Barcus-Berry
Artist Q&A
with David Pichette, Violinst of Emerson Drive

Q: How long have you been using the Barcus-Berry 3100 Clamp-On Bridge Violin Piezo Pickup?
DAVID: I've been playing the violin since the age of 5, so right around 27 years now. I've been using the 3100 Clamp-on Bridge Pickup since I became a professional player back in '97. 

Q: Why did you choose to use the Barcus-Berry 3100?
DAVID: I had a chance to try everything on the market when it comes to violin amplification devices and pickups, and coming from the classical world I could never quite get that warm acoustic sound a good violin can deliver....until I tried the 3100.
 
Q: Do you use the pickup when you’re in the studio or just during your live performances? DAVID: I have the 3100 on all four of my violins for my live shows and I even got to use one through a pretty crazy guitar rig on the last Emerson Drive record. We have this song "Living it Up" which has a pretty heavy rockin' sound and we needed rockin' fiddle sound for this song. I personally have never been too fond of the use of distortion on a fiddle, but this time it really made a difference giving me a huge, deep crunch on every note without any useless squeaking...know what I mean?
 
Q:  Do you have any specific memories associated with the pickup?
DAVID: If there's one thing I can say about my past experiences with the 3100 is the comments I get from fellow violinists, sound-engineers and fans complimenting me on my live sound. I guess the best one is when a sound guy told me he didn't have to EQ my fiddle at all to make it sound like the real thing!

Q: How does the performance and sound of the pickup compare to other pickups you have tried? DAVID: The main thing that distinguishes the BB 3100 from anything else out on the market is the fact that it renders the true soul of the instrument. I'm a purist, so when I play on stage and feel my instrument vibrating on my jaw, my shoulder and my body, I like knowing that out there it sounds exactly how I hear it and feel it. From the bridge to the speakers with the least amount of altering is the key to a great sound.

 Q: Do you have any recommendations for those interested in buying Barcus-Berry? DAVID: Every violin player or fiddler have different needs, different sounds. I always recommend everyone make their own opinion about products and not simply take someone's word for it. The Barcus-Berry 3100 is the best that I could find and suits my every need. I highly recommend this specific pickup because I feel it is the one that has the most to offer out of any other pickup out there. It is clean, accurate, offers less than no feedback and the price is right!

Q: What tour or album do you have coming up?
DAVID: My band Emerson Drive and I have played over 1500 shows in the last 5-6 years and we are still at it. We will be getting back in the studio in the next month or so to start working on a new American Market release which we are thrilled about. You can follow our schedule on www.emersondrive.com and on our Myspace, Twitter and iLike pages. More than likely we'll be in your town sometime soon!

 Q: Do you have any other talents most people don’t know about?
DAVID: I have many interests outside of music and playing the violin. The video and film world have always been another passion of mine. I recently directed and produced the bands' latest music-video which is airing on CMT in Canada right now and is #1 this week. I am also responsible for all the video blogging and video content from our website on a page called E-Drive TV where we capture all the cool stuff we get to experience on the road as a band. From dining at 180 feet above the Las Vegas strip to riding Harleys in the desert and singing the national anthem at the Cubs game in Chicago, we do it all and you can see it on www.emersondrive.com.

 Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?
DAVID: Our music is available on iTunes, Amazon and all the CD retailers out there. You can also sample our music on iLike.com/emersondrive and we even have an iPhone and iPod touch app available for free on the iTunes App store which lets you stream our music, access our schedule and see our videos right from your mobile device.

Do you have a question for DAVID PICHETTE? Please email us your question and we will have an answer for you in an upcoming newsletter!



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3100 Clamp-On Bridge
The 3100: Clamp-On Bridge Violin Piezo Pickup is designed for violinists who need dependable performance without a permanently installed transducer. This piezo transducer clamps easily to the violin bridge and connects, via cable, to the included 3100P output jack. No holes to drill or tools required. The best of both worlds - ease of use plus wide-band frequency response, excellent string balance, feedback rejection and outstanding signal isolation.

About Barcus-Berry
Tradition of Innovation
Over four decades of innovative leadership are deeply engrained in the history of Barcus-Berry. In 1963, experiments initiated by violinist John Berry and electronics visionary Les Barcus, gave birth to the first ever piezo crystal transducer for musical instruments.

This discovery ultimately led to Barcus-Berry's introduction of several "firsts" in the music industry, such as the first electric violin, the first successful piezo transducers for guitar, piano and concert harp, the first commercially marketed active direct box, the first combination strap button/output jack and the first "under saddle" piezo pickup.


Barcus-Berry has come to offer the best quality in acoustic-electric violins and transducers and preamps for guitars, brass and woodwind instruments, orchestral instruments, pianos and harps. Barcus-Berry products are favored by leading performers such as Jean Jeansonne (Rascal Flatts), Savion Glover (Grammy Award-winning dancer), Brendon Anthony (The Pat Green Band), Downs Thompson (Clay Walker Band), Dan Kelly (Alan Jackson and Faith Hill), David Pichette (Emerson Drive), Terry Hale (George Strait), Ronnie Milsap,  Andy Garcia (Cinesone All Stars), Tracy Bonham and Daniel Willem.

Today, Barcus-Berry borrows from its illustrious heritage to bring the newest generation of products which allow musicians freedom of expression through true acoustic sound.
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02/10/2012