L.R. Baggs M80 Review

In this video, Gear World's Paul Riario demonstrates the features of the M80, a new magnetic pickup with full range 3D body sensitivity, from L.R. Baggs.

[@MrErdner]

I think it sounds outstanding. It doesn't sound like a "pure" acoustic guitar with a mic near the soundhole, but it sounds really, really good. It definitely sounds better than most piezo equipped acoustic/electrics. Maybe some folks need to learn to evaluate the sound of any piece of gear based simply on how good or bad it sounds, and not how it doesn't sound exactly identical to something else.

[@tabodee]

Just got the M80 to replace my Seymour Duncan SA1. (Had that pickup for 30 years and loved it but the bracket broke on it, so it was time to upgrade.) I started with the M1, but not knowing the battery life would drive me crazy, and no passive option on the pickup forced me to go with the M80. Now, after playing it for a while I hear a conspicuous, occasional click while strumming. I checked and I am not forcing the strings to the pole pieces. Have you experienced this, and if so, is there a remedy? I didn’t try it in the passive mode yet. Sure would have been nice to put the switch near the volume control.

[@AlexPriceMusician]

Leave it to Guitar World to make an awesome pickup sound like crap.

[@dbo4506]

Haha legit it sounded rubbish here

[@Aston6Speed]

Paul's specialty is definitely acoustic guitars! Guitar World should keep him doing acoustic and have another player for electric reviews!

[@dannykihoalu]

I'm hearing that too-it sounds to me like an overloaded preamp rather than the pickup itself.

[@John-wr6yo]

Very nice pickup. But the sound hole must be large enough for it to fit in the sound hole. I did not fit my martin ooo 18 ,so i put a k and k in it.

[@pebrito]

Hi, congrs to video. What strings u use? niquel(eletric guitar) or bronze (acoustic guitar)? Thx

[@AlexPriceMusician]

Search Daniel Voth if you want a real example of what this pickup sounds like.

[@kayuilee3665]

Very nice sound. Did you though the DI box ?

[@Anvanho]

Hi Paul, very nice informative video - Thanks! What I especially am hoping I can find [in this] is: I do a lot of harmonics in my playing (5th fret; 7th fret; 12th fret); Could you tell me, will this device transmit a reasonably faithful play of harmonics? Thanks! - Michael

[@swrbassamp]

Is it adjustable for smaller hole guitars? I have a parlour guitar I'd like to put it on, I'd use my old Shadow SH330, but it's too big...

[@brookeclover7329]

Does the soundhole pickup do anything when unplugged?

[@reubenmeicke]

Is it just me, or does it sound like crap when he is strumming? I think an acoustic is better miked any day, but this pickup gets dirty strummed. It sounds good flat picking, but strumming is crap.

[@vKarl71]

Are they using some kind of compression on this recording? It sounds much less like a real guitar here than the Baggs M1 as demo'd (much better) on another video. Sounds weirdly like a good piezo.

[@shayamaddex996]

vKarl71 KZbin cuts the audio quality to nearly unacceptable levels.

[@maumex]

Hi! I have a Taylor 110e. Would you recommend replacing it pickup with one of these? Or is it similar quality? Any recommendation? Thanx!

[@paddykaye9218]

Yo the 110e picks up REALLY impressively as is. Especially with the ability to pull the bass tone down. I wouldn't recommend replacement unless you're looking for a more electric sounding tone to manipulate with distortion and stuff.

[@xtremeboy851]

what is m80's the battery type and series sir?

[@ariakiss]

It sounds like a semi hollow electric guitar. it would be wonderful in a loud band setting to cut through while still sounding a little more 'acoustic'. this sounds like he is running this pickup through an electric guitar amp. I had an old Bill Lawrence soundhole pickup which this reminds me.

[@reubenmeicke]

I listened to this on headphones, and strummed, it breaks up and it sounds like crap.

[@tyduswadkins11]

I thought I heard some weird noises so I also put in ear buds and this literally sounds terrible. Why are people talking it up on KZbin. “Hey guys go spend 300 dollars and then regret it immediately”

[@JesseDylanMusic]

What kind of guitar is that? Doesn't have the right pickguard to be a J-35 or J-29, but it doesn't have the abalone soundhole rosette of the J-15, does it?

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Jesse Watson And doesn't have the bridge of any of them either

[@RUMTAGfreak]

This sound is not the sound of only pickup surely. Sound that was recorded by the microphone is included in this quality.

[@RofaelNano]

M80 vs Mag Mic? Which one is better?

[@reboot2975]

I'd pick Mag Mic

[@chasx9632]

Wow...first one by Paul where he didn't blast his distortion channel!

[@neiar]

What gauge was that? 11-50?

[@slooky14]

Gotta love these reviews! How do you give an honest review when you probably got it free from LR baggs? Its a great pickup, but this sounds awful. Maybe its the Gibson?

[@trevord3903]

I agree with your comment. The M80 is a good pickup, although mid-heavy. Using it on a lower-end model of guitar - Gibson or other - does not showcase the quality of the pickup. It sounds over-driven in some bars of the strummed section.

[@kalvino67]

How is this fitted on a left-handed guitar? In reverse?

[@TheOldMan-75]

I know you've asked this 3 years ago but maybe someone else stumbles upon this question. You can adjust the magnet pins that are sticking out. So you can pull them out and push them in.

[@daviddara333]

whats the guitar?

[@Matt-ss7hx]

is there overgain while strumming?

[@SkyAvila983]

Yep, sounds like crap

[@joelpickett812]

Paul Fromguitarworld

[@beezymeech]

get the mag mic its badass

[@MrRockerGunner]

Sounds cool

[@Matkinson123]

Shame GuitarWorld audio is never any good :(

[@metalheadneji]

Ima try one of those out.

[@dorillo765]

I think it's safe to say that everyone who watch your videos dream to have your job...

[@MrErdner]

The only real problem with this review, as with almost all of Paul Riario's reviews, is that he is such a good guitarist that even crappy gear sounds pretty good when he plays it. As more than a few really good guitarists have observed, most of the sound of any guitar comes from the fingers of the guitarist, not the gear.

[@Josiahjjr]

What type of gibson is that? Anyone got any ideas?

[@Montanacellist]

Gibson J-45

[@notarealperson87]

agreed!

[@emmacutest]

He's not overloading the preamp - the video camera input is overloading when he strums. Bad job on the production, and it makes the pickup look like it sounds bad. The fact that LR Baggs would link to this is also baffling. Does nobody have ears?

[@galtun]

strumming part around the 4th minute sounds really bad...

[@richmond221995]

great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@richmond221995]

enjoy.........................

[@xxNailFirexx]

Is it just me, or does the guitar sound kinda cheap-piezo scratchy at 1080p?

[@joelpickett812]

ya, srs

[@timtaylorguitarnut]

Nice but I still like the sound of my Martin miked

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Is this a review or an advertisement? It sounds nothing like the guitar. Blows my mind how people can buy this great sounding acoustics and slap a pickup in it and convince themselves it sounds anything like their guitar. It might sense the body but it still sounds nothing like it.

[@MrErdner]

It's not a question of what the guitar sounds LIKE. It's a question of whether it sounds good or bad.

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Might as well put it in a cheap, sturdy, well-playing plywood guitar then.

[@MrErdner]

Most of the tone of a guitar comes the the guitarist's fingers. But even at that, when you play your guitar at home, practicing, it'll sound one way. Get up on stage in a bigger venue, and it'll sound different. Stick a PA mic in front of it to make it louder, and it'll sound different to the audience than it does to you. Stick a different mic, and it'll sound different. Go to a different large venue, with different acoustics and guess what? IT'LL SOUND DIFFERENT. Different brands of guitar sound different. Different models within the same brand sound different. The main thing about this pickup, and all the others similar to it, is that it enables the acoustic guitarist to make his guitar LOUDER so that it can keep up with the other instruments in a band. This might not be perfect enough to satisfy gear snobs, but it's a hell of a lot better than a quacky piezo!

[@BSSchumacher]

because it's a gibson guitar...!? this video is about the pickup!

[@richmond221995]

wow........................

[@Matkinson123]

You'd want it to be good for that price :P

[@jchristian67]

It sounds like the guitar is buzzing.

[@dobrocop]

Tried it, dont like it ,.dont agree with the body vibration being picked up..

[@really.not.important]

Please GuitarWorld, please, please, please let someone else do some demos once in a while, Paul is a great player, but his settings tend to be a bit on the shit side.

[@Answers403]

Not bad.

[@startreker8591]

M80 active

[@fourthlayer]

Very Boomy recording!

[@richmond221995]

guitar!!!!!!!!!

[@faradayslaw9134]

Not only does this pickup sound like crap, it makes me want to never buy a Gibson.

[@richmond221995]

band...................

[@deeppurple123456]

Hahahahaahahaha!

[@ShaneCarrigan]

kind of dull and unresponsive. not very sparkly highs.. the bass is alright.. ehn. not worth it

[@EsotericDeathLegion]

FIRST! :D

[@MultiDeadhead1]

I hear the buzzzzzzzzzz.............

[@dobrocop]

this is a pretty good pickup but thats just Bullshit about the " Body resonance sensor" , its a Magnetic pickup and only picks up the Metal Strings!.

[@DdamBbangbro]

i think you should research more. not picking a fight, just saying that this pickup is little more than a magnetic pickup ;)

[@MrErdner]

I fear you're missing the point of the M-80. It's a stacked humbucker, with the lower coil free to vibrate as influenced by the connection to the guitar body. So, you're getting signal from the metal strings vibrating within the electromagnetic field of the top coil, and you're also getting additional signal from the interaction of the magnetic fields of the top and bottom coils as they move relative to each other.

[@jonboy8181]

This kinda sounds…..bad. 😬

[@adogshair9332]

Take that vid down ! sounds like crap !

[@scotcherton]

This video makes it sound horrible..