this is an old post, but just in case...
the LR Baggs is great. I've used it as both a preamp and a DI for my acoustic violin with pickup, and it's never been too hot for anything. Keep in mind that whoever wrote those reviews on harmony-central were playing guitars, not fiddles (i'm not sure if that would account for it, but it might).

you've probably already gotten a DI of some sort. I'd recommend getting a better pickup than the fishman. I used the fishman until recently and always thought it was terrible, as does everyone else i've ever talked to about it.