No more electronics

[Mustang8t4]

Some models like the D-20 and D-40 no longer offer the LR baggs stuff. Any idea why?

 

[GAD]

I would imagine as with any business decision it comes down to either "they weren't selling", "they cost to much", or a mixture of both.

 

[mavuser]

for the D-20 this started as a supply chain issue. It may have evolved to the point where they cannont keep the price of a D-20 where they wanted to, if the price of pickups went up. Not sure of D-40, possibly the next level of the same issues. They will pull electronics from one model, rather than have a shortage for all models.

 

[Mustang8t4]

I use my D-20e to record and gig. LOVE the Guitar but wouldnt by another without electronics. I know they can be installeed but I like the factory set up

 

[mavuser]

I use my D-20e to record and gig. LOVE the Guitar but wouldnt by another without electronics. I know they can be installeed but I like the factory set up

I agree that should still at least be an option on the D-20. great guitar for amplifying, great for slide, etc. You get a brand new guitar last thing you want to do is mess around with installing a pickup. They need to address this on the D-20.

@Mustang8t4 which pickup does your D-20 have from the factory?

 

[Br1ck]

I can tell by the comments people do not by guitars from good guitar shops. My go to will discount both the cost of the pickup and the cost of labor. This allows you to chose to not have a quacky under saddle pickup, the default factory pickup. You can have a SBT, mic, or combination system, with or without a battery. Your choice. Choice is good. I'd chose not to have the least expensive pickup. I could not wait to get a Baggs Element our of a guitar I bought. Same with the K&K that came in another.

 

[davenumber2]

I don’t care if the guitar comes with a pickup as they are usually not very good. My preference would be no pickup but have the endpin pre drilled to accommodate. That’s the hardest/scariest part of installing a pickup.

 

[Boomstick]

Don't they offer a D-40 and a D-40E for a little more money? did they just discontinue the E?

Honestly, I'm okay with this personally. I haven't played the new Guilds plugged in, but I've never been impressed by the LR Baggs anyway. I'd be more likely to buy one with no electronics and then add a K&K Mini (or maybe something else too, the K&K's generally sound a bit more natural to me)

 

[Mapleman54]

What a massive subject for discussion..I use quite a variety of pickups on different acoustic guitars. Currently in use I have several of Lloyd Baggs pickups: LB6 on Buscarino Starlight nylon, M1 sound hole and Element active, wired stereo on Larriveé OM9K, I-beam passive on Ted Thompson T2 and Robert Welford classical, K+K on Guild GF30, and James May Ultratonic on Brynn Jones Terz classical . I use a Baggs Para DI and Radial Engineering external preamps. In addition I use Line Audio CM4 condenser mics for solo classical concerts.
I feel that the argument relating to ‘what pick-up is best’ must be tempered with the music you are playing, the nature of the venue, and the audience needs. Any argument about the quality of these very fine pickups depends so much on how you play, what you play, and who is listening.
For example, I have struggled with the passive I-beam in some cases, and found it a joy in others. And Lloyd Baggs’ work has been so dedicated to musical excellence for so long that I would never dream of criticising his company’s products just because one wasn’t best for me on the night. Lloyd was personally on the phone to my tech for an hour when we did the stereo rig on the Larriveé, for example. I feel he’s a colleague even though we’ve never met.
Often my own problems with pickups come down to my own playing… if I don’t sound good it’s very possibly that I am simply not playing as well as I should!! The old adage about workmen blaming tools perhaps??
It’s wonderful to explore these sounds and I enjoy reading about some of the fabulous knowledge that many players have in this field.

 

[Boomstick]

I feel that the argument relating to ‘what pick-up is best’ must be tempered with the music you are playing, the nature of the venue, and the audience needs. Any argument about the quality of these very fine pickups depends so much on how you play, what you play, and who is listening.
For example, I have struggled with the passive I-beam in some cases, and found it a joy in others. And Lloyd Baggs’ work has been so dedicated to musical excellence for so long that I would never dream of criticising his company’s products just because one wasn’t best for me on the night. Lloyd was personally on the phone to my tech for an hour when we did the stereo rig on the Larriveé, for example. I feel he’s a colleague even though we’ve never met.

I feel this is slightly dismissive, trying to chalk this off someone playing one that didn't work for them one night. I've played enough and have been consistently disappointed. The Lyric is easily the worst acoustic pickup that I have experience with. They have this mid forward tone and always sounds like you're not fretting right even though you are. The Anthem on the other hand puts out everything with low output, adds a lot of compression and sounds pretty thin and harsh. Neither pickup sounds natural in the slightest, and I'm far from the only one with this complaint.

That said to be fair here I would probably give the HiFi a shot. I never played one and it's never the model that builders use in new guitars but I've seen some people do A/B videos with K&K Minis and it was very close, and might even sound a little bit better in one of the demos. I think they are semi-new?

Often my own problems with pickups come down to my own playing… if I don’t sound good it’s very possibly that I am simply not playing as well as I should!! The old adage about workmen blaming tools perhaps??

If it sounds good mic'd, it should sound good with a pickup too.

 

[chazmo]

Boomer, if you ever have a chance, check out the D-TAR Wavelength multi-source (now Seymour Duncan Wavelength Duo). This was the factory install on the high-end Guilds in New Hartford, and they were the best-sounding system of their day. I'm sure the Baggs Anthem is similar.

Also, I'd be very inclined to seek out the K&K pure system with James May UltraTonic.

 

[ReevesRd]

D-TAR Wavelength multi-source (now Seymour Duncan Wavelength Duo)

The D-TAR (Seymour Duncan Wavelength Duo) is versatile with a natural sound.
It was discussed before:
https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/does-the-old-dtar-pickup-wavelength-duo.205787/

 

[Boomstick]

Boomer, if you ever have a chance, check out the D-TAR Wavelength multi-source (now Seymour Duncan Wavelength Duo). This was the factory install on the high-end Guilds in New Hartford, and they were the best-sounding system of their day. I'm sure the Baggs Anthem is similar.

Also, I'd be very inclined to seek out the K&K pure system with James May UltraTonic.

Cool I will check that out too. The pure mini is the only thing our local luthier will use. The LR Baggs HiDi sounds similar and may be a possible slight upgrade. Still wanna make sure I look at every option.

I might just get myself a quality mic too. Any gig I play is small enough that should work

 

[chazmo]

We were discussing the James May UltraTonic UTP V3.2-CK which works in conjunction with K&K the other day. The system has noise cancellation which should help with feedback. Feedback is the bane of the UST systems, especially in big, boomy Guilds!

Good luck.

 

[Boomstick]

The D-TAR (Seymour Duncan Wavelength Duo) is versatile with a natural sound.
It was discussed before:
https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/does-the-old-dtar-pickup-wavelength-duo.205787/

I only found a few demos, but no mic'd guitar or even K&K to compare it with. It sounds like it may be pretty good. I usually despise under-the saddle pickups, but this one definitely sounds promising.

Another thing to consider is I could install a K&K or HiFi myself at least. I'm in no rush.

 

[Rayk]

I don’t care if the guitar comes with a pickup as they are usually not very good. My preference would be no pickup but have the endpin pre drilled to accommodate. That’s the hardest/scariest part of installing a pickup.

I’m very picky and honestly most all pickups sound like poo especially anything Piezo .

So one cheap system that came on my epi Dr500 I think it was sounded fairly good . It was a dual system with a mini mag at the fretboard end and UST which was a strip but had individual nodes . This system did stereo and it was not bad no quackiness . The mag helped to give it warmth . I recorded with it but can’t find what ? lol if get the old girl fired up maybe I can find it ..

Other then that I’d go mag/condenser mix or all condenser mic . Though not made anymore in my model the mini flex was truly the best natural sound set up being dual condenser mics . My vid is old but still sounds sweet ! Lol

I don’t look for preinstalled electronics because I don’t play out but if I did at some point I’d come to the same decision and find the most natural sounding mic option .

Recording wise all mics ! I always say not sure if the guitars tone is worthy put it in front of a mic a mic never lies .

Electronics can I feel make a good guitar sound not so good or just meh .

 

[Mustang8t4]

I agree that should still at least be an option on the D-20. great guitar for amplifying, great for slide, etc. You get a brand new guitar last thing you want to do is mess around with installing a pickup. They need to address this on the D-20.

@Mustang8t4 which pickup does your D-20 have from the factory?

LR Baggs element