live sound for fiddle and accordion

[JoanWilson]

I play fiddle and accordion in a couple bands and am looking for advice on how to better amplify them. For the fiddle I use a crown GLM 100 mic clipped on near the f hole (I've tried pick ups and hate the way they make a fiddle sound); for the accordion I use a vintage brush mic mounted inside the instrument plus a cheapo pre amp. Both instruments go into the board without an amp. I'm not sure of the best way to make this happen, but the end result I'm looking for is to have a pre amp and EQ for both instruments, with one line out to the board (sometimes I play venues with only 8 channel boards which is not enough for me to have 2 inputs). It needs to have phantom power, an XLR input and a 1/4" input. I'm looking for something that gives the best impression of the acoustic sound of the instrument. Any advice would be much appreciated!

[NorseHorse]

Not interested in playing into a single mic?

An AT4033 a foot away from you would probably capture everything great. Just leave the mic where it is and switch instruments as you please. And you wouldn't be tethered to a wire.

And yes, stay away from those violin pick-ups... ugh...

[Aarhus Lydstudie]

what's wrong with the violin pickups? Sure, if you use pickups like fishmans violin pickup, you'll get a real annoying nasal sound (been there, done that ).

I'll recommend that you try one of these pickup systems: L.R. Baggs or David Gage Realist Pickup for folk/country/rock or stringamp for jazz. Personally I prefer the L.R. Baggs pickup - and it's also very affordable, so you'll have money left for buying a god preamp (a must if you use pierzo pickups on an instrument like a violin). Now, here's the trick: You'll also have to use a good amp - Fender Twin Reverb or the fender acoustic amp (can't remember the exact name) would be a good place to start. When you play small gigs, you'll have your personal monitor (the amp), which is quite nice to have as a violin/fiddle player, and it only takes one channel on the board to mic the amp.

OK, so far so good. Did I forget something... oh yeah, the accordion...

All right, new idea: Microphone! I wouldn't use a mic on a stand - that is a no-go on small venues. You'll have massive feedback problems if you play with a drummer, and most likely, you'll get a really thin sound without any body. Instead I would recommend something like DPA 4099 - you can clip it on the violin and the accordion. Works like a charm. Then just have a small mixer where you can adjust eq and gain for the violin and accordion.

Now, the reason I mentioned the pickups as an alternative you shouldn't dismiss, is because most violinist don't realize, that quite often, it's not very pleasing for the audience to hear violins amplified without any coloration. If used correctly, the mentioned pickups will give you a warm and pleasing sound without any harsh top. At the same time, you'll newer again have problems with feedback no matter how loud you play and no matter how crappy the PA-system is. (unless you start to add distortion pedals and such to your signal chain).

Happy hunting for that golden violin tone

[Raygun]

Violin and hurdy gurdy player here. Have been trying out most pick up systems through the years but I've always come back to the Fishman. It works well if you know how to adjust it. A little rough but without the electric violin sound that I hate so much. For me, a mix of the Fishman and a DPA mic has been the ultimate in live sound. I've got multiple mics/pick ups but they all go through one main channel - for the sake of simplicity.
The DPA can easily be moved around between instruments.

[DannyL]

I have used Countryman Isomax II H (hypercardioid) mics on instruments for years with great success. They work very well on fiddle. You need the correct mount..... I made one with out of 10 gauge single strand wire soldered to fiddle clip that attached to the chin rest and n the other end a small alligator clip. Clip the Countryman just below the grommet so there is 1/16" to 1/8" inch of mic cable free. This will act as shock mount for the element. Use the windscreen. Great gain before feedback, and excellent reproduction of everything a fiddle has to offer. I have used these on some very well respected artists with great results.

I did something similar with the Isomax II C (cardioid) for the accordion.
If you use both the bass keys, you will want 2.

To handle both instruments you could use a small mixer that has phantom power. 4 inputs would let you sing too.

You can also use the AT lavs on mini goosenecks, which are okay but do not have the rejection, low self noise or frequency response of the Countryman mics, but they cost less.

Regards;
Danny