PLEASE HELP: need a pickup

[Turner Burner]

Hello Mando Cafe regulars!

I have a Washburn acoustic F5 style mando (that I found thru this board) and I would like to amplify the sound.

But, I don't want to change or alter the mando in any way. One of the bridge pickups I looked at would require drilling out the end pin hole for the cable plug and I don't want to do that.

Any suggestions for good, clip on style pickups that don't feedback, scratch the surface, fall off, etc.

anybody else already been thru this? let me know your ideas!!

thanks very much.

Turner Burner

[patsites]

Depending on how much money you're willing to spend, I would recommend a Schertler Dyn-M. It's stick on pick up that isn't permanent and you can remove it between shows. The play-do like stick on substance is re-usable and doesn't harm the finish. The Schertler runs about $375 at FQMS but is the best, truest sounding pick up, not to mention handy and doesn't require any work done on the mandolin, and you can use it on all of your mandolins and guitars.

A cheaper recommendation is to use a Fishman Bridge pickup with a carpenter jack mounted outside the mandolin. Just make sure you have a really good pre-amp or you'll sound like glass. They're about $150, plus the cost of a good preamp which usually runs another 100-200$.

At that point, for a few dollars more, the Schertler becomes the best option.

[Jim M.]

McIntyres are pretty good stick-on pick-ups, I think about $100 new but you may find a used one. Even lower is the K&K, which you can get on Ebay for around $20 or less. I haven't used one but it gets reasonable reviews from some folks. Nowhere near in the same league as the Schertler but a whole lot cheaper.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....37&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1288&item=3750105337&rd=1)

[wah]

I got an AKG C411 and am really happy with it. It runs around $200 so it's less than the Schertler but is still a solid piece. Like the Schertler it sticks on the top with some sticky substance that doesn't hurt the finish.

Wayne

[mandoJeremy]

Well I must admit that I have financial interest in this post but I do have a brand new Schertler on Ebay right now.
Schertler (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3749123396&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT)

[mando-in-kingwood]

Had the same question a few months ago. Went to Guitar Center and tried a Dean Markley stick on pickup. Sounds pretty good, I bought it and am happy with it.

Be sure to take it off when playing acoustically....sticking anything on the front of the mando reduces volume.

[GEH]

I think the AKG C411 gives the best sound, because it is a small condensor micro, not a pickup.
But the output of the C411 is not very strong.
When I play in a loud band with drums, I have to use a mandolin with a McIntyre pickup and an additional preamp.

GEH

[mikeyes]

Jeremy,

How did the stickum affect the varnish finish on your mandolin?

[mandoJeremy]

I didn't use it on the Bush model. The only time I used it was on the Benson model Gibson loaned me while my Bush was having a small repair done. I don't really think it would affect the finish at all because it came off with no residue on the Benson model.

[wah]

I play my AKG C411 through a Presonus Blue Tube. The sound is great and as loud as I've needed it. I haven't played with a really loud band though. One of the things I like about it is I can switch from my Pomeroy F5 to my Gibson A5 just by pulling the C411 off one and putting it on the other. Quick and easy.

Wayne

[Turner Burner]

Helloooo

thanks so far for all the ideas ...

i am reluctant to use a condenser mic because I am concerned about potential feedback. we have 5 vocal mics, 3 amp reinforcement mics, and sometimes drum mics depending on the situation. we have 4 main speakers and 2 monitors and we play L O U D. lately i have been able to control the feedback in the system and it's not an issue, but I have had mixed results with plugging full size condenser mics into our set-up.

i play through an effects board (everything from octave splitter and envelope filter to blues driver and phase shifter, plus a separate EQ pedal) and I was having feedback problems last weekend between my electric mando pickup and my amp. it seemed to be controllable somewhat by the EQ pedal but its hard to play, tweak the EQ, and try to keep up with the song too.

i am leaning toward the Schertler but nobody around here sells them, so I can't try one out easily. oh well, nothing ventured nothing gained, right?

Turner

[mandroid]

in general, Pickups on acoustics [like Mics] that hear themselves enough to vibrate the soundboard from monitor speaker would present feedback issues ,IMHO.

Feedback from the monitor could be reduced if mando to your monitor was separated to a non feedback place,Like in ear ones {loud enough a band something in your ear might be self protection}} and still mixed into the house output speaker.

AKG C411 as it's a condenser type mech needs phantom power from preamp or mixer channel.
The shertler Is a dynamic type and so doesn't. so you can adapt it {impedence matching transformer] to use all that 1/4" gear made for the guitar market.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
pickup wires are kinda thin, so to keep from stepping on it after I plug it to the mic cable I put the wire, connectors in my pocket.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif