Clip on mics

[Matt Hutchinson]

Hi,

Who uses a clip on mic on stage? I was just curious as to how you attach them to your instrument, the ones I've seen have clips too big to fit the f holes on my mandolin.

Cheers,

Matt

[Crowder]

I've heard of people using a Tone Gard as a mic attachment point. You'd probably want to strap it on there with velcro instead of relying on the clip. Once you start thinking along those lines it's easy to imagine fastening one to a bridge or pickguard as well. I know a lot of players are using mini mics for mandolin these days so maybe someone will know how they do it in Mountain Heart or Carrie Hassler's band.

[mandroid]

Once again Tossing the alligator clip,

not mine, but I've seen a special clamp that a company used to put a Lav Mic right over the south end of the lower F hole, a part of a wireless scheme.

"Hill Style" clamps for armrests , borrowed hardware for Fiddles
are made to be in 2 pieces , so One of the 2 would do a
fine job, I'd think of clamping to the lap point.

'Turnbuckle' sleeve nut RH thread on one side LH on the other.

with a little cleverness and the jack can be there too.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[jefflester]

Here's an Audio-Technica Pro-70 with it's included tie-clip. You can add felt to the clip so it doesn't mar the mando. Pic came from a topic here a couple years ago.

[mdlorenz]

Here's a topic where Gail hester (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=8;t=40606;hl=silver+and+bul let) shows a method of attaching a K&K Silver Bullet mic to a tone guard. I've done this, & it works quite well.

[Eric Hanson]

When I saw The Punch Brothers, Chris Thile was clipping a Audio Technica mic to his Loar. He said it goes straight to the board and has it mixed there. When I saw them they were using the sound board man from Allison Kraus and Union Station. Their usual man was in the midst of a recording gig.

Eric

[Matt Hutchinson]

Thanks for the replies, the K&K Silver Bullet looks like a good bet.

[david blair]

The countryman mics sound amazing. 148spl, no noise, tiny, and weigh close to nothing. #Sam Bush use these. I have three of them in different gain settings, all hyper-cardiod. I have permanently mounted a mid-gain, 2k ohm/ three wire model over the lower eye of the bottom F hole on my F. It runs to a stereo endpin jack that has a hot dot piezo pickup from the bridge to the other channel of the jack. They are sent separately to preamp, and split to stage amp, monitors, and mains. This works really well for me and I am never wanting for more volume. The only issue was once playing in windy conditions outdoors and extra windscreen material was needed. An Omni mic would be better for windy conditions.
The choir mic model is a "high gain" hyper-cardioid and comes with 50ft of wire and a pre-amp/ XLR plug. I've used this as an instrument mic taped to a stand, it works well also for mandolin simply taping the lead wire #to the strings behind the bridge with the mic hanging over the top. A very natural sound. Monitors can be used if they aren't pointing at you.
The choir mic is perfect for fiddle. None better. Wrap the wire once around the tailpiece and wedge it under the tailpiece against the top, using a wind screen around it. I would prefer a cardioid for fiddle because the hyper model hears breathing from the rear if not blocked by the tailpiece. Fantastic sound for fiddle.
Looking at other lavalier mics the only one that seems even close to the Countryman are the DPA. But they cost twice as much! Everything else out there seems to big, or to heavy, or a chore to mount. This was the company that made the infamous phase canceling mics for the Dead and their Wall of Sound. When I get around to a dual mic-ed phase cancelled system I'll post results.

[pickinpete]

Here's an Audio-Technica Pro-70 with it's included tie-clip. You can add felt to the clip so it doesn't mar the mando. Pic came from a topic here a couple years ago.
Hey......thats my mandolin. I Still that setup too except I lost the spongy hat on the end. Still the best sound I've ever had. Thanks jefflester I dint expect that.