Watching the video helped a lot. I managed to install the pickup on my mandolin with your help. I'm a regular watcher of your videos and a big fan. Thank you!
I turned my Epiphone Mandolin into an Electric Mandolin by adding a simple Piezo Pickup so I can plug it into my amp & rock out. I use Thomastik 154 Precision Mandolin Strings which are Flatwound Strings designed like Violin Strings. The Flatwound design will save the frets from scratches.
Jerry I agree 100% L R Baggs makes great pick ups. I don't think they would market anything that hasn't been well tested. I also agree with your placement, sounds very good in the center.
Jerry, This is the same pickup that you had recommended for my mandolin. I had to shorten the turn buckles by .200 inch to get it to clamp onto the body of my Mandolin. I also had problems with it falling off of my Mandolin while playing. I have also placed a little double stick under the clamps and it still falls off once in a while. I am afraid to tighten it more than I do because of crushing the side of my Mandolin is not an option. The pickup sounds great regardless of the clamping issue. Keep in touch with this customer and see if he has the same issue that I have with the clamp sliding of the Mandolin body. Still enjoy all the videos and I do hope you are feeling way better than when I talked to you last. Stanthemando
Based on the comments I've heard from others I already emailed the customer and explain that he needs to be sure to really tighten it down pretty good. I also agreed that if he wants it installed internally that I would help him out with that. Installing it internally is probably the best option to avoid the issue
Jerry, I have the L.R. Baggs radius pickup which I use when I play in live venues or when I record. L. R. Baggs has a great reputation. This pickup does an excellent job in reproducing the woody acoustic sound of my mandolin and I recommend it highly. However, the pickup can become loose and fall off with the weight of the cable, if I haven't tightened it enough at the outset. I have to remember to bring the tool with me. Jamie Jones
Thanks for letting me know that. I had that concern myself wondering if it could come off of there easily. I think in the future I will ask the customer if they wanted installed internally. I probably should have done that in this case.
Nice job on the install. 👍 I think I'd opt for the internal install instead. Would make it more esthetic to the eye not having all the hardware on the outside of the instrument. 😎
I have a Gretsch New Yorker, yes an off shore model and this is a nice pick-up BUT the edges of my mandolin have a radius which I noticed the bottom of the bracket is not very deep. Hmmm? It may not mount to my mandolin. But if the pickup is internally mounted, I could use the end-pin plug as an alternative.
Hi Jerry I would suggest that you, while playing stay five foot further away from the camera. 10 foot away from the camera's microfone should be alright. That is my experience telling me so.That way the camera mike won't overload. Regarding this video, the pick-up didn't appear to change the way the mandolin sounds unplugged. I would say it is completely neutral not adding nor subtracting anything to the instrument's sound. It is a bit expensive though. Good things clearly not made in China tend to be expensive. Of course if the player acts live, than it may not be expensive at all.
I use an LR Baggs pickup on my mandolin into an Orange amp and mic the amp rather than plugging into a soundboard so I can hear myself if the monitors aren't being cooperative. Be careful of vintage nitro finishes like on an old Gibson because the double sided tape will damage them. It's not a problem on my Kentucky though.
I wonder how this would sound on my archtop guitars. While they have plenty of volume for rhythm in most scenarios, occasionally it would be nice to have a little more rhythm power without rolling in the floating pickup.
Jerry, The pickup mounting on the edge of the body by the tail piece just is not working for me. This evening I moved the pickup down and fitted it over the point on the bottom. It is now very good tight fit. It is in a bit of an odd place but works well with a 90 degree stab plug. I played it this evening using a straight stab plug and had no issues using it that way. Thought that I would pass this on to you just in case.
I actually tried fitting it there on the one that I installed however I don't think it'll fit in the case if you put it there. I actually think the best option for this type of pick up would be to install it internally. It's a lot more work but it would be a real nice installation. Thanks for watching.
Nice, simple install, but I wonder whether the socket could be installed in the same location on the back instead of the top. It would get the socket out of sight and out of the way of your picking arm. It looks as if there’s enough wire to snake up under the tailpiece to the bridge area.
Great video and I am excited about this pickup. I do have question that wasn't touched on in your video. I will need to use the pickup only every six months or so. Is it easily removable? On/off/on/off? Does the pickup use some sort of "standard" putty or is there a place to reorder it? Thanks!
+Rosa String Works Thank you and yes sir! I have sanded out super glue on small poly chips, just wasn't sure on a nitro if you could sand it back out (nitro seems softer), also nitro tints with age... thanks again! 👍🏻👍🏻
Hi Jerry. I'm a little late to the party, but I am just now looking for a pickup for my mandolin. I've decided to go with the LR Baggs you're reviewing in this video. Can you still sell me one for the price you quoted? Thanks!
I have a Tone-Gard clamped tot the back of my Collings tear drop mandolin. I wonder if this pick-up would work with the Tone-Gard in place. What do you think?
That is the same model mandolin I bought a while back. I put two stick on piezo pickups under each side of the top where the bridge sits. It does the job, but I get unwanted overtones. Any suggestions of how to eliminate those overtones? Are you getting any unwanted sounds from this pickup? Great video, good to see you back! Thanxz
I can only speak in generalities. I can't keep all the specific models separated in my head because I see so many instruments. In general the Loars are pretty good mandolins. I would consider an Eastman as well if you're looking to buy a new one.
It probably could be mounted to the back. But it doesn't seem like a very good option. Number one it would not fit in your case that way. Thanks for watching.
I’ve tried that on a guitar with another similar brand -it sounded absolutely terrible. We were setting it up to be used in a play and didn’t want it visible. Bad idea - wound up ditching it altogether and using a Guitar w an internal system.
I look through their catalog and I don't see anything specifically designed for an archtop guitar. My guess is that they're I beam active system would probably work. The two questions I would have would be if the I-beam would match the radius on the inside of the guitar for sticking purposes and where to mount the small volume control.
Only problem is, most only fit, and solidly lock on a smaller stringed instruments. The pick-up's grip doesn't open up wide enough to attach long the sides of an auto harp, nor does it have the needed reach-in, depth of grip, for a good solid hold on an auto-harp. Companies need to make a good solidly held pickup, for autoharps, that really picks up all the sound, both the lows and the highs. When playing with other instruments, it's very hard to be heard, when a pickup is not used on an autoharp, specially when the guitar amps are setup way too high, and drums are pounding like crazy. The one you showed in video, would have to be screw attached, at the cord connector, and have a long enough wire on the pickup end, to sit basically around the center, near the sound hole, under the strings (If it has a sound hole). I've seen violin pickups, much like the one you used in the video, but they don't open up wide enough, nor do they sit into the instrument deep enough for a good solid hold. Only found a cheap stick-on pickup that would do the job of amplifying, but most have amp. hash, and feed-back.
This was a cool vid and rev' of the pickup. I _really think though_ that the "310F" was not the best choice--ok, but not the best choice. The 310F is very nice and can be leveled and set-up to play low and clean, but the construction of the instrument is very dense and stiff in the resonance department. I have one, but my Loar LM600's are WAY nicer (in fact I've played one of them back-to-back with a 1960 F12 and the Loar 600 remained respectable!). The tops on those really resonate broader with much more transient low end and lower mids. I think my sunburst one has a touch lower tuned top than the black one which has a slight more upper-mids. But that model rings out acoustically much better than the 310. Those ALL have a tone-bar in them but I'd swear the tops on the 310's are not carved as much or something. The spruce on the 600's is really supposed to be better anyway. Hey look though, if it sounds that good on a 310 then it MUST be a good choice for a higher end top with more projection, right? So maybe there's something more to be said for the demonstration. I just wish my pickup would finally get here, it's been on backorder for weeks now. Other demos I've seen I can't trust as much because they're playing through that high end voiceprint preamp or something and there's no way to get a good estimate on how it's going to respond with that example. Thanks for the vid and the demo!!! ~JSV
I won't do paypal anymore. I didn't get an order & paypal said I had to work it out with the "seller" to no avail. I know you are a straight up honest guy, but I WILL NOT do anymore business with them.. Ripped off. That sticks in your craw....
You can plug the pickup or any electric guitar directly into the computer through the microphone or line input jack. I use the microphone jack because it amplifies the input and has a convenient front panel jack :) . All you need is some form of a 1/4 inch to 3.5mm adapter. Really for raw audio you don't need the amp software. It just controls the treble, base, filters the waveform to sound like different amps etc. www.instructables.com/id/How-to-use-your-computer-as-a-guitar-amplifier/ One like this can have 2 guitars on left and right. www.guitarcenter.com/Hosa/35mm-Female-TRS-to-Dual-1-4in-TS-Stereo-Breakout-Y-Cable-1316478170559.gc?pfm=category_page.rr1|CategoryTopSellers Guitar amp simulator software. There are a lot more than these out there. masters-of-music.com/list-of-best-free-and-paid-guitar-amp-sims/
Oh and if you amp has a line out you can connect to the computer through that, but only use the line in jack on the computer since the signal is already amplified.
I am familiar with that. In fact I had all those connections when I had my radio show. However that won't really help me in terms of sound on my video because my video setup is very simple. It's just a camcorder with its own built-in microphone and it just gets over driven very easily. It won't accept any external microphones. Thanks for watching.
Man the mic is overloading like crazy. It’s not giving any idea of the sound and sounds like 10 fuzz boxes on the low strings. Another freaking amatuer UA-cam video when you’re trying to get some useful info.
I like LR Baggs pickups too, they do sound natural. that was some good picking on Redwing.
Watching the video helped a lot. I managed to install the pickup on my mandolin with your help. I'm a regular watcher of your videos and a big fan. Thank you!
You very much
Good morning Jerry! My Saturday just got better with a new RSW video! Thanks for all you do.
That pickup gets my vote. You have done an awesome job. Many thumbs up. I hope you & your family have a blessed week.
I turned my Epiphone Mandolin into an Electric Mandolin by adding a simple Piezo Pickup so I can plug it into my amp & rock out. I use Thomastik 154 Precision Mandolin Strings which are Flatwound Strings designed like Violin Strings. The Flatwound design will save the frets from scratches.
Great “how to” video ! Helpful, honest comments!
Thank you, Thank you !
Jerry I agree 100% L R Baggs makes great pick ups. I don't think they would market anything that hasn't been well tested. I also agree with your placement, sounds very good in the center.
Jerry, This is the same pickup that you had recommended for my mandolin. I had to shorten the turn buckles by .200 inch to get it to clamp onto the body of my Mandolin. I also had problems with it falling off of my Mandolin while playing. I have also placed a little double stick under the clamps and it still falls off once in a while. I am afraid to tighten it more than I do because of crushing the side of my Mandolin is not an option. The pickup sounds great regardless of the clamping issue.
Keep in touch with this customer and see if he has the same issue that I have with the clamp sliding of the Mandolin body.
Still enjoy all the videos and I do hope you are feeling way better than when I talked to you last.
Stanthemando
Based on the comments I've heard from others I already emailed the customer and explain that he needs to be sure to really tighten it down pretty good. I also agreed that if he wants it installed internally that I would help him out with that. Installing it internally is probably the best option to avoid the issue
So nice to have a normal space
If it's good enough for Sierra Hull it's good enough for me.
It was Sierra's recommendation clicnched it for me.
The pickup even allows you to use FX like Chorus, Delay, Flanger, you name it.
Jerry, I have the L.R. Baggs radius pickup which I use when I play in live venues or when I record. L. R. Baggs has a great reputation. This pickup does an excellent job in reproducing the woody acoustic sound of my mandolin and I recommend it highly. However, the pickup can become loose and fall off with the weight of the cable, if I haven't tightened it enough at the outset. I have to remember to bring the tool with me. Jamie Jones
Thanks for letting me know that. I had that concern myself wondering if it could come off of there easily. I think in the future I will ask the customer if they wanted installed internally. I probably should have done that in this case.
Nice job on the install. 👍 I think I'd opt for the internal install instead. Would make it more esthetic to the eye not having all the hardware on the outside of the instrument. 😎
I have a Gretsch New Yorker, yes an off shore model and this is a nice pick-up BUT the edges of my mandolin have a radius which I noticed the bottom of the bracket is not very deep. Hmmm? It may not mount to my mandolin. But if the pickup is internally mounted, I could use the end-pin plug as an alternative.
They make the BEST pickups.
Another great vid... Keep em coming!!!!
Hi Jerry I would suggest that you, while playing stay five foot further away from the camera. 10 foot away from the camera's microfone should be alright. That is my experience telling me so.That way the camera mike won't overload. Regarding this video, the pick-up didn't appear to change the way the mandolin sounds unplugged. I would say it is completely neutral not adding nor subtracting anything to the instrument's sound. It is a bit expensive though. Good things clearly not made in China tend to be expensive. Of course if the player acts live, than it may not be expensive at all.
I use an LR Baggs pickup on my mandolin into an Orange amp and mic the amp rather than plugging into a soundboard so I can hear myself if the monitors aren't being cooperative. Be careful of vintage nitro finishes like on an old Gibson because the double sided tape will damage them. It's not a problem on my Kentucky though.
What do you think of the Myers Feather pickups?
Hmm. For the first time I installed a pickup on a violin just this week. Coincidence? It was a Fishman.
I would have to hook up a fuzz pedal for kicks, Acid Bluegrass.
Sounds Great!!!
I wonder how this would sound on my archtop guitars. While they have plenty of volume for rhythm in most scenarios, occasionally it would be nice to have a little more rhythm power without rolling in the floating pickup.
Jerry, The pickup mounting on the edge of the body by the tail piece just is not working for me. This evening I moved the pickup down and fitted it over the point on the bottom. It is now very good tight fit. It is in a bit of an odd place but works well with a 90 degree stab plug. I played it this evening using a straight stab plug and had no issues using it that way.
Thought that I would pass this on to you just in case.
I actually tried fitting it there on the one that I installed however I don't think it'll fit in the case if you put it there. I actually think the best option for this type of pick up would be to install it internally. It's a lot more work but it would be a real nice installation. Thanks for watching.
Nice, simple install, but I wonder whether the socket could be installed in the same location on the back instead of the top. It would get the socket out of sight and out of the way of your picking arm. It looks as if there’s enough wire to snake up under the tailpiece to the bridge area.
I thought about doing that but the problem with that is it won't go in the case. Thanks for watching.
Jerry. It seems to me A model mandolins don't get the love F models like the F5 and F7s. get. DAMIFINO why.
Great video and I am excited about this pickup. I do have question that wasn't touched on in your video. I will need to use the pickup only every six months or so. Is it easily removable? On/off/on/off? Does the pickup use some sort of "standard" putty or is there a place to reorder it? Thanks!
As easy to remove as to install.
As to putty - something like Bluetak works nicely.
hi.. I'm curious... is it possible use this pickup on violin?
Hi another great video. Any tips on repairing chips and scratches in nitro finishes such as would be on a Alvarez Yairi ?
If the chips are not too big super glue is probably the best way to go over all. Thanks for watching.
You must be very careful because super glue runs all over the place. Try your Technique out on something that doesn't matter first
+Rosa String Works Thank you and yes sir! I have sanded out super glue on small poly chips, just wasn't sure on a nitro if you could sand it back out (nitro seems softer), also nitro tints with age... thanks again! 👍🏻👍🏻
On an Eastman mandolin, do you prefer the L. R. Baggs Radius pickup or the Eastman-mounted amplification system? Thank's
Hi Jerry. I'm a little late to the party, but I am just now looking for a pickup for my mandolin. I've decided to go with the LR Baggs you're reviewing in this video. Can you still sell me one for the price you quoted? Thanks!
On an Loar mandolin, do you prefer the L. R. Baggs Radius pickup or the Loar-mounted amplification system? Thank's
Makes you wonder if a lousy sounding electric just needs the pickups relocated slightly
I have a Tone-Gard clamped tot the back of my Collings tear drop mandolin. I wonder if this pick-up would work with the Tone-Gard in place. What do you think?
I don't know for sure.
It does I just installed both
That is the same model mandolin I bought a while back. I put two stick on piezo pickups under each side of the top where the bridge sits. It does the job, but I get unwanted overtones. Any suggestions of how to eliminate those overtones? Are you getting any unwanted sounds from this pickup? Great video, good to see you back! Thanxz
Good to see me back? I don't think I've gone anywhere. LOL
Sounds good!
Even when you’re overdriving the camera mic, it sounds like a real acoustic instrument is pushing the mic!
Jerry wondering what you opinions are on the loar lm310
I can only speak in generalities. I can't keep all the specific models separated in my head because I see so many instruments. In general the Loars are pretty good mandolins. I would consider an Eastman as well if you're looking to buy a new one.
Also, have you seen any problem with the putty or tape re. leaving residual discoloration, or staining on the top?
No I don't think there will be any problem with discoloration
I wonder if this pick up will fit and octive mandolin
Wonder what it would sound like with some peddles. Lol
Rock in roll mando, yeah baby
Look up Rumpke Mountain Boys they use effects pedals on mando and banjo
@@samhyde6395 The Cleverlys' banjo player uses a talk box ua-cam.com/video/sHd8fvP8apM/v-deo.html
I've got a 1972 Martin Mandolin which is 70mm thick, these clamps never fit unfortunately :(
just a question could that thing be mounted to the back looks like it has enough cord I hope you under stand what I'm asking
It probably could be mounted to the back. But it doesn't seem like a very good option. Number one it would not fit in your case that way. Thanks for watching.
it just looks like its in the way that's why I ask
I’ve tried that on a guitar with another similar brand -it sounded absolutely terrible. We were setting it up to be used in a play and didn’t want it visible. Bad idea - wound up ditching it altogether and using a Guitar w an internal system.
Do they have these for an archtop guitar?
I look through their catalog and I don't see anything specifically designed for an archtop guitar. My guess is that they're I beam active system would probably work. The two questions I would have would be if the I-beam would match the radius on the inside of the guitar for sticking purposes and where to mount the small volume control.
Are you using a preamp? Or is it direct into your amplifier?
Direct
Okay thanks.
A pickup like that would be great for auto-harps, as well. I like this idea of a pickup. What do you think?
Only problem is, most only fit, and solidly lock on a smaller stringed instruments. The pick-up's grip doesn't open up wide enough to attach long the sides of an auto harp, nor does it have the needed reach-in, depth of grip, for a good solid hold on an auto-harp. Companies need to make a good solidly held pickup, for autoharps, that really picks up all the sound, both the lows and the highs. When playing with other instruments, it's very hard to be heard, when a pickup is not used on an autoharp, specially when the guitar amps are setup way too high, and drums are pounding like crazy. The one you showed in video, would have to be screw attached, at the cord connector, and have a long enough wire on the pickup end, to sit basically around the center, near the sound hole, under the strings (If it has a sound hole). I've seen violin pickups, much like the one you used in the video, but they don't open up wide enough, nor do they sit into the instrument deep enough for a good solid hold. Only found a cheap stick-on pickup that would do the job of amplifying, but most have amp. hash, and feed-back.
This was a cool vid and rev' of the pickup. I _really think though_ that the "310F" was not the best choice--ok, but not the best choice. The 310F is very nice and can be leveled and set-up to play low and clean, but the construction of the instrument is very dense and stiff in the resonance department. I have one, but my Loar LM600's are WAY nicer (in fact I've played one of them back-to-back with a 1960 F12 and the Loar 600 remained respectable!). The tops on those really resonate broader with much more transient low end and lower mids. I think my sunburst one has a touch lower tuned top than the black one which has a slight more upper-mids. But that model rings out acoustically much better than the 310. Those ALL have a tone-bar in them but I'd swear the tops on the 310's are not carved as much or something. The spruce on the 600's is really supposed to be better anyway.
Hey look though, if it sounds that good on a 310 then it MUST be a good choice for a higher end top with more projection, right? So maybe there's something more to be said for the demonstration. I just wish my pickup would finally get here, it's been on backorder for weeks now. Other demos I've seen I can't trust as much because they're playing through that high end voiceprint preamp or something and there's no way to get a good estimate on how it's going to respond with that example.
Thanks for the vid and the demo!!!
~JSV
I won't do paypal anymore. I didn't get an order & paypal said I had to work it out with the "seller" to no avail. I know you are a straight up honest guy, but I WILL NOT do anymore business with them.. Ripped off. That sticks in your craw....
is this ur mandolin?
No, Sir.. Just my experience with paypal.. God bless..
I certainly hope you didn't get ripped off from my website or anything I did. If so, let me know and I'll make it good.
Wouldn't it be more elegant to mount the chrome bits at the bottom. Apart from that: very interesting!
It won't fit in the case if you put it on the back. Thanks for watching.
Thank YOU for posting this.
You can plug the pickup or any electric guitar directly into the computer through the microphone or line input jack. I use the microphone jack because it amplifies the input and has a convenient front panel jack :) . All you need is some form of a 1/4 inch to 3.5mm adapter. Really for raw audio you don't need the amp software. It just controls the treble, base, filters the waveform to sound like different amps etc.
www.instructables.com/id/How-to-use-your-computer-as-a-guitar-amplifier/
One like this can have 2 guitars on left and right.
www.guitarcenter.com/Hosa/35mm-Female-TRS-to-Dual-1-4in-TS-Stereo-Breakout-Y-Cable-1316478170559.gc?pfm=category_page.rr1|CategoryTopSellers
Guitar amp simulator software. There are a lot more than these out there.
masters-of-music.com/list-of-best-free-and-paid-guitar-amp-sims/
Oh and if you amp has a line out you can connect to the computer through that, but only use the line in jack on the computer since the signal is already amplified.
I am familiar with that. In fact I had all those connections when I had my radio show. However that won't really help me in terms of sound on my video because my video setup is very simple. It's just a camcorder with its own built-in microphone and it just gets over driven very easily. It won't accept any external microphones. Thanks for watching.
Man the mic is overloading like crazy. It’s not giving any idea of the sound and sounds like 10 fuzz boxes on the low strings. Another freaking amatuer UA-cam video when you’re trying to get some useful info.
Sounds good!