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| Moderated by: Richard Hefner | Page:   1 2 3 4 5   |
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| Are you Electric?? - General Ukulele - Ukulele - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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John Kavanagh Approved 
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2manyTaylors wrote: ...I think what it needs is an ACOUSTIC or KEYBOARD amp to sound like it should. I agree. I use a keyboard amp and it sounds more natural than any guitar or bass amp I've tried. Though if I can I usually plug straight into the PA board. And I really believe that ANY passive acoustic system sounds better and will work in more situations if you have a preamp. I'm a total zealot, I know, but preamps changed my life, and one can change yours.
____________________ ------------------------------ Have I plugged this CD enough? http://ezfolk.com/audio/John_Kavanagh |
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honu Approved
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I'm not sure if the Busgear is a passive pickup. I completely agree with John on this one, he's right about using a pre-amp. I use an LR Baggs Paracoustic pre-amp with a Fishman passive pickup. The pre-amp really makes a difference. Prior to that, the sound was really raw and distorted. The pre-amp really did the trick.
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ukepimp Approved 
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well, i've been playing 'ukulele on stage for about 16 years, and i found that having a pickup installed is probably the best way to amplify your instrument. with the 'ukulele that i currently use on stage, i have a Fishman Pro Blend acoustic pickup. it has an under saddle pickup, and also a condenser microphone installed underneath the controls of the electronics. the beauty about this particular electronics is that you have the option of either using the undersaddle pickup for a clean, acoustic/electric sound, the condenser microphone for a true acoustic sound, or you can blend the sound of both via slider control. the only problem i've encountered is the feedback from the condenser mic when i use too much of the microphone and less under saddle. when using a microphone, the best type of microphone is actually a condenser microphone made for acoustic guitars or overhead drum applications. but, make sure that you DON'T point the mic directly at the soundhole. as far as pickups are concerned, i've found that undersaddle is probably the best way to go. but, for those who don't like that undersaddle sound, John Pearse makes great acoustic pickups that you actually stick on the underside of the soundboard. when using a pickup of that nature, you should line in through a preamp of some sort to help shape your sound. Sans amp makes a great preamp. also, i've used a Boss/Roland (don't remember which one, but it is the same company) makes a acoustic preamp/DI (direct input) that actually has tone shaping controls, onboard acoustic reverb, and onboard chorus effects that sounds awesome. not too sure if they still make the same model that i used to use, but i'll do some research and find out which one it is.
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/Dennis_Kaieamakoa_Nakamoto http://www.myspace.com/dennisnakamoto http://www.myspace.com/ukehutguam DON'T THINK.......JUST PICK!!!! |
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Will Approved 
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I just ordered a Lanikai O-8e 8-string tenor ukulele, (solid spruce top, ovangkol back and sides) which comes with a Shadow active pick-up installed. A great deal for $259: http://www.ezfolk.com/mf/ukulele/Lanikai_O-8E_Tenor_8-String_Acoustic-Electric_Ukulele_Rosewood_Fretboard.html  Last edited on Tue Nov 20th, 2007 05:54 am by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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ezmember Approved
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UkeForever....are you still around? I heard you play "Alone Again" (Bee Gees) and wonder if you'd be willing to share the chords. You sure got em all right! And that's not easy to do with that song. Anyhoo...just let me know if you're still here. Thanks.
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artcrocker Approved
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Hi Tonya, Had a few questions on your Fender amp, Is it the G DEC Junior that you have, in the price range of $170 to $230? Just did a quick online search and that is what I came up with. Haven't tried electric yet but this sounds like something that would be really FUN to mess around with. I am still a little new in the uke area and never tried playing with a bass or any accompaniment, have considered Band in Box but never followed thru. Always felt that hooking up with a bass backup would improve ones playing. This amp sounds like an easy way to get the job done. I also assume it allows one to really enhance most any tune played on the ukulele? If I understand you right it sounds like the amp can be set up to act like a better sounding metronome when using it to practice. I need to start forcing myself to use a metronome more. Thanks, Art
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PhilUSAFRet Approved
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Lots of good points here. I wanted a tenor uke with a pickup, got one without as a gift. Got a Mele Koa at a great price. After reading replies, it occurred to me that at places like Musician's Friend, I could get a decent if not great mic and stand for less than the cost of a good uke pickup, and half the price of one installed by a professional luthier. Hmmmm, I wanted a mic anyway.
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PhilUSAFRet Approved
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Last edited on Tue Dec 11th, 2007 05:57 pm by PhilUSAFRet |
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kakneo Approved
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Hey guys, i have been thinking of buying an electric ukulele for a while now but have no clue what to get. is the Oscar Schmidt Idol OU14E ukulele any descent? Thanks for the help guys 
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Will Approved
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kakneo wrote: Hey guys, i have been thinking of buying an electric ukulele for a while now but have no clue what to get. I own the Oscar Schmidt Idol OU14E in the sunburst finish. It's a concert-sized uke with a built-in passive pickup. I replaced the stock Vinci strings with Aquila Nylgut, and it sounds good unplugged as well as amplified. Here is an earlier forum thread that discussed the pros and cons of that uke: http://www.ezfolk.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=4809&forum_id=19 It's selling at $89.99 at Elevation Music, where I bought mine from: http://www.elevation-music.com/osscoucuacel.html
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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ichadwick Approved 
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All of my current ukes (8) except the Flukes have pickups. I don't use the electronic often because when I play around the house I don't need amplification. But I have tried them all and kind of enjoy playing electric uke, with a bit of chorus and reverb added to the sound. I personally prefer passive pickups over active, because it means fewer parts, fewer wires and no disruption of the body for controls. There is a second benefit: the jack is a peg for a strap. I had a solid body Eleukue which was a nice instrument, but I didn't like the sound as much (it sounded more like an amplified nylon string guitar than a uke). I haven't really warmed up to solid body ukes. I had a couple of other acoustic ukes that didn't have pickups, but I sold them for various reasons, but a pickup might have encouraged me to keep them. Most of the ukes I've bought come in non-electronic versions for about $50-$60 less. For the difference, I see it as well worth the small amount to have the feature. In general, I want the capability for amplification and to electronically modify the signal should I finally get around to recording my efforts. If I don't have it built in, I would need to buy a mic for that purpose, and for something good like a Fireball, I'd pay $200-$300 anyway. So a built-in pickup seems a fair solution.
____________________ Ian ------------------------------------------- Ukulele reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/ukuleles.htm Harmonica reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/harmonicas.htm |
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ichadwick Approved
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kakneo wrote: is the Oscar Schmidt Idol OU14E ukulele any descent? I played around with one of these at a music store in Ottawa recently. It's cute, and I almost bought it for that, but it didn't really sound very good unamplified. I didn't try it amplified, however. I prefer a uke that sounds good unamplified first, and assume you can tweak the amplified sound either through a pre-amp, through amp-effects or standalone effects boxes. So for me, the raw sound is the most important.
____________________ Ian ------------------------------------------- Ukulele reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/ukuleles.htm Harmonica reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/harmonicas.htm |
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hdxtheo Approved
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Wow, as luck would have it! Yesterday I saw an electric tenor uke, which will cost me 170 bucks. After I learned it was made in China, I refused this price. I have no idea how much the profit the owner will get from me with this cheap stuff. I paid my attention to this instrument because my soprano is so dull that nobody even myself can't enjoy the sweet tune a uke should provide. Today I accidentally read all the messages you guys offered, then I think I have to change my mind though an instrument with electric equipment would produce much louder sound. That's because I'm a novice not needing to pursue fabulous stuff, especially when some of you guys---great musicians prefer regular uke to electric ones.
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musicguymic Approved
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Gerald ..i find that a fishman or koolau type passive is a good pickup and coupled with a good preamp like a paracoustic DI can sound great
____________________ WOW I got another Uke!!!! |
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PhilUSAFRet Approved
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Hope you tried Aquila strings on that soprano before you gave up on it.
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PhilUSAFRet Approved
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Will, how's the sound? Saw one of these on Craigs list, was having trouble with sound quality when plugged in. Needed shielding, etc.
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Will Approved
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ichadwick wrote: kakneo wrote:is the Oscar Schmidt Idol OU14E ukulele any decent? I have seldom come across any local music stores that have their ukes even tuned up to pitch. The Oscar Schmidt Idol OU14E concert uke sounds much better unplugged with Aquila Nylgut strings on it than with the stock black nylon strings. Any store model of that uke will almost certainly have the original stock strings on it.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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Will Approved
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PhilUSAFRet wrote: Will, how's the sound? Saw one of these on Craigs list, was having trouble with sound quality when plugged in. Needed shielding, etc. I have not had any problems with my Oscar Schmidt OU14E. It sounds nice to my ear. I've used it for gigs, plugged in, played "clean" without any electric guitar style effects, and it does the job. Unless the internal wire from the passive piezo pickup is loose or intermittent, or the 1/4" external guitar cable is defective, you should not have any problems. (Electrical hum is inherent with single-coil magnetic pickups on steel-stringed instruments, so none of that applies to this uke.)
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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PhilUSAFRet Approved
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Sorry, was inquiring about the O-8e
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Will Approved
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PhilUSAFRet wrote: Sorry, was inquiring about the O-8e The Lanikai O-8e is a very nice instrument with a rich tone, unplugged or amplified. I waited almost 4 years before I bought one (they originally sold for $450). I installed a special 8-string set of Aquila Nylguts; the high-C string takes the longest to stabilize in tuning. Keep in mind that this instrument has a very thin, lightly braced, solid spruce top, so it's rather delicate and the instrument should be stored in a hard case and kept humidified when not in use.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > General Ukulele > Are you Electric?? | |
