LR Baggs Anthem - Soundhole or Stagepro?

[redking]

I'm looking at installing the LR Baggs Anthem into my acoustic guitar and it has 2 versions.

1. Soundhole version where you access the controls via the soundhole
2. Stagepro version where you cut a hole into the side and install the controls on the upper bout.

From a practical standpoint, I'd prefer the Stagepro version because its more convenient to access the battery through the panel compared to having it installed in a pack inside the guitar. Also, the soundhole version is designed to 3m tape the preamp to the top just inside the hole. I see this likely to come apart and be a pain in the ass to adjust the controls.

Any reason to worry about cutting the hole in the side of the guitar for the Stagepro degrading the sound of the guitar's acoustic sound considerably?

Anybody have any experience with the Anthem?

thanks!

 

[the great waldo]

I'm looking at installing the LR Baggs Anthem into my acoustic guitar and it has 2 versions.

1. Soundhole version where you access the controls via the soundhole
2. Stagepro version where you cut a hole into the side and install the controls on the upper bout.

From a practical standpoint, I'd prefer the Stagepro version because its more convenient to access the battery through the panel compared to having it installed in a pack inside the guitar. Also, the soundhole version is designed to 3m tape the preamp to the top just inside the hole. I see this likely to come apart and be a pain in the ass to adjust the controls.

Any reason to worry about cutting the hole in the side of the guitar for the Stagepro degrading the sound of the guitar's acoustic sound considerably?

Anybody have any experience with the Anthem?


thanks!

I have fitted plenty of both systems. On a super expensive guitar like a santa cruz most customers go for the internal version, otherwise the external/side mount version works fine and has the benefit of tuner ease of battery access extra eq. At the moment the baggs Anthem system is my favorite. Good sound minimal feedback problems from the mic. Output is a little lower than say a fishman system but thats not really a problem. Things to watch out for in installing the system. 1 a couple of cuts with a sharp knife into the sticky pads holding the mike with a drop of super glue into the cuts will stop the mike falling out in hot weather(the adhesive on the pads seems to get soft when warm and the mikes can drop off from the top.
2 (internal version problem) Some guitars have soundhole reinforcing struts that are high so either stack up the adhesive pads for the preamp or trim the struts (not easy but can be done with a sharp exacto knife, did one yesterday on a martin john meyer guitar) In the end it's all down to personnal taste, both work fine and i've not noticed any change of tone by side fitting the system. I hear more problems in tone from people turning up with ancient strings on a guitar!
Cheers

Andrew

 

[Freddy G]

Love the Anthem. I always install the internal version. I like the stealth controls just peaking out from the soundhole. I hate the idea of chopping a huge hole in the side of a guitar....even a cheap guitar.

 

[Barnaby]

Love the Anthem. I always install the internal version. I like the stealth controls just peaking out from the soundhole. I hate the idea of chopping a huge hole in the side of a guitar....even a cheap guitar.

Me too - this is what I did on my own acoustic, even though I could have had the other version. It is still going well. Still, it is personal preference as to which you do.

Here's my installation video for the Anthem:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnp8--EJI7I"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnp8--EJI7I[/ame]

 

[redking]

Thanks for your feedback guys. Aesthetically I would prefer the soundhole version as well - maybe I am making too much of the "PITA" factor? I am no fingerpicker with it comes to acoustic and I also wondered if hard strumming and banging could knock the internal preamp loose?

Barnaby - did you make that gorgeous acoustic in your video?