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AMPLIFY YOUR VIOLIN!

Steffen Zeichner’s Gear Guide to acoustic violin pickup/speaker/gear options (2021)

I hope this document will help you explore the world of amplified strings by providing an overview of
some of the various options currently available to amplify your acoustic violin!

MICROPHONE PICKUPS
▪ A microphone is the best way to amplify a violin for the most natural acoustic sound,
HOWEVER it is not optimal when performing in situations where you might pick up outside
noise or where you are so loud that feedback from the speakers becomes an issue.

DPA 4099V: ~$620

• Extremely high-quality condenser mic pickup option, with a great rubber clip that
connects to the side of your violin’s rib without hurting the instrument at all.
• Very directional mic, flexible gooseneck end allows you to position it facing an f-hole or
anywhere you want.
• Used professionally with full orchestras and performers around the world who want to
amplify or record natural acoustic sound.
• XLR cable connection, requires Phantom Power.
• Audio sample of myself playing with a DPA 4099v: https://youtu.be/nJTISqdKejk

THE MYERS FEATHER VIOLIN PICKUP: ~$200

• A nice light microphone option which mounts easily onto the rib with a chinrest-style
carpenter jack mount.
• Flexible gooseneck end allows you to position the mic directly over an f-hole.
• Comes with an internally powered active preamp with a volume knob which is easily
accessible.
• 1/4" instrument cable connection which allows you to connect directly to most effect
pedals, loopers, etc.

AUDIO-TECHNICA PRO 35: ~$150

• Cheaper XLR condenser mic option than the 4099v, connects by clipping onto the
chinrest OR with a Velcro style mount sold separately (model # AT8468) that wraps
around the tailpiece.
• The mount to connect it to the instrument isn’t as secure as the DPA mount or the
Carpenter jack chinrest clamp style mount.
• Sound quality isn’t quite as good sound as the 4099v, but it is 4x cheaper with great
value.
• XLR cable connection, requires Phantom Power.

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PIEZO PICKUPS
▪ A piezo pickup attaches to the body or bridge of the violin and translates vibration to
electrical signal.
▪ They are flexible and reliable, great for situations where you may be playing loudly and want
to avoid feedback, or for trying out various effects within the huge world of guitar pedals.
▪ The following are all Piezo pickup options, which do have a tendency to sound a bit nasal and
thin by themselves.
▪ Ways to thicken up your tone include experimenting with placement of the pickup itself and
possibly adding an EQ, compression, or IR (Imaging Response) pedal to your chain.

“PERMANENT” PICKUP OPTIONS, BUILT INTO THE BRIDGE

L.R. BAGGS VIOLIN PICKUP WITH CARPENTER JACK: ~$170

• Solid and reliable pickup which replaces the bridge on your instrument and gives you an
input jack to plug into which is attached to the side of your instrument with a chinrest-
style mount.
• Installing this pickup requires bringing your instrument to a luthier to cut the bridge, and
you will need to do some basic soldering to connect the pickup to the carpenter jack
(where the instrument cable connects). Some retailers such as the Electric Violin Shop
will solder it for you for an additional charge.
• Needs either an acoustic amp like the Fishman Loudbox series or a separate Preamp if
plugging into a board, otherwise the signal can have buzzing or humming.

REMOVABLE PICKUP OPTIONS

KNA PICKUPS (KREMONA) VV-3 VIOLIN PICKUP: ~$90

• Fits into notch on your existing bridge, while giving you an input jack to plug into which is
attached to the side of your instrument with a chinrest-style mount.
• Easy plug and play, decent piezo sound but needs either an acoustic amp like the
Fishman Loudbox series or a DI/Preamp if plugging into a board, otherwise the signal can
be dirty.

KNA PICKUPS (KREMONA) VV-2 VIOLIN PICKUP W/ VOLUME CONTROL: ~$120

• Older version of the VV-3, but with a small volume knob on the carpenter jack to allow
you to adjust volume.
• Easy plug and play, decent piezo sound but needs either an acoustic amp like the
Fishman Loudbox series or a DI/Preamp if plugging into a board, otherwise the signal can
be dirty.

MI-SI ACOUSTIC VIO ACTIVE VIOLIN PICKUP: ~$200

• Fits into notch on your existing bridge, while giving you an input jack to plug into which is
attached to the side of your instrument with a chinrest-style mount.

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 • I have no personal experience with this one, but it's interesting that it comes with an
active rechargeable preamp inside helping to boost signal.

FISHMAN V-200 VIOLIN PICKUP: ~$170

• Fits into notch on your existing bridge, while giving you an input jack to plug into which is
attached to the side of your instrument with a chinrest-style mount.
• Easy plug and play, decent piezo sound but needs either an acoustic amp like the
Fishman Loudbox series or a DI/Preamp if plugging into a board, otherwise the signal can
be dirty.

HEADWAY "THE BAND" PICKUP: ~$200

• This piezo pickup doesn't involve the bridge at all, just gets wrapped around the body of
the violin.
• The fact that it translates vibrations from the entire violin vs just the bridge creates a bit
fuller tone to my ear comparatively.
• Decent piezo sound but needs either an acoustic amp like the Fishman Loudbox series or
a DI/Preamp if plugging into a board, otherwise the signal can be dirty.

PREAMPS
▪ If you use a piezo pickup, it is highly recommended that you also use a preamp, unless your
amp is specifically designed to handle piezo pickups such as the Fishman Loudbox Acoustic
amp series.
▪ Piezo pickups contain a piezoelectric crystal which translates vibration into electrical signal.
▪ This means that they send out a very high impedance (electrical signal) out, which can cause
buzzing, humming, and overall noisy tones to come out through your speaker if the speaker
or mixer you are plugging into is not designed specifically to handle them.
▪ A preamp will narrow down that signal to something which most amps and mixers are
designed to receive, cleaning up your tone.

LR BAGGS ACOUSTIC DI & PREAMP: ~$200

• Solid DI/Preamp box specifically designed for high impedence piezo pickups.
• Includes a 5-band EQ for extra tone shaping.
• Has an effects loop to run other pedals alongside the chain, but requires an additional
TRS effects loop cable to use.

FIRE-EYE RED-EYE: ~$225

• Really nice sound specifically designed for high impedance piezo pickups, phenomenal
tone on the LOW end in my experience
• Has a fantastic clean boost button for soloing/extra oomph.
• Easy effects loop capability with no adapter needed.
• They also make a Fire-Eye Red-Eye Twin version which allows you to plug multiple
instruments in at once, useful for switching between instruments or for multiple people
to plug into at the same time.

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 FISHMAN AURA SPECTRUM DI PREAMP ACOUSTIC PEDAL: ~$380
• Great preamp box which also includes the ability to run IR (imaging response) technology
through your sound, which can be incredibly useful for reducing piezo nasal tone and
creating a more natural sound.
• Sidenote: You can also find a variety of other pedals now implementing IR (Imaging
Response) technology which work great with piezo pickups, including the Line6 HX Stomp
multieffect pedal, Mooer Radar (cheapest option?), vSound, or the ToneDexter (which
even lets you create your own IR's from an acoustic instrument).
• Has an effects loop to run other pedals alongside the chain, but requires an additional
TRS effects loop cable to use.

GRACE ALIX INSTRUMENT PREAMPLIFIER: ~$765

• Extremely powerful EQ controls allow you to dial in very specific tone, which can be very
useful when creating your optimal sound with a piezo pickup.
• Multiple impedance settings for different pickups.
• Clean boost, mute button.
• Has an effects loop to run other pedals alongside the chain, but requires an additional
TRS effects loop cable to use.

AMPLIFIERS/SPEAKERS

FISHMAN LOUDBOX MINI, CHARGE (SAME AS MINI BUT W/ BATTERY), OR

ARTIST: ~$370, ~$500, ~$660
• Fantastic sounding amps that work incredibly well for violin and piezo pickups. I can’t
recommend them enough.
• Unlike many other guitar amps, they have a preamp inside designed for piezo style
pickups, therefore they do NOT require a separate DI/Preamp for impedance matching
and best tone.
• Each of these include built-in reverb effects, while the Artist has additional effects
(chorus, flanger, delay, echo).
• Audio sample of myself playing into a Fishman Charge with looping pedal (using an AES
London 5 String violin with their built-in pickup): https://youtu.be/paOMKezlBKE

BOSE S1 PRO: ~$600

• Great portable battery powered PA speaker.
• Separate preamp/DI recommended.
• Not as 'acoustic’ a sound out of the box as the Fishman Loudbox series since the Bose is a
full range frequency response PA, but still sounds fantastic, especially with guitar pedal
effects.
• Includes built-in reverb effect.
• Easily mounted up high on a pole to work like a standard PA.

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 BOSS KATANA 50W/100W: ~$240, ~$370
• Versatile guitar amps, with a nice clean acoustic setting as well as fun dirtier amp
settings.
• Piezo sound can be improved by using a DI, but it’s not completely necessary, especially
on the acoustic setting.
• Includes built-in delay and reverb effects.

YAMAHA THR10II: ~$330

• Great tiny portable amp.
• It’s not incredibly loud, but it gives great tone and is perfect for reinforcing acoustic
sound in a fairly quiet room (coffee shop, lobby gigs, etc) as well as being perhaps the
perfect home practice amp.
• I like using the ‘flat’ setting with a small bit of hall reverb.
• Includes a variety of built-in effects, including various amp modelers and chorus, flanger,
phaser, tremolo, echo and various reverbs.
• Audio sample of myself playing into the older Yamaha THR10 model:
https://youtu.be/SRWX0tbOQe0

INSTRUMENT CABLES:
▪ Any standard 1/4" instrument cables will work to connect your pickup to either a Preamp,
mixer, or amplifier.
▪ You may also need a standard XLR cable to go from DI to board or speaker. Check the inputs
on your speaker to see what is necessary.

I hope you found this guide helpful!

Feel free to shoot me any questions or comments through social media!

Steffen Zeichner
SizViolin.com // 5StringSwing.com

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