View Full Version : Suggestions for a clip-on pickup
TheBlindBard
Oct-12-2014, 6:59pm
Hello, all
I've been really busy in life, going to college and such now. I've been thinking about getting a pickup for my Eastman MD305. There have been several times when I was playing *for* people and having an amplifier would have been great. I have an acoustic amplifier and I am looking for something that could just clip on to my mandolin and would be easily removible. I would rather not have the pickups that stick on using puddy.
I am just looking to keep my tone as similar to the acoustic tone as possible. I was looking at the K and K pickup on the mandolin store (the non-internal one) but am not too sure how that clips on. Any suggestions are welcome, thank you.
This is probably not what you're looking for but I have a small clip on microphone, an ATM350. I plug that into a Joe Meek ThreeQ preamp and then into an amp or PA system (my system is a Bose). The sound is hands down the most natural I've ever run across. You can get good volume out of it but not ridiculous amounts. It works great with a band that is sensitive to everyone's levels.
This setup also sounds amazing on steel string and nylon string guitars...
Toni Schula
Oct-13-2014, 7:15am
If your acoustic amp has an XLR mic input with 48V phantom power you can use a 'condensor' clip on mic. I am very happy with the DPA 4099V. (But I use it via the JoeMeek ThreeQ into the PA like PVia, as I have no acoustic amp, and I use the ThreeQ's insert for a volume pedal.)
If your acoustic amp has an XLR mic input without phantom power, you ca go with a Schertler DynM, which basically is a removeable surface mountable dynamic mic. People here on the Forum report that it sounds pretty good.
Without XLR mic input on the acoustic amp you can still use a preamp before the acoustic amp for both options. Personally I prefer to keep things as simple as possible with the minimum number of devices in the chain, though.
UsuallyPickin
Oct-13-2014, 7:38am
The clip on Mic is a good suggestion. I do wonder what was your thought process is /was in negating the permanent installation of a K&K internal pickup. R/
Jim Mullins
Oct-13-2014, 7:58am
Check out Bartlett microphones. They have a variety of clip-on mics for different instruments. I just got the Guitar B which I can use for guitar and my oval hole mandolin. They also have one for f-hole mandolins. The sound is very good; I run it through a Fishman Loudbox. No problems with feedback.
The Bartlett works great for me. http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?109344-Review-of-Bartlett-Audio-Mando-Mic
Steve L
Oct-13-2014, 8:44am
If you want something external, easy to install and remove, good sounding, and cost effective the putty-mounted K&K/JJB transducer pickups are among your best options.
TheBlindBard
Oct-13-2014, 2:31pm
I'm not looking for a puddy-mounted option. I have a pickup that I used on my other mandolin and it left a really nasty residue on the instrument. I would rather just have a clip-on that is easily removable and doesn't leave a residue.
I am not sure what model of amplifier that I have, I just know that the brand is "acoustic" it cost me 100 dollars at Guitar Center and I haven't used it in ages. I don't know what imputs or outputs it has. It has a volume knob, low-mid-high controls and optional chorus effect. It has a main larger imput thing next to the volume control. It's a pretty small sized one and has a carrying handle on the back of it.
I don't know of anybody who works on mandolins. I would rather have something that I could just clip on and play with instead of having to plug something *into* my mandolin.
Thanks for the suggestions, I will take a look around :) Generally where do most of these clip-on pickups go? on the bridge or in the soundholes?
haggardphunk
Oct-13-2014, 2:41pm
I have an Easman MD305 and am thinking about getting an internal K&K. I dont see the downside at all.
Mike Bunting
Oct-13-2014, 3:09pm
I'm not looking for a puddy-mounted option. I have a pickup that I used on my other mandolin and it left a really nasty residue on the instrument. I would rather just have a clip-on that is easily removable and doesn't leave a residue.
I am not sure what model of amplifier that I have, I just know that the brand is "acoustic" it cost me 100 dollars at Guitar Center and I haven't used it in ages. I don't know what imputs or outputs it has. It has a volume knob, low-mid-high controls and optional chorus effect. It has a main larger imput thing next to the volume control. It's a pretty small sized one and has a carrying handle on the back of it.
I don't know of anybody who works on mandolins. I would rather have something that I could just clip on and play with instead of having to plug something *into* my mandolin.
Thanks for the suggestions, I will take a look around :) Generally where do most of these clip-on pickups go? on the bridge or in the soundholes?
Putty.
haggardphunk
Oct-13-2014, 3:11pm
124860
TheBlindBard
Oct-13-2014, 3:24pm
Sorry, Putty :D
TheBlindBard
Oct-13-2014, 3:39pm
I have a sticky pickup (I think it is a peso pickup) but I don't want that sticky stuff on my Md305. Hense my looking for a clip-on pickup.
The peso pickup that I have has a plug that is like a normal amplifier plug, about 2 inches or so in length and a little thinner than a pencil. it goes in to the big hole next to the volume control. Do any of these pickups mentioned have a cable like that? I'm just looking for something I can plug in and get as natural of a sound as possible.
allenhopkins
Oct-13-2014, 5:07pm
...(I think it is a peso pickup) but I don't want that sticky stuff on my Md305. Hense my looking for a clip-on pickup.
Think you mean piezo.
The piezo pickup that I have has a plug that is like a normal amplifier plug, about 2 inches or so in length and a little thinner than a pencil. it goes in to the big hole next to the volume control. Do any of these pickups mentioned have a cable like that? I'm just looking for something I can plug in and get as natural of a sound as possible.
What you're talking about is the standard quarter-inch jack, which I think is a feature of almost any pickup you'll consider...
But not of what I would suggest as an option, a clip on lavalier microphone like this one, (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102927#tabsetBasic) 33 bucks at Radio Shack. It has a 1/8-inch male mini-plug on its cord, so you'll need to get an adapter, mini-plug to quarter-inch.
I've used one of these in certain situations where I needed to play an acoustic instrument into an amp. Not the most sophisticated solution, but it does sound "acoustic" ('cause it is), and you just have to find a place to clip it to the instrument where you're not hitting it with your picking hand (pickguard, sound-hole, even tailpiece).
Not sure about impedance matches and whether the mic's output might be significantly higher than the usual line level inputs for your amp, but in my case I got everything to work pretty well. Just another suggestion.
Mike Bunting
Oct-13-2014, 5:16pm
I have a sticky pickup (I think it is a peso pickup) but I don't want that sticky stuff on my Md305. Hense my looking for a clip-on pickup.
The peso pickup that I have has a plug that is like a normal amplifier plug, about 2 inches or so in length and a little thinner than a pencil. it goes in to the big hole next to the volume control. Do any of these pickups mentioned have a cable like that? I'm just looking for something I can plug in and get as natural of a sound as possible.
I think you mean hence.
TheBlindBard
Oct-13-2014, 5:33pm
Or can anybody suggest some sticky stuff that won't leave a residue on the finish of my mandolin?