Sarah,

You're right, it's always difficult to listen to the amplified sound of an acoustic instrument while you're playing.

I've tried recording then playing back the sound but much depends on the equipment and in fact in most live situations the listner hears some live and some amplified sound. Overall I prefer to let a friend do the listening and adjusting. I play double bass, melodeon and concertina but I've taken the role of listener for the fiddle players in the band. This includes a Bridge electric and an octave violin all of which need different techniques.

We played at Sidmouth a couple of years ago and the sound man in the marquees was happy with the AKG mics which we use for accordion, fiddle and bass.

Hope this helps

Mitch