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Andrew Roberts
Sep-09-2010, 5:43pm
Hey guys. I have just recently started playing mandolin with a friend of mine here in Nashville. Small gigs right now: cafes, farmer's markets, things like that. It has been a blast so far, and I even got to meet Roland White at the farmer's market yesterday, which was so exciting for me. Anyways, my friend and I are starting to add members to form something of a band, with drums and an electric guitar, so it will become important soon for me to be heard over other amplified instruments. So far I have just been playing into a microphone, but I am beginning to think about the benefits of putting some sort of pick up or something onto my mandolin so I can plug into an amp at gigs. Do any of you more experienced performers have advice on where I should begin my search to amplify. I don't really want to spend a whole lot of money, and I would also like to try to do as little modification to my instrument as is possible. Thanks for your suggestions!

Mandobart
Sep-09-2010, 5:58pm
This is probably the most common question on this forum; I almost think it should have its own forum! I find it hard to find threads searching here on the cafe, but here are a few that turned up quick on google:

one (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?58125-To-amplify-an-oval-hole-mandolin)
two (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?44838-L.R.-BAGGS-RADIUS-PICKUP-Your-Thoughts)
three (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-37115.html)
four (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?61059-L.R.-Baggs-Radius-M-Mandolin-Pickup)
five (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?44813-Best-mandolin-pickup)
whole bunch more (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/search.php?searchid=441698)

mandroid
Sep-09-2010, 7:16pm
You will be working for paying off the music store for a while ..
some people [mois] that's all we do ..
:crying:/:))

Andrew Roberts
Sep-10-2010, 7:27pm
Mandobart- Thanks for pulling those threads for me, I guess I was feeling a little lazy yesterday to look them up myself. There was some really good advice in there, so today I picked up a LR Baggs Radius M and found a good deal on a used LR Baggs Para Acoustic Di. Thanks for the help, I'm looking forward to plugging in next gig so I can compete with our drummer and electric guitar!

Mandroid- I can only hope our next gig brings in AWESOME tips to help cover some of these costs, haha. Guess that means I need to go practice!