LR Baggs iBeam Acoustic Guitar Pickup

I bought one of these the first year they were out. They do sound like a microphone---just not a very good one. Okay for simple strummers, but if you really want to get on it, this is not something that's going to get you into Phil Keaggy / Tommy Emmanuel land. Like all mic type internal pickups, it sounds best when paired with an under-saddle pickup. Still you will be much better off using something like the LR Baggs LB6 combined with a real mini-mic such as a DPA 4061 or an AKG C516ML.

I play through a Zoom pedal/pre-amp with feedback filter. It replicates the sound of the guitar unlike magnetic PU's. I have both active and passive in my guitars. With external pre-amp you can save $40.00 and when you have a herd of guitars that is significant and no sound quality is compromised.

I just finished installing this pick up in my accoustic this evening. Put the strings back on and plugged her into my amp. I loved the sound! I couldn't be more pleased. The sound isn't synthetic. My guitar sounds like I have a high end mic on the sound hole. If you want a pick up that will duplicate the sound of your accoustic, then I recommend this pick up. Fairly easy to install if you have mechanical abilities.

This is a great pickup for your acousitc. I have been using mine for 3+years to play at church. Sometimes I plug directly into our sound mixer, sometimes I plug it in through an L.R. Baggs DI box. Sounds very natural, and has great tone. No battery to come loose inside the guitar! Since it doesn't have a battery inside when it is plugged directly into our mixer, I have to turn the gain up at the mixer. Not a problem just something to be aware of. Having the guitar plugged into a DI box allows me to adjust the volume (etc) during performances. I use this in a solid wood Epiphone Acoustic.