Melodeon amplification

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: Chris Green
Date: 13 Apr 12 - 11:35 AM

Anyone had any experience of using the T-bone on the bass side of an accordion (72-bass)?

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 13 Apr 12 - 11:00 AM

I guess a couple of squeezers and a couple of fiddles, a guitar and percussion will be enough for most community and church halls.

At a time when elements of the folk world are heading for stadiums maybe it's time to head in the other direction?

Les

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: treewind
Date: 13 Apr 12 - 09:18 AM

Flowers and Frolics used to play unamplified, including (and I remember it, I was there) at a Sidmouth Folk Week late night extra. They started using PA later because they were breaking too many melodeons, I'm told.

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: treewind
Date: 13 Apr 12 - 08:58 AM

That T.Bone mic looks just the ticket! Thanks for the hint - I'll seriously consider that if I need another instrument mic.

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 13 Apr 12 - 08:47 AM

Gerry, we are not alone!

The Beech Band evolved out of our Beginners Session that we based this on the BS at Shrewsbury. We had no plans to become a Ceilidh Band. As we progressed playing tunes some of us had discussed the idea of forming a conventional Ceilidh Band but when we watched bands playing it looked too much like hard work and with small numbers - a couple of duff notes or swapping an A for a B part would be a problem.

I think we enjoyed just rolling up at the pub, or where ever, with our instruments and playing. The idea of hiring and using a PA also seemed like a lot of bother and a lot of money.

We played in the Beer Garden at The Beech after Mollin Morris did a short tour. Rob called a couple of dances and it seemed to work.

We did a free Acoustic Ceilidh to see if we could do it - 26 musicians turned up and about 60 dancers and it worked a treat. We have done around 10 over 2 years with a totally flexible band of between 18 and 30 - and it seems to work OK.

It seems that the standard model for bands is 4 to 8 people - fiddles, squeezers, whistles, drums etc. and a biggish PA. I could be wrong but I get the impression that many bands play for weddings at £400 - £600 a night. I am not against any of this - people should do what they like and Ceilidhs anywhere are brilliant. But EFDSS dance nights are dissappearing across the country.

But have we lost our way a bit? Maybe Acoustic Ceilidhs (AC) will be the next revolution in folkie things - a bit like Oak, The Old Swan and Flowers& Frolics et al were in the 70s?

Rock on Tommy!

Les

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 13 Apr 12 - 05:37 AM

Hi Les explanation accepted I have days like that too
I've only known about the Beech Band through Mudcat
although we do have similar events over here in North Lincolnshire

Examples being "Reely Grim"near Caister

"Awaken Village Interest in Dance(AVID)" in the Isle of Axholme

best Wishes for the Beech Band

Gerry

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 13 Apr 12 - 02:29 AM

Fair comment gerry. I was clearly being facetious and unhelpful. I have a number of high horses but I hopped amplification was not one of them.

I am surprised you know of us. We have played Ceilidhs unamplified, except for the caller, with 20 - 30 musicians and it seems to work ok. We have played with amplification once. The concensus was we would be happier to play smaller places acoustically and explore amplification if anybody should ask us to play at a larger venue.

I guess this is way off the OP but we are keen to explore the acoustic ceilidh (AC) for a number of reasons:

1. We don't need PA for most of what we do
2. It's tricky to amplify and ballance 20+ musicians
3. AC is cheap
4. I think it gets back to the roots of what country dance bands did when they played all those great tunes sometime in the last 3 or 4 hundred years.
5. It's much easier on the ears

OK maybe I am on a high horse. It's nonsense to be 'against' PA and I am not. People should do what they want and we will all decide who to go and listen to.

Cheers

L in C#

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: GUEST,Ted Crum (Steamchicken)
Date: 12 Apr 12 - 06:24 PM

You could do worse than looking on the Thomann website for the t.bone CC75. It's a condenser mic which needs phantom power. I stuck small patchs of heavy duty velcro on my box, with equivalent patchs on the back of the clip, making them easily and quickly transferable, and the velcro mount minimises mechanical noise. Used them now for three years on stage with no problems. Very resistant to feedback and a decent sound: why pay more?

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Apr 12 - 11:50 AM

I got a Microvov for my mate to amplify his accordian ! the only 'probem' he has had in about fifteen years . is hooking the Bass Mic off when he picks it up !

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 12 Apr 12 - 11:16 AM

"Play in smaller places with less audience?

L in C#"

does n't answer the original question, if I suggested The Beech band played to bigger audiences with amplification you'd get on your high horse

gerry

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: Bert
Date: 12 Apr 12 - 11:10 AM

Midas maybe;-)

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 12 Apr 12 - 11:02 AM

Play in smaller places with less audience?

L in C#

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: Greg B
Date: 11 Apr 12 - 01:31 PM

I use the Microvox system, but send it via a stub to a wireless transmitter on my belt with the receiver sent to the DI. Works a treat, and I can't trip over the silly cord.

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: GUEST,Brendan
Date: 11 Apr 12 - 07:27 AM

Thank you for your suggestions. I will investigate the AKG system.

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 11 Apr 12 - 05:05 AM

I'm no melodeonist so can't help with instrument specifics, but I've been using Microvox for years on winds and now also (English) concertina.

Putting the Microvox line out to a DI box, then XLR from the DI to the sound desk, works wonders for any volume issues. A passive DI box is fine, so there's not huge expense or batteries / mains to be concerned with.

I've run that way into all shapes, manners and sizes of sound rigs down the years with no complaints from the assorted denizens of the sound desks, who as a species aren't usually noted for being shy about expressing an opinion about the quality and level of signal they're getting :)

Feedback I can't comment on, although of course any mic system can be made to howlround if you get your mic placement, monitoring and FOH set up wrong / right ...

Subject: RE: Melodeon amplification
From: treewind
Date: 10 Apr 12 - 06:54 PM

The AKG C516 system is a clip-on mic with short gooseneck. It's quite easy to get extra screw-on plates to go on your instruments, and then you can unclip the mic from one instrument and clip it on to the other.

Having said that, my usual spec for a festival stage, where I will be playing concertina, one row and two row melodeons and cello, is to ask for two instrument mics on short boom stands and use those for all the instruments (Left mic only for the cello)

In a ceilidh band I use an SM57 on a stand for the treble end and a Microvox for the bass, combined in a special battery box/mixer of my own design and sending a single feed to the mixer mic input.

I haven't found Microvox to be a problem with volume or feedback, but I stopped using them when I found I was getting distortion on my Oakwood box - either it's just too loud or the mics deteriorate with age, I not sure which.

Anahata

Subject: Melodeonamplification
From: GUEST,Guest Brendan
Date: 10 Apr 12 - 05:02 PM

Can anyone recommend a good system for ampliifying a melodeon. I need to be able to switch between instruments fairly quickly. I am currently using microvox mikes but I am not really very happy with them (feedback, poor volume).