Pickup Systems???

[emissarygtrist]

I've seen that a few older Larrivee acoustics have B-Band Dual pickup systems in them but the new ones have LR Baggs iMix Systems. What is the difference and which is better?

[unclrob]

I'm probably not the right person as I really don't hear enough of a difference.

[GGBB]

Not an easy question to answer.  There are differences in sound as well as technology.  The biggest factor though is personal preference, which means you'll have to try some out and listen to recordings to really get a feel for the variations.

On the technical side there are four main categories of acoustic guitar pickups:  undersaddle (e.g. piezo), transducer, magnetic (soundhole), and microphone, plus multiple variations and combinations.  Many manufactures now offer combinations of technologies such as the iMix which is an iBeam (transducer) plus an Element (undersaddle).  The B-Band dual combines an AST (transducer) with a UST (undersaddle) using a special crossover system.  LR Baggs' new Athem which now comes on some Larrivees uses a microphone with an undersaddle with a special crossover.

There are pros and cons to each type of technology, and each manufacturer's implementation will be different than another manufacturer, so there's no end of variation.  Is there a best?  Not really.  There might be one or two that are best in certain situations (e.g. Sunrise is supposedly the best for loud stage volumes), but it generally comes down to personal preference and the latest developments in technology.  The one thing I have learned is that what sounds best may not be what works best (live for example) and vice-versa.

[Zohn]

I guess it all boils down to personal preferences.

I believe JCL switched to Baggs for an "all American" package - B-Band is made in Sweden.

I had the "no-cut" B-band dual source in my LV-10 and the "no-cut" dual source I-mix from Baggs in my SD-50. Both guitars were very different, but I honestly can't say that I preferred the one's plugged-in sound over the other. I loved them both.

I have the B-Band dual source with the "barn-door" pre-amp in the side of my J-05 and it is great. If anything I would have preferred the no-cut version though, but the guitar came with it.

I have K&K systems in my other guitars but purely from a convenience point of view to eliminate using batteries inside the guitars.

Most electronics on the market are god including the tried and tested Fishman systems - there is simply no place in a very competitive market for non-performers.
I believe the latest offering from Baggs - the Anthem, is an excellent system but it uses a mic together with the UST unlike the AST/UST's of the above mentioned dual source systems.

[broKen]

I use the B-band AST (acoustic soundboard transducer) in my guitars. I don't need anything special, I just want to amplify the guitar and the B-band does this very well. At a reasonable cost and relatively easy to install. The simple one source pup uses a soundhole mounted volume control.

[Denis]

I have K&K systems in my other guitars but purely from a convenience point of view to eliminate using batteries inside the guitars.

This is what I've used in the past and I'm going to pick up another one for my Martin when I leave work in a few minutes.  That's the beauty of the K&K system.  The preamp is external andd can be used on many guitars.  I've installed several Pure Western Mini pickups in the past and will be installing this one too.  Really not too hard to do and they sound sound very natural