Violin Pickup opinion

I have been playing violin since I was 4, (now 16) and my friend (who has been playing piano equally long) are deciding whether or not I should get this particular pickup, or something else. I have my eye set on BARCUS-BERRY Violin Clamp-on Bridge Piezo Pickup. Link -> http://www.barcusberry.com/products/details.asp?ncatid=46&nsubcatid=282&nproductid=703&sSKU=3100
I have searched around and this appealed to me most, although I have no idea if it is a good one. Please leave opinions and your preferences of Pickups/Transducers. Thanks -Jamin

Looks good to me, but I wouldn`t put it where the picture shows, cuz that`s where your chinrest will be.

this system does`nt heart your violin at all but there are better sounding pickups in that price range. this one sounds a bit nasal. gets better if you put it through a preamp-di box with a bit of eq. good luck. jeroen.

i haven`t played quite as long as you but i`ve noticed that most violins under about 700 bucks arnt worth getting (i am not entirely sure with electronic vilins though)

hi,
i use a fisherman v100 which is pretty good for preserving the acoustic sound. the only regret i have is not getting the version that clamps on the side cos it`s always getting loose. i also use a fisherman pro eq preamp that lets me adjust the tone more than on just my regular amp`s controls. i`m looking around for a new amp (my eye`s on the roland jazz chorus 120), but the preamp sounds just as good through a regular PA.

oh, and the barcus barry one does look good at first, but it does make things tinnier. i think it`s better to install the pickup on the g string side of the bridge. acoustic amps are supposed to be really good for violin amplification, but that`s good if you`re playing with other acoustic instruments--there just isn`t enough power. i`ve been playing since i was 8 (now 24) and i started playing with a rock band with loud guitars and drums a couple of years ago.

Problem is with the time and cost of trying them all. The only piezo pickup I know of that doesn`t use glue or screws, is quite easy to fit, and offers no interference to the acoustic tone or bridge is the Autolycus. Nor does it cost an arm and a leg. I make them! It does benefit from a high input impedance pre-amp, like most of them.

Hi Jamin,

I was playing the Barcus-Berry Piezo-Bridge for 20 years in rock and other contexts.
Important: All piezo bridges mute your instrument. Most piezos have a relatively sharp sound.
If you want the option of switching between acoustic and electric without moving on and off your pickup gear, you need a MAGNETIC pickup. With such, you have to play steel strings. I recommend highly "D`addario Helicore".
To the MAG. pickup: After more than 2 years of research together with an audio-technician, we have finished our "REBO" fully adjustible magnetic violin pickup.
As a freelance violinist I had lots of possibillities to test it. I am, and my collegues and musical directors, too, are perfectly satisfied with the sound.
Also: no more unwanted feedback!
If you are interested, please mail, I`ll send you complete info-material. In one or two months we`ll be online with our "REBO".

daimonides@uli-boesking.de