Viola Pick up

[blueviolet]

Hello!

I'm not sure if this post fits in this section (and please excuse my english), but I'm a "newbie"..

I'm portuguese, and I play the Viola (most people call it a "big violin"), a 'classical' instrument.

Well, I don't like to stereotype things and I certainly don't play classical music only, so I'll go straight to the point: Could anyone help me find a good pick up for the viola? I've bought a cheap one, a few years ago, don't even remember the brand (if it had one), but the sound wasn't that good. My viola is not one of the best, not hand made or anything, but I think I was loosing sound quality because of the pick up.

So, if someone has experience on pickup (if there are some good, and not that expensive), and could help me, I'd aprecciate it!

PS - I'm not professional nor do I intend to be, so it does not have to be an over the top device 

Thank you

[Oldrottenhead]

 had a quick look on ebay and there are a few going for under £10 uk sterling no idea of how good or bad they are but here is the link there are currently about 6 for sale.
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=viola+pick+up
 think you will have to cut and paste the url into your address bar. or go to ebay and search "viola pick up"

wish you luck.

[Pedro]

Hi!

What a great instrument the viola is. A very underrated one, in my opinion.

I was thinking, maybe you could use an Electret Microphones(I know, I'm crazy for those). But really, with some modifications you could glue one to the Viola and maybe it could sound good. It could be seen as a pickup, really.

oldrottenhead:
Those pickups look interesting, indeed.

Anyway, more opinions are welcome.

[Pedro]

You should also check the Homemade piezo thread. It looks like a good alternative.

[suburban behemoth]

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Violin/L_R_Baggs_Violin_Pickup.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=5935

Stewart MacDonald is a luthier supply company. This is  the L.R. Baggs Violin pickup.