magnetic resonance

[keymandoguy]

I have 3 mandolins and play in 3 different types of bands I use a F style for country an A style for Gospel & an A style with f holes for bluegrass Gopsel & Country bands are amped My question I installed the same pickup on my F style and one on my A style . the F style is solid spruce top while the A style is laminated. As Acoustics they are about equal in volume but with the pickup the A round hole is 2 to 3 times as loud . magnets are installed about 1/4 " behind the bridge under the D string on both so Does Plywood have more magnetic resonance ? Just curious happy pickin . http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Bob DeVellis]

If they're piezo pickups, then I think what drives them is vibration, which distorts crystals and creates an electric charge. I wouldn't expect a solid top to be more acoustically active than a solid top and wonder if you've just chosen a location that is more of a "sweet spot" on the laminate than it is on the solids. It might also be, I suppose, that you've learned to drive the laminate harder to get the same acoustical sound and that, while ears can't hear the difference directly, the pickup responds more vigorously to the harder-driven laminated top. These are just guesses, though.

[TommyK]

Also, even though they may both have the same make and model of pick-up all pick-ups aren't created equally. 2 -3x volume differenc...most likely not. However all that music travels through a different set of wires and pots. All suseptable to manufacturing and installation variables like soldering, etc.

[Chris Baird]

I agree with Bobd, the piezo probably isn't on the sweet spot for the laminated top. You've got to experiment with the placement as every mandolin vibrates differently.