Hi
Can anyone recommend a good pick up that will not cost an arm and a leg, for a tenor banjo, and will not feedback like a squeeling pig when turned up ?
does one exist ?
I use a small mic that I mount on the wooden crossbar inside the head, aimed at the tone ring. I can use an xlr cable, no pre-amp. It gets a good sound, no feedback problem, I think it was made by Shure, but I don't know the model. The little teeny lapel mics will feed back, so I wouldn't recommend them.
I haven't tried the banjo model myself, but K&K sound make really good pickups that I've heard used to great effect in bouzoukis, mandolins, and guitars. Relatively inexpensive, but you'll get better results if you invest in a pre-amp as well.
I use the K&K which works well enough and it's fairly inexpensive (I think I paid about hundred bucks). It's easy to attach and I've never had any feed back problems with it. But I will tell you, the sound takes a little getting use to.
Actually, looking again, my pickup is a K&K. It seemed cheaper than $100, but it's been a few years since I bought it. I'm thinking I may have paid about $35 or $40 for it.
It seems to accurately reproduce the tone of the banjo, but that's not saying much, since I play a cheap banjo.
I think transducers, by their nature, do not feedback. Most instrument mics are condenser mics which tend to feedback more than dynamic mics (the common vocal mics).
If you can solder OK, get a pair of small (not in-ear) 20Hz -20kHz headphones (about $12), take out the speakers and solder a 1/4" socket (about $1) to the speaker terminals. Attach securely to truss rod, plug into preamp pedal to taste. You can also tape this pickup to a mandolin, etc.
Two perfectly good pickups for under $15.
Banjo Pick Up- transducer
Banjo Pick Up- transducer
Hi
Can anyone recommend a good pick up that will not cost an arm and a leg, for a tenor banjo, and will not feedback like a squeeling pig when turned up ?
does one exist ?
# Posted on March 9th 2010 by premierview
Re: Banjo Pick Up- transducer
Yes, they are small and pink and go whee whee whee. And they taste nice.
# Posted on March 9th 2010 by gam
Re: Banjo Pick Up- transducer
I use a small mic that I mount on the wooden crossbar inside the head, aimed at the tone ring. I can use an xlr cable, no pre-amp. It gets a good sound, no feedback problem, I think it was made by Shure, but I don't know the model. The little teeny lapel mics will feed back, so I wouldn't recommend them.
# Posted on March 9th 2010 by primrose lass
Re: Banjo Pick Up- transducer
I haven't tried the banjo model myself, but K&K sound make really good pickups that I've heard used to great effect in bouzoukis, mandolins, and guitars. Relatively inexpensive, but you'll get better results if you invest in a pre-amp as well.
# Posted on March 10th 2010 by Steve L
Re: Banjo Pick Up- transducer
I use a really cheap stick-on transducer like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PICKUP-TRANSDUCER-FOR-BANJO-VIOLIN-MANDOLIN-UKULELE-etc_W0QQitemZ370334918242QQcmdZViewItemQQptZString_Instrument_Parts_Accessories?hash=item5639ae6662
I also run it through a Boss LS-2 line selector that acts as a pre-amp for the banjo and my mandolin.
It sounds good enough.
# Posted on March 10th 2010 by CleverName
Re: Banjo Pick Up- transducer
I use the K&K which works well enough and it's fairly inexpensive (I think I paid about hundred bucks). It's easy to attach and I've never had any feed back problems with it. But I will tell you, the sound takes a little getting use to.
# Posted on March 10th 2010 by croxton
Re: Banjo Pick Up- transducer
Actually, looking again, my pickup is a K&K. It seemed cheaper than $100, but it's been a few years since I bought it. I'm thinking I may have paid about $35 or $40 for it.
It seems to accurately reproduce the tone of the banjo, but that's not saying much, since I play a cheap banjo.
I think transducers, by their nature, do not feedback. Most instrument mics are condenser mics which tend to feedback more than dynamic mics (the common vocal mics).
# Posted on March 11th 2010 by CleverName
Re: Banjo Pick Up- transducer
If you can solder OK, get a pair of small (not in-ear) 20Hz -20kHz headphones (about $12), take out the speakers and solder a 1/4" socket (about $1) to the speaker terminals. Attach securely to truss rod, plug into preamp pedal to taste. You can also tape this pickup to a mandolin, etc.
Two perfectly good pickups for under $15.
# Posted on March 23rd 2010 by justinlloyd
Re: Banjo Pick Up- transducer
One for each banjo?
# Posted on March 23rd 2010 by ...