Amplifying your acoustic violin with acoustic violin pickups

Posted by on Jun 30, 2011 | 9 comments

Hi Chris, how are you?

I have a question which I don’t think is the best subject for the webinar tomorrow, but is very important. I recently broke my Fishman pickup, and I need a new one asap. I was wondering which removable pickup do you recommend for my acoustic violin. I am looking for a removable cause I just have one violin and I still play a lot of classical gigs, and these people usually have a problem if you show up with a pickup in your fiddle. I use a baggs para D.I. preamp, which pickup do you recommend?

Thanks. Looking forward to meeting you online tomorrow.
Abraços,
Luis

Hi Luis-

As you know, I really prefer the Yamaha VNP-1 acoustic violin pickup because  nothing else sounds as good to me.
I understand you feel a need to keep up appearances for people with prejudices about pickups.  I recently talked with Blaise at the Electric Violin Shop and he told me that you could have the Yamaha pickup fitted in such a way so that it’s almost invisible. Maybe this is something you could try to do incognito.
Otherwise I honestly couldn’t recommend any removeable pickup , (possibly a lavalier mic, but I can’t stand them, and they definitely won’t work for any “loud” environment, i.e., including drums, for example.)
Some people think that having a pickup on your instrument will compromise the ability of the instrument to project, but I think it’s something you shouldn’t worry about. I performed with a few different orchestras in the last year on my acoustic violin (without amplification-with the pickups and my fine tuners on the violin!)
I personally would rather be prepared to deal with amplified settings then avoid offending the occasional purist.
Your pickup is also an excellent advertisement.  When someone is looking for a violinist who can improvise, everyone who has seen you will remember that you have a pickup and they will be more likely to recommend you for the gig!
A good pickup also enables you to enhance your sound in the studio. You should play into a mic as well as the pickup, obtaining two separate signals, and then using a small amount of the pickup signal as an extra color to blend with your mic sound.
I hope this helps and I’m so glad you’re enjopying the Creative Strings Academy. See you on the (ustream) group calls!
all best
chris
  • Elyse

    I have a Yamaha VPN-1 as well, and love it!  The sound is amazing, and leaps and bounds better than the others I tried before.  There is no electronic or tinny sound to it. 

  • http://www.AshleyBrockett.MusicTeachersHelper.com SouthHillStringStudio

    what about the David Gage Realist?  I listened to some clips online, and I think I really like it.  I have a 5-string acoustic that I want to electrify, and am looking at pickups now.  I was also wondering what preamp you’d recommend, and how to go about plugging my violin directly into my computer (I’m also about to upgrade my computer, so perfect timing to figure all this out).  Thanks!

  • chowes

    the gage pickup is an excellent option for cello, but in my opinion, it falls short for violin compared to the vnp1. robbie and jacob from string project los angeles did a test of all the pickups out there and also agreed after a somewhat “scientific” test … but of course you need to trust your experience and ears with these things..

  • http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/shimmy Shimmy

    I am also looking for a pickup, but to me, the acoustic tone matters the most. I don’t want a sound of a nylon-like trombone violin (see G string, or C string), unfortunately the Yamaha PU didn’t manageto get over this problem and acoustifying the violin lows, it does sound ZETAish, much (let’s say a bit better than other’s but still).
    I think the right solution would be a PU that has a chip that bodilizes the sound (really, today no one really cares about purity, but ppl still care about sound), IMHO engineers and manufacturers should look towards recreation and bodilization of sound rather then pickuping the true sound, this will surely beat the market if there will be a pickup that makes your PU or even your solid-body sound like a strad.
    I’m looking for a woody tone, while clean feedback resistant. Is there such a pick up in the world yet???

  • Elyse

    I personally haven’t had any problems with bad sound on the lower strings. I do also have a pedal to alter my sound. I have the zoom chorus, and can’t wait to get more. I’ve been using it for 2 yrs now. Eventually, I’m going to also get a loop pedal and distortion pedal.

  • http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/shimmy Shimmy

    @bb9fa2356043fe698683b38c5579f2df:disqus I was talking about when you want to play ‘clean’ – no effects (excluding eq, reverb, delay etc.).
    The voice, the tone-color is not violinish enough. it has a zzzzzz element, that makes it sound like a kazoo, I want a PU that sounds like a microphone, trust me, regarding the effects, I’ll take it from there…

  • Chris

    You will need some kind of adapter to go into the computer. I’m not exactly sure, but my friend Dana Leong works this way w his cello. the Gage pickup is good for cello and bass, although I think the Yamaha is better for violin. Preamps are definitely important. I use my effects pedal as a preamp- my boss me-50 (a guitar multi-effects pedal)  it gives the sound warmth for sure.  sorry for the delayed reply

  • Chris

    i know what you mean, but i think the Yamaha is the best to enable what you;re seeking. it also has to be used in conjunction with  the right amp/preamp, not to mention any other settings such as eq, reverb, etc… sometimes I get frustrated with the thing you mention if it’s going direct to the p.a.  or phones, but through a gtr amp I don;t have that problem.

  • Chris

    the pedal probably helps because it acts as a preamp.