Bowed strings vibrate in a left and right motion. That left and right energy is transferred through the “heart" of the bridge. Instead of just sticking a pickup to the violin, we created a pickup that became one with the bridge. We cast a featherweight sensor into an elite-quality maple bridge right near the heart and offered it as a bridge replacement system.
By integrating the sensor into the bridge, we maximized energy transfer and sensitivity. The transducer was designed to respond to the bridge’s left and right motion, significantly reducing finger and body noise, while lowering the possibility of feedback and fully capturing the violin’s natural dynamics.
The Baggs Violin Pickup was born when renowned LA session violinist Novi Novog heard an acoustic guitar amplified by the LB6 and immediately reached out to Lloyd to build one for her violin. Lloyd initially hesitated due to time and logistics, but Novi’s persistence won him over. Lloyd’s background as a cellist helped him understand the feel and mechanics of bowed strings, and his time with the Catgut Acoustical Society informed his knowledge of Stradivarius instruments and acoustical measuring techniques.
By building the pickup directly into the bridge, we simplified the chain of amplification, resulting in a more natural and dynamic violin tone. The Baggs Violin Pickup has become the go-to pickup for violinists around the world, allowing them to achieve maximum stage volume with outstanding feedback resistance.
Instrument: 4-String Violin
Type: Piezo
Position: Bridge Replacement
Active/Passive: Passive
Preamp: No (external preamp recommended)
Controls: No
Power Source: No
Included: Violin Pickup
