Variations On The "Single" Mic Approach

[fredfrank]

Actually, no, Pete. There was a sound man in the wings doing recordings, and if a group was too far away or too close he'd adjust. But this was actually the best sound I've seen in years. Well since last year at the same festival.

A fellow who runs a recording studio there in Montana owns the mic and housing. His user name on this board is MikeC. He told me where he got the cool shell, but I forgot. I did look it up on the internet when he told me, and the reproduction shell cost more than twice what the mic does. It's pretty cool, though.

[fredfrank]

A better view:

Not to mention a more appropriate instrument!

[mandopete]

A fellow who runs a recording studio there in Montana owns the mic and housing. His user name on this board is MikeC.

I think that's Mike Conroy if I'm not mistaken.

Hey Fred, is that you picking a b*njo?

[fredfrank]

Yes sir, it is! All the groups play for free since the festival is a fund raiser for the Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association, and many of the groups are pick up bands. Sometimes you get asked to pick for another group for a half-hour set. I played banjer on 5 different sets and mandolin for two. Only one set was our band, and I played both 5-string and mando (alternately, of course).

[fredfrank]

Actually, we have tried using one mic for vocals, and satellite mics for fiddle, banjo, etc. But it seems the more mics you get involved, the harder it is to hear each other, and we just keep going back to the one mic system.

I saw Ben Winship one time when he and John Lowell of Kane's River were doing a duet show, and the stage had only one mic. Ben fiddled with it a bit, trying to position it just right, then apologized to the audience and said, "We just don't know how to play through one mic, we either have eight or nine mics or none!"

[mandopete]

Is that the new varnished Collings in the picture?

I also noticed you've changed your "handle"

[fredfrank]

Is that the new varnished Collings in the picture?

I also noticed you've changed your "handle" #

Actually, that's the rare double-scrolled Gibson Fern. Not to be confused with a three-point. I use it most of the time these days on stage without any electrical tape.

I changed my user-name here on the Cafe, because a lot of folks assume I was a dyed-in-the-wool Gibson guy, just because my handle was: onlyagibsonisgoodenuff. Actually that was a slogan they used to use and actually put it on a banner on the peghead of some of their guitars years ago. They did spell enuff correctly, whereas I did not.

I actually like many different brands of instruments even though I own a couple of Gibsons. I have, as you stated, some Collings stuff too.

[mandopete]

So how is the varnished MF-5 doing (inquiring minds want to know)? #Are you planning on being at Darrington this year?

[fredfrank]

Haven't played it enough to really know. I put a ding in it and had to send it off for repair. Won't be at Darrington, since they have a two-years in a row rule there. At least for bands.

[piiman]

O K I talked to the people at AKG, they said that Nunnaly is using a swivel adaptor A61 which is no longer available or repairable