thejtl Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I got my AJ back today from getting the endpin installed for the Baggs M1A I bought. The whole install cost me $18!!!! So I came home and plugged it into my Acoustic AG30 (not the best amp, I know but I got it for $160 and it sounds pretty decent. Pretty great actually. At least comparable to my SWR Cali Blonde from years gone by and a fraction of the cost.). Very impressed with the M1A. Natural sounding at first listen, like the guitar only louder, as they say. I could play as I would normally play and not feel as though I was losing any subtly or that I had to force a tone from the guitar. So I putzed around with it for a while and then I decided to pull out my '97 Martin D-15, which I've had since it was new and had a Fishman Natural I Active installed when I bought it. I've loved this guitar ever since I got it, but haven't played it much in the last couple years. I wanted to see how the Natural I stacked up to the M1A. In short, it didn't. For many years I have gotten compliment after compliment about how great the Martin sounds plugged in. i've toured the US and UK and soundmen everywhere have praised that guitar and pickup combo . The M1A/AJ combo blew it away. The Fishman sounded 2 dimensional. Just flat. I couldn't even hear the light but effective reverb and delay I'd had sweetening the Gibson/M1A combo. It was like driving a Saab 9-3 and then driving a Corolla; neither are bad cars, but the Corolla suffers greatly when compared to a much better designed, more powerful vehicle. Of course, they are totally different pickup systems. One is a piezo (Fishman), and one is a soundhole humbucker (M1A) but technological differences aside, what matters is sound and the M1A won going away. Wow. I can't wait for the couple gigs I have this coming week. If the M1A and the AJ respond as well in a live setting as they did in a really laid back comparison, I've really found the holy grail of my acoustic tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Don't you love it when a plan comes together? The real test, as you know, will be the gig. Nothing makes or breaks gear like a gig........the performance world. Here's hoping it will be everything you believe it to be on the stage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Wow, thats interesting. I had an M1a that just had a horrible, sort of a phasey, unatural tone. I sent it back to Baggs, they sent me another one and had a very similar situation. I bought a Fishman rare earth blend soundhole pickup and have not had same problem. I wonder what i was doring wrong, probably should have adjust more the pole pieces. I do like the look of the M1a though, cool and retro looking, but sounded herrible, at least in my case. Glad to hear its working for you ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajay Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Thanks for the review. I intend to install the new Bagg's M80 on my AJ. I have played several Gibson's with the M1 installed, and liked the amplified tone on all but one, and it was just a muddy sounding guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejtl Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 Yeah, I've read a few reviews of folks having trouble with this pup and I don't know why it would happen. Mine's rockin' One thing to remember is the pole pieces are adjustable and from guitar to guitar will need to be futzed with. I need to dial down the low E pole on mine. I'm gonna dial it in tonight or tomorrow in prep for Sunday's gig. Can't wait. Now if I could just get my back straightened out. Woke up this AM all out of whack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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