Mandolin piezo P/U preamps?

Subject: Mandolin piezo P/U preamps?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Jun 05 - 04:34 PM

Has anyone got any tips about suitable preamps for piezos in mandolins? A genius (not) fitted my mandolin (a Kentucky flatiron) with a pair of stickons - belcats I think - one under each foot of the bridge. Since the top is both thick and small, the output from the piezos is very low. And because there is no preamp inside, it is a difficult signal for many mixers and DI boxes.

Most DI boxes seem to ahve an input impedance of only about 250k.

The Baggs paracoustic has an input impedance of 10 meg (more like it) but I also need a large gain. I would also like something cheaper than the paracoustic.

Suggestions?

Subject: RE: Mandolin piezo P/U preamps?
From: Mooh
Date: 19 Jun 05 - 06:20 PM

I've used simple guitar and bass preamps like the Boss stomp boxes with some success, they're cheap and easy. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Mandolin piezo P/U preamps?
From: mooman
Date: 19 Jun 05 - 06:40 PM

I have both Fishman and PUTW (Powerplug) preamps (about the same price). The Fishman has volume, bass and treble controls and the PUTW just a volume control. Despite this I tend to use the PUTW more often both with PUTW and piezo pickups as it sounds more transparent to me. The gain is similar for both. The PUTW goes in the endpin jack (if there is one) while the Fishman clips onto your belt.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Mandolin piezo P/U preamps?
From: Mooh
Date: 19 Jun 05 - 10:47 PM

Actually, my best results have come with a mic preamp and a phantom powered DI box with any pickup at all. I use a Behringer MX602A sub mixer before the PA mixer. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Mandolin piezo P/U preamps?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Jun 05 - 05:47 AM

From memory the PUTW is about 70 quid here in the UK, and teh Fishman about 100.

As far as I have been able to find Fishman do not publish technical details like the input impedance of their belt preamps, does anyone know better?

I don't remember any details of the input impedance of the PUTW one being on their website last I looked, but I will check.

Maybe I just keep on with a little DI box, albeit it gives me no volume control (or carry a huge great old valve box mixer that at least has a huge input impedance - about a megohm or so...)