I play fiddle and want to buy a decent pickup, any suggestions, my budget isn't massive! I want something reliable and affordable (if possible!). There are way too many options online, I wouldn't know where to start or what specs to look for!! Got it as a joke really....Anyway, any advice would be great. thanks.
Well, here I go again. I'm a bit of a pro-audio geek so I'm going to say what I always say. Don't use a pickup at all if you can go with a mic. Almost ANY mic will sound better than a pickup, that is, will sound more accurate. With pickups you will lose alot of the frequency character that makes it sound acoustic. Your fiddle will, at least somewhat, take on an "electric fiddle" sound. So keep that in mind. Now, if you're not concerned about mobility, that is, you don't have to move/walk around on a stage or something, then I would recommend going with a dynamic microphone, which if you're using any monitoring will avoid feedback better. If you're not using any monitoring, then a condenser mic will have the best possible sound, and will give you a touch more mobility because it picks up distance, but you will still be limited in movement somewhat. The problem with condensers is that if you're using monitoring they will most certainly feed back.
As for pickups, I'm sure you'll get responses from fiddle players. I'm not one.
Looks like a nifty device sandy, I'm curious to hear it. These types of systems for acoustic instruments are an ongoing challenge, which is why I stick with mics whenever possible. Plus, I'm always a little freaked out about doing any modifications to acoustic instruments other than those intended to improve the playability of the instrument, but that's just me.
I am very impressed with this mic,I won't pretend I understand all the jargon that goes with electronic gadgetry,all I know is that this mic works for me. It is so responsive, whether in a very small, loud, village hall, to a large ballroom without that artificial sound from most pick-ups.I'm afraid I don't have any recordings of me using this mic,but believe me it's one of the best buy's I've made!
I don't use the "violin mount" - I just clip it to my chinrest and point it over the bass side f-hole. That way it only takes seconds to put it on or remove it. Sounds great and I haven't had any problems with feedback yet.
I have a pickup on another fiddle and I remember when I got this mic - suddenly it sounded just like my fiddle, but louder. No need for fancy EQ or anything, true plug and play.
Not mentioned yet: L.R. Baggs has been judged fairly positive on this site. Not that I can tell, I have a Fishman but I don't think it's that good. I more or less stopped doing gigs in noisy environments, so now I use a mike instead. So yes, I second what Jimmy B says.
I've got a Read pick-up and it works very well. My problem with it is it works too well and picks up lots of other sounds off the fiddle as well i.e. the sound of my fingers on the finger board. It can sound like I've got a drummer on board. I'd say you would have to give it a try and see if it suits you.
I would concur with other comments above re microphone based pickups.
You seem to have gotten some good input from the fiddlers. I'm not bagging on pickups as my initial post may have suggested, I'm just a stickler for mics on ANY acoustic instrument in general, based on some live sound and recording experience. I used to play mando in a group. First I played the acoustic one I had using a mic, then I bought an acoustic-electric mando from a friend with a built-in pickup. Initially I liked the mobility, but soon I found myself disliking the sound so much that I went back to using a mic.
I forgot about the ATM350 by Audio-Technica. I've heard a fiddler using that and if I remember it sounded pretty good. Still had that upper frequency bite that usually gets lost in pickups.
Amazingly good and cheap: buy a lapel mike from Tandy/ Radioshack and (without the lapel mount) stuff it through the treble side f hole so it dangles inside.
It shouldn't work but it really does - mandolins too but too boomy on a larger bodied instrument.
We did a live recording of a gig the other night ( one of those gigs with a great audience and a great vibe) where everything came together really well. The gig happened to be recorded in multitrack so we now have the ability to EQ every instrument after the fact. Unfortunately, the fiddler did the whole gig with a pickup and thus has no dynamics. There is just an omnipresence of flat violin parts through the whole gig that ruins it for me. And yes I play fiddle so I know how hard it is, but....down with pickups. I use mics only and sometimes suffer from being drowned out, but oh well, it's better than doing the drowning. If you are the only acoustic instrument in your band, you need a pickup, if you are one of several acoustic instruments (3 or more), you should never use one. If you are one of 2 and the other one is a banjo or accordion, then fine, but even then, not really.
And there is the compromise of using a pickup and a mic, but I think it should be mostly mic and a pickup to hear anything that for some reason is missed by the mic. Banjo players do this in bluegrass music but you need a good sound engineer who knows what really good tone should sound like ( not a soundman for a classic rock cover band who last heard a banjo in the Eagle's Recording of Take it Easy)
Dead on, Earl. The OP did mention a budget, but I have no idea what kind of budget. But in general, using a simple dynamic mic will not cost much and will sound good, even a cheap one. The only issue is the lack of mobility. I never minded much because I was playing mando in a strictly acoustic setup that was all about the music, not the physical performance. This included a banjo, but the mic was plenty to keep up.
The usual problem with mikes is feedback, Kenny Johnson at Skyinbow Fiddles has developed a pick up for fiddles, but I dont know how much they are. You should be able to find his website??
Fiddle pickup -
Fiddle pickup -
Hi
I play fiddle and want to buy a decent pickup, any suggestions, my budget isn't massive! I want something reliable and affordable (if possible!). There are way too many options online, I wouldn't know where to start or what specs to look for!! Got it as a joke really....Anyway, any advice would be great. thanks.
# Posted on November 17th 2009 by meadhbhboyd
Re: Fiddle pickup -
Well, here I go again. I'm a bit of a pro-audio geek so I'm going to say what I always say. Don't use a pickup at all if you can go with a mic. Almost ANY mic will sound better than a pickup, that is, will sound more accurate. With pickups you will lose alot of the frequency character that makes it sound acoustic. Your fiddle will, at least somewhat, take on an "electric fiddle" sound. So keep that in mind. Now, if you're not concerned about mobility, that is, you don't have to move/walk around on a stage or something, then I would recommend going with a dynamic microphone, which if you're using any monitoring will avoid feedback better. If you're not using any monitoring, then a condenser mic will have the best possible sound, and will give you a touch more mobility because it picks up distance, but you will still be limited in movement somewhat. The problem with condensers is that if you're using monitoring they will most certainly feed back.
As for pickups, I'm sure you'll get responses from fiddle players. I'm not one.
# Posted on November 17th 2009 by Jimmy B
Re: Fiddle pickup -
Barcus Berry have been around for as long as I can remember and are good pickups. So are Fishman and EMG
but since you have to stick something in your bridge, at least think about what Jim is saying about just using a mike
# Posted on November 17th 2009 by Nate Ryan
Re: Fiddle pickup -
I use a Read Instrument Microphone. It fits nicely into the scroll of the fiddle. http://www.riml.biz/
# Posted on November 17th 2009 by sandy2
Re: Fiddle pickup -
Looks like a nifty device sandy, I'm curious to hear it. These types of systems for acoustic instruments are an ongoing challenge, which is why I stick with mics whenever possible. Plus, I'm always a little freaked out about doing any modifications to acoustic instruments other than those intended to improve the playability of the instrument, but that's just me.
# Posted on November 17th 2009 by Jimmy B
Re: Fiddle pickup -
I am very impressed with this mic,I won't pretend I understand all the jargon that goes with electronic gadgetry,all I know is that this mic works for me. It is so responsive, whether in a very small, loud, village hall, to a large ballroom without that artificial sound from most pick-ups.I'm afraid I don't have any recordings of me using this mic,but believe me it's one of the best buy's I've made!
# Posted on November 17th 2009 by sandy2
Re: Fiddle pickup -
The 'Band' pickups are very good if you don't want to do any modifications to the fiddle.
# Posted on November 18th 2009 by barrysmith90
Re: Fiddle pickup -
And, for heaven' s sake, bung it through a radio system or you'll be forever tripping over your string!
# Posted on November 18th 2009 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: Fiddle pickup -
I use an Audio-Technica ATM350 http://eu.audio-technica.com/en/products/product.asp?catID=2&subID=12&prodID=1496
I don't use the "violin mount" - I just clip it to my chinrest and point it over the bass side f-hole. That way it only takes seconds to put it on or remove it. Sounds great and I haven't had any problems with feedback yet.
I have a pickup on another fiddle and I remember when I got this mic - suddenly it sounded just like my fiddle, but louder. No need for fancy EQ or anything, true plug and play.
# Posted on November 18th 2009 by Pontus Adefjord
Re: Fiddle pickup -
Not mentioned yet: L.R. Baggs has been judged fairly positive on this site. Not that I can tell, I have a Fishman but I don't think it's that good. I more or less stopped doing gigs in noisy environments, so now I use a mike instead. So yes, I second what Jimmy B says.
# Posted on November 18th 2009 by Henk Bos
Re: Fiddle pickup -
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/8230
comes up a lot this question, always worth searching first.
# Posted on November 18th 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: Fiddle pickup -
There is a new bridge pickup out called a Bradivarius
http://www.bradivarius.com
I really like this pickup a lot. It is a big improvement over the Baggs and Barcus Berry bridge pickups
David Blackmon
# Posted on November 18th 2009 by fiddler59
Re: Fiddle pickup -
I've got a Read pick-up and it works very well. My problem with it is it works too well and picks up lots of other sounds off the fiddle as well i.e. the sound of my fingers on the finger board. It can sound like I've got a drummer on board. I'd say you would have to give it a try and see if it suits you.
I would concur with other comments above re microphone based pickups.
# Posted on November 18th 2009 by john knoss
Re: Fiddle pickup -
You seem to have gotten some good input from the fiddlers. I'm not bagging on pickups as my initial post may have suggested, I'm just a stickler for mics on ANY acoustic instrument in general, based on some live sound and recording experience. I used to play mando in a group. First I played the acoustic one I had using a mic, then I bought an acoustic-electric mando from a friend with a built-in pickup. Initially I liked the mobility, but soon I found myself disliking the sound so much that I went back to using a mic.
I forgot about the ATM350 by Audio-Technica. I've heard a fiddler using that and if I remember it sounded pretty good. Still had that upper frequency bite that usually gets lost in pickups.
# Posted on November 18th 2009 by Jimmy B
Re: Fiddle pickup -
Amazingly good and cheap: buy a lapel mike from Tandy/ Radioshack and (without the lapel mount) stuff it through the treble side f hole so it dangles inside.
It shouldn't work but it really does - mandolins too but too boomy on a larger bodied instrument.
# Posted on November 18th 2009 by Rob
Re: Fiddle pickup -
We did a live recording of a gig the other night ( one of those gigs with a great audience and a great vibe) where everything came together really well. The gig happened to be recorded in multitrack so we now have the ability to EQ every instrument after the fact. Unfortunately, the fiddler did the whole gig with a pickup and thus has no dynamics. There is just an omnipresence of flat violin parts through the whole gig that ruins it for me. And yes I play fiddle so I know how hard it is, but....down with pickups. I use mics only and sometimes suffer from being drowned out, but oh well, it's better than doing the drowning. If you are the only acoustic instrument in your band, you need a pickup, if you are one of several acoustic instruments (3 or more), you should never use one. If you are one of 2 and the other one is a banjo or accordion, then fine, but even then, not really.
# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Earl Cameron
Re: Fiddle pickup -
And there is the compromise of using a pickup and a mic, but I think it should be mostly mic and a pickup to hear anything that for some reason is missed by the mic. Banjo players do this in bluegrass music but you need a good sound engineer who knows what really good tone should sound like ( not a soundman for a classic rock cover band who last heard a banjo in the Eagle's Recording of Take it Easy)
# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Earl Cameron
Re: Fiddle pickup -
Dead on, Earl. The OP did mention a budget, but I have no idea what kind of budget. But in general, using a simple dynamic mic will not cost much and will sound good, even a cheap one. The only issue is the lack of mobility. I never minded much because I was playing mando in a strictly acoustic setup that was all about the music, not the physical performance. This included a banjo, but the mic was plenty to keep up.
# Posted on November 19th 2009 by Jimmy B
Re: Fiddle pickup -
The usual problem with mikes is feedback, Kenny Johnson at Skyinbow Fiddles has developed a pick up for fiddles, but I dont know how much they are. You should be able to find his website??
# Posted on November 23rd 2009 by tirvaluk
Re: Fiddle pickup -
www.skyinbow.com
# Posted on November 23rd 2009 by tirvaluk