Kremona Piezo pickup question

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a_arnold

Posts: 558
Joined: Jul. 30 2006

Kremona Piezo pickup question

During performances I often have to lean to the side to see our lead dancer's feet as other dancers get in the way -- and leaning takes my guitar away from a stand mic. My (relatively high-end) UHF clip-on wireless lapel mic with beltpack is not the ideal solution due to feedback. (I got it after seeing the Noche Flamenca group and Paco Pena's group use them).

So in my quest to find a feedback-free wireless solution to amplification I've been looking at a low-cost piezo pickup that slips under the strings on the bridge block and hence requires ZERO MODIFICATION of the guitar. It is made by a company called Kremona for about $63.

Has anybody had any experience with it?

It would be possible to get a cable to jack the Kremona piezo pickup to the beltpack transmitter in place of the lapel mic (since it is the mic, not the transmitter, that causes feedback). Provided the pickup is workable. Some reviews say it is fragile.

There is only one post that mentions it on the foro back in 2007. Anybody had experience with it since then?

By the way, this is the cheapest site to purchase:

http://www.stringsbymail.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2406&products_id=3641&zenid=eljtdqok3c9br018t55d0h75k1

This is a review with discussion:

http://guitarsalon.com/blog/?p=1569

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"Flamenco is so emotionally direct that a trained classical musician would require many years of highly disciplined formal study to fail to understand it."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 5 2011 17:23:04

James Ashley Mayer

Posts: 115
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Portland, Oregon

RE: Kremona Piezo pickup question (in reply to a_arnold)

I had one, but I stood up while it was plugged in and it's snapped it in two. It is definitely very fragile. It sounded pretty good, from my recollection. Of course, it was very easy to install which is a huge selling point.

I'd still worry about it breaking even if you have a wireless setup. I'd be pretty easy to missplace a rumba slap and destroy it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 5 2011 17:42:59

a_arnold

Posts: 558
Joined: Jul. 30 2006

RE: Kremona Piezo pickup question (in reply to James Ashley Mayer)

Great to know. Thanks!

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"Flamenco is so emotionally direct that a trained classical musician would require many years of highly disciplined formal study to fail to understand it."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 5 2011 17:52:50

a_arnold

Posts: 558
Joined: Jul. 30 2006

RE: Kremona Piezo pickup question (in reply to James Ashley Mayer)

quote:

I'd be pretty easy to missplace a rumba slap and destroy it.

Yeah -- one of the reviewers said he broke one simply by closing his guitar case on it.

_____________________________

"Flamenco is so emotionally direct that a trained classical musician would require many years of highly disciplined formal study to fail to understand it."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 5 2011 17:54:32

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Kremona Piezo pickup question (in reply to a_arnold)

hey tony,
you might be interested in this. it's wireless and nearly feedback free.

http://youtu.be/QRoQAte9scY

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 5 2011 20:40:21

a_arnold

Posts: 558
Joined: Jul. 30 2006

RE: Kremona Piezo pickup question (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

hey tony,
you might be interested in this. it's wireless and nearly feedback free.

Hey "Other" Tony --
Thanks. I'll give it a look. I don't like the idea of drilling a hole though, even though it is just for an endpin . . .

I just noticed you're from Boston ... you probably know "Juanito" Pascual . . .?

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"Flamenco is so emotionally direct that a trained classical musician would require many years of highly disciplined formal study to fail to understand it."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 5 2011 22:41:40

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Kremona Piezo pickup question (in reply to a_arnold)

hey tony #1,
the new version doesn't require any drilling. you just wear a clip that holds the batteries.

http://www.bartlettmics.com/guitarmicB.html

yeah, i know juanito! i never got around to taking a lesson with him but i always see him here and there. really nice guy.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 5 2011 22:59:50

a_arnold

Posts: 558
Joined: Jul. 30 2006

RE: Kremona Piezo pickup question (in reply to at_leo_87)

Juanito is a long-time friend of one of our dancers, Anne Phipps. I've never met him, but he's a good guitarist. I bought his CD.
Tony

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"Flamenco is so emotionally direct that a trained classical musician would require many years of highly disciplined formal study to fail to understand it."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 16 2013 18:31:52

bernd

Posts: 680
Joined: Feb. 15 2004

RE: Kremona Piezo pickup question (in reply to a_arnold)

Here is a demo of the Kremona on a Lester Devoe negra:

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2013 18:45:34

Blondie#2

Posts: 530
Joined: Sep. 14 2010

RE: Kremona Piezo pickup question (in reply to bernd)

How to make a Devoe sound nothing like a Devoe..

Given that he can't play flamenco and his FX chain would be the envy of U2 I'm not sure much can be deduced from this. The Fishman Aura, especially, is a modelling pedal and gives a completely artificial sound. My duo partner used to use one to tame his pickup system (which was actually far better than the Kremona).

With pick up systems you pay for what you get and the Kremona is a very cheap solution.

With a piezo based pickup, usually very quacky in nature, preamps and EQ are a necessity to get a half decent sound, but his FX rig is about ten times the price of his pick up.

There are better solutions.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2013 19:25:36

bernd

Posts: 680
Joined: Feb. 15 2004

RE: Kremona Piezo pickup question (in reply to a_arnold)

I´ve posted this link, because it has appeared as I was browsing for Kremona guitars. Bartlett mic has already been told. I had an interesting email exchange with Bruce Bartlett. So I´m convinced that I will order a special version from him.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2013 20:49:46