LR Baggs Anthem SL Acoustic Microphone / Preamp System with Tru Mic Technology

The Element has worked very well for me overall but it has tended to be a bit boomy on the bass, sometimes verging on feedback and a bit harsh on the higher frequencies. The Anthem add the microphone into the mix and gives a more balanced sound and a crisper bass. An evolution of the Element performance.

After the original pickup system on my Taylor acoustic failed during critical shows on stage (after 9 years of heavy use, to be fair), I looked for an efficient new system that would give me a natural acoustic sound without needing a preamp or EQ, and without feedback problems. After doing a bit of research of forums and product reviews, and even the installation instructions, I decided to order the LR Baggs Anthem SL. After 8 months of using this system, I can confidently say it is fantastic - easy to use, no feedback ever, and a good solid natural sound. Most of all, it is dependable on stage!

Installed in a small body 00 style guitar.

I play fingerstyle as well as strumming.

Absolutely love the tone of my guitar with this pickup. Every gig I play I get compliments. My sound guy friend who is hardly ever impressed with the sound of pickups is actually really into these now.

The volume trim for the mic is a little fiddley, but i think I finally found the sweet spot... open sounding, without sounding too jangley.

Battery life seems to be pretty good...

I've tried both versions of the Anthemâ"¢ and I actually prefer the SL because I hardly ever use the extra features, and the other version seems to only fit on certain types of guitars due to the lack of clearance for the bracing... although if you plan on playing with a full band sometime, the blend control will come in handy for sure.

I installed this in my 2002 Gibson J200 Western Classic. I replaced the Baggs M1 Active soundhole pickup, which I dearly loved, but felt was too intrusive of the unplugged acoustic sound of my guitar, due to the size and depth of the pickup (it goes far down into the soundhole and blocks mids and highs). So I took a chance & switched to the Anthem SL, hoping that it would sound as good electrically as the M1, but give me back the full, unaltered acoustic sound of my guitar when unplugged.
It certainly does all of that, and the amplified sound is, unbelievably, even slightly better than the M1. That in itself is a minor miracle!
I was really afraid of dropping more money and not being as happy as before, but the Anthem SL really came through for me, colors flying.
I will say that it's a little tricky to install - probably best left to a pro if you're not pretty adept at these things - and takes some patience to balance the pickup with the mic, but in the end the result is nothing short of fabulous. It even allows you to play without a feedback buster or soundhole cover of any kind, with no feedback screech or boominess. Furthermore, it's durn near invisible (just a small volume button hiding in the underside of the sound hole).
It's about a hundred bucks cheaper than the regular Anthem System, which is more "e-q-able" on the fly, but man, this baby SINGS! 'Nuff said! Now off with ya - just you go out and getcherself one and grin for a change.