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Photo credit: L.R. Baggs
If you are an electric guitarist looking for electric guitar playability, but acoustic looks and real sound then the new L.R. Baggs AEG-1 could be the guitar for you. Guitar Thrills tested out the Baggs AEG-1 in live gig situations, although we had to return it before taking it to a songwriter round. The model that L.R. Baggs provided was the AEG-1 Sunburst in the line which features a Sitka Spruce top. There are many things that set the Baggs AEG-1 apart from other acoustic/electrics, but the main one is the absence of a conventional sound hole. Lloyd Baggs designed this guitar from the ground up going through many variations over the past four years before releasing the guitar in its current state.
The middle portion of the body is cut from poplar plywood, and the suspended middle sound hole is part of that design. The back, top and neck are attached separately and the custom designed Hi-Fi Duet with Hi-Fi pickups and Silo mic custom are tuned specifically for this instrument. The neck is attached to the plywood portion of the body so the top and back vibrate independently without the deadening effects of a neck secured to the top. When you play the AEG-1 acoustically it isn’t as loud as a traditional acoustic, but it will get the job done in most spaces. The guitar really shines when plugged into an amplifier or PA. Having the ability to mix between the under bridge Hi Fi pickups and the Silo mic makes it possible to achieve a realistic miced acoustic guitar sound. And fortunately, with the way the AEG-1 is designed you won’t get feedback at higher stage volumes either. Controls on the Baggs guitar are straight forward with mic blend, volume, tone, battery life indicator light and phase inversion. Battery access is super simple at the lower end of the body with a slider button to access it and with 120 hours of play time you won’t need to change it frequently.
What surprised me the most is that there are no sharp edges anywhere on the AEG-1 as there are on most acoustics. The top and back are fully rounded and fit into your body smoothly, kind of like a well carved electric guitar does. The neck profile is a slim “C” shape made from African mahogany wood with an Indian Rosewood fretboard. Baggs currently offers three different models of the AEG-1 the Sunburst Sitka Spruce (as tested), Natural Engelmann Spruce and Torrefied Sitka Spruce (which I want to try.) The L.R. Baggs are priced competitively at $1,599 and include a nice gig bag. The playability and sound quality plugged in impressed me and the sound engineers. The body thickness is only 2.5” so it won’t be uncomfortable to electric guitarists. If you’re in the market for an acoustic/electric guitar that can do it all, get your hands on the new L.R. Baggs AEG-1. Lloyd and his team put a lot of effort into making this an incredible instrument and tool for players and not just a conglomeration of cool innovations.www.lrbaggs.com
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