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Post by edcat7 on Apr 27, 2012 18:16:45 GMT
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Post by xindi on Apr 27, 2012 19:27:45 GMT
It looks like a boogie box! How would you carry it? Told ya carrying a guzheng would be easier
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Post by valdae on Apr 27, 2012 20:49:31 GMT
That might work, Ed. It looks extremely portable. I didn't know ION made amps. We have a piece of their equipment here at the library - it's a turntable for converting LPs to mp3s.
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Post by edcat7 on Apr 27, 2012 21:07:59 GMT
It looks like a boogie box! How would you carry it? Told ya carrying a guzheng would be easier It's on wheels with a luggage type carrying handle. That, with just dizi, hulusi will be fine. Erhu plus liuqin more difficult. Whilst carrying a zhongruan also, will be very difficult . Also I'd have to carry a foldable chair!
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Post by edcat7 on Apr 28, 2012 17:47:42 GMT
I've been asked to perform something at Chinese school in July. By then i should have perfected 'Journey to Gansu' on the dizi. I can always play the hulusi if all else fails. The liuqin/zhongruan will need some amplification. I've seen this, and because it's so cheap I can afford to throw it away if it's no good. cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160781655879The k&k Twin Spot pickup is £74 over here! I may get it directly from the US. Does it work on the erhu?
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Post by davidmdahl on Apr 28, 2012 18:06:50 GMT
A transducer like the Big Twin will not work well for erhu. I have the following: www.bluestarmusic.com/KK-Sound-Silver-Bullet-Microphone-Pickup-with-14-Out-P431.aspxThe clamp attaches to the base of the neck, and the microphone is positioned at the rear of the resonator. A microphone on a stand that will adjust to about 2' high (60 cm) is fine too. I position the microphone so that it is just behind me on my left side, aimed at the rear of the resonator. Best wishes, David
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Post by xindi on Apr 28, 2012 23:59:31 GMT
Hmmm...not likely with those underground flights of stairs and broken elevators. I still think my coffin (guzheng) would be as portable. Don't forget your umbrella...your roisin, sheet music, music book stand; music clamps, reading lamp, water bottle and most importantly - lip balm. You might need one of these: and given the British weather - you might need a batmobile caddy - the more upmarket version: www.electricgolftrolley.net/electric-golf-trolleys-diag-but/18%20d-light%20electric%20golf%20trolley%20front%20page.JPG[/img] Looking forward to hear this piece! I don't know it, but it sounds more interesting than 'It's a long way to Tipperary'! That looks great. What other instruments would it work on? The only thing is - the image of it scratching the flute head joint makes me nervous...
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Post by edcat7 on Apr 29, 2012 0:13:36 GMT
What an ugly trolley. I wouldn't be seen dead in that Actually by the time I start busking (unless they get rid of me at work. (know by Wednesday) I probably wouldn't care. The above trolley reminds me of elderly traders in a Chinese street market
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Post by xindi on Apr 29, 2012 0:49:32 GMT
What an ugly trolley. I wouldn't be seen dead in that Actually by the time I start busking (unless they get rid of me at work. (know by Wednesday) I probably wouldn't care. The above trolley reminds me of elderly traders in a Chinese street market Well I wouldn't be seen dead in my guzheng coffin! It's under 6ft so it wouldn't fit. Well I'm sure you could find some L&V pattern material to have the trendiest trolley bag for a busker
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Post by edcat7 on May 13, 2012 20:24:04 GMT
Is this the same as k&k's Twinspot? A relative from San Francisco is bringing one over for me. It costs US$48.50 and it's sold by blustar? I've managed to get a cheap second-hand guitar amp and cables. David, could you upload a photo of where you would place the pick-up? Thanks Ed
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Post by edcat7 on May 15, 2012 8:01:10 GMT
I bought a really cheap second-hand amp (£13.50) and because I'm waiting for a pick-up, haven't tested it yet. I Googled the make and model and there was almost nothing on it except for one comment on some guitar forum. Legacy is a budget make which 'serious' guitarists stay away from??
Is there a difference between an amp for electric guitars and one for acoustic guitars?
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Post by davidmdahl on May 15, 2012 16:02:09 GMT
Hello Ed,
The Twin Spot is similar to the Big Twin that I use for my zither (dan tranh). The latter has larger transducer heads. I have a K&K Sound Big Shot on my dan nguyet (Vietnamese moon lute). I am behind in posting photos, but will get to it soon.
Electric guitarists often play with effects (dirty/grunge, wah, phase shifting, echo, etc.) while acoustic guitarists usually like an amp with a "clean" sound. Some amps model different sounds, like the Roland Cube series. I have a couple that I use with my Vietnamese dan bau. Some of the best amps for acoustic guitars have vacuum tubes.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by edcat7 on May 15, 2012 17:13:57 GMT
With the electric amps surely you can turn off all the effects to get a clean sound?
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Post by edcat7 on May 15, 2012 17:21:06 GMT
I had a quick look at that Roland (micro?) amp and it isn't obscenely expensive. It's can even be battery operated for use whilst busking, though i doubt the charge is nothing to shout about.
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Post by davidmdahl on May 15, 2012 22:06:09 GMT
I can't really generalize about all electric guitar amps, but the Roland amps I have model a variety of sounds, including clean. I think that different amps have characteristic sounds or uses that make them popular for their niche. Modeling amps, like the Roland Cube series, can be switched differently so you can play blues or rock and have it sound right.
It's really hard to pick out an amp online. I took my instrument to the local guitar store and tried it on a variety of amps to see what sounded the best to me. Most appeared to be best for electric guitar but not very good for my purpose. The Roland Cube 30 was my choice. I also have a Micro, but can't say I use it much.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by edcat7 on May 15, 2012 22:38:26 GMT
David, you got it spot on (as usual recommending Roland Cube amps. I had my liuqin lesson just now and plugged my amp into my teacher's liuqin. It sounded poor, I'm told, because the instrument is so bright, it needs 'reverb' which Roland Cube has. Supposedly it has a whopping 19 hours charge. I'll have to youtube what a dan bau is and sounds like.
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Post by davidmdahl on May 15, 2012 23:01:46 GMT
The pickup has a say in the sound that the amp cannot completely fix. The inexpensive pickups I have tested were usually quite harsh. Electric guitar amps usually exaggerate the highs, so a cheap pickup will sound worse. There are a good bunch of dan bau performances on Youtube. Here is one by myself: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuU6kkefhQwBest wishes, David
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Post by edcat7 on May 15, 2012 23:49:02 GMT
I'm no nearer deciding which Roland Cube amp to one day aspire to. I'll just play around with my cheapo one for the time being. Wow! that Ru con on the dan bau sounded mind-blowing. It something one would listen do whilst under the influence of... How much of the sound is dan bau, did you tweak the controls on the amp?
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Post by edcat7 on May 20, 2012 14:22:03 GMT
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Post by edcat7 on Jun 2, 2012 18:01:29 GMT
I've now got the k&k twinspot and Roland microcube and the results are very good. I have 2 tiny critisms though: the liuqin bridge is very small to stand on the pad and sometimes it thuds only on the back stroke. There is no velco included as described on the packaging.
All I need now is a good skype reception
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Post by davidmdahl on Jun 2, 2012 21:56:37 GMT
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Post by edcat7 on Jun 2, 2012 23:25:41 GMT
What an interesting instrument, it looks like a 2 stringed zhongruan. Do you have youtube clips of your playing it? I understand you have a zhongruan as well.
I've seen a similar set up on one of my teacher's zhongruans. In your case I think it works because there is only one pickup head. It looks like the bridge is fixed to the soundboard and there's room to attach the plug behind the bridge.
In my case the strings reach past the liuqin body and is fixed to the fine tuner. I'm very reluctant to fix the plug directly onto the soundboard. I've taken the plastic clip off the plug and velcoed it to the back of the liuqin.
I don't know how delicate that pickup pad is to attach it under the bridge but it works for my teacher's liuqin.
Best wishes
Ed
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Post by davidmdahl on Jun 3, 2012 6:08:43 GMT
Thanks, Ed. The dan nguyet looks similar to the ruan, but is actually quite different. Here is a characteristic performance: www.youtube.com/watch?v=syKVWIZj_fQI have a video of myself playing dan nguyet on a DVD from a performance last year in Toronto, but I haven't gotten around to ripping it yet. The performance in the video above will give you a better idea of a dan nguyet. Regarding the pickup, I had thought that putting the pickup under the foot of the bridge would interfere with or change the sound. If what you are doing works, and you are happy with the results, that is all that matters. Best wishes, David
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Post by edcat7 on Jun 3, 2012 22:42:43 GMT
Being born in the Uk I find some Chinese melodies hard to follow. Some zhongruan tunes can to the layman sound like a guitar. The dan nguyet is definately unique.
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Post by valdae on Jun 5, 2012 15:34:40 GMT
That pickup set up could work for the ruan as well. I'm getting an amp for my ruan next year, so I'm researching both mics and pickups. The link you posted a while back was very helpful, David. So many choices!
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