magnetic microphone pick-up

[John Musselwhite]

Hi Ron...

At 02:49 PM 3/13/2001 +0000, you wrote:

>Does anyone out there have first-hand experience with the Helpinstill 
>piano mic that was written about on the list recently?  Our stage manager 
>is interested, but would like a direct reference before spending the money.

I sold and installed one two weeks ago to a church. It's more of a piano 
"pickup" like that on a guitar rather than a microphone. There are multiple 
sections that clamp onto a bar so the pickups can sit close to the strings. 
The pickups all plug into a control box that allows you to select the 
volume of each section to balance them. The control box has outputs for a 
monitor or guitar amp and balanced stereo outs. They take about 10 minutes 
to install in most pianos.

The big advantages are there is no "bleed" from a piano mic picking up 
other instruments and no feedback, as well as giving the pianist monitor 
control. The downside is on big Steinways the plate bar has to be removed.

They were quite standard 20 years ago, with many touring companies 
installing them temporarily in concert instruments. I think they work great 
for what they are, but your mileage may vary. The sound isn't equal to 
sticking a pair of AKG 414's inside, but you don't get interference from 
other instruments and you aren't tying up $2400 worth of mics on the piano.

Hope that helps a bit.

                 John

John Musselwhite, RPT    -     Calgary, Alberta Canada
http://www.musselwhite.com  http://canadianpianopage.com/calgary
mailto: john@musselwhite.com    http://www.mp3.com/fatbottom