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What Is A Mandolin Pickup?
In this article, we’ll discover a few of the best mandolin pickups available on the market and the brands behind them. A very good pickup can significantly enhance the sound of your mandolin, but a really bad one could make it almost unplayable.
Selecting the proper type of mandolin pickup for your instrument could be quite difficult, but fear not, because here we will assist resolve all of your doubts about mandolin amplification.
A mandolin pickup is a device that helps you amplify the sound of your mandolin. Using magnetic signals or pressure input, the modern electric pickup detects the smallest vibrations out of your instruments.
Every time we strum our strings, they generate a certain frequency that’s fed into the small pickup, producing an output that may be amplified later. With the best mandolin pickups, you’ll get a higher volume and possibly more clarity out of your mandolin.
Types Of Mandolin Pickups
There are two main types of mandolin pickups. Each uses a unique system to detect string vibration. Let’s see what are the important differences between these two types of mandolin pickups.
Magnetic Type
The magnetic type consists of several magnets positioned above the strings. These magnets create a magnetic field that detects the vibrations of your mandolin strings, creating a current that may be translated into an audio output. This type is usually found on electric guitars and basses because it provides a clear and crisp sound without feedback or noises.
Pressure Type
The pressure or piezo-electric type is often used in acoustic instruments. This type of pickup detects vibrations and pressure variations and converts them straight into a certain voltage. This type gives you a more natural sound, but it’s prone to create feedback and noises when is near the amplifier.
Things To Think About When Choosing A Mandolin Pickup
The first thing you should look for is what type of body your mandolin has. Completely different F-shaped and oval sound holes make a difference between a fast and simple pickup installation and an almost impossible one.
Some pickups require a specialized luthier to get inside the delicate body of the mandolin to put in the necessary connections.
Size
There’s an excellent variety when it comes to pickup sizes. You’ll find some small, compact ones as well as bigger and more robust pickups. Keep in mind to check the type and size of the sound holes in your mandolin before shopping for and trying to install any pickups.
Sound
Every pickup model has its own sonic properties. There’s no clear approach to knowing how good they sound so you would possibly have to try a few of them to know for sure. The magnetic type provides a cleaner and louder tone, and the pressure type provides a more natural and classic sound.
Price
The price range can go from $10 up to almost $300 depending on the brand and specific model of pickup. The costlier ones come in the form of a bridge with an inside pickup, which makes the installation a lot simpler.
10 Best Mandolin Pickups
Now, what are the most effective models and brands for mandolin pickups? Let’s find out as we discover in detail a few of the finest pickups we may find on the market.
These are the 10 best mandolin pickups and pickup brands available on the market at the moment for all budgets. Discover the proper one for you in this guide.
1. Mandolin Pickup With Flexible Micro-Gooseneck By Myers Pickups
The Mandolin Pickup with Flexible Micro-Gooseneck by Myers Pickups is a flexible pickup with a high-quality and crisp sound. The unique mounting system of this pickup means that you can change between three different positions, providing you with the possibility to experiment with completely different tone qualities.
Mandolin Pickup with Flexible Micro-Gooseneck by Myers Pickups
Why We Suggest It
This pickup is very widespread and has quite a few positive reviews from happy customers. Given its great versatility, this pickup can be used on many different instruments like ukulele, banjo, and acoustic guitar.
- Easy to install
- Omnidirectional
- Clean and natural sound
- Can produce feedback
2. K&K Mandolin Twin Internal
The K&K Mandolin Twin Internal is among the finest internal pickups you could find for the mandolin. With a woody and clear sound, this pickup is an ideal match for any skilled player.
The installation requires some drilling and tampering with the body of your mandolin, so you’ll want to find a luthier or somebody who knows the way to do it correctly.
K&K Mandolin Twin Internal
Why We Suggest It
This high-grade pickup is among the best-sounding pickups on this list. Though it requires some setup, this pickup provides a solid sound and tone with no feedback or noises.
- Clean tone
- High volume
- High-quality construction
- Difficult to install
3. LR Baggs Mandolin Pickup
The LR Baggs Mandolin Pickup is a good external pickup for the cash. With some adjustments and the assistance of the pre-amplifier, this pickup can reach great volume and tone quality levels.
Simple to mount and with a useful external jack input, this pickup has turned into quite standard for acoustic instruments in recent years.
LR Baggs Radius-M Mandolin Pickup with External Jack Mount
Why I Suggest It
We’ve used this pickup from time to time, and even though it has minor feedback issues, with some adjustments this pickup gives a powerful and clean sound.
- Easy to install
- Natural sound
- Includes external jack input
- Needs a pre-amp
4. Luvay Piezo Acoustic Pickup
The Luvay Piezo Acoustic Pickup is a good pickup that may be installed on numerous acoustic instruments, including the mandolin. This budget-friendly pickup is kind of simple to install and offers a clean and loud sound.
Luvay Acoustic Guitar Pickup, Piezo Contact Microphone Transducer
Why We Suggest It
In case you’re searching for something low-cost, this cheap mandolin pickup is for you. Versatile and simple to use, this pickup is kind of widespread among students and aspiring musicians, this pickup can be used on many different musical instruments like ukulele, banjo, and acoustic guitar.
- Easy to use
- Versatile
- A clean and loud tone
- Bad jack input design
5. Fishman M-300 Nashville Series Archtop Mandolin Pickup
The Fishman M-300 Nashville Series Archtop mandolin pickup is a professional pickup with unique and powerful sound qualities. The clean and warm tone this pickup produces makes this product one of the best-sounding pickups on this listing.
Fishman M-300 Nashville Series Archtop Mandolin Pickup
Why We Suggest It
This pickup can only be installed on the archtop type of mandolins because it’s specifically designed for this specific type of body. Keep in mind to find a professional luthier that will help you install it as it might be quite difficult.
- Professional quality
- Balanced tone
- Clean and natural sound
- Difficult to install
6. Mandolin Carpenter Jack Pickup With Micro-Gooseneck By Myers Pickups
The Mandolin Carpenter Jack Pickup with Micro-Gooseneck by Myers Pickups is among the most professional pickups for any acoustic instrument. This pickup is definitely a microphone that records any vibrations made by the strings of your mandolin with great precision and fidelity.
Mandolin Carpenter Jack Pickup with Micro-Gooseneck
Why We Suggest It
Happened to use one among these during a live show, and I was pleasantly surprised by the good tonality and overall loudness of this pickup. You will get a natural acoustic sound without unwanted noises and feedback.
- Lightweight
- Natural acoustic tone
- Easy to use
- Takes time to find the best sound position
7. Imelod Contact Microphone Piezo Mandolin Pickup
The Imelod Contact Microphone Piezo Mandolin Pickup is among the most natural-sounding pickups on this listing. This piezo-acoustic device delivers a crystal-clear tone that sounds like a fully natural acoustic instrument playing. Now you will get that clear and crisp sound for an affordable price tag and it’s not a cheap mandolin pickup.
Imelod Contact Microphone Piezo Pickup
Why We Suggest It
This reasonably priced pickup has an incredible quality-price ratio, and it delivers high standards of sound quality for a really low price. It’s quite recommendable for any intermediate or beginner player, this pickup can be used on many different musical instruments like the ukulele, banjo, and acoustic guitar.
- Easy to install
- Clean and natural sound
- Versatile pickup
- Might not fit on every instrument model
8. The Feather F-Style Mandolin Pickup With Flexible Micro-Goosenecks By Myers Pickups
The Feather F-Style Mandolin Pickup with Flexible Micro-Goosenecks by Myers Pickups is among the finest piezo-acoustic pickups available on the market. Made by the well-respected Myers Pickups brand, this pickup allows you to have more volume while maintaining your pure acoustic tone and sound.
“THE FEATHER” F-STYLE MANDOLIN PICKUP
Why We Suggest It
Named “The Feather” because of its new lightweight construction, this high-grade pickup is kind of simple to install and is a solid selection for any professional musician.
- Lightweight construction
- Volume control knob
- Includes active preamp
- Easy to use
- Requires two lithium batteries
9. Fishman M-100 Classic Series Mandolin Pickup
The Fishman M-100 Classic Series Mandolin Pickup could be quite demanding in the case of the installation, but soon after that, you’ll actually see the potential behind this widespread acoustic pickup. Nice tonality and volume make this pickup among the best pickups on this listing.
Fishman M-100 Classic Series Mandolin Pickup
Why We Suggest It
This pickup is a very popular model because it gives professional sound quality for a budget-friendly price. It’s quite recommended for musicians which are searching for a professional pickup with natural tone qualities.
- Great tone
- High-quality construction
- Low noise
- Difficult to install
10. Donner TP-1 Piezo-Acoustic Mandolin Pickup
The Donner TP-1 Piezo-Acoustic Mandolin Pickup is a reasonably priced option for any beginners to begin with. For this price, you’ll get a very good product that can bring rich and clean tones to your mandolin.
Donner TP-1 Piezo-Acoustic Mandolin Pickup
Why I Suggest It
In case you’re searching for a budget-friendly pickup, this model is an ideal match for you. This pickup delivers high-quality sound with an easy-to-install design for anyone to enjoy.
- Self-adhesive
- Compact design
- Warm and rich tone
- Require some equalization to get the best sound
How Much Do Mandolin Pickups Cost?
The common price for a pickup is around $100 but might go up to $300 relying on the model and the brand. However these days there are lots of low-cost brands that promote their pickups for unbelievably low prices.
Best Mandolin Pickup Brands
Brands like Fishman, K&K, and Myers are the most effective because they’ve got the longest tradition of making electric pickups for acoustic instruments.
Every company brings its own strategies for capturing the tonal qualities of your mandolin. Right here we’ll explore a few of the best mandolin pickup brands available on the market.
Fishman
Established in Andover, Massachusetts in 1981, the Fishman company is known for producing pickups for acoustic guitars and different acoustic instruments. Their quality control and high-grade electronics give this company the status of the most elite brand in this field.
K&K
Founded in 1986 in Germany, K&K brings its own strategies and innovation to the desk. This company produces some of the most professional pickups, microphones, and different musical accessories you’ll find available on the market.
Myers Pickups
This family-owned company creates some of the finest pickups currently available on the market. Although quite young, this brand quickly made its way to turn into one of the best-valued pickup manufacturers on the planet.
LR Baggs
This company was founded by an American luthier Lloyd Baggs. His passion and dedication to the production of electric and acoustic instruments made him probably the most respected producer of musical instruments in the US. The custom-made pickups they produce are among the best-valued products of their type.
The Best Mandolin Pickups?
Right here we’ll revisit a few of the best mandolin pickups we explored on this list. Most of them are made by world-class companies focusing on the creation of high-grade electronics and microphones.
Imelod Contact Microphone Piezo Mandolin Pickup: Best For Beginners
The Imelod Contact Microphone Piezo model is simple to install and has excellent sound qualities for this price range. It’s an ideal match for any aspiring musician and it is on our list of the best mandolin pickup.
Fishman M-100 Classic Series Mandolin Pickup: Best For Intermediate Players
The Fishman M-100 Classic Series is a professional-sounding pickup and a best-selling model made by the Fishman brand. Simple to use and with great tonality, this pickup is a solid selection for any intermediate player.
Feather F-Style Mandolin Pickup By Myers Pickups: Best For Professionals
The Feather F-Style is a lightweight model made by Myers Pickups. It has probably the most natural tone we could discover. In case you want something really professional and reliable, this model is an ideal match for you.
Where Are The Best Mandolin Pickups Made?
The most effective mandolin pickups are made in countries with a long tradition of working with electronics and amplifying musical instruments. This includes the US, Europe countries, and a few Asian countries.
Where To Buy Mandolin Pickups
These days we’ve got almost too many choices when it comes to shopping for our products. One of the best-known and trusted ones are specialized online music retailers and Amazon. Their fast delivery and competitive prices make them indispensable in our modern-day.
Amazon
Amazon is probably the largest online retailer on the planet. The large selection of different products, helpful customer reviews, and quick delivery times make this company a well-trusted ally to any demanding buyer.
Online Music Retailers
There are lots of specialized online music retailers with an excellent selection of instruments and fairly low prices. Right here at StringsKings we highly suggest Fiddlershop.com, thomann.de, and Sweetwater.com.
Your Local Music Store
In your local music store, you’ll be able to try the instruments for yourself and get some helpful recommendations from a salesman. Although the choice might be quite limited, your local music store could be a solid option if you have to take your time to decide.
Conclusion
After exploring the best mandolin pickup, we hope we were able to dissipate some of your doubts about mandolin amplification. We’ve seen many different models, every one with its own unique technique of detecting the vibrations of your instrument.
As you may see, there are many models to select from, and with enough time you’ll be able to certainly discover the proper one for your precious mandolin.
