So I've used a lot of different pickups : Schatten blended, EMG, Kavanjo, mounted mics, Jones-Hatfield, Rare Earth. All with pros and cons. I play in a band with percussion and often have feedback or volume issues, so the mics (which are the best) usually don't work. And I don't like the magnetic pickups because they make the banjo sound like a guitar. So I've landed on preferring a piezo modeled through a ToneDexter (when I can't use a mic).
For piezeo, I've also landed on liking the L. R. Baggs pickup with the pickup in the bridge. I've found it to be the best piezo that I've tried and to not modify the sound of the banjo acoustically by having something mounted on the coordinator rods or glued under the head. The only drawback was you have to use the bridge with the pick up in it.
However, I recently learned that you can send them your favorite bridge and they'll install the pickup into it for about the same price as buying the bridge/pickup from them! I had called them because I bought a Nechville with a radius neck and asked if they had a radiused bridge. They said no, but they could install it in whatever bridge I wanted. So I sent them my best one and it sounds great. They were very good at keeping me updated and turned it around in about three weeks.
So a good option for anyone wanting a piezo but want a specific bridge instead of the Grover that the LR Bagss comes with.
Thanks for that great info.
I'm not playing in loud places any more, but I still have my Pickup the World transducer strip stuck under the bridge on the underside of the head. I've never heard any impact on the acoustic sound of that banjo.
Since I'm no longer gigging, maybe I'll take it out to try to hear a difference.
If I ever were to get back into gigging in loud settings, I'd probably spring for a ToneDexter. I've never liked the sound of my pickup. Too percussive and boomy on the 4th string, too brittle on the others. I like how the ToneDexter substitutes learned mic sound for the pickup sound.
Two times at live performances (one small outdoor festival stage and one 60-seat house concert) the banjos sounded so good through PA I had to ask what the players were using. Both times it was Fishman. The festival player was playing an RK-25 woody; the house concert player was playing a Deering Maple Blossom.
I play in a similar band with a drummer. I've tried Kavanjo, it has its place but it sounds too much like a telecaster to me for this project where we add banjo to songs that we want to add a folky spin. Since we have an electric guitar in the band too it's duplicative.
I play the Fishman Classic Series Banjo Pickup rare earth with the magnetic strip under the skin paired with the LR Baggs Venue DI, and a BOSS compression pedal just to add some punch. I have found it to be the most authentic banjo sound from a pickup through a PA. It does have feedback issues that I combat by stuffing the pot with two rolled-up t-shirts. The pick up is all the crowd hears anyway. Sounds great, I think it tonally separates it from the acoustic and electric guitars and gives them a little more space.
Edited by - camburgler on 08/15/2024 12:48:47
My last band was a Grateful Dead bluegrass band. Since the guitar and mandolin had pickups, banjo on a traditional mic didn't cut it. I went with the Mini-Flex two mic system. One mic was inside the pot, the other outside; this eliminated feedback. I ran it through a LR Baggs Venue powered DI/preamp/eq/tuner. This gave me the ability to dial in the sound after the sound man set the volume. It sounded just like a banjo, not a guitar ala Buck Trent. By the way, when I was asked to join the Dead band at age 65, I had spent 53 years playing bluegrass and western swing. Playing Dead music was some of the most fun I had in a band and some of the most challenging music. This turned out to be my final band. Great way to end it. When in doubt, say yes.
quote:
Originally posted by FooteMy last band was a Grateful Dead bluegrass band. Since the guitar and mandolin had pickups, banjo on a traditional mic didn't cut it. I went with the Mini-Flex two mic system. One mic was inside the pot, the other outside; this eliminated feedback. I ran it through a LR Baggs Venue powered DI/preamp/eq/tuner. This gave me the ability to dial in the sound after the sound man set the volume. It sounded just like a banjo, not a guitar ala Buck Trent. By the way, when I was asked to join the Dead band at age 65, I had spent 53 years playing bluegrass and western swing. Playing Dead music was some of the most fun I had in a band and some of the most challenging music. This turned out to be my final band. Great way to end it. When in doubt, say yes.
Just when I thought I wasn't going to spend more money.....
The Mini Flex sounds very interesting. Was it just the MiniFlex sound hole microphone for guitar?
No, he has a two mic system just for the banjo. I knew him years ago, but he was burned out a few years ago. I believe he's back up but haven't looked for his web page recently. I used mine for around 7 years and had no problems. And yes, there's always new ways to spend money.
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