clamp on mic/ Collings MT-O

[MWCarr]

This may be civered somewhere else or previously on this forum, but I'll ask anyway. I' interested in a clamp on condenser mic for my Collings A. It does not have a pickgaurd and I tie the strap around the area where the neck meets the body. Any suggestions on mic or set-up would be greatly appreciated.

[Ben Milne]

Probably more of an equipment question than a builders question. Mods might se fit to move your thread.
This topic has indeed been covered many times over.

Depending on your budget I would suggest:
K&K silver bullet
Audio Technica ATM 35 (Or 350)
DPA 4099

No matter what your budget I would suggest:
Using the above brands/models as keywords, search for previous discussions on the pros and cons of each.

PROTIP: You might have more luck using google and entering site:mandolincafe.com along with your keywords as the cafe's search function will not search for words with three letters or less.

[foldedpath]

Probably better placed in the Equipment section, but here's some feedback from an inveterate clip-on mic user:

Oval hole mandolins are a little harder to amplify this way, because the mics work best when they can capture some of the resonant airmass in the soundhole, as well as picking up the surrounding top vibration. That's easier on an F-hole instrument because the mic can be placed close to the bottom of the soundhole, away from your picking hand. It can still work on an oval hole mandolin, it's just a little trickier to place the mic, and you might not get quite as much gain before feedback.

I think the best solution is the DPA 4099. This mic has the best sound quality and feedback rejection of all the clip-on mics I've tried, and also the best mounting system. It uses a carpenter jack style of mount, which allows clipping the mic at any point around the lower edge of the body, as well as adjusting the amount of gooseneck length above the clamp. This would allow experimenting with getting the mic close enough to the sound hole, while also keeping it out of the way while picking. The only real drawback of the 4099 system is the price, due to the origin of manufacture in Denmark (and exchange rates in the USA if you're buying from here).

For a less expensive solution, you could try the Audio-Technica ATM350 or Pro 35, which has a gooseneck terminating in a small alligator clip. You might be able to get the alligator clip on the MT's tailpiece if there's enough clearance. If you're using a Tonegard on the MT (or plan to get one), that's another popular way to mount these mics. You attach the alligator clip on the back of the Tonegard, with the gooseneck curving up around the lower body of the instrument so it can reach the top. This works with the K&K Silver Bullet mic too.

Yet another idea would be to remove the mic body of an ATM350 or Pro 35 from the foam windscreen and alligator clip, and weave the supplied Velcro tab mount through the strings behind the bridge, with the mic pointing forward towards the soundhole (and down, if you can manage it). That's how some people use these mics on violins, and it might work on a mandolin, but it also might get more pick noise. I haven't tried it.

Good luck with the project, and please post what you end up doing. I'm always curious to see how people handle attaching mics to these oval hole mandolins, since it's not quite as easy as mic'ing the F-hole style.

[mandobassman]

I have a suggestion that many will blow off as crazy, but bear with me. Many years ago I played bass in a top 40 Country band. Every now and then our rhythm guitarist would play bass for a few tunes and I would switch to mandolin. Obviously, volume in a band with drums, two guitars and VERY loud PA doesn't do well for acoustic mandolin. I got a pickup for the mando, but this was long ago when pickups weren't what they are now. It sounded terrible. I wound up only using the pickup for monitors and bought a tie-clip mic from Radio Shack to use for the mains. I was quite surprised at how good it sounded. It had a very good acoustic sound. I clipped it onto the f-hole and the mic pointed directly into the mandolin body. I haven't played Country for about 20 years and haven't used that set up since. However, I am now using the current version of that same mic from Radio Shack for my upright bass. I plug it directly into my Gallien-Kreuger bass amp and it sounds just as good on the bass as it did on the mandolin. It is by far the best amplified sound I have ever had on my bass. I have no doubt that it would work nicely on mando too. One of the things I really liked about it was that nothing was in the way. There is no gooseneck or mounting hassle. It clips onto the f-hole and stays there. The wiring went inside of the f-hole and ended in a endpin jack. I don't have any photos from when I used it on mandolin, but I do have a photo of the bass setup. Best part is it is only $32.99. I have absolutely no feedback issues whatsoever, and I play with the amp directly behind the bass.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2102927

Hese's the photo of the bass setup.

[citeog]

I had one of those Radio Shack mics back when I couldn't afford anything dearer and had the same results as Larry. I was very surprised at how well it sounded.

Paul