Pickup or mic?

[devilstone_the_bard]

Hi I have a Eastman "A" style with an oval sound hole. I am mostly looking to play Medieval and Renaissance style with an occasional blues gig, in mostly coffehouse / small club style venues. I have never played (mando) outside of small livingroom jams and I was trying to decide if I should go with a mic and an acoustic amp or pickup / pickup & preamp with an acoustic amp. Any suggestions, advice, war stories or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[mandroid]

opinion deleted http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Richard Russell]

Well, likely the best or should I say most realistic sound will come from using a mic. I use a PA system and play with one person and a dynamic mic (Shure Beta 57) is wonderful. I used to use a 50Watt keyboard amp and run keyboard, and two vocal mics through it and it was ok. I then went to a 100Watt keyboard amp and did the same thing. That was better. Now, I have a 300Watt Yamaha Stagepas pa system that is right on for us, as we typically play small to medium venues. The higher powered the combo amp, the better your chances of having decent sound without feeding back easily.
Pickups are nice, there are many out there to choose from. I did not like the sound of a piezo pickup I used, even with the a preamp to help warm up the sound (k&k big shot w/lr baggs gigpro). It just didn't do it for me. I had a cheap Fender mando w/ pickup once and that didn't do it for me. A good mic with a decent amp or pa gives a true sound to my ears. When you get into a high volume setting (band w/drums, electric instruments) the mic approach becomes difficult, with a lower volume band, however, it should work fine w/ a mic.

[devilstone_the_bard]

Thanks folks!

[Smyers]

devilstone,

As a semi-retired sound engineer, you are asking a question that is fraught with opinions and problems. #I have mic'd too many instruments/people to recall. #I have put up many posts on the subjects of microphones and PA systems here in the Cafe that you should be able to find.

There is certainly a big difference in the "sound" of the mando required for medival VS blues music. #Medival requires that "plunky" thinner sound to keep it "in period" while blues will require more growl and guts. #This will require you change you set-up for the two different types of music. #This might involve changing mics/position, EQ settings, picks, etc., etc.

Here's a few "rules" of thumb and some guidlines you might find useful for your purpose.

1 - You get what you pay for. #This rule supercedes all others. #Let me say it one more time... You get what you pay for.
2 - Mics sound more natural than pick-ups on acoustic instruments... at a distance from the instrument. (At least 12" away) #However, modern pick-ups of combo units for live applications are pretty good these days due to digital proccessing technology.
3 - Mics are more prone to feedback than pick-ups, all other things being equal.
4 - Condenser mics are the right type of mic to use on stringed instruments.
5 - When using mics, mic placement in relationship to the instrument is KEY! #Try many placements into a recorder to headphones to figure out what is right. #I generally start my placment at the neck joint of the instrument.
6 - #You will need an equalizer specific for the instrument.
7 - DO NOT ignore mic preamplifier quality and quietness/noisyness in your sound chain. #This can affect the sound more than you can imagine, not to mention have a serious adverse effects on feedback.
8 - If using a mic, you will be more locked to your stage position, unless the mic is instrument mounted. #However, a fixed floor stand mic position can be used for volume and effect control by moving you position in relationship to the mic.
9 - No matter what else you spend on equipment, nothing will rise above the weakest link, especially your transducers. (Loudspeakers, mics & pick-ups) #eg.: It makes no sense to use a $500 microphone when you have $400 PA system or are using an instrument amplifier as your "PA". #While this point is last, it certainly isn't least. #Common sense should rule in this area. #This of course all goes hand in hand with point #1.
10 - As you change equipment in your audio chain (and you will change equipment) to improve something, the next weak link will rear it's head.
11 - What you think sounds good may not be what someone else thinks sounds good. #This is a very subjective thing. #Just know that there is a big difference between a $300 set-up and a $2,000 set-up, referring back to point #1. #Finding that point of diminishing return is the trick.

Obviously, you can spend a whole lot more money for this equipment that you spent for your Eastman if you want to. #I would guess that you don't want to do that, so for cost VS flexibility VS sound quality, I would probably go with a Fishman combo (M-200-C) or similar pick-up with their Pro-EQ and a good instrument amplifier. #I would probably turn to the used market for the amplifier. #If you will be playing through a PA most of the time, you won't need this amplifier. #This would make for a one time purchase with you not needing to add anything else in down the road. #All this would still set you back in the $800, after pick-up installation. #This still costs more than your Eastman most likely. #Just keep point #1 in mind whatever your decision. #There are cheaper routes, but based upon the flexibility you are after, this would be a good choice. #This isn't the only choice, but a good one.