9 Best Violin Pickup Sets
Finding a reliable and good-sounding violin pickup can be difficult, especially when you don't know what to look for. We all want to play the violin with great sound and volume, but not everyone can afford an expensive microphone or amplifier.
That's why we wrote this article to review the 9 best violin pickups currently on the market, so you can make an informed buying decision before wasting time and money on a Tuesday. something is not working well with my instrument!
Best rated violin pickup kit review
Below is a review of each different type of violin pickup set. We will provide pricing and installation information. However, only you know how and what to play on your fixed string instrument, so you're the only one who can determine which type of pickup is best for you.
1. Myers Pickup The Feather Violin Pickup
Myers Pickup has introduced a new product in their product line, which is The Feather. The Feather is designed to be so light that we named it that. It is compact in size so it can be mounted on a variety of musical instruments.
Equipped with a built-in preamp, The Feather delivers the richest sound your instrument can produce! Power supply is built-in inside to ensure optimal operation.
Installation is simple and quick, just unbox, plug and play! All attached hardware is included. You can turn your instrument into an acoustic/electric instrument in no time with The Feather.
At number one on the list, we present The Feather Violin Pickup from Myers Pickup. The hardware attached to The Feather is simple and straightforward, so you don't need to worry about it slipping off your violin. Simply put, this is a small microphone, so after attaching the pickup, you can use the gooseneck to move the microphone near the F-hole to pick up the sound as you like.
The Feather has a built-in battery, so you don't need an additional power source. Unlike a violin, you only need one instrument cable to connect the pickup to the amplifier or PA system you're using.
Although The Feather pickups are for violins, they also work on other instruments like guitars, ukuleles, even percussion instruments and some other woodwinds.
One of the highlights of this product other than its ability to reproduce true acoustic sound when amplified is its light weight combined with performance, making it a great choice we recommend.
2. Headway The Band Violin Pickup
• Easy installation, easy to use
• Warm, clear sound
• Reduced feedback and howls
Feedback issues are often an important aspect when amplifying sound from musical instruments. The Band solves this problem through feedback cancellation technology, making it a great pickup option.
To attach The Band, you simply wrap it around the violin strings. Since it's under the strings, you won't experience tangled strings and grips.
The Band doesn't make the same sound as placing a microphone in the F-hole of your violin or viola (The Band also fits easily), but it's pretty close. Signals are transmitted over a cable with no need for additional power, allowing you to directly connect to your amplifier without any further discomfort.
This is a great device to meet your audio amplification needs.
3. Fishman V-200 Classic Violin Pickup
The V-200 Classic is an electric pickup that works differently from conventional microphones. As a result, feedback is less annoying, although still possible.
The best advantage of this pickup is its mounting system. It resembles the chin rest fixed mount system that we are familiar with. This means that the V-200 will be in the position where you put it and also means that we understand and are familiar with how to mount it.
It has a 1/4 inch plug with an attached electric pickup, which you will plug it into the middle of the violin bridge wood. From there, it picks up vibrations from the wire and transmits them through the cable to an amplifier or PA system.
While this is a great little device, it is best used with an amplifier. You can use it without an amplifier, but Fishman recommends against doing that. Still, this is a great pickup.
4. Barcus Berry 3100 Clamp-on Bridge Violin Pickup
• Easily clip onto violin bridge and connect via cable with 3100P output jack. Wide frequency response and excellent string balance.
• Feedback cancellation provides excellent signal isolation to reproduce the clear, authentic sound of a violin.
• No tools or additional drilling required - makes attaching and removing the pickup a breeze.
The Barcus Berry pickup is a popular choice. One of its charms is that a piezoelectric pickup doesn't need any wedges, which is great because some people don't like to close or interfere with the intricate woodwork of the bridge.
The pickup body is attached by means of rotating pins such as the chin rest and piezo clamp to the bridge. This allows for an efficient transfer of string vibrations from the bridge to the pickup. One weakness is that if the screws in the mounting clamp are not tightened, a rattle can be heard from them.
Some players feel that clamping anything on the bridge acts like a mute. However, amplifying the sound from the violin can eliminate this problem.
If installed correctly, the 3100 pickup will deliver great performance for you and amplified game. Another cool feature is that it's available for violins and mini-violas, so if you play a smaller instrument you can still use this pickup with no modifications to it or your violin. Friend.
5. Kremona KNA VV-3 Violin Pickup
• The lightweight wood-covered sensor gives your instrument a natural sound.
• Solid ebony 1/4 inch Carpenter jack secures to the instrument via an adjustable bushing clip.
• Removable or still installed when not in use.
Another piezo pickup option is Kremona's VV-3. With a wood covered carpenter jack, it pairs well with musical instruments and is mounted as a chin rest. The wood-covered sensor attaches itself to the bridge, reducing the risk of muting compared to using clamps on the bridge.
This isn't a microphone, but Kremona's VV-3 piezoelectric pickup provides fewer cases of feedback, though doesn't eliminate this problem entirely.
Kremona has brought us a lightweight device to get the job done. While it doesn't offer the same perfect sound reproduction as a microphone, the piezoelectric pickup has been widely used and proven to work well, so it shouldn't be considered a big deal.
6. Myers Pickups Carpenter Jack Violin Pickup
• Flexible micro gooseneck pickup kit including new jack.
• Active pickup, smallest preamp on the market today!
• Instantly turn your instrument into an acoustic-electric instrument. Compatible with almost any musical instrument! Perfect for stringed instruments!
Myers has made great products. It's no surprise that the Carpenter Jack is another standout piezo pickup from Myers. It is similar to The Feather, the real difference is in the gooseneck, as Carpenter Jack is also extremely gentle. This particular pickup is mounted using a rotary lock, chin rest system like the others on the list, which ensures a solid attachment.
The built-in preamplifier is battery-powered, which means you're just plug and play. By using the gooseneck to position the microphone near the F-hole, you get the true sound of an acoustic instrument.
With its compact size, the Carpenter Jack pickup is reminiscent of the idea of "non-intrusive" and seems to be a pickup that you can easily forget about when using on your instrument, helping you to concentrate completely. It's all about playing music.
7. LR Baggs Violin Pickup
• Bridge Superieur Despiau
• Chain balancing.
• High response resistance.
Unlike conventional pickups, the LR Baggs pickup is permanently attached to the bridge of the violin, which means you may need to have it professionally installed. However, once you've trimmed the Superieur Despiau maple bridge and put it in place, you don't need to worry about that anymore.
Since this piezoelectric pickup converts vibrations into electronic signals, it provides impressive dynamic feedback and is diaphragmless for the microphone, so feedback is rare.
Another great thing about this pickup is that it helps players perform some of the actions they can on an electric violin, while preserving the natural sound of your violin or acoustic viola.
The external jack is attached to the violin using a rotary-lock type system. Once attached, you can play without worrying about it, the bridge is pretty fixed and the jack won't come loose either.
All in all, this is a really great setup.
8. Barcus Berry with Preamp 3110 Violin Pickup
• Clips easily to the bridge of a violin without additional tools or drilling holes.
• Connect via cable to the 3100P output jack.
• Attach and remove easily.
Barcus Berry's clamp mounting system places the piezoelectric pickup on the bridge and holds it there without having to wedge it into the wood. Like other piezo pickups, the 3110 has low response and with the opening you'll get a clear and solid sound from it.
Some of the pickups on this list have a built-in preamp, while others just recommend using a preamp but don't require it. However, owning a preamp will improve the sound from any pickup, so owning a dedicated pickup with the 3110 means you get consistent performance.
This is the type of pickup that you can install and remove as easily as you like. Similar to the other Barcus Berry products on the list, if you don't tighten the clamp screws, you'll probably hear some rattling, so this should be noted. However, it's very easy to install, which is always a plus.
9. Andoer Cherub WCP-60V Violin Pickup
• A professional pickup for violin, 1/4" jack with 2.5m cable.
• Clip-on design, easy to attach to the violin.
• Capable of eliminating external noise.
This is an economical choice, an affordable piezo pickup. The probe is just the right size for F-holes, however, it works best on larger F-holes.
Cherub is made from plastic material, so it is very light, however, this does not guarantee long-term durability.
Acoustically, the Cherub works as expected, but since the pickup picks up vibrations from the entire body and not from the bridge like most piezo receivers do, that means it picks up echoes as well. from fingers and other noise.
The Cherub is a pretty big pickup. If you care about subtle design, it might not be the right choice. However, it still does its job as an affordable pickup.
How to choose a Violin Pickup
A pickup is an electrical component used on many musical instruments such as electric guitars, electric basses, and electric violins.
The main function of a pickup is to convert the vibrations of the strings into an electronic signal.
This signal is then sent to the electrical receiver for further processing.
The power receiver modulates and enhances the signal, then sends it to the amplifier to produce sound at the right volume level.
On violins, you can find electric pickups used on both acoustic, hollow-body, and solid-body silent violins.
When you shop for a pickup set for your violin, you'll find a great variety of models to choose from, helping you create a variety of sounds to suit your needs.
Types of pickup sets
Various violin pickup designs are available to meet the needs and tonal preferences of players.
Detachable violin pickups are available, allowing the player to easily attach and remove the pickup from the instrument. This is often useful when players want to change or upgrade their pickups or when they want to use the same pickup for different violins.
There are also permanent violin pickups, which are permanently attached to the violin. These types often have a built-in design, which is convenient and ensures stable placement and connection. Certain types of fixed pickups are also made for special designs of violins such as the solid bodyless violin.
Removable Violin Pickup
Removable violin pickups, as illustrated by their name, make it easy to attach to the violin when needed.
Usually, they are clamped to the violin and attached to another point on the instrument to capture the vibrations of the strings.
However, easy-to-fit pickups are not always the best choice in terms of sound quality. The bridge violin pickup is a temporary option, allowing direct pickup of string vibrations.
Bridge-mounted pickups can change the sound of the violin, depending on personal preference.
Under-saddle pickups are temporarily installed under the bridge posts, receiving vibrations from the bridge and top of the chamber, producing a precise signal.
Installation and removal under the bridge can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.
The undercarriage pickup is the option for the precise sound of the violin, while you can keep the pickup on the guitar.
Clip-on microphones can be attached to the violin to amplify the sound and act as a violin receiver.
Attaching a clip-on microphone and achieving optimal sound requires time and patience.
A contact microphone is a type of violin receiver that picks up vibrations by making contact with certain areas of the instrument.
This type of pickup combines the functionality of both a microphone and a pickup, providing the characteristics of both technologies.
Since they are microphones, placing the contact microphones on the violin needs to be done strategically for best performance.
Permanent violin pickup
Bridge replacement pickups are violin pickups that are installed to permanently replace the existing bridge on the violin.
In fact, these pickups are usually violin bridges. However, they are equipped with electronics to directly generate and receive vibrations from the strings of a violin.
The bridge replacement pickup is a great solution for violin pickup because you only need to connect your violin to the amplifier when you want to power it up.
Installation of these permanent pickups requires expertise from the luthier.
As a result, installing a bridge replacement on your violin can be expensive.
What is the difference between passive and active pickup?
Passive and active receivers are two types of pickups used in stringed instruments, they differ in how they convert string vibrations into an audio signal.
Passive pickup
The passive receiver uses the principle of a magnet to generate an electromagnetic signal from the vibrations of the strings. However, because passive acquisition is susceptible to noise and feedback, there has been continuous development in this technology.
To overcome the disadvantages of a passive receiver, there is usually a preamplifier associated with it. The preamplifier enhances the weak electrical signal from the passive receiver into a stronger and easier to process signal. In this way, the signals can be made stronger and without noise or distortion.
Without a preamplifier, the electrical signal from the passive receiver would be weak and susceptible to noise. This can lead to unclear sound and not good for listeners. By incorporating a preamplifier, the signal is boosted and processed to produce higher quality sound.
Active pickup kit
Active pickups use different circuits, batteries, and technologies to produce a stronger electrical signal.
Magnets are used in the active receiver, but smaller in size, which helps to minimize the effects from interference, noise and feedback.
Active pickups are also often combined with preamps to boost the signal.
In addition to a strong electrical signal, an active receiver also offers the benefit of sound quality consistency.
Both passive and active receivers are still widely used on musical instruments because of their own advantages and disadvantages.
Active pickups typically cost more, while passive pickups cost less.
The passive receiver, although sensitive to noise, is capable of delicate frequency pickup and produces a wide tonal range.
However, with lower quality instruments, an active receiver can effectively clean the sound and produce a pleasing tone.
Active pickups typically don't need additional preamps because they're already built into the pickup's technology.
It should be noted that active pickups depend on power to operate. Once the battery of the pickup runs out, it can render the instrument useless. Therefore, battery management and replacement is very important when using an active pickup.
Important Features
When shopping for an electric violin pickup, there are some features you might be interested in more than others. Here are some popular features you might consider
Sound
Sound is an important factor when buying a pickup for a violin.
You want a pickup that sounds interesting and matches your musical style and taste.
However, the retainer pickup is also important, it preserves the natural sound of the violin without changing it too much.
Some pickups come with preamps to enhance the sound and provide the right level of volume.
Using a preamp may further alter the sound of the violin and may produce undesirable effects.
In addition, if you are interested in using electronic effects, you can also adjust the sound of the violin using different instruments and musical effects.
This means that buying an electric pickup with the most natural sound may not be a priority if you want to change the sound of your violin through electronic effects.
Easy to install
It's important to set up a violin pickup set quickly and easily. You want a pickup that's simple in design and easy to set up so you can start using it conveniently.
Many violin pickups are designed for easy installation, allowing you to quickly attach them to your violin.
However, there are also some pickups that have a more complicated installation process.
If you don't want to spend time and effort setting up a pickup every time you play, a replacement bridge pickup might be a good choice for you. They are permanently attached to the bridge and do not need to be removed when not in use.
If you want an electric pickup with a subtle design, there are many models that are discreet and don't change the look of the violin too much. This helps you maintain the traditional look of your violin while enjoying the benefits of the electric sound.
There are also some violin pickups that have a small output jack design, making it convenient to connect to other audio devices.
Alternatively, you can choose a permanent bridge replacement pickup with a small output jack.
Best Violin Pickup Brand
When shopping for an electric violin pickup, you have a lot of options to choose from.
Headway Music Audio's "The Band" is a popular model, consisting of a passive receiver that wraps around the entire violin body using a Velcro system.
With passive pickup technology, "The Band" is capable of picking up a wide variety of tones without having difficulty with feedback, unlike many other passive receivers.
Barcus Berry also produces many bridge pickups for violins, of which the 3100 is favored by violinists.
The Barcus Berry 3100 pickup kit simply clips onto the bridge and features an output jack that clips onto the side of the guitar, making installation and removal easy.
The 3100 is also equipped with feedback cancellation to produce clear and natural sound.
Myers Pickup manufactures a clip-on microphone on an electric pickup called "The Feather".
"The Feather" includes a built-in preamp, which cleans the signal and produces a natural violin sound.
If you want to enhance the microphone output signal, you can adjust it by turning the volume knob on "The Feather".
As a clip microphone, "The Feather" is usually omnidirectional and needs to be carefully tuned to get the best tone from the violin.
Price
There is a wide range of prices for electric violin pickups.
There are detachable pickups as low as $40, and there are permanent pickups for up to almost $500.
For example, the Barcus Berry 3100 costs more than $100.
If you decide to buy a permanent pickup for your violin, you also need to consider the cost of installing it on your violin.
This cost can vary depending on where you bring your guitar, how busy the luthier is, and other factors.
Consider contacting your local violin store before purchasing a permanent electric pickup for the violin.
Conclude
If you're looking for a violin pickup, then you're probably looking for a high-quality device and aren't overly concerned with price.
In that case, The Feather from Myers is a great choice. It's easy to install, reproduces sound so subtly, and is so soothing that you'll quickly forget it's there.
There are no shoddy products on this list, but if you're looking for perfection among the best, The Feather will satisfy any amplification requirement without compromising on sound or style. your play.
See more:
Top 5 Best Violins For Beginners
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