L.R.Baggs M1 Activ Soundhole Pickup

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Soundhole Pickup

Active magnetic pickup (humbucker)
For soundhole mounting
Highly resistant to feedback
Included Strapjack

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

3-Year Thomann Warranty

Available since November 2008
Item number 219558
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Humbucker Yes
Single Coil No
Active Yes

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259

L.R.Baggs M1 Activ Soundhole Pickup

L.R.Baggs M1 Activ Soundhole Pickup Soundhole Pickup * Active magnetic pickup (humbucker) * For soundhole mounting * Hig...

249 €

to the product

L.R.Baggs M1 Soundhole Pickup

L.R.Baggs M1 Soundhole Pickup Sound Hole Pickup * Passive magnetic pickup * For soundhole mounting * Minimum sound hole ...

215 €

to the product

249 €

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in Magnetic Pickups for Acoustic Guitars

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259 Customer ratings

5 201 Customers 4 45 Customers 3 11 Customers 2 1 Customer 1 1 Customer

4.7 / 5

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148 Reviews

a smart solution in many cases, but not the best tone available

mbwhite 14.05.2021

Lr Baggs M1A is a standard in terms of soundhole pickups for acoustic guitars. As usual with their products quality is second to none. The pickup moreover is able to add some resonance from the soundboard to the bare magnetic tone got from strings, making it to sound more realistic than similar choices. It's the best solution available in three scenarios: 1. you don't want to mod your guitar in any way. 2. you want a single pickup than can be moved between different guitars. 3. you play in a live rock band and you don't want any feedback issue whatsoever.
Many pros, but there's a big con. The tone is too similar to an electric guitar. There are better choices to have a more realistic acoustic tone, but the involve different cost, a preamp, feedback etc.
I consider it as a product aimed to specific needs. I know have only a Martin D18 equipped with a K&K pure western mini, but I won't sell my M1A. It'll be useful again.

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Sensitive stuff

Martin739 02.08.2013

I have mixed feelings about this pickup. I use it on my D28, and it does give a lovely sound, with a real clarity to it. But it's quite a different sound to the unamplified tone of the guitar - much brighter, but in a pleasant way, not overpoweringly so.

But where I really struggle is with the physical sensitivity. It is designed to just not pick up the electromagnetic effect of the string motion, but also the physical movement of the soundboard, so as to capture Newton Faulkner-style body taps and the like. Personally I don't need this, and it means that I get some clicking sounds coming through the pickup while I'm strumming, as a result (I think) of my plectrum either hitting the edge of the pickup, or the edge of the soundhole.

So I've had to adjust my technique to strum further down the strings towards the bridge, which obviously leads to a slightly different sound as well as a slightly less natural playing position.

It's now workable, so I can enjoy the sound of the pickup without the clicks. But I'd rather have something that gave me that sound without requiring me to change my style.

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Really fantastic pickup

Anonymous 16.12.2014

I needed a sound hole pickup for a Taylor 214, and this came out top of my research. I'm glad I went for it. Very easy to install, I don't even notice it when playing and it sounds really great. Nothing will ever sound exactly like a missed acoustic guitar except a missed acoustic guitar, but the flexibility and ease of use is worth it for a regular gigging guitar.

Fitting required reaming out the endpin hole in the Taylor to allow the combined strap button and jack socket, but once that is done it is just a case of tightening the 2 allen bolts to hold it into the sound hole.

It's served me for 18 months of solid weekend gigs and still on its first battery too, which is excellent in my book!

Highly recommended.

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Sounds almost like a microphone

Reptile2828 19.05.2015

I have an acoustic dreadnought type guitar that came with a poor quality under saddle pickup that was driving me crazy, so I went for a cheap humbucker that used to have a terrible ac buzz. After a few experiments I decided to try the M1A. The installation process was pretty easy and fast. This pickup sounds big and natural before feedback. It is bright but it also has a rich low end. I had to dial back the low mids a bit but as it responds very well to EQ, it is very easy to find the sweetspot. It is also very active and brings out some of the imperfections of my instrument I had not previously noticed due to the extreme clarity it brings up. I also play a bit of percussion on the body of my guitar and this unit picks up the finger tapping on the sound board very well. It was probably the best choice I've made in the last years. Very satisfied.

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