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Effortless Amplification for Harp and Cello with the MSP Pickup

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Making Beautiful Acoustic Sounds Heard — The MSP Pickup in Concert Attaching a microphone to delicate instruments like a harp can be challenging, but with the MSP Pickup, installation is surprisingly easy. Because it uses a magnetic mounting system, you can simply insert the inner magnet through the sound hole and attach the MSP Pickup to the front surface — no tools, clips, or damage to your instrument. In concert settings where greater volume is needed, or when balancing sound levels between ensemble instruments, amplification becomes essential. The MSP Pickup offers a reliable and natural-sounding solution for such situations. Another advantage is visibility — since the MSP Pickup requires no mic stand, the performer’s playing remains clearly visible to the audience. It also reduces the amount of equipment musicians need to bring to a performance. We were delighted to receive feedback from the cellist featured in this video: “For years I’ve been looking for a good microphone for ...

Transforming an Acoustic Kalimba into an Electric Instrument with the MSP Pickup

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Giving the Kalimba a New Voice — Using the MSP Pickup for Electric Expression The kalimba is often played as an acoustic instrument, but with the right gear, it can be transformed into an electric instrument, expanding its expressive range with effects and layers of sound. This time, we’d like to introduce a great example of that transformation. The video below was kindly shared by Yuu Souda (Earth Musician), whom we’ve featured before on our blog. In this setup, he attached our MSP Pickup—a contact microphone that captures the natural resonance of acoustic instruments—to his kalimba, then routed the sound through an effect pedal. This allows a single kalimba to produce deep, layered tones with rich spatial depth. The MSP Pickup is a patented magnetic contact piezo pickup, designed and manufactured in Japan. Its unique feature is a built-in magnet that allows it to be easily attached to any ferromagnetic metal part—such as the keys or bars of a kalimba—without any modification or damag...

[ UKULELE with MSP pickup ] What is a Pickup? Let Our MSP Pickup Video Help!

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MSP Pickup is a unique contact pickup, developed and manufactured in Japan, that acts like a microphone for your acoustic instrument. Patented in the U.S. and Japan, its original design uses magnets to attach directly to the instrument's resonating body, providing a clear, natural sound without any sticky adhesives. Below is a video that helps answer common questions like "What is a pickup?" and "What is an amp?". The video also includes a sound comparison between our MSP Pickup and a typical stick-on pickup. We hope you'll find it helpful! |  123sound.jp (MSP pickup company site)  |  123sound.jp SHOP  | #pickup #acousticguitar #ukulele  #musicalinstruments #contactmicrophone #comparison #MSPpickup #amplifier

[ Kalimba with MSP pickup ] The Best Way to Record Your Kalimba at Home

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Have you ever tried to record your kalimba at home, only to be frustrated by unwanted noises? Sounds from outside, family members, or even your air conditioner can easily get picked up by a standard microphone, making it hard to get a clean recording. We have a solution for you! The MSP Pickup is a type of contact microphone that captures sound directly from the vibrations of your instrument. This means it's great at isolating your instrument's sound and minimizing background noise. The MSP Pickup's unique magnetic design makes it incredibly easy to attach to your kalimba. You can simply stick it to a metal part of the instrument or clamp it onto the soundboard using the magnets. This allows for quick setup and ensures that you're capturing the purest sound of your instrument. By using the MSP Pickup and connecting it to a mixer or audio interface for recording, you'll find that your recordings have far less background noise and a much closer, richer sound than wha...

Could a Watering Can Sound This Good? Ask Percussionist Noboru Ishida!

この投稿をInstagramで見る 石田昇(@office_amaoto)がシェアした投稿 MSP Pickup: Experience the True Sound of Your Instrument We're incredibly excited to share some amazing feedback from our valued customers about the MSP Pickup , our patented contact microphone designed for musical instruments. What makes the MSP Pickup truly special is its innovative magnetic attachment system , which lets you easily and securely fasten it to your instrument's soundboard. This clever design, protected by patents in both the US and Japan, means you get exceptional sound capture without ever having to permanently modify your beloved instrument. Here’s what one of our customers, percussionist Noboru Ishida, recently told us: A Game-Changer for Percussionist Noboru Ishida Noboru Ishida, a talented percussionist, creates unique rhythms using a watering can – you know, the kind you use for watering plants! He used to really struggle with his previous setup. He'd actually have to drill holes into...

[ AOYAMA HARP with MSP pickup ] Amplifying a 25-String Saul Harp: Can the MSP Pickup Capture Its Sparkling Tone?

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Introducing a case where the MSP pickup was used with a 25-string Saul harp by Aoyama Harp, along with a review from the performer. - Instrument: SAUL-HARP 25s (AOYAMA HARP) - Equipment:  MSP-Stronger pickup kit,  FISHMAN Loudbox Mini 60W <Comments from the performer>------- At the open mic event in March, I had the chance to borrow a pickup made for guitar. It made me realize how helpful a pickup can be. However, that pickup also picked up unwanted noise—such as the creaking of strings—and the bass didn't resonate well. That led me to discover and purchase your harp-specific pickup (from 123sound.jp). The bass response is great, of course, but the treble is also incredibly clear! The sound is beautiful and vibrant, and I’m really happy with my purchase♪ When I used it at another recent open mic event, it received lots of praise from others as well ♡ Thank you so much! There’s an outdoor concert scheduled at the end of this month, and I’m looking forward to using it th...

[ AOYAMA Harp (34 strings) with MSP pickup ] Easily installing a contact pickup on a JAPANESE harp

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0:00 - MSP pickup sound via an amp "Roland AC-33" 0:13 - amp off 0:28 - amp on A contact pickup, MSP pickup, in this video is attached on a 34 strings harp, AOYAMA Harp, made in JAPAN. The MSP pickup is installed to sandwich the soundboard with strong magnets. The bass sounds become fuller and richer with the MSP pickup and the amplifier (Roland AC-33). | 123sound.jp (MSP pickup company site) | 123sound.jp SHOP | #harp #aoyamaharp #tone #pickup #contactpickup #magnet #magnetic #sound #34strings