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.

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.

“My desire to faithfully amplify the acoustic guitars I was building as a luthier led to the creation of our pickup company. 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