Is a pick-up the only solution?

AnnaKarpik

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I've been playing my acoustic concert ukulele with a band of 3 guitars, bass and cajon. Everyone else is plugged in, the mixing thing is run by a guy who has been doing this for years, just not with ukuleles in the mix.

The problem; I've been playing into a mic but need to be pretty much grazing my knuckles on it to be heard and I'm not very disciplined about keeping still so it's not ideal.
From my point of view a magic box to amplify the sound from my mic a bit extra before it gets as far as the mixing bit would be ideal if they exist, and aren't massively expensive, and would fix the problem.
The uke in question is a KoAloha Opio spruce/acacia concert with a glorious sound - if I have to start thinking about pick ups or soundboard mics … I have no idea how all this sound stuff works so would be grateful for your thoughts.

PS Sorry if this is a re-run of previous threads - I couldn't find this specific issue when I looked.
 
The vast majority of players that play live like you do have a pick up installed in their ukulele. Without it you are extremely handicapped, as you have found out. Something like a LR Baggs 5.0 or Misi pick up work great, they are designed for ukuleles. You plug your cable into the end pin jack on the bottom of your uke and play away. Simple simple
 
I'm a bit shy of getting a pick-up retro-fitted to be honest; I'm a long way away from any ukulele specialists, I'd have to trust a guitar person!

I've been reading up everything I can about the iRig Acoustic Stage which sounds like it might do the trick, without letting anyone near the uke with a drill. I suppose all luthiers are insured though.
 
iRig Acoustic setup, you only need one for all of your acoustic ukes, no installation, good results
 
Here is another take on amplification

https://www.onemicstand.com

I bought this microphone because of DelRays use and favourable comments. Great microphone but you cannot have any speakers behind you or near to you. Like all condenser mic’s they pick up unwanted surrounding noise if you are not paying attention.

I have the iRig Acoustic Stage soundhole mic as well.

The iRig has pretty good sound reproduction but is feedback prone. This can be dealt with using the preamp but must be paid attention to.

For plug and play simplicity and reliability a pickup wins. No it is not the best sounding alternative but anyone playing guitar, ukulele, mandolin etc in a band uses a pick up
 
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I've installed or had installed pickups/preamps on many of my ukes, a good luthier should do the job well. I have no concerns what-so-ever, even did it to my custom made gypsy jazz uke. I buy pickup/preamps direct from China, the exact same ones used in well known ukes, but without the company logo added. I'll install my own strap buttons too. Look at all the pro players out there and you'll see that they have built in pickups.

You can see the preamp controls on the edge and the plugin on the other edge. The pickup is a piezo under the saddle of the bridge.

Gypsy full 800.jpg



This is Michael Kohan in Los Angeles, Beverly West near the Beverly Center
9 tenor cutaway ukes, 5 acoustic bass ukes, 11 solid body bass ukes, 11 mini electric bass guitars (Total: 35)

• Donate to The Ukulele Kids Club, they provide ukuleles to children in hospital music therapy programs. www.theukc.org
• Member The CC Strummers: YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/CCStrummers/video, Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheCCStrummers
 
I prefer to mic both myself and the uke. I think that it sounds better. But that just doesn't always work, like you said, you can't compete. I have one uke with a MiSi installed and when all else fails I just go with it. I mean, if you are going to play in a group there is only so far you can go to maintain your individuality. Comes a point you just plug in and join everyone else in the group. I consider the MiSi money well spent. I'm not pushing the MiSi, there are several good pickups out there, I'm just saying that going half assed just causes more problems in my opinion.
 
Personally I'm a microphone user and I fully intend to stay that way.
Trying to match your volume to a band of guitars, basses and cajon that are plugged in though is really pushing the envelope. There is another option though. You NEED a louder instrument and the solution is a Banjo ukulele with a resonator.

Seriously LOUD instruments which you can just use with a microphone without needing to get too close to the mic. Much of the audience will hear you off the stage without any amplification so its not an issue if you move or dance around a little.
 
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I was a cheapskate and went to eBay. Found a Makala concert with a passive pickup for about $70. Had to swap the cheap geared tuners for a better set, but otherwise have been thrilled. You might consider something like this because it’s less expensive than adding a pickup to your uke. And if it doesn’t work, you’re not out much money.
 
Personally I'm a microphone user and I fully intend to stay that way.
Trying to match your volume to a band of guitars, basses and cajon that are plugged in though is really pushing the envelope. There is another option though. You NEED a louder instrument and the solution is a Banjo ukulele with a resonator.

Seriously LOUD instruments which you can just use with a microphone without needing to get too close to the mic. Much of the audience will hear you off the stage without any amplification so its not an issue if you move or dance around a little.

Anthony speaks the truth about banjo-uke volume. My playing partner (I am in a duo among other bands) has a banjo-uke and when he uses it I am plugged in and he is pure acoustic. He has fingernails too which really adds to the volume.

I know this doesn’t solve your “Koaloha” issue. If you are against installing a pick up because you don want to have a hole drilled you have two choices. The iRig sound hole mic or Kremona UK-1 pick up. This is a piece of wood with a piezo inside that slides between your strings and the bridge. Basically your strings hold it against the bridge and it acts like any other piezo pick up. A wire runs off of it that you then plug into the amp/Pa/board etc.
 
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Anthony speaks the truth about banjo-uke volume. My playing partner (I am in a duo among other bands) has a banjo-uke and when he uses it I am plugged in and he is pure acoustic. He has fingernails too which really adds to the volume.

I know this doesn’t solve your “Koaloha” issue. If you are against installing a pick up because you don want to have a hole drilled you have two choices. The iRig sound hole mic or Kremona UK-1 pick up. This is a piece of wood with a piezo inside that slides between your strings and the bridge. Basically your strings hold it against the bridge and it acts like any other piezo pick up. A wire runs off of it that you then plug into the amp/Pa/board etc.

It's not so much that I'm against installing a pick-up on the Koaloha, it's that I'm a long way away from anyone I would trust to do it since moving house.

But I've found a solution for now; I will restring my dedicated low-g uke which came with a pick-up and play that with the band*. I'll see if I know anyone with a iRig to try it out, or wait for one on ebay. The pick-up I would choose, plus installation, costs about £200 so by the time I've got that together I can reasonably hope to have found a reliable luthier or I'll be happy with the iRig and get that instead.

Thanks everyone for taking the time, I really appreciate it.

*If anyone is tearing their hair wondering why I didn't just use the low-g uke with a pick-up instead of faffing around; I want a dedicated low-g uke, and this one always was low-g, I think it sounds best as low-g, but in the band I don't think there's much point me being there if I'm not playing high-g because I'll just blend too much into the general racket. The dedicated high-g, the Koaloha, I'll check whether it will take a low g string. It's all first world problems isn't it in the end.
 
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Personally I'm a microphone user and I fully intend to stay that way.
Trying to match your volume to a band of guitars, basses and cajon that are plugged in though is really pushing the envelope. There is another option though. You NEED a louder instrument and the solution is a Banjo ukulele with a resonator.

Seriously LOUD instruments which you can just use with a microphone without needing to get too close to the mic. Much of the audience will hear you off the stage without any amplification so its not an issue if you move or dance around a little.

This is music to my ears - I need another instrument! I'm off to get browsing...:)
 
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