Official Luthiers Forum!

I've got someone who's interested in the Lyric vs. K&K. Gotta admit I'm interested in the design. Does anybody have any experience with it?

http://www.lrbaggs.com/pickups/lyric-ac ... microphone

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

Hi ya Wes!

We've installed countless LR Baggs systems and they are always well received by our clients. It's high quality stuff, installs easily, and IMHO delivers the goods at a decent price point too.

The Lyric is the same Tru-mic technology employed in the Anthem which also has a UST and the two can be blended at will for even more control.

The mic is so very good in my own experience with the Anthems that I would not hesitate to go the Lyric route too if this is what your client is interested in trying.

On another note mic placement is not nearly as critical as it can be with other systems that have stick-on transducers. Easy peeze, everyone's happy!

I have not been able to find any specs on the weight of the Lyric. Has anyone run across that?

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EddieLee

Thanks, Hesh! My immediate response was that Baggs is quality stuff and that the Lyric design looked very interesting. Reviews are good and I see no reason it wouldn't be a good design. I questioned the weight, too, and couldn't find a spec. Of course, that opens up the whole "mass is bad" debate..... Could be offset some with bridge pins for a retrofit or, as part of a new build, designed as a unit with bridge mass.

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

Any time Wes! I don't have weight specs either but I have handled this mic many times and it's feather light IMHO and should not be a consideration. It would be interesting to weigh an UST and the mic. my bet is that there is not much difference.

Cool. Have you actually had the chance to A/B against the K&K systems?

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

No never did a side by side of the two. Fishman Matrix systems are pretty good now too so the good news is that the choices are better for all concerned.

If it was for my own personal acoustic though based on my own experiences I would go for the Baggs Anthem unless I wanted a "modeling" system and then Rick Turner's excellent offerings (D-Tar) would be my choice. With the Lyric I'm sure it's a good bet too I just have not installed one personally yet.

A down side potentially of the tru-mic technology is the thing does not care what it picks-up so if you have an heckler in the audience and enjoy getting Fat Tire bottles thrown at you you can simply say what ever it is that you want to say to the heckler into the sound hole and off it goes for all to hear... Remember to duck though....

I can offer some personal experience. I installed a Lyric in the main guitar that I use for performing. I think it is great!

First, it is an easy installation. There is a normal sized end pin jack; the microphone sticks to the bridge plate via double sided tape; the volume wheel sticks to the soundhole edge via double sided tape; and the battery bag sticks to the headblock via double sided tape. All reversible, if needed.

Second, it sounds really, really good. It is not a contact transducer at all; it is just a PZM microphone. No undersaddle "quack", because it is not a UST. Because it is a PZM, and not a regular condenser (which is what other internal mics have been so far), it does not come out sounding boxy at all. It really sounds good and natural. Being inside the guitar actually gives it a lot of isolation, so it really doesn't pick up stuff from outside the guitar body.

Third, you really don't have to mess with it too much to get it to sound good, if you also invest in a Venue preamp. The mic and the preamp go together perfectly. I originally tried to use the Lyric with just a Para Acoustic DI, but it was not as good as the Venue. It took more piddling to get the tone the way I wanted it. With the Lyric and the Venue together, it all just comes out sounding great.

Fourth, it is way less cumbersome and restricting than my other good sounding alternatives, which are either a DPA 4099 or a regular external small diaphragm condenser. I am always worried that I'm going to step or tug on a cable with the DPA 4099 and it is going to fall off the guitar or get damaged, and an external mic is not ideal because I need to worry about standing or sitting in the right spot. The Lyric has all the mobility of a UST and a good enough sound to rival an external mic (for live use, anyway).

I have not compared the Lyric with anything other than what I have mentioned above, so I cannot comment on the K&K. I will say that the Lyric sounds like a microphone, and does not sound like a UST or a contact transducer. I highly recommend it.

I haven't but the mic is surprisingly light. I was concerned with the the mic falling off if the guitar got bumped, until I had a mic in my hands. It's so light I don't think it would be an issue. As Hesh said, install is a breeze. Just be sure to clean all the areas with Naptha that the peal and stick will be going.

Lyric Anthem They are both great.

The anthem (full version) is the best pickup I've ever used.