“My desire to faithfully amplify the acoustic guitars I was building as a luthier led to the creation of our pickup company. It became my life’s work to eliminate every obstacle to playing live acoustic guitar easy, inspiring, and fun. The AEG-1 is the realization of this philosophy and I’m incredibly proud of this instrument. I hope it brings you inspiration and joy for years to come!”
– Lloyd Baggs
The Baggs AEG-1 Acoustic Electric Guitar is the culmination of a lifetime dedicated to high-performance acoustic amplification, all rooted in the craftsmanship of a luthier. Our founder and master luthier, Lloyd Baggs, began his journey as a guitar maker, creating instruments for artists like Ry Cooder, Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, and Janis Ian. His deep respect for the guitar evolved into a quest to faithfully amplify his own instruments for live performance.
After years of studying the physics of acoustic instruments and pioneering advancements in pickups and electronics, the AEG-1 is the realization of everything we’ve learned about acoustic sound and amplification. Lloyd’s dual expertise as a luthier and a pickup designer allowed us to craft a guitar and its electronics in harmony, finely tuning the system for this instrument. With its remarkable acoustic properties, we were able to successfully amplify the AEG-1 with our most accurate system yet — the revolutionary HiFi Duet. Equipped with our award-winning HiFi Bridge Plate Pickups and our studio-quality Silo Microphone, the AEG-1 is versatile for any stage, big or small.
The Inside Story
The patent-pending neck support system of the AEG-1 is the foundation of its exceptional acoustic performance. Traditionally, the top and back of thin-bodied acoustic guitars are overbuilt to support the neck, which compromises the acoustic response. Our innovative approach liberates the top and back to be voiced independently without having to support the neck, resulting in greater sensitivity and an ideal acoustic response, all within a sleek and comfortable design.
Another benefit of the rock-solid neck support is that more string energy is transferred to the top, expanding dynamic range, enriching tonal depth, and enhancing low-frequency response. This contributes to the depth, warmth, and rich acoustic sound that was previously unattainable from an Acoustic-Electric guitar.
Why Ply?
“As a design enthusiast, I’ve been in love with the iconic mid-century plywood furniture of Charles and Ray Eames, and that of Eero Saarinen for as long as I can remember. Recognizing the strength, stability, freedom of design, and the beauty offered by what was then thought of as a lowly material, these designers elevated ply to luxury status. The ply of the AEG-1 is custom made in the U.S.A. of highly sustainable Poplar and offers the same qualities that inspired the Eames’ and Saarinen to embrace this material. It is strong, lightweight, and extremely stable, making it the perfect platform to support the resonant top and back of our guitar.” – Lloyd Baggs
HiFi Bridge Plate Pickups
At the heart of the HiFi Duet are two bridge plate sensors that deliver outstanding string balance, tone, clarity, and dynamics, faithfully capturing the guitar’s authentic voice. The design, materials, and precise size and shape of the pickups achieve a perfect balance between string vibration, body resonance, and feedback resistance, offering a truly unparalleled plug-and-play experience.
Silo Microphone
Machined from solid aluminum and crafted with precision, the Silo Mic brings studio-mic’d performance to your fingertips. Engineered with a controlled admittance pattern, the mic performs as if it were outside of the guitar, providing the openness and ambience of a studio mic with great isolation and feedback resistance. Its exceptional sound quality invites a comparison with your favorite studio microphones.
Multi-Pole Crossover System
The electronics feature an all-discrete studio grade preamp with a multi-pole crossover system that seamlessly blends the HiFi Pickups and Silo Mic for an inspiring feel and sound in any position. The highly versatile system ranges between direct and natural to open and airy and everywhere in between. As with all LR Baggs electronics, you can expect the same warmth, purity, low noise, and long battery life our circuitry is known for. The side-mounted controls offer quick access to master volume, pickup/mic blend, tone shaping, phase inversion, and a battery life indicator.
Payment Terms - Orders Internet orders may be paid for using the following methods: VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. For phone or mail orders you may pay money orders and cashier's checks by mail. Just call us at 773-525-7773 to place your order. All non-credit-card orders are subject to a 10-business-day hold. We do not accept international credit card or PayPal payments from international accounts. For international security reasons, please call the store to arrange a Bank Wire: +01-773-525-7773.
Shipping Charges - Taxes and Title Separate charges for shipping and handling will be shown on your order form. As a security precaution, initial orders and orders shipping to alternate addresses may be held for extended verification. We reserve the right to make partial shipments, which will not relieve you of your obligation to pay for the remaining deliveries. All items purchased from Chicago Music Exchange are made pursuant to a shipment contract. This means that the risk of loss and title for such items passes to you upon our delivery to the carrier. The published rates are for US domestic shipping only. Contact us directly if you wish to place an international order. For more information on our shipping policies, including rates, delivery times, and delays, please visit our website at chicagomusicexchange or call us at: 773-525-7773. If applicable, a separate charge for taxes will be shown on the invoice. We are required to collect sales tax on all orders shipped to Illinois.
3-Day / 15-day Return Policy If you are not completely satisfied with any product, return it for a full refund of the product purchase price, full credit, or exchange of your choice. We give you 3 days from the shipping date on Vintage instruments, and 15 days on New instruments. Credit card returns are issued a credit for purchase price. Refunds are made for product value only, excluding shipping and handling charges. New, Unopened items: You may return most NEW, untouched, unopened items within 15 days of delivery for a full refund. if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.) we'll also pay the return shipping costs. AmEx credit cards: Note that if your order was paid using an AmEx card we may pass on a 3.5% fee of the purchase price to process your refund. Vintage, Used items: We have to evaluate vintage and used guitars, amps, and other items on a case by case basis. We spend a lot of time with you and the item before your purchase to try to avoid any surprises after your purchase. AmEx credit cards: Note that if your order was paid using an AmEx card we may pass on a 3.5% fee of the purchase price to process your refund. You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, we strive to issue your refund sooner. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days). Send your return to: Chicago Music Exchange 3316 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL 60657 The following items are returnable only if defective OR unopened or unused: strings, harmonicas, microphones, cleaners, polishes, and polishing cloths. Software/soundware, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, and videos may be returned for credit only if they are in their original, sealed packaging. If defective, these items will only be exchanged for the same product. For complete details on our guarantees, shipping, and return policies, please contact our Customer Service Department at 773-525-7773; fax us at 773-525-2775; visit our website at www.chicagomusicexchange.com, or write us at Chicago Music Exchange, 3316 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657.