I doubt that there is a way to amplify a mandolin that would please any of us. I once cornered Tim O'Brien at the North Texas Irish Festival and had good things to say about Schertler {SP?} pickups from Switzerland. Basically a contact mic that you attach with putty under the bridge. O'Brien says they sound very natural. But they're priced at a little over $300 dollars. That's a bit pricy but I may spring for it if the other guys in the group want to start plugging in again.