Arabbit.422
net.music
utzoo!decvax!harpo!npois!alice!rabbit!ark
Mon Apr  5 20:02:09 1982
acoustic pickups?
Someone I know is looking to amplify a clavichord.  (For those not
familiar, a clavichord is a keyboard instrument that produces its
sound by striking a string with a flat metal bar, that then remains
in place to define one of the endpoints of the string's vibrating part)
The clavichord is ordinarily so quiet that it is useless for
any kind of ensemble music.  It would be nice to be able to amplify
it to where it could match levels with violins, woodwinds, etc.

Question:  what kind of pickup is good for this?  It has 56 strings,
so nothing like a guitar pickup will work well.  I understand that
there is a thing that goes by the trade name of "FRAP" (standing for
Flat Response Audio Pickup).  I don't know if it's acoustic or magnetic.
Obviously what is needed here is something that could be fastened
to the soundboard and would pick up soundboard vibrations, with
a minimum of interference from room noise.  Can anyone tell me
more about FRAP, or about any other devices that might work?