Cello pickup

[richie5]

Can anyone give me a brief explanation and possibly a diagram on how to make a really basic cello pickup from a single signal transducer?

Cheers

Rich

[sumgai]

The first one of you that tells Richie that this ain't the CelloNuts forum gets banned!


sumgai


Oh, wait a minute.......
[latella mode] Never mind. [/latella mode]



;D


richie,

Hi, and to the forums!

How far along the trail of experimentation are you? Have you yet tried using just a simple contact microphone (preferably a piezo), and hooking that up to an amplifier?

It is my informed opinion that one doesn't "make" a pickup, basic or otherwise, one selects a ready made pickup, and mounts it acccording to his/her wishes. Certainly one can build a pickup (OK, that's the same as make), but that's usually done by following set formulas or routines for doing so. Said rules can be divided into two camps - magnetic or acoustic (usually piezo).

Contact microphones (again, most often piezo) can be simply purchased, there's no need to go out and buy a piece of piezo crystal, shave it down, mount it into some holder, then stick that contraption onto an instrument.

I've seen many such fixed to cellos (and to violas, as well as basses and contra-basses), most often about 25 to 30% of the way between the nut and the endpin, and about 2 to 4 inches off that centerline, towards the treble side. But experimentation is the order of the day.

HTH


sumgai

[richie5]

I haven't done a lot of fiddling around with this kind of thing before. The only thing I have mild experience in is wiring strats and pbasses. I've only ever heard of this perticular trick being done and seen the end result.

My friend who plays cello asked me once about cello pickups and I said I remembered someone doing it in the past so I figured I'd give it a go and see if I could -build- a real basic one just to amplify the sound for a rehearsal situation.

The only bits and bobs I could see on this previous example that I'd seen were a single transducer with the two wires going straight to an input jack and then a ground to the pin. He, played through a keyboard amp and it sounded fine...

Am I being confused? Maybe I missed something...

[sumgai]

richie5 said:

........
The only bits and bobs I could see on this previous example that I'd seen were a single transducer with the two wires going straight to an input jack and then a ground to the pin. He, played through a keyboard amp and it sounded fine...

Am I being confused? Maybe I missed something.

Nope, you got it in one take. That's the way it's normally done.

About the only thing you can do is dress the leads to make it appear more professional (less amateurish), if so desired.

You can find all kinds of piezo transducers for sale, for anywhere from under a buck, all the way up to a fortune. Pick and choose, but don't get impatient and snap up the first thing you see, you may have to try several units before you find one that sounds really good to your ears (or those of your friend).

There is one other kind of not-so-simple transducer, it clamps onto the instrument's bridge. Take a look at this unit: Barcus-Berry Cello Bridge Clamping Transducer. The price list says $400 for the whole kit, but the transducer itself is only $87. What you're getting there is well-developed technology, and a top-notch warranty. If your buddy is serious about his sound, this might be the best long-term option.

HTH


sumgai

[richie5]

two small questions for when I try it:

1. do I attach the transducer with glue?
2. Do I solder the ground from the pin to the jack plug too?

Cheers, you've been loads of help mate!

Rich x

[ChrisK]

do I attach the transducer with glue?

How much do you value your friend (or his cello)? ;D


I'd suggest the Barcus-Berry Cello Bridge Clamping Transducer.

[sumgai]

In retrospect, that Clamping Transducer just might be the best of all worlds.

In the early days, we didn't think of larger instruments like your cello, we were almost exclusively concerned with the acoustic guitar. Obviously, the bridge was an option for where to put a piezo pickup (transducer), but it turned out that putting it on the body (top) gave better results. Since those days, some fancy technology has come along, permitting a variety of options, including under the bridge saddle itself, and inside the body, on the underside of the bridge.

Now, contrast that with a cello's bridge - that's huge, by comparison. Lots of room to experiment, right?

And as it turns out, the bridge is the component most directly in contact with the vibrating strings, thus it gives the most reliable source of vibrations that we can 'pick up' with a transducer. Seems reasonable to me, at least. Plus, the bridge is occasionally replaced anyway, as a matter of due course. If a clamping transducer leaves a mark, so what? One new bridge later, all is well! ;D

I haven't taken the time to research other companies, but if Barcus Berry is doing it, then others are sure to follow. But I say again, from B-B, you get a well developed product, not a "Version 1" beta-test product foisted onto the public to see if they'll salute the flag. And the warranty and service/support is top of the line.

Both of these factors contribute to that higher price, but the end result is the sound.... does it sound 'right'? If not, then move on. If it does indeed sound right, then suck it up, and sleep easy, knowing that you paid more now, but you won't be paying again and again, into the future. (Meaning, you won't be continually replacing cheaper units that fail.)

If the instrument has any value - sentimental, collectible or otherwise - I strong suggest that you not mount anything that will leave a mark. Otherwise, use a low-tack adhesive meant for temporary use. This will let you re-position the transducer at will, until you find the sweet spot. (Or until you figure out that the unit is too cheap to sound good no matter where you put it!)

HTH


sumgai