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Thread: Pickups

  1. #1

    Default Pickups

    Looking for recommendations for a good acoustic pickup that works well on a mandolin. Thanks in advance!

  2. #2

    Default Re: Pickups

    Me too, I want one for looping so I've been looking at alot of pickups and mics lately. I've pretty much decided on the Myers Feather clip on mic.
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  3. #3
    Registered User dulcillini's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickups

    I have used the LR Baggs Radius along with their preamp and it is fine. One of my other mandolins has the K&K internal pickup. It also sounds very good. For what it is worth, I prefer the internal pickups. I have them on both my mountain dulcimers. It just seems like the sound is more natural. I have noticed that some of the new mics really have improved over the years as well, so perhaps a pickup isn't really necessary. I don't use amplification on my two mandolins because they are both very robust in their own right--I usually worry about being too loud. On my mandola and my mountain dulcimers, the pickups are very nice to have.
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  4. #4
    Registered User Mandobart's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickups

    I've installed the JJB PPS-200 in over 20 instruments from fiddle to mando, guitar, banjo and upright bass. Works great through an acoustic amp or HI-Z PA input. If plugging into a standard PA channel you need an impedance matching preamp or DI.

  5. #5
    Registered User jefflester's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickups

    Not sure why you posted this in the Song and Tune Projects section, but there are dozens of topics about mandolin pickups elsewhere on the cafe. I would suggest you read many of those first and then ask more specific questions in the equipment section. Some factors are how much you have to spend, what sort of equipment you will be plugging into, what sort of music, and what sort of venue. That said, the K&K or the less expensive and nearly identical JJB that Mandobart suggested are good choices.

  6. #6

    Default Re: Pickups

    Thanks everyone. I appreciate the advice

  7. #7
    Registered Muser dang's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickups

    Quote Originally Posted by bigskygirl View Post
    Me too, I want one for looping so I've been looking at alot of pickups and mics lately. I've pretty much decided on the Myers Feather clip on mic.
    I had a McIntyre feather internally installed in a mando and the output was pretty low. When I asked my luthier he said that compared to a KandK the McIntyre generally had lower output, so I replaced it with a K&K. I didn’t notice it too much at home but in the noisy bar I have much happier since then. YMMV
    I should be pickin' rather than postin'

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Pickups

    I tried many PUs over the past 30 years: Barcus Berry, Shadow, Fishman, Schertler, Schatten, Baggs, JJB, K&K, Dazzo. IMHO only one of them comes close to a miked mandolin: Dazzo ! When trying it for the first time on stage, I (and my bandmates) could not believe there is no mic involved.
    These days I returned to the old real mic on a stand approach, but whenever needed I'd use a Dazzo.
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  9. #9
    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickups

    I have a K&K in my Silverangel and really like it. When I got the SA, both the instrument and the PU sounded like a good step up from the surface-mount JJB I originally had on my Eastman. I thought it sounded so good that I bought a surface mount K&K Mandolin twin for my Jacobson. But I must say, I was impressed by a quick YT search of the Dazzo!

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  10. #10
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    Default Re: Pickups

    Glad you like the vid - I did that comparison a while ago and produced the vid.

    Look at the comments on youtube, and you will find Teddy Randazzo himself, the creative mind behind Dazzo pickups. He states that my placement of the Dazzo in the vid is not perfect. So you can expect a even better performance when placed properly.

    I have one installed in my H5 mandola, installation done by an experienced luthier. Sounds incredibly natural. Tried the Dazzo on my mandocello, temporarily installed with beeswax - sounded perfect. Loaned the pickup to a cello playing friend for on stage amplification (again beeswax installed on top) - he loved it. Have it in several guitars - best amplified sound I had in thirty years.
    Ellis F5 Special Deluxe custom
    Anton Krutz F5
    Lawrence Smart H 5 Mandola
    Gibson K 2 Mandocello
    Northfield mahogany arch top Octave Mandolin

    guitars, banjo, dobro, weissenborn, pedal steel, fretless bass, upright bass

  11. #11

    Default Re: Pickups

    Can you just use beeswax for the long haul? Preferring not to put glue on my instrument.

    Quote Originally Posted by mando-bob View Post
    Glad you like the vid - I did that comparison a while ago and produced the vid.

    Look at the comments on youtube, and you will find Teddy Randazzo himself, the creative mind behind Dazzo pickups. He states that my placement of the Dazzo in the vid is not perfect. So you can expect a even better performance when placed properly.

    I have one installed in my H5 mandola, installation done by an experienced luthier. Sounds incredibly natural. Tried the Dazzo on my mandocello, temporarily installed with beeswax - sounded perfect. Loaned the pickup to a cello playing friend for on stage amplification (again beeswax installed on top) - he loved it. Have it in several guitars - best amplified sound I had in thirty years.

  12. #12
    Registered User Mandobart's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickups

    Quote Originally Posted by cassetteland View Post
    Can you just use beeswax for the long haul? Preferring not to put glue on my instrument.
    I haven't used bees wax, but I've installed quite a few internal piezo pickups with blue hobby putty. Some of these have been in for over 15 years with no problems. On one of my fiddles I had to remove the pickup to pull the tailblock output jack and it was quite simple to remove then reinstall later with fresh putty.

    I have two custom instruments where the builder installed JJB SBT pickups with superglue (which is the normal recommended method). I don't hear any difference between the glued-in or putty-mounted pickups.

  13. #13
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickups

    K&K is IMO a great economical solution I use in one mandolin and one guitar. No fuss, easy peasy, get your luthier or tech to install one.
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  14. #14
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pickups

    K&K is IMO a great economical solution I use in one mandolin and one guitar. No fuss, easy peasy, get your luthier or tech to install one (they go inside, and use a strap button guitar jack).
    WWW.THEAMATEURMANDOLINIST.COM
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    "Life is short. Play hard." - AlanN

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    HEY! The Cafe has Social Groups, check 'em out. I'm in these groups:
    Newbies Social Group | The Song-A-Week Social
    The Woodshed Study Group | Blues Mando
    - Advice For Mandolin Beginners
    - YouTube Stuff

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