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MahinaM
Lokahi
USA
389 Posts |
 Posted - 11/12/2004 : 06:54:05 AM
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Calling all uke and sound specialists! Looking for tips regarding pick ups for ukes. Did a search on TP and found great info for guitar pick ups but not anything in the uke dept. If anyone has sage advice to post, that would be awesome. I have a Lanikai 8-string concert, if that has any bearing on what type of pick up to get. Mahalo!
Mahina M
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2004 : 07:25:05 AM
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The unknown model of Baggs pickup in my Kanile`a sucks. That's about all I know from experience.
There are two basic pickup strategies that have a chance of working. A sensor on the soundboard or a sensor under the saddle. The soundboard sensor might sound a bit more natural, but it will pick up anything that brushes against the top, like your strumming hand. Undersaddle pickups only work with some saddles, and they sometimes have problems with even response from string to string.
I'm having a uke built and have arranged for the builder to install a Pick Up The World uke pickup, but I haven't heard the results since it's not finished yet.
There are external stick-on pickups that might be a good way to get started for your first attempt at electrification.
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key Guitar in California - www.kaleponi.com
Slack Key on YouTube
Homebrewed Music Blog |
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KoAloha
Akahai
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2004 : 6:35:27 PM
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Are you looking for something you can do yourself, or do you plan on having it professionally installed?
If you go the professional route, I reccomend Fishman. The inline acoustic matrix natural gives you excellent acoustic reproduction of the instrument's tone. It's actually designed for classical guitars, but many ukulele makers use the Fishman line.
As far as what is the "best," it's subjective. I personally prefer Fishman, having worked with them for about 8 years. |
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sandman
Lokahi
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2004 : 7:07:35 PM
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I have a Shadow in my Lanikai tenor and it works well for my purposes. I put it through a Fender MD-20, which is, of course, a small room or small venur speaker.
Sandy |
Leap into the boundless and make it your home.
Zhuang-zi |
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sdm
Aloha
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2004 : 8:13:57 PM
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We just auditioned a pickup and amp for our tenor uke just last week - it was a Dean Markley transducer - a little round wood dot that sticks to the surface of the uke. Into a Genz-Benz Shenandoah Jr, sounded very natural. It will be just the thing to help my wife's uke cut through the guitars at the weekly school sing-along!
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MahinaM
Lokahi
USA
389 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2004 : 9:39:25 PM
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Thank you for your replies and suggestions of what worked for you all. I plan to not have it professionally installed, unless it is recommended to do so. I just need it for performing in an ensemble with our halau that will included some other ukes and guitars. I will probably play mostly rhythm (strumming vs. picking) with my
8-string. It sounds so rich and full already, but would like an extra kick to compliment my band mates and to get the sound out. I was told that the Dean Markley transducer was one that may do the trick which can also be put through a pre-amp for more sound control. This is totally new territory for me, so thanks again for all your help everyone!
Maggie |
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hg
Aloha
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2004 : 05:30:05 AM
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Some of the reviews on the Markley weren't too favorable - very prone to feedback and some reliability issues. None of the stick-on transducers are terribly expensive - $40-$50 typical cost.
Another possibility, though more expensive, is the Barcus Berry "Planet Waves", which is a soundboard transducer designed for harps and pianos. Again, some mixed reviews. I have one of their flute pickups.
http://www.finecases.com/browse/barcus-berry/barcus-berry-1840.html
Has anyone tried the Schatten "Dualie" ? It received some very favorable reviews -
http://www.schattendesign.com/uke.htm
http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data3/Schatten/Dualie-01.html
I'm thinking of trying one of their internal mount versions, but initially mounting it externally because of the short, lighter gauge cable. It seems that temporily mounting the transducer block on the top with the same orientation as the bridge might work well without any playing interference. The placement in the photo on the Schatten web page seems awkward.
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hg's guitar/uke page |
Edited by - hg on 11/13/2004 06:03:51 AM |
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KoAloha
Akahai
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2004 : 2:38:02 PM
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| If you're going to go with the "bottle cap" type pickups, Shadow is a good brand. I've been through about three of them so far, with no problems and the acoustic sound reproduction is good. In my opinion, the Shadow face mounted pickups are as good as an internal sound board transducer. Last time I checked, you can find one with volume and tone controls for about $60. |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2004 : 6:48:41 PM
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I've put several Schaller stick-on pickups in ukes and the sound okay. As with most stick-ons, you should try it in a few different places before sticking it down permanently.
The downside of soundboard transducers is feedback, because it's connected to the vibrating soundboard, which also vibrates with other sounds around it, such as the PA system. An undersaddle pickup is more discrete, getting vibration from the bridge itself and less from the soundboard.
Although Fran had a poor experience with a Baggs, the Element ribbon pickup with the hidden internal preamp makes a natural sound, but jumps you up to $120-200 price range.
If you're very concerned about price, a plain old vocal microphone on a mic stand is fairly cheap and is likely to pick up most of the frequency range of a uke.
Jesse Tinsley |
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MahinaM
Lokahi
USA
389 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2004 : 05:48:04 AM
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Mahalo to everyone for all the feedback and advice. So many choices, I see. I'm willing to spend a little more to have good sound quality and reliable performance. I will be playing in various settings (from large auditoriums and outdoor venues to smaller rooms) and always with accompanyment. So, I may not need anything too elaborate that will accomodate solo performances (unless I get really good someday!). Will that be another consideration when selecting a pickup? Also, if anyone has an opinion about stick-ons and external mounts vs. internal (for both pickups and preamps) other than what has already been mentioned, that would be valuable information for me. This is also a question I've been pondering for my guitar too.
Maggie |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2004 : 1:01:12 PM
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Because the uke, in general, is a little plinky to begin with, tweaking the EQ towards the mid/bass is important when amplifying it. An external pre-amp is important, too, to bolster the mid/bass frequencies, plus you should try to add some reverb to give the uke a fuller sound, too. I sometimes run mine through a guitar multi-effects pedal to add gain and reverb.
I think all these steps are as important, if not more, than the pickup itself. I just played a short gig using a mic on a stand instead of the interior stick-on in my uke, and it sounded great. It just requires a little discipline to hold the uke at the right distance from the mike and not knock it with your strumming hand.
Malama pono,
Jesse Tinsley |
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MahinaM
Lokahi
USA
389 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2004 : 8:16:12 PM
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It's my wild and over-exhuberant playing that has prompted me to look at pick ups vs. the mic-on-a-stand approach! Maybe I will behave more conservatively and be more in control once I have to play in front of an audience rather than my band mates after a few beers (ha!). Mahalo to all for your sage advice! That's why I love this website!!!!
Maggie |
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musicgeoff
Aloha
United Kingdom
1 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2004 : 10:16:44 AM
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With reference to uke pickups.I bought a dearmond uke pickup in 1970 at Mannys NY.for 10 dollars.They often come up on ebay.I tried several others but none matched it at that time.In 1982,I spent a week in Honolulu with Herb Ohta.He played each night ON HIS OWN on a purpose built Japanese uke with a wide fingerboard.He was using MY pickup thro a small FEnder guitar amp.His stringing was low wound G C E and A .CEA were ALL black nylon 28 gauge.This made it easier to play,better intonation on the C and E strings with low action and less tension on narrower strings.But this would only work if amplified with small attack.I taped most of his playing,and it is so incredible that after his first few Decca and hawaaian LPs he (was made?) to just play whatever tune was popular at the time and not much self contained uke.Its great that in the last several years he rectified this!He recorded some great jazz on Japanes CDs and a really good one with Pete Jolly the pianist who just died!
The Applause uke is a good sound amplified,but somewhar difficult to play standing up because of the bowl back.But the controls allow you to tailor the sound.I get good results thro a Fender Pro Reverb amp or thro a flat response PA or Keyboard combo.Turn treble down to 3 to 5 on amp if guitar amp and bass down to 2.If thro PA make that flat(12 o clock)and adjust if required thro uke controls.Its very practical and useable for my finger picked solo stuff (Herb Ohta or Chet Atkins style)For strumming,sharpen tone a little by increasing treble on uke.
I have just about every uke LP or Cd made(also guitar LPs)Sione Alecki has a wonderful right hand strumming,tho his LP on Hibiscus is perhaps harmonically basic compared to Herb etc.I also do Formby style comedy on uke banjo.
I just joined this website so please reply with any suggestions or questions about uke.
I may have some ukes(good) to sell,incl Baritone Martin,Keech tenor or concert.And MAGNIFICENT BROAD HORIZONS 8 STRING BARITONE which I got from CHUCK FAINE of UKE YAK and uke book fame.The gold tuners alone he says are about 300 dollars.But I dont play Baritone much.The Tenor or concert is best for solo for ME.This Baritone sounds like a small orchestra,like the KAMAKA 6 string that was personally handpicked for me via my late father in 1983 by Mr Kamaka himself.They had mutual friend at the time who lived in Kailua Oahu.
Hope some of this is helpful or of interest.
One day I'll do a CD.I said this years ago before everyone else started to churn em out at home.
Bye for now MUSICGEOFF |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2004 : 2:51:47 PM
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Herb Ohta Jr. came through town playing a Koaloha with a Fishman (Pro Blender??) and it sounded fantastic. It also sounded a lot like the acoustic sound of the instrument, which, with Herb playing it, sounded fantastic! Congrats to Koaloha for supporting such a wonderful artist, and for producing an instrument with such a lovely, singing tone.
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key Guitar in California - www.kaleponi.com
Slack Key on YouTube
Homebrewed Music Blog |
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