Topic: Mic'ing a scrubboard....with mobility in mind

[Nick in Edinboro]

I run sound for a local zydeco band (www.yankeezydeco.com).

The girl who plays scrubboard is shopping for a new mic.  Said she has money burning in her pocket for it....

She really wants mobility, and as such is looking towards some sort of wireless unit.  Or maybe at the least some sort of piezo pickup of sorts that can be attached directly to the washboard.

She was looking at the "AKG WMS 40 MP Mini Pen Lavaliere Wireless System" which runs about $250 from Musicians Friend....

I have her in front of a sm57 right now, which works ok but only when she's in front of it....she has a tendency to wander around the stage.

Any advice?

Nick

[SuperDave]

This might sound like a dumb question, but do they ever put the washboard in their monitors?

[Sparge Master]

I would go over to this bands site and shoot them an email. They have some way of hooking the mic up to the side of the board.

http://www.bigdamnband.com/

[anodyne33]

you can go the NMAS route and tape a piezo to it.

[Nick in Edinboro]

This might sound like a dumb question, but do they ever put the washboard in their monitors?

We definately do... the scrub is an integral part of zydeco music...believe it or not :-P

I was thinking the piezo too... wasn't sure how feasible it was... hard to google on this subject!

I'll check out that band too, thanks guys

nick

[mmmatt]

Interesting question nick!  How far off the board do you keep the mic?  I would think you would have to stay back a bit to get all the sound unless you use something that works on vibration but that would color the sound... maybe for the better?  I bet this is going to take some experimenting!

Matt

[Nick in Edinboro]

Interesting question nick!  How far off the board do you keep the mic?  I would think you would have to stay back a bit to get all the sound unless you use something that works on vibration but that would color the sound... maybe for the better?  I bet this is going to take some experimenting!

Matt

As it is now the SM57 is just on a mic stand, and it's up to her to position herself within an appropriate distance.

In looking at that bigdamnband.com site posted above their scrubboard player uses a drum mic.  She wrote me and said it was a Sennheiser but I am not sure exactly what model:







I wonder what a piezo pickup would sound like....  we want to keep the sound for the most part, just make it easier on her on stage.

[anodyne33]

I wonder what a piezo pickup would sound like....  we want to keep the sound for the most part, just make it easier on her on stage.

Definitely check out some NMAS stuff. Cody does most of his Washboarding with heavy processing, but I seem to remember it being reasonable sounding dry. I have no idea what pickup you'd want to go with, but if you drop a couple of bucks on a decent Fishmann and it doesn't work out you'll at least know that you'll get some of your investment back if you decide to ditch it.

[bluegrass_brad]

Cody uses a pickup, but I cant remember what kind.  I'll bet one of those K&K multi paddle pickups used on bass bridges for the definition (not the under saddle ones that give you the thump) might work well.  Pretty even frequency response, just throw on the high pass and rock it out.   You could also spread the paddles out across the back of the washboard to give an even sound down it's length.
http://www.kksound.com/doublebigtwin.html


or this might work, says its universal.  Only problem is it is on a single paddle so you might get uneven sound depending on where she is playing on the board.
http://www.kksound.com/hotspot.html

K&K make great pickups, so if you have to use one that is a good way to go.  Youll be able to turn it up much louder before feedback.

[Steve J]

I was going to suggest one of the systems they use for horns...which is kind of what the one in those pictures look like.

[SuperDave]

She wrote me and said it was a Sennheiser but I am not sure exactly what model:

Not sure exactly but it looks like a E 608.

[SuperDave]

This might sound like a dumb question, but do they ever put the washboard in their monitors?

We definately do... the scrub is an integral part of zydeco music...believe it or not :-P

I do believe it!  I'd say go with a Piezo/clip-mic combo.  Use the piezo for the monitors and the clip mic for the FOH.  That way, should she walk over to somebody onstage and accidentally end up on top of a monitor, you won't have feedback worries.  It might seem a bit over the top for a washboard, but what the heck, isn't that what being a soundguy is all about?

I do this for Bluegrassers in crappy venues all the time when a single mic just doesn't cut it.  Good luck!   

[bluegrass_brad]

Hell, just get them to go to In-Ears and then you have no worries.  I was so glad that YMSB used them, made my job alot easier. Turn it up as loud as you want...no feedback

[bdasilva]

I taped Revrend Payton's Big Damn Band while they were here in Phoenix. It was billed as "root blues"...
Anyway the trio was hot and they are nice people too.  They did the So Cal run with Derrick Trucks just before his gear was jacked... Anyway go see (and Tape) this band. http://www.bigdamnband.com/

[mmmatt]

Cody uses a pickup, but I cant remember what kind.  I'll bet one of those K&K multi paddle pickups used on bass bridges for the definition (not the under saddle ones that give you the thump) might work well.  Pretty even frequency response, just throw on the high pass and rock it out.   You could also spread the paddles out across the back of the washboard to give an even sound down it's length.
http://www.kksound.com/doublebigtwin.html


or this might work, says its universal.  Only problem is it is on a single paddle so you might get uneven sound depending on where she is playing on the board.
http://www.kksound.com/hotspot.html

K&K make great pickups, so if you have to use one that is a good way to go.  Youll be able to turn it up much louder before feedback.

A friend of mine uses something like this on his mando.  It sounded surprisingly good.  Different brand and all, but same concept.  His was just a single pickup.  I bet a couple on each side would be usable for sure.

Matt