Baggs Radius

[JHohl]

Hello- I'm a longtime reader, very occasional poster and I've got a question about pickups. I play in an Irish folk group that is turning into an Irish rock group. We had our first practice last night, and as I figured, using a condenser mic when playing live is no longer going to work. I could barely even get enough volume to hear myself at practice. I've been reading the forums, and it looks like the Baggs Radius pickup with a preamp is the way to go. Affordable with good sound. Is that the consensus? I play on a Weber Gallatin (bought that back when I was trying to play bluegrass. Then I discovered that Celtic music is just as fun, but my fat fingers only have to play half as fast!) :grin: Anybody have anything to add??

[Mandoviol]

I'm using mine without a preamp and so far so good. It definitely does boost your volume, and I like its ease of installation.

The only quirk I've noticed with mine is that it's a bit hard (at least for me) to get it to clamp tightly onto the side of my mando; I stepped on my cable once and off popped the clamp. I've moved it a bit and I think I've got it where it will behave, but if you're not installing it inside your mandolin, you'll want to be a little careful about pulling out your amp cable, etc. Otherwise, I really like it. Mando on overdrive is a lot of fun!

[Rob Gerety]

Maybe consider an electric mandolin? Do you have drums?

[mdlorenz]

I've used a baggs a silver bullet mini mic, & a schertler. I'd prefer the schertler, but everyone seems to have an opinion. The cost of a pre/eq (or a pre & then an eq) and the pickup almost equals a schertler.

Or an electric mandolin. :)

[Charlieshafer]

You know, if you're going more Celtic rock, I'd look at a solid-body electric mandolin. I think the sound is so much easier to control at high volume. I know the budget may not allow for an extra instrument, but in my experience, if you really need to crank, solid is a great way to go; no feedback issues (unless you want to go all Hendrix-y) total control over tone, the works. The best part is no pieces of the equipment go flying off during the performance. May not be what you're looking for at all, but I think I'd try one out.

[James P]

I've got that kit, the Baggs Radius and PADI. I've played it thru a variety of amps and don't care for the way it sounds at all. For $50 more I could've gotten a Schertler DYN-M and I really wish I had.

[Tim2723]

I think you'll find that the Baggs Radius and its associated preamp, the Para DI, and also the Schertler Dyn-M are among the most popular pickups today. But as much as I like them, being a Celtic player who regularly works at very high volumes I too would recommend looking at a true electric instrument, either a solid body for its ability to use lots of effects, or an acoustic electric like the Godin A8 or Ovation if you're after a more natural mandolin sound that actually works at intense sound levels. By the time you've got a Radius and a PADI, or even a Schertler, you've already spent most of the price of getting the right tool anyway.

[mandroid]

A removable pickup is a good thing if you don't need it on there that often. play it without mostly.

Loud bar band regular gig does suggest an electric, as Tim says.