h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What does anybody know/recommend for gear for an acousitic violin?
I have a (lousy) pickup currently, going to buy Fishman piezo ceramic.
What cheaper (under US $150) amps are recommended? And is a pre-amp desirable, or can I get an amp with the equivilent controls?
Also, I have a very dark instrument. Will that sound quality come through when I switch to a pickup that doesn't mute (current one sticks onto the bridge) and should I choose an amp accordingly?

If anyone knows about this stuff and can give me some advice I would greatly appreciate it. (BTW, what I'll probably mainly be doing is Beatles arranged for string quartet or 2 violins and 2 cellos, if that makes a difference)
Thanks
Jen

Hiya,
I had the very same problem and originally used an ancient contact-mike. The problem was it made the violin (or in my case the fiddle) sound like a trumpet, and high pitched at that. I then tried a lapel-mike, but found the sound very thin. This is despite the fiddle being loud and with a rounded sound. I eventually used a MicroVox system from Hobgoblin which involves a small box that has a waist-band attachment running off of a 9V battery (life span approx 60 hours. Only pain is to access requires a philips screwdriver). It has a fixed and variable input. (I found I never used the variable) The version I had used a velcro attchment for the mike, onto stings attached to the tail-piece. The sound was very clear and very close to the true sound of the fiddle. It is now made using a swan-neck mike that hangs over the strings and is a more realistic sound. There are 2 versions. The first has a fixed volume setting, which means relying on the amp for volume control which, including Swan-neck mike is around £80:00, or with a volume control, is £115:00. The alternative is to purchase an Electric Violin,which is what I did, and remove the compromise. I use a 5-string Bridge violin, (C,G,D,A,E.) at £999:00, or a 4-string at £899:00 (if my memory serves correctly). They also do an Octavo which drops the sound an Octave. Other models are Viola and Cello, in a variety of colourways. I cannot praise their quality or sound high enough, and I have tried a few. They initially made mikes for violins but never got the sound right, so rethought the idea, and came up with a Piezo-contact mike. Hope this is of use. It does require a cr2052 battery, and mine has been running for 150+ hours so far!!

I want an electric sound (I will be playing a lot of Beatles), but don't have the money for an electric violin yet. (I want a 5 string, and I know a RL person who can help me with that, but I won't see her until next summer). So I'll be getting Piezo ceramic pickup, but I don't know what type of amp to get. I *do* know I want a solid state amp, not tube, because it's really all I'd be able to afford and something that will hold up well is also good, because I won't have the money to replace it. I also plan to be plugged in, so battery is not much of a problem (may be with pre-amp, but I'm not planning on getting one yet, only if I absolutely have to) The final thing is I want something relatively small (15-25 pounds) so I can transport it easily. Putting it this way-there's a Fender Ultimate Chorus on sale in the classifieds near here, but not even considering the price tag (it's going for $450, about 1/2 of list price), a major problem is it's size (on the larger size) and weight (47 pounds!). I somehow have this idea that it might be a bad thing if I can't move my own amp places.
If this doesn't make too much sense, the actual question is what kind of amp do you/have you used?
Thanks.

I want an electric sound (I will be playing a lot of Beatles), but don't have the money for an electric violin yet. (I want a 5 string, and I know a RL person who can help me with that, but I won't see her until next summer). So I'll be getting Piezo ceramic pickup, but I don't know what type of amp to get. I *do* know I want a solid state amp, not tube, because it's really all I'd be able to afford and something that will hold up well is also good, because I won't have the money to replace it. I also plan to be plugged in, so battery is not much of a problem (may be with pre-amp, but I'm not planning on getting one yet, only if I absolutely have to) The final thing is I want something relatively small (15-25 pounds) so I can transport it easily. Putting it this way-there's a Fender Ultimate Chorus on sale in the classifieds near here, but not even considering the price tag (it's going for $450, about 1/2 of list price), a major problem is it's size (on the larger size) and weight (47 pounds!). I somehow have this idea that it might be a bad thing if I can't move my own amp places.
If this doesn't make too much sense, the actual question is what kind of amp do you/have you used?
Thanks.

sorry 'bout the double post, but I *swear* I didn't do it.
I think the server/my puter are acting up today, becuase everything's taking longer than ususal.

Hiya,
Fortunately, in the Band I play in, the Rhythm Guitarist is an Electronic genius, and has built our own pre-amp and amp. The amp I am saving for, is made by Crate, doubles as a fold-back, is shower-proof (unfortunately in yellow plastic), has 2 lithium rechargeable batteries with an alleged 7 hour (!!!!) battery life on full charge. I personally am slightly sceptical of that. 3 or 4 hours is more likely.
It has tone control, volume control, and effects. Price around £230:00. I have tried it and certainly gives the right sound for me, although I use it for Folk/Square Dancing, so volume is not essential, but weight and sound quality is essential. Hope that is helpful. Cannot help re: web-site.

Although I enjoy folk/square dancing, and play for it when I have the chance (only about once a year), that will not be my primary use of all this gear.
I'm going to try to get to the music store soon and ask them, because there I can actually try all the stuff I keep talking about. Although they mainly have guitar amps, and I'm sure they won't have a violin preamp just sitting around for me to use. Also, with the new pickup, which I don't have yet, things will also sound differently.
I don't like loud music that much, so volume is not that important, it's really more the different qualtity I'm going for. But I've heard that with a smaller amp (15-25 watt) a pre-amp is important if you want volume. (it has to do with the pickup being high output, and the amp being low output, and losing a lot in between)
THanks.