plug in active pickup

LR Baggs Five.O Active Ukulele Pickup Review

Need a pristine uke pickup? The LR Baggs Five.O offers clarity and stealth—but its true sonic depth demands deeper listening.

  • Overall Rating
  • Build Quality
  • Performance
  • Value for Money
  • Design
4.4/5Overall Score
The LR Baggs Five.O Active Ukulele Pickup is designed to amplify the natural sound of ukuleles while maintaining their acoustic integrity. It features a lightweight design, high-fidelity electronics, and a miniature volume control for seamless performance adjustments.
Specs
  • Weight: Less than a 9V battery
  • Dimensions: Not specified
  • Material: High-fidelity electronics
  • Color Options: Not specified
  • Warranty: Not specified
  • Brand: LR Baggs
  • Model Number: Five.O
  • Compatibility: Soprano, Concert, and Tenor Ukuleles
Pros
  • Lightweight design preserves the ukulele’s natural resonance, enhancing playability.
  • High-fidelity element captures the instrument's voice with transparency.
  • Miniature soundhole wheel allows for instant volume adjustments during performance.
  • 300 hours of battery life ensures long-lasting operation with low power consumption.
  • Low output impedance guarantees signal purity, preventing distortion.
  • Easy installation without permanent modification to the instrument.
Cons
  • Endpin jack compatibility may vary depending on the ukulele's existing strap button hole.
  • Primarily designed for ukuleles, not optimized for nylon-string guitars.
  • Specific dimensions for installation are not provided, requiring careful measurement.

The LR Baggs Five.O active pickup installs with understated grace, offering a pristine signal path, akin to a heart unburdened by chaos.

Its high-fidelity element captures the ukulele’s soul, while the miniature volume wheel offers control, a reminder that wisdom often lies in subtle adjustments.

Yet, beneath this tranquil simplicity lies a rigorous engineering feat, where 300 hours of battery life promises endurance, inviting further exploration of its sonic truth.

Key Takeaways

  • The lightweight, unobtrusive design preserves the ukulele’s natural resonance by weighing less than a 9V battery.
  • An undersaddle element utilizes discrete, honest electronics to capture the instrument’s voice with high-fidelity transparency.
  • A miniature soundhole wheel enables instant volume adjustments for seamless dynamic control during live performance.
  • An efficient 3V coin cell battery provides up to 300 hours of operation with incredibly low power consumption.
  • Low output impedance ensures the signal transmits without distortion, preserving the instrument’s authentic warmth.

Is the LR Baggs Five.O Easy to Install?

For those seeking to amplify their instrument’s voice without compromising its natural resonance, the LR Baggs Five.O offers a sanctuary of simplicity. The undersaddle pickup installs cleanly, a tribute to the beauty of unobtrusive support, while the miniature preamp rests within the endpin jack.

This lightweight design, weighing less than a 9V battery, allows the ukulele to sing without burden, a reminder that true strength often requires minimal presence. The soundhole volume control offers immediate adjustment, akin to the quiet wisdom of accessibility in service, ensuring the performer remains connected to their audience, their instrument, and the present moment.

Tone Test: Does the Element Pickup Sound Natural?

As the vibrating string seeks its truest voice, the LR Baggs Element pickup captures the essence of the ukulele with a fidelity born of pure, all-discrete electronics, a technology that serves as a tribute to the clarity found in honest signal paths. This pristine acoustic translation, akin to a soul laid bare, empowers the musician to offer a transparent gift to listeners.

While this system amplifies the ukulele with remarkable transparency, those looking for options to enhance best acoustic guitars will find similarly high-fidelity solutions available. Many novices find that a solid top guitar offers superior resonance compared to laminated alternatives.

The specialized design tracks every dynamic nuance, allowing one to serve the audience with unblemished truth, a reminder that authenticity resonates most deeply when technical precision aligns with a spirit willing to share its purest, unamplified song.

Volume Control and Live Performance Usability

While the purity of the signal reveals the instrument’s soul, the practical matter of sharing that voice requires a means of gentle regulation. The Five.O’s miniature soundhole wheel, akin to the modest discipline of quiet listening, allows the performer to serve the mix by instantly dialing back the ukulele’s intensity. It does so while faithfully reproducing the complex, woody tonal characteristics required by the best classical guitars.

This ensures their presence supports rather than overshadows the community’s harmony. This thoughtful accessibility empowers the musician to navigate dynamic changes without stepping away, a reminder that true stewardship involves responsive, humble adjustments. It fosters an environment where every note contributes to a collective, sacred resonance. Despite the common misconception that electric guitar pickups are the only viable path to amplification, this system proves that acoustic integrity can be preserved.

Power Specs: Battery Life and Output Impedance

Beneath the resonance of the strings lies the quiet discipline of power, where the system relies on a 3V Coin Cell battery to sustain its voice. This efficient energy source, drawing a mere 0.73mA, offers up to 300 hours of operation, a tribute to enduring presence, akin to a steadfast spirit. While the system requires best bass guitars to function correctly, the specific design ensures optimal performance.

With a low 3.6k output impedance, the Five.O guarantees signal purity, allowing one’s offering to reach the listener without distortion, faithfully translating the soul of the music.

  1. Endurance mirrors faith, providing 300 hours of consistent, reliable amplification.
  2. Purity of tone is preserved through low impedance, guaranteeing clarity of purpose.
  3. Efficient power usage reflects a stewardship of resources, honoring the gift of sound.

Final Verdict: Is the LR Baggs Five.O Worth It?

Standing at the crossroads of acoustic integrity and electronic necessity, the LR Baggs Five.O Active Ukulele Pickup presents itself not merely as an accessory, but as a vessel for sonic truth, where the practicality of installation meets the artistry of amplification.

Through the silent, enduring service of a 3V coin cell, which provides 300 hours of life, one finds a reminder that sustaining others requires quiet, consistent power. The 3.6k output impedance guarantees the faithful transmission of nuance, akin to how a life of service conveys empathy without distortion, preserving the authentic warmth of the original message.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the Included Endpin Jack Fit My Ukulele’s Existing Strap Button Hole?

Endpin jack compatibility depends on the instrument’s specific hole dimensions, one should measure carefully before installation. To best assist a user, providing the precise diameter of both their ukulele’s strap button hole and the pickup jack is recommended.

Is This Pickup Compatible With Tenor, Concert, and Soprano Ukulele Body Sizes?

Like a melody finding its home in any heart, this system serves faithfully across soprano, concert, and tenor vessels. Its unobtrusive presence allows the instrument’s true voice to resonate.

Offering clarity for the benefit of all listeners.

Does the Miniature Preamp Require a Permanent Modification to the Instrument’s Internal Bracing?

The miniature preamp’s design allows for installation without any permanent modification to the instrument’s internal bracing.

This feature is essential for those wishing to preserve the structural integrity of the ukulele while amplifying its sound.

Is the LR Baggs Five.O Pickup Suitable for Use With Nylon-String Guitars?

Like a voice finding its true resonance, this system sings primarily for the ukulele. While physically adaptable, it is a dedicated steward of the ukulele’s unique voice, not intended for the nylon-string guitar’s different sonic landscape.

Where Can I Purchase a Replacement CR2032 Coin Cell Battery When the Original Dies?

Replacement CR2032 batteries are common and available for purchase at most local drugstores or electronics retailers.

To assist users, one might check the pre-amp compartment beforehand, as some systems actually utilize the larger CR123A lithium cell.

Conclusion

The LR Baggs Five.O installs with unobtrusive grace, shielding the instrument’s natural resonance like a quiet faith, while the 300-hour battery life offers endurance akin to spiritual discipline.

The miniature volume wheel provides precise control, mirroring life’s balance between projection and peace. Ultimately, this pickup translates sonic truth, a reminder that clarity requires both technical fidelity, and an unwavering connection to the source.

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