Tell me if this has ever happened to you: You pick up a gorgeous acoustic guitar. It resonates with life as you play it. It breathes, it sings, and you absolutely love how it sounds…until you plug it in. Suddenly, that warm, woody tone turns harsh, cold, thin, or completely hollow.
If you’ve ever plugged into a sound system and instantly hated what you heard, you are not alone. We’re here to fix that.
Over my 13 years working in customer service at Baggs, I’ve talked with hundreds of acoustic players from every corner of the globe. If there is one thing I’ve learned from those conversations, it’s that there is no one-size-fits-all acoustic pickup.
The “ideal” acoustic tone is entirely subjective, and every player has a completely unique environment and expectation for how their guitar should sound and perform. With that said, if you want to find an acoustic pickup that will both sound the way you want it to and perform well in your real-world playing environments, it’s helpful to understand the different types of pickups and what they do best.
Understanding Different Pickup Types
The most common acoustic pickups typically fall into one of five categories. There are multiple pickup options in each category, but they will generally have similar specs and performance.
1. Undersaddle Pickups (e.g. Element, Element VTC, Session VTC)
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What it is: A thin, flat piezo strip placed directly beneath your guitar’s saddle to capture physical string pressure.
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Pros: The ultimate professional workhorse. Undersaddles are incredibly stable, provide clear transient attack, and have solid resistance to feedback in most guitars.
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Cons: Can sound one-dimensional or “quacky,” especially if you have an aggressive strumming style.
- Who it’s for: Since undersaddle pickups are so common and versatile, they are used by touring professionals and beginning musicians alike.
2. Magnetic Soundhole Pickups (e.g. M1, M1A, M80)
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What it is: A soundhole-mounted pickup that uses a magnet to capture string resonance. Baggs pickups in this category also use built-in body sensitivity for a more natural sound.
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Pros: Easy, non-invasive installation. Mid-heavy tone that cuts through in any mix and superior resistance to feedback.
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Cons: Imparts a distinct, mid-heavy, “electric” aesthetic and color to your tone.
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Who it’s for:
Players looking for a temporary, retro, or highly stylized vibe that handles roaring stage volumes with ease.
3. Soundboard Transducers (e.g. HiFi)
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What it is: Lightweight sensors attached directly under the soundboard (typically on the bridge plate inside the body).
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Pros: Captures the actual movement, woodiness, and dimensional resonance of the guitar top rather than just raw string vibration. Non-invasive, peel-and-stick installation (for the Baggs HiFi).
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Cons: Because the guitar top is highly sensitive, some pickups are more prone to feedback than other types. It’s worth noting that our HiFi pickups are exceptionally resistant to feedback compared to other pickups in this category.
- Who it’s for: Players who want a true “my guitar but louder” experience without altering their original bridge setup.
4. Internal Microphones (e.g. Lyric)
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What it is: A small condenser microphone mounted inside the guitar body. Options from different manufacturers range in quality and performance depending on design.
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Pros: Nothing captures the real “air” and natural depth of the instrument like a real microphone.
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Cons: Highly susceptible to environmental conditions and feedback issues, even at lower volumes.
- Who it’s for: Acoustic purists playing in pristine, highly controlled, low-volume settings who refuse to compromise on realism.
5. Combination Systems (e.g. Anthem, Anthem SL, HiFi Duet)
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What it is: A master system blending two (or more) separate technologies together, such as an internal microphone paired with an undersaddle pickup, or a soundboard transducer mixed with a magnetic source.
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Pros: The definitive best of both worlds. You can blend the air and nuance of a mic/transducer with the rock-solid structural stability of an undersaddle or magnetic pickup.
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Cons: Historically more complex to dial in, though modern engineering has simplified the user interface.
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Who it’s for: Professional players who need the natural sound of a mic, without compromising on feedback resistance.
Real-World Scenarios: Finding Your Match
Personal taste is a significant factor, but choosing a pickup largely comes down to defining your environmental needs as a player and choosing a pickup that will give you the sound you want, anywhere you perform.
This list of scenarios is oversimplified to say the least, but it should help to outline some of the ways these pickups work so that you can start defining your own needs as a player.
Scenario A: The Solo Singer-Songwriter
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Environment: Local coffee houses, boutique wineries, intimate listening rooms, or church sanctuaries. Low to moderate stage volume through a small PA or dedicated acoustic amplifier.
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Goal: Natural warmth, woodiness, and detail that can still handle moderate sound levels without feedback.
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My Top Recommendations:
Scenario B: The Full Band Performer
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Environment: A high-energy stage backed by a hard-hitting drummer, electric bass, and keys. Floor wedge monitors are pointing directly at your guitar top.
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Goal: Feedback suppression, high-mid cutting power for a loud mix.
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My Top Recommendations:
Scenario C: The Discerning Vintage Player
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Environment: You own an heirloom acoustic, a pre-war classic, or a highly valuable handmade instrument. You want to amplify it, but you absolutely draw the line at structural modifications.
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Goal: Excellent tone with zero drilling, filing, or structural alterations to the bridge, top, or saddle.
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My Top Recommendations:
Scenario D: The Big-Venue Touring Artist
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Environment: Solo or minimal accompaniment sets in 1,000-capacity rooms. In-ear monitors are used, but the main front-of-house PA system is loud and demanding.
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Goal: Studio-quality, album-grade depth that scales safely to arena-sized speakers without losing its acoustic identity.
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My Top Recommendations:
Take Control of Your Tone
These examples should help you determine which environments you need to handle and which pickup qualities are the most important to you.
If you have the opportunity to try different pickups at your local guitar shop, it can be incredibly helpful not only to hear a pickup for yourself, but to connect with how it feels in your hands.
If you still have questions or aren’t sure what to do next, feel free to reach out to our support team here at Baggs! We live and breathe acoustic tone every day, and we’re always here to help you dial in a live sound that you genuinely love. You can contact us directly at support@baggs.co or by phone at (805) 929-3545.
Baggs: Obsessive Audio Innovation Since 1975