LR Baggs Radius - can it work for me?

[iancohen82]

I need a pickup in order to play with two friends. We do some CSNY, The Band, Dylan, Dead, etc. and have an opportunity to play out here in NYC. I have very little money to spend, but the LR Baggs Radius sounds right for me. I have an 80s Fender Bronco amp that I play my Strat through. I can get a nice, (almost) acoustic sound. Do you think I need a pre-amp if I played my mando through it with the LR Baggs? Can anyone recommend a better pickup under $200? I don't want to damage the finish on my mando. I love the thing the way it is. My first choice would've been to pick up the Godin A8, but financially, that's impossible.

Thanks for your help.

Ian

[texaspaul]

These pick ups seem like they are very good. You can talk to him about what you are wanting to do.
JJB Electronics, http://jjb-electronics.com/EXT-100.html.

[almeriastrings]

The Bronco has an input impedance designed for magnetic, not piezo pickups. While you will get sounds from it, the frequency response will be severely curtailed, to avoid this, an impedance (high to lower) balancing preamp will be necessary. In addition, the Bronco uses a single speaker: true acoustic amps use a pair of speakers, a LF and HF driver via a crossover (like a hi-fi speaker) and the cabinet designs are also different. You would get a much better sound even from a low cost 'real' acoustic amp, and in addition, most of these have direct inputs for both passive and active transducers as well as EQ specifically designed for acoustic instruments. You can get a Kustom Sienna for less than $150....

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/kustom-sienna-30-acoustic-guitar-combo-amp

These are really pretty good for mandolin. No additional preamp required. You also have the option of using a mic, too.

The Baggs Radius is... OK. You can, however, get comparable results for considerably less.

[mandroid]

there are XLR to 1/4" impedance matching transformers .. to use Dynamic Microphones
with Guitar amps is what they do.

something like a Baggs PADI. from its DI output has a Microphone compatible signal ..

obviously the Bags Radius and the Baggs preamp will work together .


something like a dean Markley lollypop on a string Piezo, its pretty cheap.

with a kneaded rubber putty like Blue Tack they will be easy to attach and remove.

http://www.deanmarkley.com/products/by-subcategory/2-catalog/323-transducer

[Barry Wilson]

I haven't had the experience with mando pickups many on here have had, but I bought an octave mando with a baggs already installed. it sounds amazing to me through an unaffected 69 fender twin. so much so I put one on the mandola. I have done a solo gig at a small pub with it and plugged direct into the bose system they supplied. I got many compliments so far on the sound of both of those... though it might be the novelty also of never seeing one of these things before too

[Mike Bunting]

...though it might be the novelty also of never seeing one of these things before too
That sounds about right to me.

[iancohen82]

These pick ups seem like they are very good. You can talk to him about what you are wanting to do.
JJB Electronics, http://jjb-electronics.com/EXT-100.html.a

I bought the jjb and (I know nothing about the electronic side of this stuff) hear I need an acoustic amp. Would something like this suffice? http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/msg/3983754111.html

How much wattage do I need? I'll be playing with an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar.

[almeriastrings]

Normally 25-60W is adequate. You don't need a Marshall stack. That looks like an older TA25 Troubador. Those are a very decent sounding amplifier. $50 is a good price, too.