djw
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by djw on Feb 17, 2009 17:07:23 GMT
Can anyone tell me the best way to make my banjo sound louder? I just want volume and i have a pick-up to an amp but i don't like the sound at all.Is a plain ole mic in front of me when i play the best way? Any info on this is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,djw
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Post by Danny on Feb 17, 2009 19:10:19 GMT
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Post by Fingers n thumbs on Feb 17, 2009 20:47:36 GMT
Hi Djw If you're interested in the Mic/PA/amp route i hear alot of good things about the sure sm57 mic on a resonator players website www.michaelmesser.co.ukI have a audio technica mike which i think is great - I use it for recording - wasn't cheap mind (£90)- glad i got it before i got married and had kids  Are you using an acoustic amp? Roj |
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Post by Danny on Feb 17, 2009 21:52:49 GMT
Roj raises a good point their (and not about marriage and kids) an electric guitar amp will ALWAYS sound horrible with an acoustic instrument. They're designed for a different sound is the thing.
Let us know how it goes
Danny
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djw
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by djw on Feb 18, 2009 0:39:02 GMT
Let me back up, I play with a friend that plays a 12 string and it is loud. so we are trying to get my banjo to be louder so we can hear it along side him. I put a pick-up on it, but any amp (yes i am using an accoustic amp)still sounds horrible.I just want a little volume and not any other special sound affects. i think i am finding out that the only good way to do that is to just use a mic (in front of my banjo)through my amp.I might add that i do frail and that method is not as loud as if i were using pics by any means.
Has any one had this problem?or have any advice?
thanks,djw
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djw
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by djw on Feb 18, 2009 0:56:03 GMT
Thanks, Danny and Finger and thumbs(love that name)I'm listening to all this info and will use it wisely.i didn't even realize till today that there were different mics for various uses.(how green am I)but am believing that is my only way to go.
Thanks,djw
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Post by yannis on Feb 18, 2009 6:44:26 GMT
Hi guys, did a gig in London not too long ago. It was in a marquis in Greenwich Park so we all needed some volume. We duct taped a normal cheap vocals mike onto the coordinator rod of my crappy open-backed Rover (actually it's not that crappy but it's not a Somerset 2) and that really worked!! We had tried that thread mike thingy that you tape to the body of a mando or fiddle but the wire always seemed to get in the way (mentally if not physically) and the sound was Skata! (That's Greek for 'Shite') Now since you say you have had a pickup fitted, we could be talking about a resonater banjo. So maybe try un-resonating it--take the back off and mike to the rod. If it don't got a rod--wedge in a bit of wood in the pot (not toooo tight, obviously!) and Bob's your granny! There just may be too much noise in the box plus it's more difficult to be subtle. It's okay stepping up to the standing mike to do a solo and then away in order to back up or lay out but it looks a bit silly when there' only two of you. Good luck, hope this helps; let us know how you get on....
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Post by Fingers n thumbs on Feb 18, 2009 11:26:24 GMT
Hello again - yep you can get lots of different Mics for different applications - for example: an SM57 is designed for instruments and an SM58 is designed for voice. Personally i asked the guy in the shop for help And this is not meant to sound rude, If it's just so you can play with your mate then maybe he could quieten his playing down a bit? I play with Duggy K regularly and my banjo or resonator easily drown out his guitar - one time he dug into his guitar strings hard enough to pop a bridge pin. So i have had to learn to play quieter especially for the ballads. Practising playing quietly is a good skill to have for any musician - it adds to the dynamic range you have available to you. Good luck either way Keep truckin Roj  |
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Post by patrick on Feb 18, 2009 15:52:18 GMT
I have run into a few guys who taped PZM mic elements to the dowel stick/ coordinator rods with decent reults.
Also, ages ago I had a Fishman magnetic pickup installed on a open back. Sounded good through almost everything I plugged it into - even a cheesy old Gorilla amp.
-Patrick
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Post by mooosedog on Feb 19, 2009 21:26:31 GMT
Hello - I use a little clip-on stereo condenser mike if I need more volume or to record - Theres no shortage of options on where to clip it either! I find I get a nice warm rounded tone if I clip it to the tailpeice - Its easy to put on and take off too - Andy
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