Any violinists have experience with Barcus Berry 3100 clamp contact mic?

[RLangham98]

I need a better piezo for my violin, these cheap chinese throwaway ones aren't cutting it. Or.. they are, while they last. But I also want it to be something that doesn't need a qualified violin tech to install since that's... gonna be at least 100 mile drive for me.

I'm seeing reasonable prices on these Barcus Berry 3100's on *bay, that just clamp onto one side of the bridge. Obviously there's reasons that this isn't the standard or default way of micing a violin, so I'm expecting some kind of tradeoff. But maybe worth it if the tradeoff isn't too bad, since I wouldn't have to have it professionally installed.

Does anyone have any experience with these things?

 

[sammy1974]

I was checking out a demo of the 3100 and stumbled on this guy Fidlerman playing with the most emotive phrasing and vibrato I've heard some time.

 

[Papanate]

Not with the BB 3100 - But I’ve used the Acacia Audio LIZ-Instrument Gooseneck Microphone when we had a violinist sit it - they brought it - and were used to it - the Barcus Berry 3100 looks a little less intrusive - my Preferred method is a Ribbon Mic up close and personal - Violinist don’t seem to care and it doesn’t impede on their space too much.

 

[RLangham98]

Not with the BB 3100 - But I’ve used the Acacia Audio LIZ-Instrument Gooseneck Microphone when we had a violinist sit it - they brought it - and were used to it - the Barcus Berry 3100 looks a little less intrusive - my Preferred method is a Ribbon Mic up close and personal - Violinist don’t seem to care and it doesn’t impede on their space too much.

I saw those! Idk I think it would bug me being in my eye line haha