Live set-up

**keylimepie** · Feb-17-2008, 11:30pm

Hi,

Recently I've started band with a couple of guitar players playing poppy folk songs. We used to just mic everything when playing live but after watching a video of one of our shows we reallized we were kind of boring to watch.

So to increase our mobility a bit we've decided to use pickups whenever possible. I'm now looking to upgrade my current set-up, or lack of one. Right now I have a cheap Dean Markley transducer pickup that sticks on with some kind of sticky tack.

Basically I'm a little lost about what to look for. I've been playing Mandolin for a couple of years but mostly just bedroom practicing so I'm not really sure what's involved in a live setup. I'd like to continue using a pickup, that's my only solid criteria.

Thanks.

**mandroid** · Feb-18-2008, 2:18am

Wireless transmitters would be suggested are you planning
onstage gymnastics.

how many years are you planning on working off your equipment tab, playing

**keylimepie** · Feb-20-2008, 3:00pm

Nah no onstage gymnastics

In truth I just don't like playing in front of a mic. Maybe because before this I've always played electric instruments and don't really like being constricted to just standing in one place. If that makes sense...

As for the last part, I'm not sure what you mean.

**steve V. johnson** · Feb-20-2008, 3:24pm

I'll translate. That last bit means, "How much do you want to spend?"

The true measure of musical electronic involvement.

stv

**keylimepie** · Feb-20-2008, 3:33pm

Oh ok, Thanks:D

I'd probably be looking to spend about 200 or under for a pickup, I figure an EQ of some sort, maybe another 150-200 for that. I'm not sure what else I need. Is an amplifier something look into?

**mandroid** · Feb-20-2008, 5:29pm

singing into a Mic, or just instrumentals for your part?

there are head mounted Mic setups, if you are really wanting to get away from the fixed vocal Mic on a stand.

from pickup >you could take your EQ out > and put it in the group PA,.
and sort out the monitor by having one in front of you.
or listening to what comes out of the mains. small enough places that you are in you may hear enough bouncing back from the back wall.

a stomp box EQ with a gain control and your pickup would get you started,Boss or MXR has a decent item 7 0r 10 band.

Acoustic amps with 2 channels stereo. rather than 2 inputs to same channel

$500 for the Roland AC60 seems a good piece of gear,30+30, compact,
1 instrument and 1 xlr/line in channel. 3 band EQ on each channel,
lots of output connections to use it as a monitor, and feed the group PA a channel or 2 to mix into the house sound.

**Crowder** · Feb-20-2008, 5:32pm

Allow me to suggest the K&K Twin Spot pickup with an UltraSound DI Plus preamp. Both can be had for under $200 on ebay. I'm very pleased with this combo.

**Mr. Loar** · Feb-21-2008, 5:21am

Speaking of live equipment. Last Saturday I played with my '70's tribute band. The sound system was being operated by the same person that does the stage monitoring for Carrie Underwood. Huge system for the venue. We all use in ear monitors and there are no amps on stage. We play to a click/metronome.

It's always a welcome sigh of relief to play the mandolin in an open air Bluegrass group.