LR Baggs Gigpro Acoustic Guitar Preamp

I've been super impressed with this preamp. I thought I was only buying what was basically a volume knob with a phase button. It has a great gain function, and the EQ works really well. Although it's only hi and low, the EQ is powerful, especially with the low end sweep. It makes passive pickups sound great and works well with non-passive pickups as well. I couldn't see myself playing without one now that I have it.

Used for recording and with Worship Band at church.

Feels solid, has gain adjustment and phase switch, very portable, easily fits in my guitar case. I do not like it that I have to remove two screws to change battery. Also no visual led when gain is set too high and it is starting to distort signal, natural loudness of acoustic guitar can make it harder to notice distorted signal sent to pa or monitor. Most of the time I use it patched between di pass through and cheap powered monitor on stage when playing acoustic-electric guitar next to grand piano. Or just patch it between guitar and other cheap powered monitor during rehersals when I need to amplify my acoustic-electric guitar without using a lot of gear. Even with my guitar tone adjustment set to least amount of bass it is still too much when strumming it a little heavier, having this little device allows me to adjust my eq and switch the phase in no time and spend more time playing and less time setting up. Also I wish the output signal was a little stronger.

This little thing is great to have. I hang it on my pants pocket with a 3-ft cable to the guitar. It gives me self-defense from a sound guy who may not know or care about what he's doing. I have at least some control over bass, treble and volume. My pickup is passive, and with the gain up I can give a nice signal to the sound guy. However, if he chooses to leave me sounding high and twangy with no bass, I can at least boost my base up loud enough to be heard. This preamp can make my guitar sound very even from low to high. Love the sound and that it gives me some control, since I don't have any controls on my guitar. Buy this if you need a simple, cheap solution. And the notch helps me take out boominess or other offensive frequencies. Pretty much idiot proof.

I needed a preamp that I did not have to plug in to AC. and that was small enough to fit in my pocket. This Was just what the doctor ordered.

I'm writing this because another reviewer gave the product a low score because it did not do what he expected. He said he plugged in his "pro mag" pickup. There's the problem - this should be used with peizo pickup, not magnetic! I mainly use mine with a custom handmade (by Dan Altilio) thinline acoustic-electric steel string with a L.R. Baggs bridge pickup. The L.R. Baggs Gigpro not only gives me more volume, it also helps me control my tone. The trim pot is excellent for controlling bass boom on one end and treble twang on the other. Most people will use it to take out the "boominess." The "invert" button is useful when the phase is off between the guitar and the PA. Setting the invert switch is a matter of deciding which setting sounds best. One setting might be more natural, but sometimes the other setting, which sounds "filtered," is the better choice. The tone and volume controls do what they're supposed to - nothing more, nothing less! The battery life is good, and this unit does not suck all of the power out of the battery every night like some other units. The only thing that I don't like about the preamp is the clamp is not tight when attached to the guitar strap and it slips around rather staying in one place where I want it to. If you can get by not using one of these and plugging directly into the board, then that is great. I usually run my Martin direct. But if your guitar is thin and needs a litle help, then this is a great preamp that does exactly what it is designed to do, and it does it well! Don't bother with all of those digital sampling devices - if you want the guitar to sound good amplified, you simply must have a good sounding guitar to begin with. Put your money intl the guitar, not into the electronics!