Is this the BEST ACOUSTIC PICKUP? | LR Baggs Anthem Review

[@easykrohn]

Should I keep doing those kinds of review videos in ENGLISH? 🤔 Let me know if you're an English speaker and prefer these in English

[@Tamimzzz]

Yes please

[@richhansen8874]

Yes, great review. Thanks 👍🏻

[@easykrohn]

thanks for your feedback! @@richhansen8874

[@burmy1552]

Yes please, well done.

[@FlowerdyPilllow]

Yes! Please do more in English! Your English is perfect (I am an English teacher so I am a good judge - you don't even have a German accent!) Excellent review, I am about to buy a Dowina and will definitely be having the L.R, Baggas Anthem installed, yours sounds amazing and the choice to blend mic with piezo ia a wondweful thing. Love your playing too, bravo!

[@JohnDoe-xr5is]

I have Anthems in two of my guitars. I like what it says in the manual: When trying to find the right mix between undersaddle and internal mic....set the Anthem to 100% undersaddle, then start changing the mix to add the internal mic. Stop when the undersaddle 'quack' goes away.

[@easykrohn]

Really good advice! I probably should‘ve read the manual 😅

[@07blackdog]

Famous last words.Lol.​@@easykrohn

[@easykrohn]

@@07blackdog 😂😂😂

[@johnduffield3269]

Extremely helpful comparison video and explanation. Brilliant Job.

[@easykrohn]

Glad to hear that :) thank you

[@PlainD]

I'm surprised by how "tinny" the mic alone sounds. I think either the piezo by itself or the blend sounds the best. And yeah, I am an English speaker and prefer these in English. Thanks!

[@easykrohn]

Thanks for your feedback Dave! I actually feel the same way about the mic sound itself. I‘d prefer full piezo over full mic now that I heard it back to back.

[@marctestarossa]

@@easykrohn The mic sounds way more natural, the lack of bass can somewhat be addressed by changing the EQ. But the piezo element of the Anthem sounds really good already. And the microphone isn't meant to be used on its own, that's why it's not built to pick up lots of low frequencies, this is the piezo's job in this setup.

[@borojammin6509]

I have the LR Baggs full Anthem on 2 of my Eastman guitars, and they definitely sound better with more mic and less piezo. Not sure why the recording shows the opposite.

[@williamickes4648]

Like everyone else, I enjoyed this informative video. You answer many of my questions in a simple, clear style. I am guessing that you have spent time, possibly even lived, in an English-speaking country. My four years in Frankfurt, where so many people speak English, French, Spanish, Italian, Serbo-Croat, Romanian (and the list goes on) that my German remained rudimentary, while you on the other hand... Well done at any rate, don't forget your compatriots and keep the German ones coming, but again, thanks for this one!

[@easykrohn]

Thank you so much for your kind feedback! I appreciate it a lot and I‘m glad you found the video helpful! Yes indeed, I did spend some time abroad (UK) for my studies (I was a music major, English minor at university) 😊

[@rmzzz76]

It's all about dialing in the right blend between bridge plate mic and under saddle, one thing that surprised me was how much I actually really just liked the sound of the LR Baggs under saddle tone on its own. Their under saddle technology works a little different than others, not all under saddle transducer pickups are equal and I think Baggs makes the best. Great demo of why many players think the Anthem is the best.

[@easykrohn]

Thank you for your feedback! And I absolutely agree. I actually was expecting the LR Baggs undersattle piezo to sound kind similar to the fishman sonitone. But it sounded way better, even just the piezo on it’s own. So I think you‘re right, there are major differences in those undersattle pickups after all.

[@scottmoreau5630]

It’s a pretty basic undersaddle. It’s not doing anything unique. The Anthem is good though.

[@garytowardmusic]

This is great advice. I have a Fishman on my Taylor and it sounds fine but could be better. BTW your English is perfect. Really enjoyed this video

[@easykrohn]

Thanks Gary! I‘m always worried about my English so I‘m gld to hear that 😄 It‘s all preference… the fishman for sure isn‘t a bad pickup and it could be better suited for the taylor. Just comes down what kind of sound you want :)

[@odomodometer]

Installed an Anthem on my d18 recently and I agree, it’s the best acoustic pickup I’ve ever used

[@jazzup13]

Great video! Thank you for the clear comparison! 👍

[@easykrohn]

Thanks for your kind feedback! 🙏🏼

[@gwoodtones]

Thank you for this nice demonstration! I just found out about this pickup system and was looking for some videos and found yours here. Real nice shootout. Personally I really don't like a piezo sound. Especially when finger picking... I prefer 100bprocent the mic sound but I think a combination would be useful in som conditions... I think it is quite an expensive thing ... and you only have that mic sound... plus the piezo sound. For live playing I think it is worth it's price. For recording I still prefer to experiment with different mics and positions.

[@easykrohn]

Thanks for ypur feedback. Glad you found this helpful! I‘d always prefer an external mic in a studio recording setting, too. I think the „best solution“ always depends heavily on your needs and circumstances and also on your style of playing. Since I play live a lot, this pickup serves me well :)

[@EternalRecursion]

I am of the opinion that the K&K PowerMix system is the best pickup system for performance. The combination of the Pure Pickup (bridge-plate sensors) and the FanTaStick under-saddle piezo is similar in concept to the Anthem, but the K&K PowerMix XT (external) preamp has separate gain, bass, mid and treble controls for each pickup, and separate volume controls for each, so each can be eq'd without the other being on, and then the blend can be determined as one wishes. Additionally, the preamp allows either a blended output, or separate outputs for effects or whatever. However, the Anthem is a great pickup.

[@brianrenenielsen923]

Thanks for sharing.. The sound really becomes ”Three Dimensional” with the Anthem in Blend mode.. I’m defiantly sold to the anthem idea.. And Hey… your English is absolutely great 😊 so keep this great videos coming 😅

[@easykrohn]

@@brianrenenielsen923 thanks so much for your feedback! 🙏🏼 Will do :)

[@joedzekevich2407]

I have four guitars with the K&K Pure Mini passive pickups. Then when I had the Martin Custom Shop build a guitar for me, I had them put in the LR Baggs Anthem. I very much like both systems., The K&K Pure Mini pickups are three transducers that attach to the inside bridge plate and for passive pickups, are pretty high output. For the LR Baggs, I like a blend of 20% piezo and 80% mic. You did a very nice comparison video.

[@easykrohn]

Thanks for your feedback! I hadn‘t heard about K&K pure minis yet but sounds interesting. Do they come with specific brands of guitars? Or did you specifically choose them for those four guitars of yours?

[@joedzekevich2407]

Most folks install them into acoustic guitars that did not have pickups. So they are usually an after market pickup. The three transducers mount to the underneath bridge plate, so the pick up vibrations directly from the top. Very natural sounding and being passive, no feedback. K&K also has a line of preamps, but I find they pickups work great straight into an amp or PA.@@easykrohn

[@easykrohn]

@@joedzekevich2407 thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@joedzekevich2407]

You are welcome. @@easykrohn

[@juana1483]

Which one do you prefer? If applicable? Lol

[@jerryfrench2981]

I have couple of Martins & have the Anthems installed in them. I have a lot of Taylors (too many) & whilst the expression 2 are OK the sound out of the Anthems is much nicer. I'm seriously thinking of replacing the expression 2 on a couple of my guitars. I tend to blend a little more to the mic.

[@easykrohn]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 🙏🏼

[@adnap]

@adnap 0 seconds ago I own a Taylor T5z and I installed an LR Baggs anthem in it. It only has one hole drilled for the output jack, and two tiny holes for the piezo. Anything is possible with a little imagination. 😉

[@melvintanchannel]

oh thanks for this video..so good... I am considering a Martin 00015M now with LR Baggs Anthem.... ur video helped thank u so much and u deserve 10k subs!!!! keep on producing! new subscriber here!

[@easykrohn]

Thanks so much Melvin! I appreciate your kind feedback, that’s what motivates me to do more of these videos. I‘m glad this was helpful to you :)

[@rickhanna2606]

New subscriber here,watching ALOT of videos on pickups,yours was excellent,i perfer English because i dont speak German,and i have to say your humility came through on camera, so rare these days,i wish you much continued success and thank you

[@easykrohn]

Thanks so much for your kind words! Glad you found this helpful :)

[@zematynnad]

Sounds very similar to my 2002 Fisher stereo prefix blender which has a mic and piezo. I sometimes have to use a feedback buster if stage volume is loud. Great video, yes, please continue.

[@easykrohn]

Thanks so mich for your kind feedback! 🙏🏼

[@kauaikid1]

I'm now going to have an Anthem installed in my Larrivee D-05 next week after watching your video and two others. I loved the mic and the blended versions best!

[@easykrohn]

Oh wow cool! I'm glad the video helped with your decision :)

[@borojammin6509]

Like you, I chose the full Anthem based on friends' recommendations, observing professional musicians and researching online reviews. My Eastman AC422CE came with a LR Baggs Element pickup, which is an undersaddle transducer (UST). I changed it to the Anthem and love it. I also have an Eastman AC222CE that came with a Fishman Sonitone. Also changed it out to the full Anthem for a huge improvement in sound quality. I have an inexpensive guitar (Eastman PCH1-D) that I use for travel (not humidity sensitive). It didn't come with a pickup, so I installed the Eastman Element (removed from the AC422CE) in it. Some things about the Anthem: Since it has an onboard prepamp, it does not need an external preamp as some pickups do. Even with the knob turned all the way to "mic," the Anthem still picks up some low frequencies from the undersaddle transducer (so using a LR Baggs Lyric is not equivalent). The full Anthem has a battery indicator, so you won't run out of battery power during a gig. To most people, turning the knob in the "mic" position sounds best...but if you are playing live and get feedback through the mic, turn the knob to the UST position, which is much less feedback sensitive. I recommend the LR Baggs Anthem pickup.

[@easykrohn]

Thank you for your detailed review! Glad to hear other musicians are as happy with the LR Baggs as me :)

[@markola]

Worth it!! I have them in all 3 of my guitars. It just makes any guitar sound like it’s natural tone. Great demo!

[@easykrohn]

Thank you! Yeah I absolutely think so too :)

[@halfbakedmunky5566]

No, it doesn't. It's not even close to a natural sound. The piezo is like any other piezo and the mic is honky and feedback easily. It also depends how you play the guitar.

[@richhansen8874]

This was graat to see. Um currently looking at a Klōs carbon fiber 12 string and it has the Anthem system as a pickup option. I can confidently say after this review that it would be a great option. Thanks!

[@easykrohn]

Glad I could help with this little video 😊

[@marctestarossa]

Cool to see that you actually done it

[@easykrohn]

Unfortunately you couldn't buy this one without the pick up. That would've been a better option indeed...

[@fredflinstone3173]

Sounds great! I just recently discovered you from your comparison video between this Martin and the GS mini. I was impressed enough to then discover your music videos, which are fantastic…subscribed. I don’t really use it (because I’m a closet player), but I have a K&K mini in one of my guitars and I find it to be amazingly accurate to the acoustic tone of the guitar. By the way, I just love your genuine, down to earth vibe. Let us know if you ever make it to Austin Texas for a gig, I’d love to come see you perform. All the best!

[@easykrohn]

Thank you so much for your kind feedback! 🙏🏼 Yes, I have heard a lot of good things about der K&K mini by now. I‘d love to give that one a try someday. Will definitely let you know, I‘d be an absolute dream to play shows in the US but it seems to be quite hard for Europeans to make that possible. Still, I definitely wanna try to make that happen 😊

[@JohnSantosuosso]

For me the undersaddle alone was a bit too muted could use some brightness, but I did like the warmth. On the other hand, the microphone was all brightness and no warmth. So I would probably go with with 60% saddle and 40% microphone. A little more warmth than 50/50 gives. But that is the beauty of having that kind of flexibility. We each have our own preferences. Well done highlighting the differences.

[@easykrohn]

@@JohnSantosuosso thank you so much for your feedback! Yes that‘s what I love about it. You can blend it however you want 😊

[@bbalestier]

You now have a new Fan, Got you on my Spotify. Beautiful Voice A+

[@easykrohn]

@@bbalestier oh thank you so much! That means a lot, original music obviously is a huge passion project so it totally makes my day whenever somebody new finds my songs on Spotify :)

[@bbalestier]

@@easykrohn Keep up the great work!

[@aaron.debattista]

Your English is immaculate. Wonderful video. Well done!

[@easykrohn]

Oh thank you so much! I appreciate that 😊🙏🏼

[@Dave-rk2nl]

Fantastic sound, Thanks...and good playing.

[@easykrohn]

Thank you! 😊

[@silvel2edge]

Great comparison. I want to get an Anthem as well for a Martin I’m getting.

[@easykrohn]

Glad this helped :) I think that‘s a good choice

[@jay64j]

Great vid, valuable, thanks! A few ideas come to mind from my experience with this kind of thing. Piezo style (quality, type) and placement can make a lot of difference. Whilst a high quality piezo PU under the bridge gives sharp responsiveness and high output, it also tends to give that twang. I hate the twang! Having a piezo also in tbe body, on a strut across the back ideally part way between bridge and soundhole, to pick up the air and depth is great to mix with the other bridge PU. And tben, a low quality piezo tbere, like an old telephone one set in glue stick glue, can give the mix even more roundness. This way, no need for that mic in the mix, which i don't think is good quality, and is kinda fighting tbe piezo rather than truly complementing in that Anthem set up.

[@easykrohn]

Thanks for your feedback on the topic! I agree with you, there can be huge differences between certain piezos and I do like some of them. I actually also like the piezo sound of the Anthem way better than the fishman piezo sound that I had prior. I personally really like the mic that comes with the Anthem but that’s all personal preference of course :)

[@brianintexas1108]

I really hope you read my comment. I think i can really help. if you want to dial in the best sound, put an EQ pedal in your signal chain. Such as a Boss EQ-200 (11 band) or a GE7 (7 band). A microphone or piezo system just transfers the sound of your guitar to the amplifier using different methods. If you want to shape the sound you need an EQ. I hope this helps.

[@easykrohn]

@@brianintexas1108 didn‘t know that I needed help but thanks anyway for sharing your thoughts 😅 In this video I wanted to give an unfiltered impression of what the pick up sounds like without any EQ, just completely dry per DI. As you said, you can and probably should use an EQ to modify your sound afterwards. I do agree with that.

[@davidadkins2563]

Thanks for the review,, made me decide that isn’t the one I want,,..I’m thinking about the k&k rare earth blend.

[@easykrohn]

That’s fine, glad this helped with the decision :)

[@johnsugden1073]

I’m putting in a Baggs element eas vtc active in mine. I preferred the anthem just piezo sound alone. For me the blend was too much sound. Certainly a big upgrade than the Fishman. I am gigging with it at this stage and it’s ok but hoping Baggs will enhance the sound. I want to use Fishman box to house the barrel and the battery.

[@easykrohn]

@@johnsugden1073 sounds like a good plan! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@lydandrick]

Hi Easy - I switched to the Anthem Baggs Anthem just last week also! It was so good in my new Guild 512E maple 12-string, that I changed to it in my 6-string too! It was easy to install too! A great improvement for the more acoustic sound that I was looking for. Rick from "Lydia & Rick"

[@easykrohn]

Oh cool! What a coincidence 😊 Happy to hear you enjoy the LR Baggs Anthem as much as I do! What did your guitars have installed before you switched?

[@lydandrick]

@@easykrohn Hi Easy - nice to hear back from you. Yes, that was a crazy coincidence! My 6-string is a very old Aria "lawsuit edition" hummingbird (1972). While not extremely valuable, it is rare, as it was originally made as an exact duplicate of the Gibson - thus the lawsuit. LOL Many years ago, I installed in it a Martin Thinline "under-saddle" pick-up. While it sounded awesome in live performances, I was not happy with it as I started recording KZbin videos with Lydia. I describe it as sounding too "electric". The sound of my recent new Guild 12-string with the LR Baggs Anthem encouraged me to give it a try. While it is MUCH, MUCH better, I am currently working on a new video where I still use an additional mic in front of the guitar to capture that unique sound that I am sometimes looking for (especially for a current project). On a side note - it might be fun to do a video together with you some day, as our harmonies might sound very good together. Plus, there are certainly a numerous variety of potential instruments available to utilize. I'm just not sure (or experienced enough yet) as to how we could meld a video together across the pond. But it sounds like fun and it may help promote each others channel. Just an ongoing thought as I have yet to try something like that.

[@easykrohn]

Hey Rick! Oh very interesting to hear about that. Yes, I think it‘s one thing for live performances on stage and another thing for recordings for videos or like an actual recording for an album. I would always choose to record with a mic in front of the guitar rather than using the pickup if possible. Sometimes it’s not possible though, for example if you‘re recording in the same room with drums. Then you just get drums on that mic and should rather use the pickup since that one barely will pick up anything other than the guitar itself. But yeah, good to hear you‘re trying new things for the best possible sound! And yes, would love to do a video with you guys someday. I‘m not a fan of putting separate videos together into one… that always feels so unpersonal…I would rather play with you in the same room. I know that’s hard to do but maybe one day we can make that happen! I sure hope this day will come :) (btw where are you guys located exactly?)

[@lydandrick]

@@easykrohn Hi Easy, I just replied by e-mail. Let me know if you didn't get it. Rick

[@emilloffler1216]

I own a Martin HD28 with an LR Baggs Anthem fitted. And I prefer the blend selection for live playing. But for recording I prefer using the piezo on it's own.

[@easykrohn]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic!

[@Stringbean421]

Great video. I currently have two guitars with a luthier who is fitting the LR Baggs Anthem. By the way, your English is very good indeed.

[@easykrohn]

@@Stringbean421 thanks so much for your feedback! Is this the first time you‘ll be playing with LR Baggs Systems in your guitars?

[@Stringbean421]

@ Yes it is.🙂

[@sunjamrblues]

Great video, thanks for delving into the world of acoustic pickups. Your english is so perfect that I - a native english speaker - would not know that you weren't also a native english speaker. But now days english is the most commonly spoken 2nd language, so to reach a wider audience, it would make sense for you to produce your videos in english.

[@easykrohn]

Thank you so much! 🙏🏼 all those comments about my English make me so happy since I always think I can be easily spotted as a non native speaker 😅 Glad you got something out of the video as well!

[@bradleyrm]

Your English and playing technique are exceptional, keep up the good work!

[@easykrohn]

@@bradleyrm thanks so much 🙏🏼

[@alexraia1377]

This pickup is great! But be aware it is very sensitive and can easily be damaged if you’re rough on your guitars. With that said, if you do damage the pickup, you can get LR Baggs to repair it for you for cheap.

[@emilloffler1216]

I also find that the Piezo select is a better sound than the mic select.

[@robertahli3738]

You speak english quite well...i am often in Germany most ppl there dont speak a lot

[@easykrohn]

thank you so much! I studied English in university as my minor subject so I guess I do have an advantage there compared to most Germans 😅

[@robertahli3738]

I ordered same guitar and might do the same pickup wise...was on a market for smaller guitar for a long time and out of all guitars its sounded the best in my opinion..and to get all solid wood handcrafted guitar for such price is unbelivable

[@11000038]

The piezo alone is pretty good. The mic sounds very thin. Combined I'm not sure the mic adds anything good but my listening kit isn't good and you could find that in the room is different. Don't be afraid to have strong opinions and to share them. It's what we want. Just as important is your nice playing and demeanor. Have you done a video on the bluesy tune? I'd watch that.

[@easykrohn]

I agree with you, the most "sound" is coming from the piezo. The mic alone sounds super thin and "tinny" but I do think when you blend it together, the mic adds some nice brilliance to the highs and the piezo still gives it the fullness in the lows. I feel like at the time I recorded this video I was a little over excited about the pick up. There are more pickups out there that are just as good or even better than this one. But also there really is no "better". It's just all preference. I'm still happy with this pickup in this guitar but I am excited to try out new things as well :)

[@easykrohn]

Oh and as for that bluesy tune - I think I learned this tune from another video on KZbin myself probably like 10 years ago and I actually just found it again! It's called "Rockin all over the world Acoustic Version Guitar Lesson by Siggi Mertens". If you type this into the search bar that video should pop right up :)

[@nfn16076]

Great review. pS your English is impeccable. Thank you.

[@easykrohn]

@@nfn16076 thank you so much!

[@garlandlabat4922]

Beautiful demo, thanks!

[@CoachVincFM]

Perfect video 🎸🙏 Merci ✨ I want to mount it on my D41 Reimagined 😊

[@easykrohn]

That‘s a great guitar! And I think that pickup would serve it well! 👍🏼

[@dartht.3736]

I'm putting one in a guitar that is an Ephiphone. My Martin DR Jr is an inexpensive guitar but plays well above it;'s cost. When you find one like that you don't care if your add ons cost more - if they sound great. That's how Guitar folks work!!

[@easykrohn]

Couldn't agree more!

[@paulrenevos]

I have the Anthem SL in my Gibson J45. The mic sound does have this metallic tinny kind of sound. However with the Anthem (not SL) you should be able to change the cross over frequency between the Piezo and Mic too. I would love to see someone experiment with changes to that X-over freq. To see if you can eliminate both Piezo Quack and mic tinny sound entirely. I guess I'll have to swap my Anthem SL for a full (much more expensive) Anthem myself to find out 😞

[@easykrohn]

That’s true, the mic does have the tinny sound. In my opinion if you get the blend between mic and piezo right, you can get a good mix of the piezo low end without the twang and the nice high frequencies of the mic. By „adjusting the cross over frequency“ do you mean the phase button?

[@jellyfishinterrupted8085]

@@easykrohn no I think I read somewhere that the SL has the piezo always on and you add the mic sound over the top of it. So with the mic sound maxed there is still piezo sound ‘underneath’. With the normal Anthem I heard the mix knob works different, with a cross over filter in the mix knob. So with the mix knob turned to piezo all frequencies are carried by the piezo and mix knob set to mic all frequencies are carried by the mic only if that makes sense.

[@easykrohn]

@@jellyfishinterrupted8085 oh I see! That actually makes sense. For the normal Anthem that I have, I was pretty sure the knob was either all the way mic or all the way piezo and then however you wanted to mix them inbetween. So I can confirm that. A friend of mine recently got a new guitar with the SL and I was wondering what the difference was besides one knob less. Now that makes sense. Has to be cheaper for a reason I guess. But I think that one still sounds great…

[@jellyfishinterrupted8085]

@@easykrohn yes the SL definitely sounds ‘good enough’ for sure, especially at that price. I do find myself notching out some frequencies on it with an EQ to get it from an 8 out of 10 to a 9. I suspect it’s just easier to get the normal anthem to sound optimal

[@erou_al_munciisocialiste7665]

At the final price of the guitar I would have bought another brand Yamaha LS-TA. You would have also had the transacoustic on and the A:R.E treatment

[@widmarkeloo6812]

I thought the undersaddle sounded the best having a nicer tone to it. Adding a little microphone to the mix might make it sound even better. Great video!

[@easykrohn]

Thank you for your feedback! I appreciate it :)

[@tommc49]

Your review was helpful as I am considering changing pickup in my old Taylor. You English is very good. I enjoyed your playing as well. Well done. What amp was used in the video?

[@easykrohn]

Thank you! Glad the video helped. I did not use any kind of amp. Just the straight DI (Direct Input) from my guitar to my audio interface.

[@brianyin1]

Nice sound! I am just curious how it sounds with percussions on the guitar.

[@stephensmith60]

I think that combination sounds great! You also play very well! Do you happen to recall what Strings are on your guitar? I also have a Martin and I've been wanting to explore a pick-up system for it. Again - this one seems to work very well! BTW - your English is Perfect'! I'm American and I wouldn't have even questioned your English. Thanks for the video! 😊👏🏻🥂. P.S. I imagine that you had to have the height of the Saddle lowered, correct?

[@easykrohn]

Thanks for your encouraging comment! I appreciate it very much 😊 Yes I do recall what strings were on - I always use the Elixir Nanoweb Light Phosphor Bronze 12-53. They are on the more expensive side but I love them to the core. About the lowered saddle - I could imagine they took a little bit off to make up for few millimeters the piezo band pushes it upwards but I couldn’t tell you for sure… the luthier who put it in didn’t tell me about all the specific steps…

[@stephensmith60]

@@easykrohn Ahh. Thanks for replying to me. Those are the exact Strings I just recently switch to on my acoustics. They sound very clear and bright. I would imagine that they must have adjusted the saddle, otherwise you should have noticed it. Thanks. I couldn't really tell which sound I liked better in your review; but I'm sure that they both sound good. I guess it would depend on what type of playing you would be doing at any particular time. So - I only just found your channel. I did subscribe, and I can't wait to watch/listen to more of your content. Thanks again! 😊🥂. Best wishes!

[@alanduncan9762]

Sounds amazing

[@bbalestier]

Thank you so very much... 🙏

[@stilllifeproductions5017]

Thanks for this! Have you tried the new Baggs HiFi Duet, which I think is a similar concept?

[@easykrohn]

@@stilllifeproductions5017 not yet, I‘d love to try that one!

[@steeler3258]

Thanks for the video. What does the phase button do?

[@marctestarossa]

The phase button inverts the phase of the guitar output. It can happen (especially with pickup systems with multiple sound sources) that the phase of the signal through the amp and the actual phase of the vibration of the guitar string cancel each other out. This will have an impact on the sound. You should try out which of the both settings sounds better every time you set up. Usually one of them will sound fuller with the other setting having several frequencies cancelling each other out resulting in a less full tone.

[@CoachVincFM]

Perfect video 🎸🙏 Merci ✨

[@burmy1552]

These pickups don't sound bad but I feel that the atmosfeel pickup in my Yamaha FGX5 has a much better tone. It has a bridge piezo, body piezo, and a mic. I can blend between mic and piezo and have the added advantage of a bass/treble control. The FGX3 has almost all the same specs as the 5 and is $600 cheaper putting it at around $1100USD. This is slightly less in price to the Martin you are playing with the pickup and in my opinion has a much better sound. You also have the advantage that the batteries are much easier to change on the Yamaha as there is an external bay as opposed to the internally mounted battery on the LR baggs.

[@easykrohn]

Thanks for that! I didn’t about that kind of pickup. I can see this pickup has some advantages to the LR baggs. Especially the tone control and batterie situation. I personally chose the martin not for the pickup but because of its great acoustic sound. And (secondly) because it’s a small body guitar and I like those :) that’s all personal preference though. I‘m sure the Yamaha has a lot to offer as well :)

[@burmy1552]

You can't go wrong with a Martin. I just think that they are very expensive for what you get. The Yamahas have excellent tone and features for the money. Plus, Yamaha has so many different models. @@easykrohn

[@enabledintergers9372]

the microphone sound sold me!!!

[@JakeVsJayk]

Thanks so much for the review! If you have a moment, could you tell me what your signal chain was for the Anthem? Was that just a direct feed, or is there processing? Thanks!

[@easykrohn]

No processing! Just direct input into my interface 😉

[@JakeVsJayk]

@@easykrohn thanks so much! The sound that the Anthem produces isn’t perfect, but the mic gives you the transients and natural wood resonance that a piezo simply can’t reproduce, and I’ve heard worse sound out of an sm57 before doing any eq work to it. I imagine it can be molded into something quite pleasing to the ear in a live setting

[@easykrohn]

@@JakeVsJayk oh for sure! With just a little EQ it can sound really good. I just wanted to share an untouched sound example :)

[@bbalestier]

Great choice A+

[@noel_leon_music]

It sounds great. My only question is can you play it live with a band? I've heard even the guy that makes these pickups say it doesn't really work when drums are involved

[@easykrohn]

As far as my experience goes, absolutely you can play it live! You could take a look at my „Sleigh Ride“ cover video if you wanted to hear how it sounds. We did a whole band live recording with this guitar after the pickup was installed. I think it sounds great in a live recording even with drums in the same room 😊

I really like the sound of the LR Baggs Anthem, however, I am experiencing very low output levels with it in my Lakewood M32. Need to use a Fishman Tone AFX DEQ as a Preamp to lift the signal before going into my PA...are you also experiencing this with your system?

[@easykrohn]

Thanks for your input on the topic! It does have a lower output than my Taylor GS Mini, that’s the only reference I have tbh. But it’s never been to low of an output to work with. For me the output volume is pretty solid 💁🏻‍♀️

[@easykrohn]

That being said - funnily enough I do use the same Fishman pre amp on stage as well for all of my acoustics 😅 but I don‘t „have to“ use it for boosting the output. I just happen to have it on my board 😄

[@borojammin6509]

The LR Baggs Anthem does have a relatively low output compared to other active pickups, so you do need more gain (like turn up the amp!).

[@rickeydenler4272]

You should of had gone with just the LR Baggs Lyrica because the microphone picks up the true sound of the guitar like nothing else that's what I have in my talor Mini and I love it no feedback problems playing live everybody tells me how great this guitar sounds everywhere I play I've got the Fishman blend in a nice sea gull acousticI don't like it near as well the K&K is pretty good for a strip but nothing compares to the lr baggs microphone in .y humble opinion i only pais 200 dollars for mine even though they have sent up to 240 dollarz since 2014

[@easykrohn]

Thanks for your contribution! I bet the Lyrica is a great choice as well. In the end it’s all preference, I like to blend the piezo with the mic. Some people might just like the mic by itself. If this is the right pick up for you then that’s great!

[@borojammin6509]

The thing about the Anthem is...when playing live, you can get feedback through the internal microphone, and I have found that turning the mix to the piezo can often eliminate the feedback. Piezo is less sensitive to feedback than the mic.

[@brustar64]

I'm thinking about getting of these for my 88 model Maton. How difficult is it to change the battery? Do you have to loosen or remove any strings to get to it? How long does the battery last?

[@easykrohn]

It is kind of difficult to change the battery since it is located inside the body with no external access. BUT it does last a long time. I usually just swap it out when I change my strings. Sometimes not even everytime I change strings but every other time cause it’s still full. Thankfully the LR Baggs does have an indicator to show you how full the battery is. As for the Maton - I was always impressed with Maton pickups. But I don’t know how they differ with different Maton models. I might just have seen/heard the good ones. If it doesn’t sound good to you of course you can think about swapping it out for another one :)

[@krzysztofnowinski3952]

Hello . Ive Got Taylor mini koa and I dont like soundof pickup. For me even Martin SM with sonitune sounds better.

[@easykrohn]

Hey, that’s interesting! I have a Taylor GS mini Koa as well. I think the pickup sounds quite good. At least one of the better ones I’ve heard. Do you have the ES-B pickup in yours or do you habe the ES-2 pickup? If you don’t like it, would you consider to seitch it out for an LR Baggs?

[@krzysztofnowinski1820]

@@easykrohn This is the newest 4-stroke pickup. But this sound is so thin. I personally prefer piezo and a fat sound. I use the Line 6 HX Stomp multi-effect and I like playing with sounds. Personally, the Maton Mini has the perfect sound for me, but it's too expensive for me. By the way, I can trade guitars with a certain man. I'll give him Taylor Mini Koa and he'll give me Martin Shown Mendez. We both think we'll make a great deal.

[@pedrosolorzano1]

What about the LR Baggs M80? thanks.

[@easykrohn]

@@pedrosolorzano1 oh yeah! I see those a lot and from what I’ve heard I honestly think they’re not bad either! I‘ve never really played one of them myself so I don’t have a well built opinion about it just now. But I hope I can test one of those out myself some day soon.

[@11000038]

Your English is better than mine and I'm UK born and bred.

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

Your English is alot better than both of my hairliped girl friends.

[@burmy1552]

Maybe it's the hair on their lips?

[@ondrejsekera385]

Hi! I am looking for something of good quality at a good price. Will this be my favorite? What do you think...

[@easykrohn]

I don‘t know if it‘ll be your favorite. You gotta listen to a few pickups and decide for yourself 😉

[@TodorKadic]

just microphone sound not very bright .Just Piezo sound amazing.

[@BJJandBS]

Do you prefer this guitar to the GS Mini now?

[@easykrohn]

@@BJJandBS i don’t generally prefer one over the other. They have different qualities. I prefer the martin acoustically, for studio recordings for example. I prefer the GS mini when playing live with my loop pedals because the GS Mini pick up handels percussive sounds way better than the LR Baggs. When playing live without my looper I kind of decide day by day which one I wanna play :)

[@BJJandBS]

@ which would you say sounds better without the pickup? Like sounds more like a full sized guitar and well balance? Full sound

[@easykrohn]

@ definitely the Martin!

[@windfinder1015]

Verstehe nicht, warum die bestehende Klinkenbuchse nicht verwendet wurde ...

[@easykrohn]

Gute frage, hätte ich auch schöner gefunden aber vermute es war schlicht mehr arbeit…

[@marcdubois8601]

KnK pure mini

[@joesegretto6689]

Tk40 . Takamine

[@anip1259]

You speak better English than i do and am English 😅.

[@easykrohn]

😅😅 I‘m not sure about that but - thanks 😄

[@theguitargalaxy3193]

The mic on the Baggs is awful & the under saddle is very weak & unnatural.. I've tried most quality pickups available in most top brand guitars on the market as I have to install/un-install so many pickup systems (guitar luthier) the most natural & dynamic sounding by far that I've ever heard is the Maton ApMic (newer version is AP5 Pro - which is not so good - weaker signal & mic not so natural) & the AER AK-15 Plus is superb.. Baggs are so far behind from the league of sound quality of the two I mention above.. I play live all the time too & I highly urge you to try the Maton ApMic & AER AK-15.. they are both truly astounding sounding pickup/preamp systems.. The ApMic is for Matons only but the AER AK-15 (or Lily) will fit any Martin guitar & both are fabulous..

[@easykrohn]

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I have heard good things about the maton pickups indeed but I never found one I could order by itself. I thought they only come on maton guitars…

[@theguitargalaxy3193]

@easykrohn You're very welcome & yes I did mention in my original comment that Maton pickups will only for Maton guitars (unless you do some major work to the bridge area it is possible, but not worth it as may as well just buy a Maton than modify a guitar to make it fit) you can buy the Maton pickups separately (I have two in stock at the moment - for myself) but the AER AK-15 or Lily One are great for all other guitars.. though the Maton preamp & mic are absolutely at the top of their game for genuine reproduction of the most natural & powerful sounding acoustic guitar pickups ever made at the moment.. If you get the chance to try one with a good amp or PA, I think you will be very impressed with the sound quality.. Baggs even make an acoustic guitar EQ pedal to help adjust the sound of their Anthem (as they know themselves that it's not that great on it's own) & in complete honesty, not even their EQ pedal helps it get anywhere near close the the sound quality of the Maton ApMic (AP5Pro is the newer - not so good version) or AER AK-15 or Lily One.. I've literally used live, installed & uninstalled (for myself & customers) 100's of great pickups from BBand, K&K, Barbera, L.R.Baggs, Schatten (these are very good too), Taylor, Martin, Fishman (the Presys is very good - Matrix is awful), Takamine etc.. the list goes on.. & honestly, the Maton & AER are way ahead of the rest for sound quality & natural tone.. Ps. I don't work for or am sponsored by any company, so I am giving a completely honest opinion from being both a guitar luthier who is also a gigging musician.. Once you have a great pickup installed & have a good ear for EQ on your mixer through a good PA system like RCF, QSC, Yamaha, EV or AER then you'll be in tone heaven.. 😊

[@By-Fun-Jokes-Guitars]

German also okay 👍 👌 🎉😂 or English what ever for me ...

[@liberalsrmentallyflawed3611]

The Anthem is not the best LR Baggs pickup... The Hifi is better and the Duet makes the Anthem very obsolete..

[@halfbakedmunky5566]

Nah, not a good pickup. The LR Baggs piezo sounds the same as the Fishman, just a bit EQ'd, and the mic is honky and unnatural. Blended is ok but not great. The Cole Clark PG3 is the best pickup on the market. I've used the LR Baggs a few times and they were terrible. Feedback, thin sounding, mic wasn't adding anything. They are worthless in a live setting at a decent volume.

[@easykrohn]

It all comes down to personal preference. Some people love a guitar sound that I hate and the other way around. I appreciate your feedback though.

[@jimsatola3397]

I am a big fan of LR Baggs 5.0 ukulele pickups, so I figure I would like the Anthem too. At the beginning, you speak of the kind of acoustic pickups where you cut a big hole in the side of the guitar. Put simply, in my view, those are just an abomination. One, the fact of cutting a big hole in the rosewood or mahogany is just horrible. I would never do it. Period. Second, pretty much NO ONE HAS EVER done a review saying “wow, these cheap-ass tone and volume sliders really pick up and enhance the nuanced acoustic sound.” Other commenters can insult me all they want, but as the owner and player of over 20 high-end guitars (mostly Martin, Gibson, and many classic National and Dobro resonators, plus a 100-year old Weissenborn - admittedly, these are not amplified), 35 very high-end ukuleles (really, the “top of the top” instruments, all amplified with either an LR Baggs 5.0 piezo, or what is essentially a custom K&K Aloha Twin under-soundboard transducer), and a couple “kind of higher-end” mandolins, I know a bit about instruments with refined sound ability, . . . and the fans of “cut a big hole in the side of the instrument, to make it a ‘plug in’ instrument” are more-or-less extolling the virtues of what to me is the equivalent of an “8-Track Player” in the acoustic amplification world. (Yeah, I’m old enough to well-recall “8-Tracks.” IYKYK).

[@easykrohn]

Wow thanks for sharing your thoughts here in the comments. I definitely agree when it comes to cutting holes into an instrument. Unfortunately some guitars come out if the factory with those side pre amps installed and there’s no way to not have that installed. But if you can decide I‘d always go for the soundhole nobs. Also glad you agree on the quality of the Lr Baggs. I‘m still very happy with it 😊