Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Need to plug in!!!! Badly!!!

  1. #1
    Registered User DevilishDandolinMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    New Haven, Connecticut
    Posts
    103

    Default Need to plug in!!!! Badly!!!

    Hello. My band just got a drummer and my directional condenser mic is not working out anymore. Does anyone know of a good mandolin that already has a pick up in it? I found this one http://www.dannyd.com/michael-kelly-...ndolin-walnut/ Does anyone know anything about this one?

    Please HELP!!!!!

  2. #2
    man about town Markus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Madison, Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,625
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Need to plug in!!!! Badly!!!

    There are a number of pickups that can be added to a mandolin, which often can solve that.

    At some point in terms of stage volume/etc, you likely want to move to a dedicated A/E like the Godin or Ovation, else a solidly electric.

    In terms of pickups, there are a variety, and a variety of prices. None sound as good as a Mic, IMO. Many folks, including me, have added piezos to our instruments. Baggs Radius, K+K are both popular. I feel a preamp or similar device is an essential part of piezo use, so budget to find something that matches your pickup.

    To add: I added a K+K to my Breedlove. When it's required to plug in, it works. I prefer working with a mic as it sounds more perfect, but it does it's job and didn't cost that much. I found out everything I needed searching here, there's a LOT of great threads.

    In terms of an acoustic/electric solution, I would look more to the Godin/Ovations if you want a dedicated `plugged in' mandolin. They're built not to feed back at volume, very plug and play. Michael Kelly's look more like conventional mandolins, but are not designed for that use any more than adding a piezo or other pickup to your current mandolin [IMO].
    Last edited by Markus; Aug-04-2012 at 8:57am. Reason: added what I did, rec for dedicated A/E, Len posted just after me ;-)
    Breedlove OF
    Schmergl Devastator

  3. #3
    Registered User lenf12's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    1,060

    Default Re: Need to plug in!!!! Badly!!!

    Lots of ways to skin this cat but I wouldn't count the MK mandolins as the best way. My preference is to retrofit a K&K Twin or similar pickup (like the jjbelectronics.com - higly recommended and much cheaper than K&K) to your current mandolin. When paired with a decent pre-amp or DI box, these can sound very natural and should be much less expensive than buying a new mandolin. YMMV

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

    ps - there are a multitude of threads on mandolin amplification to be found with a search of this forum.
    Last edited by lenf12; Aug-04-2012 at 8:39am. Reason: Markus posted just ahead of me

  4. #4
    Registered Mandolin User mandopete's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Clearview, WA
    Posts
    7,103

    Default Re: Need to plug in!!!! Badly!!!

    NFI

    This one looks like a pretty sweet set up.....

    Collings MF
    2012 Ford Escape
    Fender Medium Guitar Pick
    3 Cats & 1 Worn-Out Dog

  5. #5
    Registered User dcoventry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Salinas, Ca.
    Posts
    1,403

    Default Re: Need to plug in!!!! Badly!!!

    http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/58492

    This Phoenix JAzz model will solve many problems for you: Pickup, transducer, mix both, and MAS down and out for a while!
    2005 Rigel G5 #2196
    2005 Phoenix Jazz #400
    1988 Jeff Traugott Acoustic #4

    Remember to grin while you pick, it throws folks off!

  6. #6
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy
    Posts
    11,039

    Default Re: Need to plug in!!!! Badly!!!

    Drummer, sticks, Rockin' it?
    a solid body with an electric guitar pickup in it is the way to go.

    loud stage turns an acoustic with a soundboard pickup , into a microphone.
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Wilkes-Barre, Pa
    Posts
    90

    Default Re: Need to plug in!!!! Badly!!!

    There is a section called Octaves Zouks(etc) below. In it is "Four Five and Eight String Electronics" which has threads with all the information you need.

  8. #8
    Registered User Jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    BonCarbo CO.
    Posts
    1,487

    Default Re: Need to plug in!!!! Badly!!!

    Ovation has a good p/u & pre-amp in it ( not that a di box doesn't help) and you can stick a mic in front of it too. Lately my AE setup in my AE148 with the pickup plugged in and a shure sm57 infront of it. I can still move in close to the mic to make a break louder and yet have some ability to move away from the mic and not lose signal completely. Also am able to run fx on the p/u channel.
    Jim Richmond

  9. #9
    Registered User Bryan Gunsher BG Pups's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Alta, CA
    Posts
    23

    Default Re: Need to plug in!!!! Badly!!!

    Quote Originally Posted by DevilishDandolinMan View Post
    Hello. My band just got a drummer and my directional condenser mic is not working out anymore. Does anyone know of a good mandolin that already has a pick up in it? I found this one http://www.dannyd.com/michael-kelly-...ndolin-walnut/ Does anyone know anything about this one?

    Please HELP!!!!!
    If you are interested I'll send you a removable external pickup that I'm developing. It's free of charge just let me know what you think of it.
    Shoot me a PM if you would like one.

  10. #10
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    7,901

    Default Re: Need to plug in!!!! Badly!!!

    Devilish, what mandolin are you playing now?

    Adding a pickup to your existing axe is often more practical than getting a whole new instrument. To inform yourself on the general topic of mandolins with pickups, visit Emando.com.
    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    The Priest and the Publicans: Gospel bluegrass out of the box.

    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know.

    Donaldson • Rigel • Thormahlen • Andersen • Old Wave • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Roberts • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  11. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    31

    Default Re: Need to plug in!!!! Badly!!!

    or -you could go cheap and get yourself a tanglewood - twin pickup. already inside the thing. Its what Im using when I have to go electric. ok - they're built to a price . but they do a job.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •