Setting up a Uke for Tode?

[Jim R.]

I'll be taking my Uke in to the luthier for a tune-up sometime soon, and seeing that my favorite audio company is now making a nice little practice amp, I thought that it might be fun to try with the uke.  So I'm curious, what's the best setup for this combination -- an internal condenser mic (would then require phantom power), or a saddle transducer?  Also, am I better off getti g a volume control mounted in the uke or in this case where the uke is not set up for amplification already, would it be better to modify the Tode with a volume control?

My vague recollection of the 3-3 circuit as that the volume control was between stages -- is that correct, and if not, how best to add a volume control?  Also, will I need any preamplification for the transducer?

Obviously I'm a little out of date on this stuff so any advice on how to proceed would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jim

[Doc B.]

In my opinion the best bet is to put the volume control in the Uke. The second option is to put something like a 500K to 1Meg pot in the input of the Tode. Of course you would have to find a place for that in the chassis. That said, the demo of Mino Christante is with a guitar that has a Highlander pickup and associated preamp with no volume control. It seems to work great to set the amp to full feedback Clean mode and adjust the level at the brake.

[Bill Chase]

Aloha Jim,
   I have a Pono brand acoustic/electric Uke that I think sounds great through the Tode.  It uses an under-saddle passive transducer with no volume control.  I don't have anything to compare it with, but I get good results as Doc described in the previous post-- full feedback clean, using the brake as a volume control.  Tone is warm, lush, and clean. 
   My personal experience ends there, but in the spirit of full disclosure, here in Hawaii there are plenty of pros (I'm not) that use other methods of amplification and are pleased with their approach.
Mahalo,
Bill

[Jim R.]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your response -- my Uke is a Pono tenor and I'll probably just have my luthier drop in an under-saddle transducer like you have.  I'm just starting out on the uke after having to quit the guitar after 35 years of playing -- lots of nerve and joint damage in my hands and wrists, so my wife bought me the uke as some people in the same situation as me have been able to pick up the uke pretty successfully.

Going to have to put a Tode on my christmas list.

Thanks again,

Jim