Mandolin pick-up question

[SalFromChatham]

I think the K&k is the best solution.

However currently I have a Big Muddy, with a JJB with twin external transducers attached with blue putty. It works great, and comes off easy if I want it too.

[stevo58]

I have a K&K in my mandolin, and a JJB in my mandola. I have (had) both in various other instruments. I don’t really hear any consistent difference, but comparing different instrument types, and professional vs self-install makes it difficult to say what causes any difference I may hear. I am happy with all of them.

I have three preamps I use - a K&K, a Baggs ParaAcousticDI, and a ToneDexter. Which one I use seems to have more to do with how much I want to fuss with it on any given night. They are all an improvement over the tone without a pre. If I want/need best possible tone, I’ll use a DPA4099 anyway.

Steven

[Charlie Bernstein]

Originally Posted by mauricemcm

I enjoyed looking the Oakwood website over but did not see any reference to pickups. I recommend you contact Oakwood for a recommendation. Installing an internal pickup in a mandolin is not easy. . . .

Yup. That's why I said to have it installed. An experienced lutheir or tech should be able to make short work of it.

A mandolin pickup from JJB or K&K should fit, but there's no harm in asking them or Oakwood, just to be sure.

[rockabilly69]

LR Baggs Radius is a very easy mandolin pickup install and it sounds pretty good too. It can be permanently mounted internally to an end pin jack, or just mounted to the top with putty routed to a side-mount carpenter jack.


Here's a little blurry picture one mounted to my Flatiron A with a carpenter jack and putty...

[mtnmade]

Hey Rockabilly, how do you like your Flatiron Performer A? What year is it?

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by mtnmade

Hey Rockabilly, how do you like your Flatiron Performer A? What year is it?

I really like it, and I have some other nice mandos (Gibson F5G, Gibson A5G, and a 1917 Gibson A1). It plays well, and has a very sweet tone. Not as loud as the Gibsons, but close. I also like the end of the fretboard being square and not getting in the way!

Here's a better picture of the first day that I got it and cleaned it up...

[slimey]

I've been gigging with a Baggs radius M , works very well. Ridiculously easy to install and remove. The putty holding the pickup on the instrument face does not mark the finish .
I've had it on instruments for months, decided to amplify a different instrument, removed it with no marks on the finish and even used the same putty to attach it to the second instrument.
you do need to experiment with the pick up placement a little but it's very easy to move it finding a good spot.

[keith.rogers]

I had the Radius-M on a couple mandolins and the pickup doesn't leave a mark in my experience, though you could mark the top moving it around if the finish is thin or soft, and you're not careful.

The carpenter jack that comes with the Radius-M, however, might leave some "footprint" on the edge, just like an armrest (or chinrest on a fiddle), depending on the kind of finish you have, perhaps, but it does need to be on reasonably tight if you're plugging in and unplugging whatever cables are presented to you in your gigs. Might buff out or not (never tried, myself.)

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by keith.rogers

I had the Radius-M on a couple mandolins and the pickup doesn't leave a mark in my experience, though you could mark the top moving it around if the finish is thin or soft, and you're not careful.

The carpenter jack that comes with the Radius-M, however, might leave some "footprint" on the edge, just like an armrest (or chinrest on a fiddle), depending on the kind of finish you have, perhaps, but it does need to be on reasonably tight if you're plugging in and unplugging whatever cables are presented to you in your gigs. Might buff out or not (never tried, myself.)

It's carpenter jack has never left a mark on my Flatiron. (fingers crossed)