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: santa cruz 000
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: ???????
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level:
Tone:
Sonic evaluation:
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: fingerpicking

Comments: I would like to sell it BUT I DONT DARE.....
I got a McIntyre Acoustic Feather for my National and i regret not having one for my Santa Cruz too.
In a few words
If they were not clever enough to provide more than two adhesive strips for the difficult right spot, tell me? why they should be clever enough to make a nice pickup!!!!