In this article, we’ll explore some of the best mandolin pickups on the market and the brands behind them. A good pickup can greatly enhance the sound of your mandolin, but a really bad one can make it almost unplayable.
Choosing the correct type of pickup for your instrument can be quite difficult, but fear not, because here I’ll help resolve all your doubts about mandolin amplification.
Quick Look: Best Mandolin Pickups
★ #1 Best Mandolin Pickup Overall: Pickup Flexible ★
- Best Cheap Mandolin Pickup: Luvay Piezo Acoustic Pickup
- Best Mandolin Pickup Under $500: Fishman M-300 Nashville Series
- Best Mandolin Pickup Under $100: Donner TP-1 Piezo-Acoustic
- Best Magnetic Mandolin Pickup: LR Baggs Mandolin Pickup
My name is Anthony, and I’m a music composer and sound designer with several years of experience creating sonic landscapes using the mandolin and other string instruments.
Now let’s take a look at the best mandolin pickups I could find on the market.
What Is a Mandolin Pickup?
A mandolin pickup is a device that helps you amplify the sound of your mandolin. Using magnetic signals or pressure input, the modern electric pickup detects the smallest vibrations from your instruments.
Each time we strum our strings, they generate a certain frequency that’s fed into the small pickup, generating an output that can be amplified later. With pickups, you’ll get a higher volume and probably more clarity from your mandolin.
Types of Mandolin Pickups
There are two main types of mandolin pickups. Each one uses a different system to detect string vibration. Let’s see what are the most important differences between those two types of mandolin pickups.
Magnetic Type
The magnetic type consists of several magnets placed above the strings. These magnets create a magnetic field that detects the vibrations of your mandolin strings, creating a current that can be translated into an audio output. This type is commonly found on electric guitars and basses, as it gives a clear sound without feedback or noises.
Pressure Type
The pressure or piezo-electric type is normally used in acoustic instruments. This type of pickups detects vibrations and pressure differences and converts them directly into a certain voltage. This type will give you a more natural sound, but it’s prone to create feedback and noises when close to the amplifier.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Mandolin Pickup
The first thing you need to look for is what type of body your mandolin has. Different F-shaped and oval sound holes make a difference between a fast and easy pickup installation and an almost impossible one.
Some pickups require a specialized luthier to get inside the fragile body of the mandolin to install the necessary connections.
Size
There’s a great variety when it comes to pickup sizes. You can find some small, compact ones as well as bigger and more robust pickups. Remember to check the type and size of the sound holes on your mandolin before buying and trying to install any pickups.
Sound
Each pickup model has its own sonic properties. There’s no clear way to know how good they sound, so you might need to try some of them to know for sure. The magnetic type gives a cleaner and louder tone, and the pressure type gives a more natural and classic sound.
Price
The price range can go from $10 up to near $300 depending on the brand and particular model of pickups. The more expensive ones come in the form of a bridge with an internal pickup, which makes the installation much easier.
10 Best Mandolin Pickups
Now, what are the best models and brands for mandolin pickups? Let’s find out as we explore in detail some of the best pickups I could find for sale.
1. Mandolin Pickup with Flexible Micro-Gooseneck by Myers Pickups
- Size: 5.83 x 3.46 x 3.31 inches
- Weight: 4.5 ounces
- Type: Pressure
- Best for: Intermediate players and beginners
The Mandolin Pickup with Flexible Micro-Gooseneck by Myers Pickups is a versatile pickup with a high-quality and crisp sound. The unique mounting system of this pickup allows you to change between three different positions, giving you the possibility to experiment with different tone qualities.
✅ Easy to install
✅ Omnidirectional
✅ Clean and natural sound
❌ Can produce feedback
Why I Recommend It
This pickup is very popular and has numerous positive reviews from satisfied customers. Given its great versatility, this pickup can be used on many different instruments like ukulele, banjo, and acoustic guitar.
2. K&K Mandolin Twin Internal
- Size: 1 x 1 x 1 inches
- Weight: 3.2 ounces
- Type: Pressure
- Best for: Intermediate players and professionals
The K&K Mandolin Twin Internal is one of the best internal pickups you can find for the mandolin. With a woody and clear sound, this pickup is a perfect match for any experienced player.
The installation requires some drilling and tampering with the body of your mandolin, so be sure to find a luthier or someone who knows how to do it correctly.
✅ Clean tone
✅ High volume
✅ High-quality construction
❌ Difficult to install
Why I Recommend It
This high-grade pickup is one of the best sounding pickups on this list. Although it requires some setup, this pickup gives a solid sound and tone without any feedback or noises.
3. LR Baggs Mandolin Pickup
- Size: 6 x 3 x 4 inches
- Weight: 6.4 ounces
- Type: Magnetic
- Best for: Intermediate players and professionals
The LR Baggs Mandolin Pickup is a great external pickup for the money. With some adjustments and the help of the pre-amplifier, this pickup can reach great volume and tone quality levels.
Easy to mount and with a useful external jack input, this pickup has become quite popular for acoustic instruments in recent years.
✅ Easy to install
✅ Natural sound
✅ Includes external jack input
❌ Needs a pre-amp
Why I Recommend It
I’ve used this pickup now and then, and even though it has minor feedback problems, with some adjustments this pickup provides a powerful and clean sound.
4. Luvay Piezo Acoustic Pickup
- Size: 5.9 x 1.2 x 3.3 inches
- Weight: 1.6 ounces
- Type: Pressure, piezo-acoustic
- Best for: Beginners or intermediate players
The Luvay Piezo Acoustic Pickup is a decent pickup that can be installed on numerous acoustic instruments, including the mandolin. This budget-friendly pickup is quite easy to install and gives a clean and loud sound.
✅ Easy to use
✅ Versatile
✅ A clean and loud tone
❌ Bad jack input design
Why I Recommend It
If you’re looking for something low-cost, this pickup is for you. Versatile and easy to use, this pickup is quite popular among students and aspiring musicians.
5. Fishman M-300 Nashville Series Archtop Mandolin Pickup
- Size: 0.5 x 2 x 3 inches
- Weight: 4 ounces
- Type: Piezo-ceramic
- Best for: Intermediate players and professionals
The Fishman M-300 Nashville Series Archtop mandolin pickup is a professional pickup with unique and powerful sound qualities. The clean and warm tone this pickup produces makes this product one of the best-sounding pickups on this list.
✅ Professional quality
✅ Balanced tone
✅ Clean and natural sound
❌ Difficult to install
Why I Recommend It
This pickup can only be installed on the archtop type of mandolins, as it’s specifically designed for this particular type of body. Remember to find a professional luthier to help you install it, as it could be quite tricky.
6. Mandolin Carpenter Jack Pickup with Micro-Gooseneck by Myers Pickups
- Size: 5.71 x 3.5 x 3.35 inches
- Weight: 5.1 ounces
- Type: Pressure, piezo-acoustic
- Best for: Intermediate players and professionals
The Mandolin Carpenter Jack Pickup with Micro-Gooseneck by Myers Pickups is one of the most professional pickups for any acoustic instrument. This pickup is actually a microphone that records any vibrations made by the strings of your mandolin with great precision and fidelity.
✅ Lightweight
✅ Natural acoustic tone
✅ Easy to use
❌ Takes time to find the best sound position
Why I Recommend It
I happened to use one of these during a live show, and I was pleasantly surprised by the great tonality and overall loudness of this pickup. You can get a natural acoustic sound without unwanted noises and feedback.
7. Imelod Contact Microphone Piezo Mandolin Pickup
- Size: 0.4 x 4.5 x 6 inches
- Weight: 0.64 ounces
- Type: Pressure, piezo-acoustic
- Best for: Beginners
The Imelod Contact Microphone Piezo Mandolin Pickup is one of the most natural-sounding pickups on this list. This piezo-acoustic device delivers a crystal-clear tone that sounds like a fully natural acoustic instrument playing. Now you can get that clear sound for a reasonable price tag.
✅ Easy to install
✅ Clean and natural sound
✅ Versatile
❌ Might not fit on every instrument model
Why I Recommend It
This affordable pickup has an amazing quality-price ratio, and it delivers high standards of sound quality for a very low price. It’s quite recommendable for any intermediate or beginner player.
8. The Feather F-Style Mandolin Pickup with Flexible Micro-Goosenecks by Myers Pickups
- Size: 6.06 x 3.54 x 3.31 inches
- Weight: 5.3 ounces
- Type: Pressure, electro-acoustic
- Best for: Intermediate players and professionals
The Feather F-Style Mandolin Pickup with Flexible Micro-Goosenecks by Myers Pickups is one of the best piezo-acoustic pickups on the market. Made by the well-respected Myers Pickups brand, this pickup allows you to have more volume while maintaining your natural acoustic tone and sound.
✅ Lightweight construction
✅ Volume control knob
✅ Includes active preamp
✅ Easy to use
❌ Requires two lithium batteries
Why I Recommend It
Named “The Feather” because of its new lightweight construction, this high-grade pickup is quite easy to install and is a solid choice for any professional musician.
9. Fishman M-100 Classic Series Mandolin Pickup
- Size: 0.5 x 2 x 3 inches
- Weight: 3.2 ounces
- Type: Pressure, piezo-ceramic
- Best for: Intermediate players and professionals
The Fishman M-100 Classic Series Mandolin Pickup can be quite demanding when it comes to the installation, but soon after that, you’ll certainly see the potential behind this popular acoustic pickup. Great tonality and volume make this pickup one of the best pickups on this list.
✅ Great tone
✅ High-quality construction
✅ Low noise
❌ Difficult to install
Why I Recommend It
This pickup is a very popular model, as it offers professional sound quality for a budget-friendly price. It’s quite recommended for musicians that are looking for a professional pickup with natural tone qualities.
10. Donner TP-1 Piezo-Acoustic Mandolin Pickup
- Size: 5 x 3.7 x 1.5 inches
- Weight: 3.2 ounces
- Type: Pressure, piezo-acoustic
- Best for: Beginners
The Donner TP-1 Piezo-Acoustic Mandolin Pickup is an affordable option for any beginners to start with. For this price, you’ll get a really good product that will bring rich and clean tones to your mandolin.
✅ Self-adhesive
✅ Compact design
✅ Warm and rich tone
❌ Require some equalization to get the best sound
Why I Recommend It
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly pickup, this model is a perfect match for you. This pickup delivers high-quality sound with an easy-to-install design for anyone to enjoy.
Best Mandolin Pickup Brands
Brands like Fishman, K&K, and Myers are the best because they have the longest tradition of creating electric pickups for acoustic instruments.
Each company brings its own methods of capturing the tonal qualities of your mandolin. Here we’ll explore some of the best brands of pickups on the market.
Fishman
Established in Andover, Massachusetts in 1981, the Fishman company is known for producing pickups for electric guitars and other acoustic instruments. Their quality control and high-grade electronics give this company the reputation of the most elite brand in this field.
K&K
Founded in 1986 in Germany, K&K brings its own methods and innovation to the table. This company produces some of the most professional pickups, microphones, and other musical accessories you can find on the market.
Myers Pickups
This family-owned company creates some of the best pickups currently on the market. Although quite young, this brand rapidly made its way to become one of the best-valued pickup brands in the world.
LR Baggs
This company was founded by an American luthier Lloyd Baggs. His passion and dedication to the production of electric and acoustic instruments made him one of the most respected producers of musical instruments in the United States. The custom-made pickups they produce are some of the best-valued products of their type.
How Much Do Mandolin Pickups Cost?
The average cost for a pickup is around $100, but could go up to $300 depending on the model and the brand. But nowadays there are many low-cost brands that sell their pickups for unbelievably low prices.
What Are the Best Mandolin Pickups?
Here we’ll revisit some of the best mandolin pickups we explored on this list. Most of them are made by world-class companies that specialize in the creation of high-grade electronics and microphones.
Imelod Contact Microphone Piezo Mandolin Pickup: Best for Beginners
The Imelod Contact Microphone Piezo model is easy to install and has very good sound qualities for this price range. It’s a perfect match for any aspiring musician.
Fishman M-100 Classic Series Mandolin Pickup: Best for Intermediate Players
The Fishman M-100 Classic Series is a professional sounding pickup and a best-selling model made by the Fishman brand. Easy to use and with great tonality, this pickup is a solid choice for any intermediate player.
Feather F-Style Mandolin Pickup by Myers Pickups: Best for Professionals
The Feather F-Style is a lightweight model made by Myers Pickups. It has the most natural tone I could find. If you need something really professional and reliable, this model is a perfect match for you.
Where Are the Best Mandolin Pickups Made?
The best mandolin pickups are made in countries with a long tradition of working with electronics and amplifying musical instruments. This includes the United States, Europe countries, and some Asian countries.
Where to Buy Mandolin Pickups
Nowadays we have almost too many options when it comes to buying our products. The best known and trusted ones are specialized online music retailers and Amazon. Their fast delivery and competitive prices make them indispensable in our modern day.
Amazon
Amazon is probably the biggest online retailer in the world. The enormous selection of different products, useful customer reviews, and fast delivery times make this company a well-trusted ally to any demanding customer.
Online Music Retailers
There are many specialized online music retailers with a great selection of instruments and quite low prices. Here at Into Strings we highly recommend Fiddlershop.com, GuitarCenter.com and Sweetwater.com.
Your Local Music Store
In your local music store, you can try the instruments for yourself and get some useful advice from a salesperson. Although the selection could be quite limited, your local music store can be a solid option if you need to take your time to decide.
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In Conclusion
After exploring some of the best mandolin pickups, I hope I was able to dissipate some of your doubts about mandolin amplification. We’ve seen many different models, each one with its own unique method of detecting the vibrations of your instrument.
As you can see, there are plenty of models to choose from, and with enough time you can certainly find the correct one for your precious mandolin.
If you liked this article, feel free to share or leave a comment, as I’ll gladly respond to any questions you may have.
Stay safe, and as always, good luck with your sonic adventures!