Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

  1. #1

    Default Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

    I like the Sherler Dyn, but find the gummy thing a little annoying and wouldn't mind having a petal for volume or other effects. What would folks recommend for pickups. I play in a 5 piece bluegrass band.

  2. #2
    Registered User almeriastrings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Almeria, Spain
    Posts
    5,442
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default Re: Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

    First point: most vol/fx pedals are designed for use with either 'active' transducer systems or passive magnetic pickups. If you use one directly with the majority of pickup types used on mandolin, you have a major impedance and level problem in most cases... generally, you will need to 'buffer' the output via a suitable preamp and use the FX LOOP of that to run any additional pedals.

    Have to say that I personally don't much like pickups, but recognise they may be a 'necessary evil' in certain situations...

    One of the easiest routes is to use a decent piezo system such as the K&K/JJB. Coupled with a decent preamp many do report acceptable results from these.
    Gibson F5 'Harvey' Fern, Gibson F5 'Derrington' Fern
    Distressed Silverangel F 'Esmerelda' aka 'Maxx'
    Northfield Big Mon #127
    Ellis F5 Special #288
    '39 & '45 D-18's, 1950 D-28.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    High Peak - UK
    Posts
    4,172

    Default Re: Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

    How about plugging the Schertler into a Zoom A3 and then into an amp. via a volume pedal?

  4. #4
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Bozeman, MT
    Posts
    1,252

    Default Re: Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

    Any piezoelectric pickup with the Tonedexter d.i.
    I use the radius, and I'm about to have it internally mounted, because the putty and surface mount is unsightly IMO.
    2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
    2017 Ratliff R5 Custom #1148
    Several nice old Fiddles
    2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
    Deering Classic Open Back
    Too many microphones

    BridgerCreekBoys.com

  5. #5

    Default Re: Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

    I use the Zoom A3 with a Schertler pickup. Good eq, basic effects, quiet, volume boost for solos, and XLR in with phantom if you need it. I've switched from the Schertler putty to the equivalent of Blu Tack. Less of a mess putting the pickup on and taking it off.
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

  6. #6

    Default Re: Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

    The Zoom A3 looks like a nice piece of equipment. Is is as challenging to use as other threads suggest? I see they don't make them anymore but can be found for around $150. Is that what they typically go for?

  7. #7
    Registered User John Flynn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Posts
    8,076

    Default Re: Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

    I run good piezos, the stock one on my Rigel and the K&K Twin on my Mendel OM, through a RedEye Twin preamp, then into the board. The RedEye really improves the sound and it has an effects out and return on it.

  8. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Boulder, CO & Chesterfield, MO
    Posts
    2,562

    Default Re: Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

    Quote Originally Posted by MontanaMatt View Post
    Any piezoelectric pickup with the Tonedexter d.i.
    I use the radius, and I'm about to have it internally mounted, because the putty and surface mount is unsightly IMO.
    I'm also a fan of the tonedexter. The Red Eye - Fire Eye is dead simple to use and improves any piezo pickup. The Tonedexter is much more involved to setup, but the sound is far and away the best I've heard from a piezo.

  9. The following members say thank you to colorado_al for this post:


  10. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    High Peak - UK
    Posts
    4,172

    Default Re: Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

    Quote Originally Posted by Josh Levine View Post
    The Zoom A3 looks like a nice piece of equipment. Is is as challenging to use as other threads suggest? I see they don't make them anymore but can be found for around $150. Is that what they typically go for?
    In all honesty, the Zoom is a bit fiddly - in tems of its knobs and the multiple tasks they perform and in saving and recalling settings - but it does have a wealth of useful features if you're able to "set it and forget it". You could, for instance, power-up and output the Schertler to a non-phantom equipped amp at the same time as using a piezo pickup. The worst thing I've found about it are the instructions!

  11. #10
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Default Re: Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

    Quote Originally Posted by Josh Levine View Post
    I like the Sherler Dyn, but find the gummy thing a little annoying and wouldn't mind having a petal for volume or other effects. What would folks recommend for pickups. I play in a 5 piece bluegrass band.

    Re Dynamic Scherler, I have one installed inside my Mix A5,

    your Volume pedal can be in an EFX loop out of a small sub mixer
    that you use for it's Mic preamp, and 3 band EQ, as well.
    Its line level, then fed into the house board.





    ..
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  12. #11
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Bozeman, MT
    Posts
    1,252

    Default Re: Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

    Quote Originally Posted by mandroid View Post
    Re Dynamic Scherler, I have one installed inside my Mix A5,

    your Volume pedal can be in an EFX loop out of a small sub mixer
    that you use for it's Mic preamp, and 3 band EQ, as well.
    Its line level, then fed into the house board.





    ..
    Or get a tonedexter that does all that
    2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
    2017 Ratliff R5 Custom #1148
    Several nice old Fiddles
    2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
    Deering Classic Open Back
    Too many microphones

    BridgerCreekBoys.com

  13. #12
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Default Re: Alternative pickups to Schertler Dyn with good tone?

    it a mini mixer? run IEM off it too?
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

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