Gibson have teamed up with acoustic pickup experts Baggs, creating a ‘next-generation’ pickup system which they say delivers the most natural-sounding live tone ever achieved from an acoustic guitar. The HiFi DNA is already an option on a range of Gibson’s Modern and Original Collections guitars, and will soon be available as a standalone product that can be fitted to any acoustic guitar. 

The new system is said to represent a major leap forward in acoustic amplification. At the heart of the design is a dual Class-A preamp architecture that runs each of the system’s sensor through its own custom-voiced channel before mixing them into a single output. The approach has been designed to preserves the purity and articulation of each signal, and the company’s say it delivers a refined, balanced and high-resolution output that avoids the unintended interactions that are common in traditional summed pickup designs. 

The sensors themselves are also a new design, and are lighter, larger and more responsive than the elements used in typical pickup systems, allowing the HiFi DNA to capture both string detail and body resonance with “remarkable accuracy”. The benefits extend beyond tonal quality, too, with the new system said to offer a gain-before-feedback level that’s comparable to under-saddle pickups, all while maintaining a far more natural sound character. 

“HiFi DNA is a big leap forward — dual sensors with their own independently optimised preamps keep each signal pure and delivers unprecedented fidelity with the same gain before feedback as our acclaimed Element Under Saddle Pickup. The name DNA speaks to our character as relentless innovators and to what this new sensor can do. It’s lighter, more flexible and more responsive. Less mass and stiffness means more life, more breath, more truth from the guitar.” — Lloyd R. Baggs, Founder of Baggs

The new HiFi DNA pickup is now available worldwide on a wide range of instruments across Gibson’s Modern and Original Collections ranges. a standalone version for individual purchase will be available soon. More information can be found on the Gibson website.

www.gibson.com/en-gb/pages/gibson-acoustic-baggs-hifi-dna