LR BaggsiBeam Active System with Volume Control for Steel String Guitar

For starters, I had the LR Baggs iBeam installed in an acoustic Seagull guitar.At first, I was a little skeptical of buying this pickup. Fortunately there were just enough positive reviews for me to decide to buy it. I am glad I did. The installation was very easy. About an hour max if the professional installer knows what he is doing. The sound quality is great. I haven't experienced any feedback (as some reviews said there was a little) and I play in a worship band with a backup guitarist, drummer, bassist, keyboard, three singers etc. The whole nine yards. I love this pickup and I have seriously considered replacing the pickup in my Dean with the LR Baggs iBeam as well. I have received so many positive comments about how much better I sound when I play, and I have only had it installed about a month! Of course, it's not me that sounds better; it's the guitar.

Product works great. 1 star deducted because listing said it contains an installation jig like previous ones I bought. But it was not in box. Seller made it right.Update..Another star deducted because the adhesive used for battery bag is garbage..it does not hold very long before breaking free during performance. Whoever approved that adhesive should be fired.

It was easy to install in my D-28. I have the Anthem system in a couple other guitars. They have a mic inside and a transducer under the saddle. I wanted something different in my Martin. Now I’m blown away with the sound. Beats Fishman and other LR Baggs like the element. Don’t pay attention to the lower reviews. It does not feed back any more than any other pickup in an acoustic guitar. I play live gigs at maximum volume I can get away with. This works for me

I've installed 100 of these. Simple to install (if you are a professional, the company does not advise home or hobbyist installation), and easy to use. Makes a properly set up cheap guitar sound good, and makes a good guitar sound GREAT! I have used these to replace the older "Expression" system found in many Taylor guitars, and the difference is dramatic. One of my customers said "Hey! Now my Taylor sounds like your Gibson!" Make sure that you get the proper model, there are different models for steel string and nylon string guitars, and they are NOT interchangeable. Warm and woody sounding, this bridgeplate transducer sounds full and rich, not thin and tinny, like many under-saddle pickups. AND...unlike some FISHMAN products, I have NEVER had an issue with anything made by L.R.Baggs! This is my "go to" acoustic guitar pickup, and I recommend it to every customer that asks.

This is a great pick up. Don't be put off by my 1 star deduction. I'm being very picky. Especially for the price. If you're handy it's not too hard to install in your acoustic. The only nerve wracking part is that you will have to drill the strap pin at the back of the guitar out a little. If you're not confident about this pay a guitar tech to install it. Installing the pick up itself onto the under saddle is a bit fiddly, but not that hard. I threw a mirror inside the guitar so I could see what I was doing a bit better. I adjusted the position to try and get the sound just right, but I don't think it's quite as particular as some people make out.Sound: it's ever so slightly 'boomy'. It sounds very clean and clear overall, but there is a hint of boom about it (as I think has been reported elsewhere). I think this pick up would work best when connected via an equalizer of some sort so you can adjust the sound to your liking. I did have some feedback issues with a friend's amp, but I'm not sure whether that was specific to his set up. I need to look into that a bit more. I tend to connect into an interface rather than an amp and that works fine for me, but if I have more problems with feedback, I think I'll experiment with a soundhole cover and update this review.In case you're interested I installed this in a Martin Dreadnought guitar. It hasn't changed the acoustics of the guitar at all, unless for the better.Good pick up, I'll probably try the lyric next time just for the hell of it, but LR Baggs are great. Their customer service is EXCELLENT as well which is worth knowing.

I like LR Baggs ibeam pickups however their quality control is gotten pretty bad. I have 4 guitars with various LR Baggs pickups. I was replacing a element pickup which was ruined by leaving the battery in the guitar while I wasn’t using it. I forgot the battery was in the guitar for several years. Consequently it corroded the pickup jack. I decided to install an ibeam because I like the tone better than the element pickup. The new kit came without the installation jig or wire stick down tabs or an extra battery adhesive pad. Pretty shabby situation I would say. Installing the ibeam pickup without the jig is pretty challenging.

I just received the LR Baggs iBeam Active Accoustic Pickup with the volume control. I went to my luthier, he says that it was a good choice for my flattop Eastman AC712, he did a very good job ( caution : the pikup positioning is really changing the sound/tone). Then I could start testing it on my AER Accoustic Amp... and it is georgous, it sound like none of the pick up I ever heard. I have some very good BBand undersaddle system with preamp and an the EQ on another guitar, but even if it's sound good, it is night and day. The iBeam is very close to what you could have with a good mike in the front of your guitar ! Also as I have a percusive playing style it is great because the iBeam is (unlike undersaddle system)taking the sound of anything happening on the instrument, to the noise of your finger on the strings to the perc on the body..great, easy to use, good output level. I will add it a Para DI box to "sculpt" the sound and to gain few db that's all. Great product.

Works great.. watch out if your guitar had an X Brace directly under the saddle, this makes it difficult to position correctly. I ended up placing it behind the bridge pins, as opposed to directly under the saddle. No idea if this will prove detrimental to tone quality

Sound reproduction of guitar is amazing. After drilling the 1/2 in hole.Its a breeze to install. Can use the jig.But I found it easier to get a mirror and line up the receiver in front of the bridge pins on bridge plate inside, underneath saddle. Thanks and God Bless LR Baggs.