Ukulele Pickup -- Which one to install?

musicmonsterw · May 12, 2012

I've been thinking of installing a pickup in my Kala Acacia Tenor. I am not skilled at anything like this, so I was thinking of getting a luthier to do it. I've heard that a lot ukulele players use the Mi-Si Acoustic 3 pickup. I've also heard that undersaddle pickups like the Mi-Si can tend to be a bit trebly. I've already had some problems with my K-Wave which tends to be trebly. Recently, I contacted a local luthier and she recommended a soundboard transducer pickup like the McIntyre Feather: http://www.acousticon.com/mcintyre.htm

or the Schatten Dualie:
http://schattendesign.com/uke.htm

Does someone out there have experience with these pickups? Do they give a more balanced sound that the Misi?

ricdoug · May 12, 2012

A must have for any acoustic pickup:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/lr-baggs-para-acoustic-di

musicmonsterw · May 12, 2012

ricdoug said:
A must have for any acoustic pickup:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/lr-baggs-para-acoustic-di

Thanks, Ric! I've seen these around. A friend uses one, but I've never tried it myself.

Sporin · May 12, 2012

I'm happy with the Pono Passive that HMS put in my Islander, but I don't have a lot of experience with these to know much better.

musicmonsterw · May 12, 2012

Sporin said:
I'm happy with the Pono Passive that HMS put in my Islander, but I don't have a lot of experience with these to know much better.

Thanks for the feedback! I'm looking for something 'natural' sounding.

gyosh · May 12, 2012

musicmonsterw said:
Thanks for the feedback! I'm looking for something 'natural' sounding.

Check out the D-TAR Timberline ('Seymore' Duncan 'Rick' Turner Acoustic Research) It uses an 18 volt external battery pack which gives it a lot of " headroom" and eliminates the "quacking" often heard in other systems. It's pricey, but really good for that "natural" sound you're looking for.

Plainsong · May 12, 2012

I just EQ after the fact. If I used one of those, I'd lose out on the stereo out of my chorus pedal.

musicmonsterw · May 12, 2012

gyosh said:
Check out the D-TAR Timberline ('Seymore' Duncan 'Rick' Turner Acoustic Research) It uses an 18 volt external battery pack which gives it a lot of " headroom" and eliminates the "quacking" often heard in other systems. It's pricey, but really good for that "natural" sound you're looking for.

Thanks, Gary! I will check that out.

BIGDB · May 12, 2012

I just got the misi acoustic trio and it sounds very good.

Highly recommended

Kekani · May 12, 2012

musicmonsterw said:
I've heard that a lot ukulele players use the Mi-Si Acoustic 3 pickup. I've also heard that undersaddle pickups like the Mi-Si can tend to be a bit trebly. I've already had some problems with my K-Wave which tends to be trebly. . . Do they give a more balanced sound that the Misi?

You probably heard all of that on the Internet.

Aaron

Plainsong · May 12, 2012

Yeah I forgot to say that I don't find the misi to have any more extra treble than ukes do themselves. In fact, I tend to add a little treble. Everyone has different preferences though, which is why eq exists.

musicmonsterw · May 12, 2012

Kekani said:
You probably heard all of that on the Internet.

Aaron

No, actually, that's what the luthier I've been in touch with told me. The Internet seems to be vastly positive about the Misi.

musicmonsterw · May 12, 2012

Plainsong said:
Yeah I forgot to say that I don't find the misi to have any more extra treble than ukes do themselves. In fact, I tend to add a little treble. Everyone has different preferences though, which is why eq exists.

Thanks for the feedback!

ricdoug · May 13, 2012

No matter which pickup you decide on, Ronin, you'll still need a

to compensate for different amps and P.A. systems. You won't leave home without it. Ric

consitter · May 13, 2012

What ricdoug says. Fo' sho'! I have one after his guidance awhile back.

musicmonsterw · May 13, 2012

ricdoug said:
No matter which pickup you decide on, Ronin, you'll still need a

to compensate for different amps and P.A. systems. You won't leave home without it. Ric

consitter said:
What ricdoug says. Fo' sho'! I have one after his guidance awhile back.

Ric, thanks so much for your advice!

Plainsong · May 13, 2012

It's really a pity that doesn't have a stereo output!

Kanaka916 · May 13, 2012

Ronin, you might also look into the LR Baggs Five-0 . . . Colmes did a review on it and compared it with the Mi-Si.
http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/f...lele-Pickup-Review-with-Guest-Reviewer-Colmes

GKK · May 13, 2012

Plainsong said:
It's really a pity that doesn't have a stereo output!

I have the L.R. Baggs Para Acoustic pre amp, connected to my home stereo with a Y-cable to an aux input and it sounds just fine out of both speakers.

I also, have a piezo transducer pickup which sounds great and is very simple to install!...(I bought a longer endpin jack to fit through the rear wood block of the ukulele).http://www.jjb-electronics.com/PPS-100.html

spookefoote · May 13, 2012

I made my own transducer pickup for under £4. Sounds brill

Ukulele Pickup -- Which one to install?

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