L.R. Baggs Element Active System

This is a great pickup. I like it better than the RTS2. The RTS2 will noticably change the sound of your guitar acoustically. It is a soft strip so naturally it will dampen the sound. The element doesn't have this problem.
It holds a sound quite true to your guitar and will handle stage volumes even when you are playing with a bassist and drummer.
Volume balance can be a problem as with any under the saddle pickup, so be prepared to do some dickering. Be happy and thank the builder if you don't have to.

Simply the best pick up ever ....

Having installed and used several transducer pickups in the past, I installed the Element Active in a customers guitar fully expecting to have to use some type of external preamp in order to get the amplified signal to sound reasonably close to the quality of the "room" tone of the guitar. I was surprised to find that his pickup/pre is quite an improvement over the past Baggs and most other systems from other manufacturers.

It doesn't generate an over-EQ'd signal and having the miniature volume control mounted in the soundhole (an inovation that's been around for a while with LRB but still a natable feature) makes it pretty non-invasive for those who are concerned about damaging or the devaluation of a vintage instrument. The only noticeable alteration is drilling out the endpin to accept the preamp/jack.

It's actually pretty simple to install and requires very few tools so the less experienced tech can do it themselves with care and minimal tools. I typically recommend and install the iBeam but now I have both systems here in the shop and would feel completely comfortable endorsing both of them.

One other note, I've successfully installed the preamp internally and connected a small shielded cable and mini jack on the outside of a vintage 64 J-45 to avoid drilling any visible holes on the guitar. It worked quite well & I'll post some photos later on.

Useful in that it will fit the more obscure saddles like tenor guitars and mandolins etc. Only draw back i would say is that its a little light on the bass end. Other then that very nice

To update my previous review, Stew Mac was kind enough upon reading my review to offer a credit if I returned this pickup. I did return it, and so I give the five stars above for customer service (thank you, Larry), but still only one for the product.

I installed the LR Baggs Element Active (a Christmas gift) into my Gibson WM-45 last weekend, and had a chance to play it through the PA with a band yesterday. The reason I asked for this pickup over the K&K pure western or others was that it allegedly held up better before feedback in a band setting. What a mistake!

The WM-45 already has 90 degree holes for a Fishman Matrix, so I had to drill another hole (diagonally) for the pickup entry into the bridge slot, plus the extra area for the pickup at the other end of the bridge. (I am not a professional repairman, but I have installed Fishman and Duncan USTs and know what I'm doing.) The result? The EQ is boomy, and the high E string output isn't balanced with the B string -- it has less output. I don't have a Para DI (it has an active preamp, built in, right?) so I tried to use my Dano Fish & Chips EQ to fix things (with boost off), and instead, there are ugly loud pops every time I hit a string or chord with more than an average strum. It kept feeding back oddly on upper strings while playing at an average volume with the band through the PA on a flat setting.

I get better results with a cheap Dean Markley soundhole pickup and the Fish & Chips, and if I could return the pickup for a refund, I would.

I have installed several undersaddle pu's. I believe this was the easiest ever. I had the strap hole already bored and I had to fill in the saddle slot and re cut because of a depth problem. I cut a new saddle and fitted put new strings on and the pickup is highly responsive.

In the past I have used fishman,martin, barcus-berry, schatten, peizo pickups. This one seems to me to be less fragile than any of the others and the sound hole volume control is a great plus.

désolé, je ne parle pas anglais...

First time I have used StewMac; Order placed Monday, goods arrived in UK on Wednesday. Saved money on the pickup even with freight and tax, and arrived sooner than if I had placed order with UK supplier - Recommended. Now fitted to my Garrison Acoustic, which sounds as wanted - natural acoustic sound.

Had this installed on my custom Beckwith Strings "Baltimore" during construction. Definitely not my first UB pickup but definitely the best. The power is more than I've seen in any other preamped UB and the sound is totally natural.

I've had no problems with the pot mounting and found it to be very strong. Love the battery mounting: light and easily accessible with no springs or boxes or covers to break/loose. Battery life is long but should be checked (wet tongue to both contacts...feel the buzz!) during string changes. Jack is strong and firm and holds the strap well. Forget other brands with eq, effects and filters. Install this pickup system and do all that at the pa/box/amp.