Hey am just wondering if anyone can help me. I have been plaing fiddle in a group with a cello and it has been pointed out to me i need a pic-up. Can anyone reccomend one they found good and also an amp, asap! I am a complete beginner on this matter!! thanks, Mac
There's been a whole raft of correspondence over the years on this subject.
Try a search here in the discussions with significant words. Also check out my recent reply re electric fiddles.
A cello needing a pickup ? Surely not, ain't they noisy enough already ?
My suggestion: Don't let a rock-oriented music store sell you a heavy guitar amp.
If your group is strictly acoustic (no drums or electric guitar), you might consider a compact PA system instead of an amp. Lighter to haul, and more versatile. See http://www.behringer.com for examples of small mixers and bookshelf-sized powered speakers--I'm sure there are other makes and models out there as well.
I'm referring to the UB802 mixer (cigar-box size) and "Monitor Speakers MS16" (only 3.5 kg for the pair). Adequate for an acoustic group in a small room, and very easy to haul around.
I don't know much about this, but I do have a Fishman setup - bridge pickup and pre-amp. The pickup has a jack that clamps onto the side of the fiddle that I didn't like for my old fiddle. Apart from that it seemed pretty good the one time that I've actually got to use it in performance with a band. Anyway, its worth a look at, meybe?
Good call, mickray. A small acoustic would allow control of the two instruments to the mains and create a more balanced sound. A nice unidirectional mic like the Shure SM57 would work for the fiddle. Mind the feedback.
My wife has among here other instruments an electric fiddle. Alone, it sounds like an "angry insect" but in a mix it sounds like a mic-ed fiddle. Unfortunately, to use it, we have to cart around her SWR California Blonde "acoustic" amp. The PA would be lighter, or at least break up the load into smaller increments to carry.
I have a Fishman plate-style pick-up on my harp. I know that a plate pickup is no good for a fiddle but definitely get a Fishman pickup - they are super. I also have a 'planet waves' breaker lead (which means that you can 'break' the electric supply to your pickup without having to switch the mike/amp off at the mains every time you take a break. For more info & ordering
see: www.planetwaves.com/Pcablesdetails.aspx?ID=1
(the breaker lead is the first cable on the page (ignore the blurb about guitars - it works just as well for any instrument)
I'd echo the point about the "breaker" lead - it's very good. I use one on stage - and means you can do a quick practice.
I know not strictly about pickups, but if you are on stage the other thing you might like to consider is the Planet Waves footpedal tuner. We bought some as stock for our shop, and I tested it on my harp and fell in love with it. You just stomp with your foot and it breaks the feed to the PA and switches on the tuner - you can tune silently - and then stomp again and off you go. You can also use it to cut the feed so you can have a quick ping of the strings or whatever - it's definitely made my performance much more professional.
Pic ups and amps
Pic ups and amps
Hey am just wondering if anyone can help me. I have been plaing fiddle in a group with a cello and it has been pointed out to me i need a pic-up. Can anyone reccomend one they found good and also an amp, asap! I am a complete beginner on this matter!! thanks, Mac
# Posted on October 1st 2006 by Mackenzie
Re: Pic ups and amps
There's been a whole raft of correspondence over the years on this subject.
Try a search here in the discussions with significant words. Also check out my recent reply re electric fiddles.
A cello needing a pickup ? Surely not, ain't they noisy enough already ?
# Posted on October 1st 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Pic ups and amps
no i need a pick up so im louder than the cello! definately not the cello that needs one but thanks for the advice Mac
# Posted on October 1st 2006 by Mackenzie
Re: Pic ups and amps
My suggestion: Don't let a rock-oriented music store sell you a heavy guitar amp.
If your group is strictly acoustic (no drums or electric guitar), you might consider a compact PA system instead of an amp. Lighter to haul, and more versatile. See http://www.behringer.com for examples of small mixers and bookshelf-sized powered speakers--I'm sure there are other makes and models out there as well.
# Posted on October 1st 2006 by mickray
Re: Pic ups and amps
OK, Behringer has a big site.
I'm referring to the UB802 mixer (cigar-box size) and "Monitor Speakers MS16" (only 3.5 kg for the pair). Adequate for an acoustic group in a small room, and very easy to haul around.
# Posted on October 1st 2006 by mickray
Re: Pic ups and amps
I don't know much about this, but I do have a Fishman setup - bridge pickup and pre-amp. The pickup has a jack that clamps onto the side of the fiddle that I didn't like for my old fiddle. Apart from that it seemed pretty good the one time that I've actually got to use it in performance with a band. Anyway, its worth a look at, meybe?
http://www.fishman.com/products/acoustic-instrument-pickups.asp
If I could afford it, I would look at the Concert Master, meself. I know there are others out there, so good luck.
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by Clear Drops
Re: Pic ups and amps
Good call, mickray. A small acoustic would allow control of the two instruments to the mains and create a more balanced sound. A nice unidirectional mic like the Shure SM57 would work for the fiddle. Mind the feedback.
My wife has among here other instruments an electric fiddle. Alone, it sounds like an "angry insect" but in a mix it sounds like a mic-ed fiddle. Unfortunately, to use it, we have to cart around her SWR California Blonde "acoustic" amp. The PA would be lighter, or at least break up the load into smaller increments to carry.
# Posted on October 2nd 2006 by KC Gross
Re: Pic ups and amps
I have a Fishman plate-style pick-up on my harp. I know that a plate pickup is no good for a fiddle but definitely get a Fishman pickup - they are super. I also have a 'planet waves' breaker lead (which means that you can 'break' the electric supply to your pickup without having to switch the mike/amp off at the mains every time you take a break. For more info & ordering
see: www.planetwaves.com/Pcablesdetails.aspx?ID=1
(the breaker lead is the first cable on the page (ignore the blurb about guitars - it works just as well for any instrument)
# Posted on October 3rd 2006 by Harping McCartan
Re: Pic ups and amps
I'd echo the point about the "breaker" lead - it's very good. I use one on stage - and means you can do a quick practice.
I know not strictly about pickups, but if you are on stage the other thing you might like to consider is the Planet Waves footpedal tuner. We bought some as stock for our shop, and I tested it on my harp and fell in love with it. You just stomp with your foot and it breaks the feed to the PA and switches on the tuner - you can tune silently - and then stomp again and off you go. You can also use it to cut the feed so you can have a quick ping of the strings or whatever - it's definitely made my performance much more professional.
# Posted on October 3rd 2006 by Mark Harmer