Eric is one of my myspace friends, go to www.myspace.com/philipgmartin and you will find him ane be able to send him a message [I will move him to my top friends page to make it easier].
Colin Hill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I just stumbled across this on Youtube. It's the tune I heard many years ago (early 80's) and you guys on the list were able to name it for me (Montee des bois de vaux) which led to a most interesting thread on where it was and also the location of the "dots". It was the tune that convinced me that, one day, I would have a HG. Out of interest, is the player anyone we know? At last I may be able to actually get the dots to sound like it! (I have PF playing it but it's far to fast etc for me to follow). Here's the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yraFIAlgOUU&NR=1 Colin Hill ----- Original Message ----- From: "Augusto de Ornellas Abreu" To: Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2007 8:16 PM Subject: Re: [HG] Amplification > Hi Alden, > > Thanks for the detailed answer. > > I have questions though... As I understand, my maker will probably use three > piezo pickups and I will have to use an offboard mixer (That yamaha mg 10/2 > looks really interesting! Does that only mix the signal or does it amplify > it as well? I really do not understand this well). I don't know how exactly > the signal will get outside the instrument, I have to ask him that, but what > he emphasized is that each group of strings will be on a different, > independent channel and that he will provide me with a 3-channel canon (XLR) > cable. He said that I will have to mix the signals externally myself. Is > there a XLR cable that can carry 3-channels in one cable or is that just one > of those "medusa" cables? > > I am confident in the quality of his work, I have heard from many others who > got his instruments how good they sound, either naturally or amplified. So I > would like to know exactly should I ask him... I am interested in what you > mention in this paragraph here > > > If you have more than one piezo pickup, you'll need to mix them together > before sending them to the amplifier. This can be done with a built-in > mixer > or an outboard mixer. *Bear in mind that if you're using an outboard mixer, > you still need to buffer the signal from each pickup with active electronics > (something that uses a battery) built in to the instrument or attached to > it. > * > > What do you mean exactly by this active electronic device that buffers the > signal? He may have that in mind already, I did not get all technical > details on how he does his amplification system besides what I mentioned > above, but I would like what you mean exactly by that and how should I ask > the maker about this specific device... > > Thank you, > > Augusto > > > On 10/27/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > > > > OK, here's my short treatise on amplification in general and more > > specifically > > on the HG. > > > > There are several options for amplification: piezo pickups, onboard > > microphones, stage microphones, and magnetic pickups. > > > > 1) Piezo pickups - these are small discs that work on the piezoelectric > > effect > > to produce a small voltage. Most guitar pickups, harp pickups, violin > > pickups, etc are piezo pickups. > > > > advantages: > > > > - moves with instrument > > - much less prone to feedback > > - can be set to amplify specific parts of sound > > - best setup for using with effects pedals > > > > disadvantages: > > > > - can have a "honky" or "quacky" sound, especially if the preamp/buffer is > > far > > away - improves with good quality pickups, good position, and close preamp > > - needs a preamp or DI box very close - cable runs must be short. This is > > very important for getting a good sound from a piezo: the output impedance > > of > > the piezo is very high, so long cable runs (even a meter or two) will > > degrade > > the signal significantly. > > - position on instrument may not give full sound - a lot of experimenting > > is > > needed to find the "sweet spot" where the pickup gives the sound you are > > looking for > > - can pick up body noise from the instrument > > > > If you have more than one piezo pickup, you'll need to mix them together > > before sending them to the amplifier. This can be done with a built-in > > mixer > > or an outboard mixer. Bear in mind that if you're using an outboard > > mixer, > > you still need to buffer the signal from each pickup with active > > electronics > > (something that uses a battery) built in to the instrument or attached to > > it. > > > > 2) Onboard microphones - these are small microphones, sometimes mounted on > > a > > little gooseneck for better positioning. People have also experimented > > with > > placing microphones inside the instrument, but the results have never been > > very good to my ears, tending toward boomy with a lot of body noise and > > noise > > from bearings, etc. > > > > advantages of onboard mic > > - moves with instrument > > - more natural sound than a piezo > > - can have a more balanced sound > > > > disadvantages > > - more prone to feedback, especially if onstage amp is used > > - some models need a preamp very close - cable runs must be short > > - more prone to picking up body noise than piezo > > > > > > 3) Stage microphones - a good microphone will give the most accurate sound > > of > > the instrument. What qualifies as a good microphone is too long a > > discussion > > to have here. There are passable microphones, lousy microphones, good > > microphones, and awesome microphones. ;-) > > > > advantages > > - most natural sound, esp if a good mic is used > > - sound is as balanced as the instrument is and mic placement allows > > - no onboard preamp needed > > - least prone to body noise > > > > disadvantages > > - most prone to feedback > > - dependent on monitors for sound > > - does not move with instrument - you're stuck in one spot, and better not > > move very far > > - can't plug directly into amp (usually) > > > > 4) Magnetic pickups - like the pickups on an electric guitar, they produce > > voltage by sensing the movement of a ferrous metal string. If you have > > all > > metal strings on your HG, you can start looking around for a good set of > > pickups, or wind your own. I wouldn't recommend these except in very > > specific > > situations. > > > > I'm sure that this won't answer everyone's questions, but I hope it's a > > good > > start. ;-) > > > > Alden > > > > > > > Philip G Martin aka Drohne www.drohne.co.uk
