#1
|
|||
|
|||
Mandola rethink - K&K fitted.
I have a few trips coming up so decided finally to streamline my pedal requirement for ease of transport. The major part of this is to swap the mag/UST combo on mandola for a K&K Twin Spot that's been sitting in a box since the thought first crossed my mind (and I found one cheap on eBay).
The instrument has been well gigged and is 10% gaffer tape and cardboard as running repairs are serially postponed to a better time. The bridge looks like a chopping board and the saddle has collected several shims to balance out string response. The mag has been held in with blu-tac until such times as I get round to doing a more elegant job (10yrs and counting) and there is a huge wood screw holding the headstock on. But it plays well and sounds fantastic. Anyway, I got some reasonable results with the Tonedexter despite it being a mag but ended up using the AG Stomp for a more solid sound. This is a problem because as baggage charges rise (and spinal vertebrae weaken) it has become inhibitive to carry both the AG and TD I fitted the TS one night this week with a view to trying it out last night. Space inside the instrument is very limited and I reckoned a tape installation would not be enough so I went straight for the Super Glue Gel fit. I fashioned a fitting jig out of a plastic takeaway food box using a (paper) hole punch and a Sharpie. A couple of dry runs which made it clear chopsticks in the bridgepin holes was the best guides and, viola! I set up a few wavemaps with various condensers and dynamics and ended up (again) using the sm57 generated one (about 10" from the body/neck join. Results: The mandola is four pairs and the TS elements are between 1/2 and 3/4, as might seem obvious. Pairs 1/2 are slightly more pokey and string than 3/4 but I think that can be remedied by a string guage rethink which I will be doing anyway as PB strings are now an option. The sparkle has gone a little off the top end but there is enough and what is there sounds natural both in it's frequency range and attack characteristics. Mids and bass are very different and will take some getting used to and treated but that is the usual way of things. The instrument feels more lively with a wider dynamic range and is more responsive to playing technique. All looking good, so far.
__________________
Give a man a fishing rod... and he's got the makings of a rudimentary banjo. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Er, should read "strong".
__________________
Give a man a fishing rod... and he's got the makings of a rudimentary banjo. |