I'm looking for some input on amplifying the mandolin for performance. I'm primarily a guitar-player, and I have a lot of experience with the options for amplifying an acoustic guitar -- from playing into a number of different microphone types, to stick-on soundboard transducers, to the various piezoelectric under-saddle bridge pickups, to magnetic pickups, to internal condenser microphones. Currently my favorite on-board, feedback-resistant option for guitar is the Fishman Rare Earth humbucker with the internal condenser mike mixed in, through a SansAmp Acoustic DI; it ain't perfect, but it balances the competing considerations out pretty well in my estimation.

On mandolin, the available options seem more limited, especially if you don't want to do major alterations to your instrument. At the moment I use a Fishman piezoelectric bridge pickup through a small preamp. I'm not thrilled with it -- the brittle piezo tone is not really something I care for, and the integrated pickup/bridge saddle amplifies a lot of extraneous handling noise. Can anyone out there share their experiences (pro or con) with other options?

For what it's worth, I play an old (1953) Martin style 2-15; it's an archtop mandolin with f-holes, what would be called an A-style if it were a Gibson. It's a pleasant sounding instrument with lots of sentimental value (it was given to me by my father, who passed away last year). It has a higher arch than a Gibson -- more along the lines of the arched top on a fiddle. And obviously, I don't want to do any cutting. Please let me know if anyone has any advice. Thanks.