pickups

[mando-in-kingwood]

Bought a Dean Markley Artist Transducer Acoustic Guitar pickup and put it on my Japanese era Kentucky KM-700, middle of the bridge. Ran it straight into the board, no preamp.

Great acoustic sound..............I would definitely recommend this pickup to anyone !

[mando-in-kingwood]

Any opinions??

[mando-in-kingwood]

Wow, no responses ! Anyone tried this?

[pickinBob]

Hey how about price and where you got it and how ws the service....etc. web links.....?

[phynie]

I have one that you stick to the top with some putty. Works well for live applications. Sounds a little thin but if you mix is with a mic, it warms right up. Definitley worth the $45 investment.

[mando-in-kingwood]

I paid $45 at Guitar Center. No service problems.

Phynie mentioned that it sounded a little thin......I play sometimes thru a Crate amp and thru a sound board and would not say it sounds thin at all.

Before buying the P/U, a tried it out and am really surprised at how good the sound is.

BTW, Rickey Skaggs uses a Barcus Berry Hot Dot (which is no longer made) and the Dean Markley uses the same type of transducer.

[mandoJeremy]

I also use the Hot Dot and I would have to say that even if it is the same type of transducer (as most piezos are!) the key to the Hot Dot is the fact that you wedge it in between the base and saddle of the bridge. #That would seem to be where most vibrations are. #I don't think anyone can replicate the Hot Dot and if they could, they definitely should! #Also, the Hot Dot is not thin but it is missing the warmth which is why I use the mini condenser, a Countryman Isomax IIC. #Blend them together and you have the perfect combination.

[Danny]

Mando in #kingwood,
I just received my artist Transducer pickup in the mail yesterday, and I was wondering how much of that puddy stuff do you use on the back of the unit? There's about an inch worth of puddy , with plastic around it, and I wonder how long that will last? I 'm asking you these questions, because the web site really doesn't tell you much. When I do put the unit on my mandolin, do I just leave it on all the time? I was thinking about sharing it with my old Kay archtop, that I'v e been restoring, so I would be moving it around from instrument to instrument. Last question. Where did you find the best sweet spot for your mandolin? I want to use it today, and plug it into my Fender Blues JR., or my Peavey Delta Blues amps. Happy 4Th.
Danny L.
AKA Slidin Dan

[mando-in-kingwood]

Mando in #kingwood,
I just received my artist Transducer pickup in the mail yesterday, and I was wondering how much of that puddy stuff do you use on the back of the unit? There's about an inch worth of puddy , with plastic around it, and I wonder how long that will last? I 'm asking you these questions, because the web site really doesn't tell you much. When I do put the unit on my mandolin, do I just leave it on all the time? I was thinking about sharing it with my old Kay archtop, that I'v e been restoring, so I would be moving it around from instrument to instrument. Last question. Where did you find the best sweet spot for your mandolin? I want to use it today, and plug it into my Fender Blues JR., or my Peavey Delta Blues amps. Happy 4Th.
Danny L.
AKA Slidin Dan
I used all of the putty........don't know if using less makes a difference.

Wrapped in Saran wrap, I think it lasts indefinitely.

I have left mine on for weeks at a time with no adverse effects.

Best placement of the pickup probably varies from mandolin to mandolin. I find the best sound for my mando is immediately behind the bridge in the center.

Let me know what you think of yours after you install it...

[Danny]

Mando-in-kingwood
Well I just got home from a birthday gig, for a local artist in our town. I sat in with some friends of mine on Harmonica, percussion, and mandolin. I used the Dean Markley pickup, with a decent amount of the putty, just behind the bridge, on the treble side. I used my Boss delay pedal, and I went through #the P.A.. All In all I had a pretty good sound through the monitors, and for my first real mando gig I'm more than happy. I made $75.00 bucks, which paid for the pickup, and gas money. I left the pickup on after the gig, so I guess I'll leave it there for awhile. Thanks for getting back to me.
# #For what it's worth I've been playing for over 40 years, on guitar, harmonica, Dobro ,and my songwrting. However this was my real first mandolin excursion. I feel M.A.S. kicking in already! Later.
Danny

[mando-in-kingwood]

Danny, you went thru a delay pedal? I tried that with my pedal and found the sound to be non-acoustic. Have your tried both ways?

[Danny]

M.I.K. I did it both ways. I use delay out of habit from guitar & harmonica settings. I don't really put that much on. but just enough to widen the tonal spectrum a little. I had to turn down the highs on the mixing board to avoid feedback, and that overly too bright treble sound. Hope this answers your question.
Danny

[bjc]

Greetings,

I have been following this thread for a little bit and finally bought the pick-up. I quickly slapped it on my MK and it sounded better (outside a mic) than anything else I had tired.
Now, I am considering having it mounted permanently. My luthier has suggested that it be put in the mando (I have an oval hole MK). Any suggestions as to where to place it? I'm considering directly under the bridge a little on the bass side.
Thanks for any help...