Tech: Fiddle Pick up

Subject: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Herge
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 01:55 PM

Hi
Any recommendations for a good fiddle pick up - Fishman or Baggs? For use in a Ceilidh band for a fiddler who wont sit still!

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: GUEST,Paul Burgess
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 02:06 PM

I'm using the Headway pickup at the moment. I find it really excellent quality, and like it particularly because it warps completely around the fiddle, so I don't knock it off (like I used to with the bulldog clip-type jobs kike the RAMSA). The way it wraps around means that the fiddle body is protected from the jack input/output. Because it's a C-ducer type of mic, it takes a helluva lot to cause feedback. Can be a bit middly on some PA systems, but that's very easy to sort out. No pre-amp. No graphic. Just plug in. It's only about £120. (Google for: Headway violin)
I have no connection with the company!

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Herge
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 02:23 PM

Hi Thanks for this - its an interesting concept

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 03:12 PM

I'm not a fiddle player but another make to consider is Headway

Headway

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Cruiser
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 03:26 PM

I have found it best not to drop, or in my case throw, a fiddle down so it requires a pick up. That certainly will not improve your playing in any case, unless you quit playing altogether.

I have used a Marcus-berry pick up and it works well. They do make good electric fiddles that sound good, though not quite as sonorous as an old fiddle with a good pick up.

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Mooh
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 03:50 PM

A friend is considering, on the advice of a local legendary fiddle repair guru, a RIML (www.riml.biz). It's a mic which is mounted via a clip in the "C" side cut of the fiddle, requiring no instrument modification. It looks like a good concept to me.

Schatten Design (www.schattendesign.com) is another option and though I've never used their fiddle pickups, I have installed them satisfactorily, and I personally use their "Dualie" guitar pickups in several guitars (though I'll use a condenser mic whenever possible).

I dislike bridge pickups, much favouring soundboard transducers when I can't use a mic. In many situations though, a pickup is the best option to counter lousy gear, lesser p.a., inexperienced soundpersons, crappy room acoustics and whathaveyou. There's no perfect fix, but usually an adequate one.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Cruiser
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 04:32 PM

Links Mooh referenced:


Introducing the Fiddle Pro

Schatten Violin Pickups

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Mooh
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 07:24 PM

Cruiser...Thanks for the hand, and happy new year!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Cruiser
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 09:30 PM

Have a good New Year Mooh.

Hey, I saw part of the PBS program called Celtic Woman. I was watching the fiddler and not the fiddle, but she moved all over the place like Herge said her fiddler might do.

Therefore, what amplification was she using. I did not notice any wires. Was it just her wireless mike? I don't much keep up with musical technology.

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Cats
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 07:26 AM

You can't go wrong with Headway. They take a great pride in making sure the pickup they sell you is absolutley right for what you want.

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Herge
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 08:10 AM

The headway seems to be getting good press - I'll give it a go

Thanks

Herge

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: GUEST,John Littler
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 09:39 PM

Hello, I am the Headway director and I am connected with the band as I invented it. I occasionally make them myself when we run out, which is too frequently and I am about to get the Viola & Cello versions back in stock, plus I have developed a miniature pre-amp which will enable an active Class "A" version using lithium coin cells, in future.

In addition, we've done a passive hot version, which was a prototype, rejected by us, but we've sold all 7 pcs sent out on trial and will be making more as Bristol Violin Shop loves them. It is less natural, but more powerful and present.

Also we are trying to get the highly acclaimed VL3 back in stock again, plus a greatly improved version of VL1, the simplified version of it (Active Bridge Based systems ).

We are also planning a separate firm doing electro-acoustic instruments, properly.

Anyway, if anyone wishes to enquire further, try me on: [e-mail]
[e-mail]

I play mando family instruments myself

Happy scraping!

John Littler

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Herge
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 07:41 PM

Hi All

Well got the headway and tried it out tonight at a gig - I thought it may have needed a pre-amp as I had to put the gain way up for it to register on the PFL. Unfortunatly we did'nt have too much time for soundcheck but it worked reasonably well - would have liked more time to work on tone as it was a bit trebley. Any other thoughts on pre-amp or do I need to just spend some time on getting it equalized right?

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Mooh
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 07:56 PM

I always like some kind of preamp for acoustic instrument pickups. A Boss GEB7 bass eq pedal, Behringer bass amp modeler, Behringer acoustic amp modeler, Behringer Eurorack MX602A mixer, all serve occassional duty in my kit, but a specialized dedicated preamp from Schertler, Fishman, or LRBaggs might be more appropriate. Whatever you decide on, I recommend DI capability, ground lift, and some tone control.

A preamp gives YOU control over your sound and warms up the signal.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Stewart
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 09:15 PM

At the more pricey end is the Schertler DYN-V. A friend has one for his guitar, which I tried out on my fiddle. It consists of a small dynamic microphone which attaches face down temporarily to the instrument's surface with a circular bead of putty (like silly-putty). You can find the best spot by moving it around to different areas. The sound is a very true (pure) acoustic sound (unlike most of the piezo transducers). I was convinced and ordered one ($410 over the internet), which I will use on my fiddle and also on my guitar. It plugs into a XLR mic input on the sound board and requires no additional preamp, other than what is on the board (acts just like a regular dynamic mic).

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 09:27 PM

Can anyone recommend a nice-sounding pickup that's also feedback resistant? I sometimes end up playing fiddle and sound engineering from stage for one of my bands and I have to walk out in front of the speakers to check the balance during soundcheck - what pickups are there that can cope with that sort of thing without feeding back (and also work wireless)? I've been using a Fishman transducer but I've had it a while and it's a bit knackered now. I'd like my next pickup to be more natural sounding, but would also be handy to be able to use it for sound engineering gigs.

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: CharleyR
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 09:30 PM

Aargh, mudcat doesn't remember me! That last post was from me.

Subject: RE: Tech: Fiddle Pick up
From: Herge
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 07:27 AM

Have been using the headway since Jan and must give it full marks - good sound easy and easy to use.

Good recommendation

Herge