You are correct for a preamp that is really a preamp. A preamp to boost a microphone for instance, is a real preamp. Most interface units for matching a piezo to a PA are not really a preamp, but seems to have gotten that term, and it doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. The Piezo is 1,000,000 ohms of impedance, the PA wants to see around 800-1200. It's primary function is to match the impedance of the piezo to the PA. Yes it has a volume and tone controls, well some do, mine only has a treble control. It is all it needs.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
I think the thing that the OP seems to not understand is that you can buy any acoustic mandolin and just have someone install a pick-up, or you can do it yourself. Just to toss out a simple solution...buy a mando you like, buy a K&K twin, take it to a set-up guy/gal and have them install the thing and, BAM, you have a mando you can run directly into an amp. If your goal is to play through a PA, get a Fire Eye Red-Eye as a pre-amp, a quarter inch cable and and an XLR cable, and you're good-to-go. Also, you can always just buy a Shure 57 and play your mando into that if your goal is simply to record then thing in an mp3 format. Admittedly, you're going to need some way to hook your instrument mic into your computer, but you'd have the same issue running a mando into a computer. This obsession with only buying a mandolin that comes with a pre-installed pick-up just seems baffling to me, it's like only wanting to buy a car with certain speakers when, in reality, you can buy any car you want and then put in the speakers later.
Of course, being the Cafe, I would be remiss if I didn't say
Just get something. If it's not perfect for all of your needs, you get a second one. If those don't cover all of your needs, rinse and repeat until satisfied.
What I play
2021 Skip Kelley Two-Point
Eastwood 'Ricky'
Morgan Monroe RT-1E
Epiphone Genesis guitars
Various Basses
I have a Godin A8 and I do like it however I have problems with the volume in that some strings are louder than others. I have replaced the pickups with no improvement. The good news is it's loud enough to enjoy un-electrified.
Disappointed as the OP seems to have bailed out over a year ago and I never got to find out WTF is a "mp3 base...Mandolin and mp3 base amplified in an audio system"...
too many strings
I just bought a Mann 5 String Electric from a local fellow. My suggestion is skip the cheap stuff and spend a little extra for something like a Mann Mandolin. The tone and playability is first class. The sound that I’m getting is so good that my wife has come down the stairs at least twice to tell me how impressed she is with my new toy.
Correction. I recently removed a clamp-on jack from my mandolin, and the transducer adhesive pulled off some of the finish. Luckily, the instrument was already a beater.
So get something that already has a pickup or have one installed. Don't get a clamp-on unless you don't care about the finish.
Gibson A-Junior snakehead (Keep on pluckin'!)
One thing Godin needed was a tailpiece that cantilevered out a lot closer to the bridge to increase the downforce on the bridge pickups..
it being semi acoustic It cannot be simply screwed down to the top like a solid body [had one kept having the top G string displaced while playing]
a 4 string with single string versions of that same pickup when installed it had a string guide closer to the bridge screwed down to the body.
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
I just purchased a Sparrow 4 string electric. Very pleased with the quality tone and price. Not an F or A style body; however, I highly recommend it. Nice electric mandolin for $549.00.
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