In a live mix this pickup sounds incredible! I recently installed one on my 2023 D18 and FOH was over the moon with how it sounded. I tweaked the EQ a little bit with an LR Baggs direct box and ran 75% mic. New strings were a little zingy. But after a week of playing it mellowed out and sounds even better live now.
Excellent review on the HiFi Duet with your Martin D18! Nice playing, and great comparisons. Thanks for sharing all the little details of what makes the Duet system unique. It’s a great time to be a player. Happy playin’!
I have a 2023 Hummingbird Original and a 2023 Southern Jumbo Original. Both came new with the LR Baggs VTC.. they both sound great plugged in.. actually, sounds better than your tutorial of the Hifi Duet. I purchased 2, 2024 model D18s. One in natural finish. The other has the 1933 Ambertone finish. Awesome guitars. Looking to keep one just stock. The other I'm looking to install a pickup in. Was interested in either the LR Baggs Hifi or Hifi Duet.. the tutorials I've watched haven't been impressive.. guess my best bett would be to strum both in person. The Martin D18 I like very much. So, the 2 Gibsons never leave their cases now.. little off topic here, the 2025 upgrades to the D28 are impressive. About to bring one home this week...
We may have differing taste in pickups. I’d say it’s definitely worth demoing in person. You may just prefer the under saddle sound, which is a great sound. The Hifi doesn’t have the same string attack as the VTC or Anthem due to the lack of an under saddle pickup. Also, you have great taste in guitars! Congrats on the new D28!
Firstly, thank you for your great work in bringing this review to us, FWIW , every audition Ive heard of the straight Hi Fi w/o mic, sounds Piezo "quacky"; this Duet system with 75% silo certainly sounds way better but not truly exceptional to my ears. Further more, it's reference which handily beats it out is the humble SM 57 which ordinarily is not a first choice studio acoustic guitar mic. Is it worth it's premium price is the question. Maybe I'm expecting too much. Just my simple 2 cents worth , Cheers, Ross
In a live mix this pickup sounds incredible! I recently installed one on my 2023 D18 and FOH was over the moon with how it sounded. I tweaked the EQ a little bit with an LR Baggs direct box and ran 75% mic. New strings were a little zingy. But after a week of playing it mellowed out and sounds even better live now.
I’m glad you like yours!
Excellent review on the HiFi Duet with your Martin D18! Nice playing, and great comparisons. Thanks for sharing all the little details of what makes the Duet system unique. It’s a great time to be a player. Happy playin’!
Nice review. The solo mic is really impressive and adds a lot to the Hifi. Looking forward to trying this out
bruh i didn't know you had a whole ass youtube page. also this is sexy
I have a 2023 Hummingbird Original and a 2023 Southern Jumbo Original. Both came new with the LR Baggs VTC.. they both sound great plugged in.. actually, sounds better than your tutorial of the Hifi Duet. I purchased 2, 2024 model D18s. One in natural finish. The other has the 1933 Ambertone finish. Awesome guitars. Looking to keep one just stock. The other I'm looking to install a pickup in. Was interested in either the LR Baggs Hifi or Hifi Duet.. the tutorials I've watched haven't been impressive.. guess my best bett would be to strum both in person. The Martin D18 I like very much. So, the 2 Gibsons never leave their cases now.. little off topic here, the 2025 upgrades to the D28 are impressive. About to bring one home this week...
We may have differing taste in pickups. I’d say it’s definitely worth demoing in person. You may just prefer the under saddle sound, which is a great sound. The Hifi doesn’t have the same string attack as the VTC or Anthem due to the lack of an under saddle pickup. Also, you have great taste in guitars! Congrats on the new D28!
Firstly, thank you for your great work in bringing this review to us,
FWIW , every audition Ive heard of the straight Hi Fi w/o mic, sounds Piezo "quacky"; this Duet system with 75% silo certainly sounds way better but not truly exceptional to my ears. Further more, it's reference which handily beats it out is the humble SM 57 which ordinarily is not a first choice studio acoustic guitar mic.
Is it worth it's premium price is the question. Maybe I'm expecting too much.
Just my simple 2 cents worth , Cheers, Ross
I’d say that the funniest part of making the video was realizing afterwards that the SM57 sounded so much better.
What pickup system do you prefer?
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The 50/50 blend sounds kind phased. Awesome playing though. Great demo.