Use a Mic, switching guitar and ukulele

[Scatcat]

Hallo, in September i have to play in a church for a wedding, 7 song in fingerpicking, 5 with guitar and 2 with ukulele. I won't to have a real tone so I think to use a stand with a microphone near the neck attack and switch from guitar to ukulele. I have a sm57 and a condensator mic. Which mic I have to use? Is the first time that I use mic for live performance. Do you think is OK or is better that I use the other guitar with the antheme installed?

[Silly Moustache]

Hi, I run an Acoustic club with many different acts playing many different instruments, and, s it is an acoustic music club, I don't allow "plugging" in, so, to keep matters simple I use just one Large condenser mic, and it works very well, as people with varying skills don't need to precisely place instruments.

Of course - you will need phantom power.

I hope that helps.

I migliori saluti

ol'Andy

[YamahaGuy]

In my experience, for weddings you may not have the usual sound person running sound, so less is more there. I mean, I wouldn't use two channels by using the guitar with the Anthem pickup and also a mic for the ukulele. Personally I'd go for the condenser mic. Just beware that, when working properly--with phantom power supplied as commented already--the condenser mic will pick up EVERYTHING...your breathing, anything you mutter under your breath, movement of your clothes, so practice practice practice with one if you can. Practice switching from guitar to your ukulele, and notice your relative location to the mic when making the changes. I wouldn't think feedback would be much of an issue at a wedding since the "stage" is usually very quiet as well as the audience once you start playing. On a side note,
try thinking of this chance as something you "get to" do rather than something you "have to" do. The whole experience will be more enjoyable. Playing weddings can be a beautiful opportunity to bless the lives of the bride and groom using your gift of music.

[MikeBmusic]

Phantom power not withstanding (not all PAs have it), it sounds like you are not supplying the sound system? Location of the speakers in relation to where you are set up can be important - specially if using a condenser mic.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Scatcat

Hallo, in September i have to play in a church for a wedding, 7 song in fingerpicking, 5 with guitar and 2 with ukulele. I won't to have a real tone so I think to use a stand with a microphone near the neck attack and switch from guitar to ukulele. I have a sm57 and a condensator mic. Which mic I have to use? Is the first time that I use mic for live performance. Do you think is OK or is better that I use the other guitar with the antheme installed?

In my opinion for a one time performance the SM 57 will probably work just fine. You will want to experiment with placement, being a dynamic mic you will have to place it fairly close to the instrument 4 to 6 inches probably. And I would experiment with both the neck joint and also right behind the bridge both slightly below and slightly above the bridge area .

[Scatcat]

Thanks everybody

[PerryE]

If possible - visit the church beforehand with a friend and test. Definitely improves the odds

[Scatcat]

Originally Posted by YamahaGuy

In my experience, for weddings you may not have the usual sound person running sound, so less is more there. I mean, I wouldn't use two channels by using the guitar with the Anthem pickup and also a mic for the ukulele. Personally I'd go for the condenser mic. Just beware that, when working properly--with phantom power supplied as commented already--the condenser mic will pick up EVERYTHING...your breathing, anything you mutter under your breath, movement of your clothes, so practice practice practice with one if you can. Practice switching from guitar to your ukulele, and notice your relative location to the mic when making the changes. I wouldn't think feedback would be much of an issue at a wedding since the "stage" is usually very quiet as well as the audience once you start playing. On a side note,
try thinking of this chance as something you "get to" do rather than something you "have to" do. The whole experience will be more enjoyable. Playing weddings can be a beautiful opportunity to bless the lives of the bride and groom using your gift of music.

I agree, it will be a pleasure play for two friends of mine

[mattbn73]

Whatever your setup is, I would practice setting it up and getting the levels etc which you like, at home on a mixer , or possibly on a PA somewhere . I wouldn't necessarily do this on the fly. Assume the sound "technician" won't really know anything more than how to turn it on.