Is there a good pickup with a built in pre-amp?

[Bill Foss]

Hi have an LR Baggs mandolin pickup and it sounds great with an external, separate pre amp. However, is there good mandolin pickup with a built in pre-amp? I've seen pickups for acoustic guitars that have built in pre-amps (that require a 9 volt battery). I'm just trying to cut down on the amount of equipment I need to haul around.

What about the Schertler? I looked on their website but I couldn't tell from the information if they need a pre-amp.

I don't use pickups very much, but they do come in handy for certain gigs.

[almeriastrings]

Try an AKG C411.

You do need phantom power, but otherwise, straight into the XLR of any mixer. Sounds similar to the Schertler.

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/s...t-the-AKG-C411

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/s...36093-Akg-c411

[Toni Schula]

+1 for the C411.
These are available with phantom power adapter built into the XLR connector or (which you would like to avoid unless you want to go wireless) with mini XLR connectors which require low voltage power from a battery power supply - or from the RF transmitter.

Still this does not sound the same as a real microphone and on _very_ loud stages can turn your mandolin top + C411 to a "spruce diaphragm microphone". But I guess this is a property of all sorts of pick-ups which are mounted to the top.

[Steve Ostrander]

I have a Fishman Loudbox Artist with built-in preamp. Easy to haul around and sounds great.

[Bill Foss]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I will follow up on them.