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I've found that pick slip is more about the amount of pick hitting the string and the angle of the pick. I would make sure that the pick is just dancing over the tops of the strings - many of my...

I tried a CT55 round bevel for a while - it had a beautiful round tone (I think I wrote about it in a separate post somewhere), but I couldn't get the volume/cut in a band setting that I could with...

I haven't played a Weber, but after a few years of play, I really enjoy my Eastman 504.

The initial fit/finish are somewhat lacking on the Eastman: add a Cumberland Acoustics bridge (the stock one...

CT-55 on mandolin and acoustic guitar. TD50 on electric guitar.

Yes, all the time! I have a studio of expensive mics, but that same, beat-to-heck Zoom H2 comes along with me everywhere.

I regularly use my telecaster as a tunable reverb unit using a bone conduction transducer system of my own design. Sounds great with cello.

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Using a single condenser in a live setting, particularly a live outdoor setting, is going to depend heavily on the soundguy. If there's any way for your band to regular practice with a PA and the...

@zedmando: I'm in agreement with that closing quote (creative, clever, adaptable, resourceful). I've never had a non-musical day job and not I'm famous, but I've been successful at continuing to make...

Another tall, skinny A-style player here - I feel your pain!

It seems that there are a number of ways to hold the mandolin. Joe Walsh plays an A-style and sits quite upright while playing:...

@Jon: I think that many of the mics described above would work well. If it were me, my main concern would be really working to dial in an EQ setting on your unit.

If the mic is to be occasionally...

To echo what others have said here, I believe that you'd have a much better experience with a clip-on condenser. I use an Audio-Technica ATM350, which I believe Chris Thile also uses:

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I use a Korg AW-2 for mandolin tuning, which I bought after having years of good service with my Korg "PitchBlack" tuner pedal on my guitar pedalboard.

I would try three Audio-Technicas: AT4033, AT4040, and AT4047. Each are relatively the same price range (the 4047 being a bit more expensive) and have very different profiles from one another. The 33...

I have an Eastman 504, purchased from the Mandolin Store a few years ago. I haven't been able to compare with other Eastman 500s, but I think it sounds great. It arrived with a very nice setup and...

Mandolin and acoustic guitar: Blue Chip CT55 or D'Andrea 351 extra heavy.

Electric guitar: Blue Chip TD50 or Dunlop 207.

This is a great list! I frequently play in unplugged situations and another point that improved my band is for everyone to have the next tune ready to go right away (no fumbling, riffing, etc.). Song...

@fatt-dad: That's absolutely right. I considered that, but the custom orders have no return policy and I wasn't sure if I wanted to take that chance. I'm now in the habit of showing up to...

Congratulations, they're great instruments!

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I also had a great experience with the Mandolin Store. The instrument arrived with a very nice setup, well-packed, and ready to be played. Very good folks there.

@EspressoGeek: Those Eastman finishes check and scratch like nobody's business!

Mine seems to attract more marks after every gig and occasional finish checking/cracking - more so than my other...

I also use D'Addario EFW74 (flatwound stainless steel) here.

My primary gig is with a balkan/klezmer band, where that sort of slightly muted old-time sound really works well. I play an Eastman...

After playing with a Blue Chip CT55 as my main pick for the last couple years, I ordered a CT55 round bevel to compare with the rather extreme speed bevel carved into the standard CT model.

The...

I've gotten excellent results with an Audio Technica ATM450:

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They're small, durable, and have an incredible amount of side rejection (feedback resistance, etc.). The timbre of the mic is...

Thanks all! I appreciate the kind comments - they're quite a fun group of people to play with.

- Matt

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I know it! I should start bringing a strat :)