Nice video, especially the finger picking, If, at least part of it. All your guitars sound very good. I have a Guild awaiting the Hi-Fi Duet, am really looking forward to playing it. I like the idea of not having a piezo under the saddle, as in a Santa Cruz I had, the ring just went away. Sounded ok amplified, but not ever the same after the L.R. Baggs pickup was installed.
Really nice collection of cool gear you have there! If you have not already played through one, check out Schertler amps. They are like a boutique amp for acoustic guitar. Class A/B solid state - Swiss/Italian company
@@gair1944 Really good helpful reviews you do by the way! I live in the DC area and none of the local stores carry them either. You would have to buy one on line. That would be a pretty big investment for something you weren’t able to try out in advance. I found a used one on sale in a Northern Virginia guitar center for $600. It’s a Jam 150, about a 10 year old model. Love it! The newer ones are probably even better. I use it for quieter gigs, vocals and guitar through it.
Thanks for the demo, Gary. I’m thinking the AEG-1’s stronger midrange and better feedback rejection might work better for picking with bare fingerpads. I might EQ a little differently for picking or strumming with pics.
Did you have the Anthem pickup installed on that Martin? I’m curious if the acoustic sound changed after the piezo element was placed in the bridge. I have a custom shop Martin dreadnought that I was considering putting the Anthem pickup into it but I concerned that installing the piezo element in the bridge could change the tone and volume. I play all styles including flatpicking bluegrass where it’s always best to have as an acoustic sound as possible. Feedback issues on big stages are a concern as well. I’m curious also between the full Anthem pickup and the Hi Fi Duet, which is more feedback resistant? And which do prefer between all 3 systems, full Anthem, HiFi or HiFi duet? Thanks for any info
Yes I had the Anthem installed in the Martin. It replaced a Fishman Aura VT Enhance. So there was a UST piezon under the saddle before but the Baggs Anthem UST is different. I vastly prefer the Anthem and I do not subscribe to the notion that the Anthem Element UST robs any tone. In fact, the more I play the Anthem versus the HiFi Duet, the more I feel like the Anthem might be my personal preference. But the Duet is in a mahogany OM and the Anthem is in a rosewood OM guitar from a different builder. So there are a lot of variables in play. That said, I remain very very happy with the Anthem.
Nice video. I like the anthem in the Martin best. Hard to even compare the baggs guitar to either of the Collings or the martin. If you only had one guitar to play live the baggs would be fine but i would reach for any of the others all day long. I think it would be a more fair comparison for live to compare it to a fender acoustasonic and then i might pick the fender because of the versatility of it.
I think you’re assessment I’d entirely valid. Some venues are so lost with crowd noise a credible stage guitar is as good or maybe better than my Collings or Martin. But for critical listening venues, I would choose a Collings or Martin
I’m so happy with my Martins with the Anthem Pickups. I’m going to leave them be. But I’m sure the Duet would be a great choice especially for Martin Authentics
Love your guitar demos Gary, can’t lie, I’m so disappointed with the sound here on the demo. Not even close to your “ proper“ acoustics. 🤷🏻♂️ not bad is not good enough for me? Am I missing something here?
Nice video, especially the finger picking, If, at least part of it. All your guitars sound very good.
I have a Guild awaiting the Hi-Fi Duet, am really looking forward to playing it. I like the idea of not having a piezo under the saddle, as in a Santa Cruz I had, the ring just went away. Sounded ok amplified, but not ever the same after the L.R. Baggs pickup was installed.
Great video Gary, I enjoyed it! My Larrivee with the Hi Fi is on its way!
Good choice! When does it arrive? I’m at casa del Rio this Saturday 6-8
Really nice collection of cool gear you have there! If you have not already played through one, check out Schertler amps. They are like a boutique amp for acoustic guitar. Class A/B solid state - Swiss/Italian company
I’d love to try a Schertler amp. There are none around locally. I’d probably love it.
@@gair1944
Really good helpful reviews you do by the way! I live in the DC area and none of the local stores carry them either. You would have to buy one on line. That would be a pretty big investment for something you weren’t able to try out in advance. I found a used one on sale in a Northern Virginia guitar center for $600. It’s a Jam 150, about a 10 year old model. Love it! The newer ones are probably even better. I use it for quieter gigs, vocals and guitar through it.
Thanks for the demo, Gary. I’m thinking the AEG-1’s stronger midrange and better feedback rejection might work better for picking with bare fingerpads. I might EQ a little differently for picking or strumming with pics.
Great point. EQ can optimize your sound for fingerstyle versus playing with a guitar pick.
I always love that D18 cutaway
Me too!
Did you have the Anthem pickup installed on that Martin? I’m curious if the acoustic sound changed after the piezo element was placed in the bridge. I have a custom shop Martin dreadnought that I was considering putting the Anthem pickup into it but I concerned that installing the piezo element in the bridge could change the tone and volume. I play all styles including flatpicking bluegrass where it’s always best to have as an acoustic sound as possible. Feedback issues on big stages are a concern as well. I’m curious also between the full Anthem pickup and the Hi Fi Duet, which is more feedback resistant? And which do prefer between all 3 systems, full Anthem, HiFi or HiFi duet? Thanks for any info
Yes I had the Anthem installed in the Martin. It replaced a Fishman Aura VT Enhance. So there was a UST piezon under the saddle before but the Baggs Anthem UST is different. I vastly prefer the Anthem and I do not subscribe to the notion that the Anthem Element UST robs any tone. In fact, the more I play the Anthem versus the HiFi Duet, the more I feel like the Anthem might be my personal preference. But the Duet is in a mahogany OM and the Anthem is in a rosewood OM guitar from a different builder. So there are a lot of variables in play. That said, I remain very very happy with the Anthem.
@@gair1944I thought about replacing the full Anthem with Duet. Guitar in question is 000-28 modern deluxe.
Nice video. I like the anthem in the Martin best. Hard to even compare the baggs guitar to either of the Collings or the martin. If you only had one guitar to play live the baggs would be fine but i would reach for any of the others all day long. I think it would be a more fair comparison for live to compare it to a fender acoustasonic and then i might pick the fender because of the versatility of it.
I think you’re assessment I’d entirely valid. Some venues are so lost with crowd noise a credible stage guitar is as good or maybe better than my Collings or Martin. But for critical listening venues, I would choose a Collings or Martin
Looking to hear the HiFi Duet in a Martin.
I’m so happy with my Martins with the Anthem Pickups. I’m going to leave them be. But I’m sure the Duet would be a great choice especially for Martin Authentics
What pick are you using when playing the Collins?
@@thetexasbeachbum9929 I use a 1.2mm Wegen large triangle
I totally prefer the sound of the Martin.
Can’t beat a a good Martin. I agree
The collings Is so over the top
Can’t beat the Collings especially comparing it to a $1600 stage guitar.
Love your guitar demos Gary, can’t lie, I’m so disappointed with the sound here on the demo. Not even close to your “ proper“ acoustics. 🤷🏻♂️ not bad is not good enough for me? Am I missing something here?
It’s a stage guitar alternative to my Carbon Fiber Emerald guitars.