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[ALoveSupreme]

I've been looking at accordion pickups, and they're all about $300 for one.  Anyone know of any cheaper methods of amplifying both the bass key side and melody side of a standard piano accordion?  Thanks.

[valley_parade]

I don't know anything about accordions, but I'm gonna say try miking it.

[Slick]

What's the application of the amplification? If you're just jamming out a live show, one mic should be good for you, but if you're recording, try to hold the accordion as stationary as possible and use a couple mics, possibly on different eqs to catch the different ranges you're looking for.
I don't actually know anything about accordions though. I'd say try with one or more mics till you get what you're looking for.

[ALoveSupreme]

maybe I should elaborate...

I got some advice from a sound guy at a recent show that micing it with a basic Shure SM57 type mic or one like it picks up extra drum and stage noise (guitars, etc).  This causes the mic I use to be hindered in how much of the actual accordion tone it can pick up.  

I'm just wondering if anyone knows about a mounting mic that I can attach to the accordion so I can move freely and avoid stage noise.  Sorry for the confusion, but thanks for the responses so far.

[ner0sputnik]

Hey man...

Yes, there are some "pickups" you can have installed in your accordion.

I've been borrowing an accordion and using a wireless lapel mic held on with some elastic that I run along the accordion but now that I have one of my very own I'm going to get the pickups. Apparently they work really well.

Do a google search on +accordion +microphone and you should come up with a lot of search results.

You really don't want to go the SM-58 route for a few reasons... the first in my mind being "but then I can't move around!!!"

[onewheelwizzard]

I've seen feedback solos played on accordions.  That's all I'll say because I don't know a damned thing about 'em.

[ALoveSupreme]

Hey man...

Yes, there are some "pickups" you can have installed in your accordion.

I've been borrowing an accordion and using a wireless lapel mic held on with some elastic that I run along the accordion but now that I have one of my very own I'm going to get the pickups. Apparently they work really well.

Do a google search on +accordion +microphone and you should come up with a lot of search results.

You really don't want to go the SM-58 route for a few reasons... the first in my mind being "but then I can't move around!!!"

Thanks for responding!  Do you know of any brands that are not as pricey as the ones I've been turning up?  I guess a few hundred is what I'm going to be forced into, but the ones listed are upwards of $400.  Do you know of anything cheaper but just as good?  Thanks again.