Name this pickup...

harlemjoys

Does anyone know what is the make of that pickup which clips to the oval hole and looks like a mini mic? I've seen both Kruno and Gonzalo use it...Thanks!

Craig Bumgarner

Probably a mini mic as you say. I've seen Gonzalo use what looks like one of the Audio Technicas clip ons like the AT-70 or the AT-831B. I use the latter. For me, it works better when attached to the guitar in the area of the guitar 1" behind the bridge and about 3/4" below the strings, see pic below. I made an attachment that weaves through the strings between the bridge and the tail piece. Works great, no "booming" like I get at the soundhole location and feedback.

CB

pinkgary

I'll second what Craig said.....

klaatu

Craig,

Are you using just the microphone (i.e., no pickup)? Assuming you solo, are you able to get adequate volume on solos? I've tried something like that but find it hard to really pick up solos without crossing over into feedback. This is going into a PA, not an instrument amp. Mixing it with a pickup seems to work better for me, with the pickup giving more power and the mike giving more acoustic sound, but that can be a bit of a hassle.

Tele295

Doug Martin (gitpicker) uses soundhole clip as you describe for his AT mic on his Favino & AJL

Craig Bumgarner

Ben,

I use the mic alone whenever I can because, so far, it sounds best to me. I've been combining it with an in-saddle piezo pickup when I might need the extra volume, but I often find I can do without it, even when soloing. I go direct to the PA if there is one or into my Unico amp mic channel.

I've never had a volume or a feedback problem with the mic into a PA and our group plays fairly loud. With the amp, it's a little touchier and I usually get feedback before full volume, but I can get close to full volume most of the time by keeping the EQ flat, using the low cut on the amp, careful amp and mic placement. The mic placed as in the picture above is much better than the sound hole location for feedback as well as for a more natural sound. I've seen some people set the mic up in the middle of the strings below the bridge, but that interferes with my right hand some (I know, arch the wrist) and also seems to be more feedback prone due to the proximity of the right hand even if the wrist is arched.

Craig

placidothecat

Craig, that's a great idea as it also doubles as a behind-the-bridge-ringer-stopper device! Is that just a regular old piece of foam you used?

-Phil

Craig Bumgarner

It is actually two pieces of sticky back 3M Scotchmate (hook and loop like Velcro). I stuck the mic on one end of one piece. Originally, I would open the velcro and sandwich the strings between, but it did not grip the strings firmly enough and sometimes the whole thing would slid up to the bridge which led to knocking, feedback and distortion. One night, I just wove the two pieces of velcro through the strings instead. I quickly found if it went under to high E, over the B, G, D & A and then back under the low E, the arrangement is very secure, keeps the mic low so as to pick up sound from the top well and stays out of the way of the right hand. I can mount or remove the mic in a few seconds. By playing with the way the hook and loop pieces engage each other, you can introduce curves into the combined piece which helps in fine tuning the shape.

The 3M Scotchmate I used was some stuff I happened to find in the junk box here at work. The protector strips have the product name all over it, otherwise, I'd never have known. It has a fairly heavy backing, maybe 1mm. Looks like it might be neoprene. Nice that it is black. The two pieces together are almost 4mm. The glue is very tenacious and the mic has stuck firmly for over a year since day one. The rest of the sticky back quickly became un-sticky with lint and dust which is good. The bottom piece is sticky back too, I just never pulled the plastic strip off to expose. The hooks and loops aren't part of the plan anymore of course, but it seems that the two pieces together are stiffer and lighter than a solid piece of something else in similar thickness might be. The thickness and flexibility is just right for weaving through the strings yet the mic does not flop around at all. What little tackiness there might be in sticky back helps keep the whole thing secure. Funny how thing like this evolve and work out.

Craig

placidothecat

Craig, so the mic clip is just held on with the sticky side of the tape?

Craig Bumgarner

placidothecat wrote:

Craig, so the mic clip is just held on with the sticky side of the tape?

Yes..... Well, "pride goeth before the fall". After all that BS about how robust that sticky back joint to the mic is, first song into a gig last night, I put my foot down on the mic cable and pulled the mic off the strip. :oops: I stuck it back on and it held for the night, but I think I will take a couple loops around it with needle and heavy thread to cinch it in place.

CB

CalebFSU

I am actually thinking about buying one of these ( they are only a little over a hundred bucks and they sounds great as far as I can tell) but I wonder, mainly because I am kind of Mic ignorant, does it plug into a preamp then into a P.A.? I know they can use direct or phantom power(?) would someone be so kind as to explain the signal chain to me??? what exactly is needed. I guess this is why I love the Stimer I just stick it on and Plug into the Deluxe reverb and go. But I am interested in having the ability to have a good acoustic sounds especially since I have noticed that (at least to me, maybe I am biased) my Hommage is really opening up and I am really falling in love with the Acoustic tone of it.