L.R. Baggs

(Originally written by Mediterran81/translated from Audiofanzine FR) Analog preamp 5-band EQ (low, sweepable feedback filter, sweepable mid, presence, high) FX loop, XLR output, volume control, phase inverter Powered with a 9-volt battery or 48-volt phantom power (via XLR) DI box with effect pedal volume level. UTILIZATION Very simple configuration requiring some audio knowledge. This DI box makes EQing very easy! It's a wonderfully effective tool! Watch out for the GAIN control. It allows me to boost the sound of my electro-acoustic guitar or to boost the sound of a pickup with low output level. It changes the sound of my electro-acoustic guitar into a rich and present one, even jazzy (sweeping the mids). When I play at very loud volumes (100 watt Marshalls amps almost fully turned up) during rehearsals we have awful feedback problems. Solution: I turn the Notch control fully up. Then I turn the sweep knob until I find the feedback frequency (between G and B), then I turn down the Notch control until the feedback disappears! And you can trust me, it does disappear. For live gigs, this tool is a must have. Unless you'd rather spend more money on a feedback killer! When the volume of the other guitarist of my band is higher than mine I either increase my pickup volume or the DI volume (not the gain). When I bought the DI box I tested it by recording the pickup directly into my sound card. Afterwards I connected the DI box and compared the results. Damned! What a huge difference! Moreover this DI box produces no noise whatsoever. I was used to hear some noise when I increased the gain of my amp or aneffect pedal (even expensive tube amps and overdrive pedals)! I don't know how LR Baggs designed this DI box but even with full gain it produces absolutely no noise except in two cases: 1- If you use bad cables like YELLOW CABLES 2- If you're guitar pickup has a miserable quality. And it's normal, the DI box can't do anything about it because it only amplifies the input signal. Before you start crying because you think it doesn't work, check your cables and your pickup. I also used this DI box with an electric guitar and a dynamic mic. That's versatility!! To get an accurate sound I recommend you Monster or Cordial Pro Line cables. Here are my settings for an acoustic sound: Low: 12 o'clock Notch: 7 o'clock - B Mid : 9 o'clock - 1.2 Pres: 3 o'clock Treble: 12 o'clock Volume: 1 o'clock (but it can be less when I increase the volume of my guitar's pickup). Gain: 9 o'clock. When I want my clean sound to be louder than the other guitarist I set gain to 3 o'clock and Mid to 11 o'clock. I connected a compressor pedal in the FX loop to boost my solo parts or to play power chords (for heavy metal riffs with an acoustic guitar). I will soon add a link to some sound samples! Otherwise, you can also get in touch with me and I'll send them to you! Musicians ought to help each other ;) For recording applications this unit can give you a great stereo sound using both outputs. Normal output connected to the amp and XLR output to the mixer. This DI box doesn't like low-quality batteries! It likes Duracel batteries or 48-volt phantom power. Don't expect this DI box to magically change your sound. It allows you to get the best out of your guitar and to polish your sound, but not to color it. A last remark: when you increase the Gain setting, you'll notice a sort of tube feel. But without sound coloration! It's magic. SOUND QUALITY This DI box enhances the sound of my pickup 200%. The preamp sounds 100% transparent. I'll soon upload a video! It will be clearer! OVERALL OPINION I've been using it for one month! I like everything about this product! It's the (virtually) perfect DI box! I only miss an external PSU, like an effects pedal. But I guess I know why it is so! I also don't like the fact that the FX loop is stereo! It's difficult to find the right insert (Y) cable. Yes I tested lots of similar products! Until now this one is the best! The value for money is very good. I think I will need a second DI box for my vocal mic and once I have the money, I'll buy a second Para DI.

The L.R. Baggs M1 is a simple acoustic guitar pick up, best suited for use during live shows. If your acoustic guitar doesn’t have a built in pick up, it’s usually going to be a good idea to get an external one like this one if you think you’re going to ever want to amplify the instrument. There isn’t too much about the L.R. Baggs M1 that sets it apart, other than it having a clean sound that helps to translate the original intended sound of your acoustic guitar to an amplifier or PA system. I don’t know much at all about the electronics behind the M1, but recently used a friends and was really impressed. I plugged in her Martin DX-K2 with this pick up right into my Fender Twin Reverb amplifier and definitely dug the sound a great deal. Usually external acoustic pick ups like this one are pretty bland sounding, but I found the M1 to do an overall great job covering the full spectrum of the acoustics’ sound. I have a cheaper pick up for my own Martin guitar and this one really blows it out of the water. I also like that it’s nice a compact and fits easily into the sound hole on your guitar. It’s not at all hard to place it and get it to stay there, as I’ve encountered issues like this with other pick ups of this kind. I didn’t know anything about L.R. Baggs until trying the M1 and will definitely be checking out their other pick ups in the near future as I may look to upgrade my current pick up to something like the M1. I really don’t think you could go wrong with the M1 as a pick up of choice as it’s all around really that solid. The only thing is that it’s not the cheapest pick up on the market, but as always you’re going to have to pay for quality and if you’re playing shows a lot it’s definitely going to be worth it to have a better sounding pick up in the long run.