Pickup advice

[yevri]

I apologize if there are topics on this already, couldn't find any when searching and browsing, but I need a pickup for a mandolin.

I am thinking of buying a Michael Kelly Legacy (for $350) and will need to add a pickup for amplifying on stage with an acoustic-rock style band. I don't think I trust using a mic. I have a Marshall acoustic amp that I run my acoustic guitar through (as well as my electric guitar which runs through a Line 6 Pod).

I've been told that I shouldn't need a preamp since I have an acoustic amp. Any ideas on a good pickup to use? I've heard Fishman is the way to go.

Also, with my two guitars taking up the two channels on the amp, any creative ideas on plugging in the mandolin? I use acoustic guitar 80% of the night, and mandolin should take up some of that now, and electric 20% of the night. Any switch box foot pedal that would be good for acoustic guitar and mandolin?

I guess while I'm at it, what about a stand for the mandolin (already have two guitar stands taking up space on the stage, a combo might be good)? I don't ask for much, do I?

Thanks!

[wichitamando]

I use a Fishman pickup running into a Fender Acoustasonic. I originally ran straight to the amp, but now I am running through a Presonus tube preamp to warm things up a bit. It sounds decent enough.

Maybe you could use an a/b switch/pedal to run both guitars through one channel...

[mandroid]

Your amp have a button to switch to a piezo preamp/magnetic pickup?

A couple stomp EQs, one for each would allow some individual presets for each instrument [roland has one #twin pedal pedal eq with settings memory, but they're pricy, #2 MXR 10 bands would be cheaper,

A string swing #3 way stand #has 3 neck cradles that adjust in height #individually. and #'fork' will bend inside the cushioning for a variety of neck widths, mulling over getting one myself.
3 way stand (http://www.fqms.com/Stand_String_Swing_3-Way_P13182C1055.cfm)

I bought a Schertler, perhaps on American miserly wages I have to keep justifying the Swiss price in the face of a wallymart world, but I should have gotten it years ago, and saved on having any pickups installed.
its so darned easy to mute the signal and stick it on another instrument.


But then again I don't have a duckwalk as part of my show.

[Chuck Gentry]

The Fishman pickup which is actually a bridge with an integrated pickup through their preamp works admirably directly into a PA.

[rich.baum@sbcglobal.net]

I just got out my old Barcus Berry pickup, dusted it off and stuck it under the strings...

WOW it's fabulous !!! I will play it on stage tonight and let you know.
I was using a Fishman but I play a radious fingerboard and the bridge was not and so rather than file down the bridge I tryed the Barcus Berry and I will go with that..

[Oliver Fuchs]

I am very happy with my baggs/sullivan bridge-pickup. But you need to EQ the "piezo-quack" a little. The bridge itself is good too.

[david blair]

I would say to use a small stick on pickup that you can remove easily and use for other instruments too. The Fishman "dot" or Schatten designs sell these for around $70. You can also go to Radio Shack, buy a six dollar piezo buzzer. Remove the element carefully, breaking the housing off, and attach it to the the bridge of your mandolin with super glue, cover with candlewax. Run the wires to an installed endpin jack available for ten dollars. Good to go. Lots of volume, no feedback. If you are electrically inclined you could also make a pre-amp with battery power, and a 10db resistor installed.

[yevri]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I will check into those options.

[Ken Sager]

I would say to use a small stick on pickup that you can remove easily and use for other instruments too. The Fishman "dot" or Schatten designs sell these for around $70. You can also go to Radio Shack, buy a six dollar piezo buzzer. Remove the element carefully, breaking the housing off, and attach it to the the bridge of your mandolin with super glue, cover with candlewax. Run the wires to an installed endpin jack available for ten dollars. Good to go. Lots of volume, no feedback. If you are electrically inclined you could also make a pre-amp with battery power, and a 10db resistor installed.
I think you mean 10k ohm resistor... I've done this and it works well, but piezo's still sound like piezo's... A small electet condenser sounds better.

YMMV,
Ken

[5to12string]

DONT BUY FISHMAN JUNK!!!
Buy K&K its the best sounding system out there!!!
http://www.kksound.com/index.html

[david blair]

Posted: Oct. 31 2006, 02:26 #

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(DONT BUY FISHMAN JUNK!!!
Buy K&K # its the best sounding system out there!!!)


I take it you're an investor with KKsound?

[halfamind]

I'm a big fan of the K&Ks myself... liked the Twin Spot quite a bit, til we played a gig with a good soundman, and then I fell in love with it... remarkably "un-quacky".

...and ya can't take a stick to the price, either!

[5to12string]

No I dont have interests in K&K sound!!
I do however have an interest in the best sound I can get without listening to people hung up on brand names and paying too much.
Scott

[Mandovark]

I play my mandocello with a McIntyre feather pickup mounted internally which I run into a Fishman Pro-EQ Platinum pre-amp and from that into the PA. The McIntyre sounds fairly natural but a little thin. To my ears, it needs the EQ on the pre-amp.

You probably won't strictly need a pre-amp with an acoustic amp, but you might find that you want one. My Marshall amp colours the sound a little more than I like: these days I tend to use it as a monitor and run a direct line from the pre-amp to the PA (obviously this depends on whether you're connecting to a PA!).

If you're playing multiple instruments regularly, and if you use a PA with phantom power, you might consider the Orchid acoustic preamp (http://www.orchid-electronics.co.uk). It's not the cheapest, but it's designed for multi-instrumentalists who need to switch between instruments with minimum fuss. Sounds great with guitar, mandolin and mandocello.

[yevri]

Thanks for the great advice, Mandovark. I use a Marshall acoustic amp and run directly from the back of that to a PA system - whatever the house system is (unless we have hired someone for a hall or a festival). If it's just myself or in a duo or trio, then I use a small Peavy PA and speakers and usually skip using my amp.

[thiggins]

I use a Fishman M-100 saddle bridge pickup, plugged into a Fishman Aura, then into a Fishman Loudbox 100. Then, direct from the Loudbox to the board from the channel direct out. Works great, sounds great, and I'm in control. Loud as I want to be.

Tim

[david blair]

Hey Scott,
I had a friend over the other day with a KK installed, and it sounds good! My problem is that every pick up attached to the top changes the accoustic sound of my instrument. So I put a small and very light p/u on the bridge, and combine with a mini condensor mic.
The best sounding piezo are the cable type, in my opinion.
David