Instrument monitoring device ?

[mandodan1960]

Like many of us I have difficulty hearing my instrument in a jam setting and was wondering if there was any product out there that was passive yet provided a more direct connection from instrument to ear. Old cassette tape recorders came with a suction cup device that allowed you to record telephone calls by placing it over the ear piece.
I was thinking along those lines.

Thanks,
Mandodan

[bradeinhorn]

suction cop connected to instrument with tube connected to your ear. a buddy made one once.

[Martin Jonas]

Piezo pickup played through a headphone amp into a discrete earpiece should do the trick. Might not sound very much like your acoustic tone, though.

Martin

[MikeEdgerton]

There was an elderly gentleman that was hard of hearing that used to come to one of our jams. He wanted to be able to hear what he was playing so he didn't throw everyone off. I put together a system for him using a $14.99 Radio Shack personal amplifier. You will need some sort of pickup (I think I used a suction cup phone recording mic) and an earpiece (I used one from an old transistor radio). I wasn't HiFi but it worked.


Here is a link to the amp.

[Martin Jonas]

For a very cheap way of making a piezo pickup, look here. I've tried it and it is really extremely straightforward and fast to make. Installation is no problem on an oval-hole mando (just stick it under the bridge with some blue-tack), but may be trickier with f-holes.

Martin

[Joel Glassman]

My experience using a piezo into a earphone resulted in "fried brain". Its very harsh. I think this is a better solution: a 'Rolls Personal Monitor' with a small dynamic clip-on mic hooked up to it. Check the link (and be sure to get the battery powered version) It will require some adjustment to get the room/instrument mix right.
When its not right you will hear every sound in the room amplified, which can be disconcerting to say the least...
http://www.music123.com/Rolls-P....usic123

A good quality earbud is the other item you need.
The Radio Shack clip-on mic might be good enough.