microphone or pickup for accordion

[daveynate]

Try Microvox (http://www.microvox.demon.co.uk/). Until I bought an accordion with a pick-up, I used one of their set-ups, and it worked fairly well. Just have to keep an eye on feedback through the floor monitors (to counter that prevalent problem, I'm going to try out a Y-cable splitting my line between the D.I. and a Shure wired/wireless pack on my hip with earphones).

Hope that helped a little.

[Bang88]

I have a suggestion that I am going to try.
Obtain 4 inexpensive (non condenser) vocal mics.
Remove the heads and wire them parallel thru a dynamic volume control.
Hot glue the heads inside the cover facing the reeds. Plug it in and try to control the feedback.
I have heard this work quite well but do nor know the specifics of the wireing

[MisterPete]

not on a piano accordion but yes it does on (some?) diatonic button accordions ~ like a harmonica

A second question has sprung to mind, does the chord / note change depending on if the bellows are being pushed or pulled? With a mouthorgan one hole makes 2 notes, is it the same with Accordians?

[TaylorRevelator]

MicroVox pickups are the best. However, you are always going to get feedback. What you need to do is identify the problem frequency and cut it. Solution, a parametric eq pedal/unit.

I use a guitar parametric eq. Accordion plugs into pedal, pedal plugs into amp.

In the sound check, turn up the accordion until it is on the point of feeding back. Then set the pedal to narrow width, the frequency to the lowest you can and boost the frequency level to max. Then, pan accross the frequency range until the feedback kicks in. Then, cut that frequency and play with the width until you lose the feedback.

You will find that your accordion has a 'trouble range' of frequencies but these will change depending on the venue and setup you are using.

This solution may 'thin' the sound of the accordion, but if you want more volume, it is just an unfortunate side effect of this solution.

Hope this helps.