The Band Viola Pick up by Headway
The Band is an instant-fit pick-up in which Velcro surrounds the instrument's body. It requires no alteration of the instrument and generates an assertive passive (no batteries required) signal, which can be plugged straight into a mixing desk or combo amp.
The multiple pick-up elements of the Viola version of The Band are explicitly tuned for Viola and deliver a lively, tailored passive signal. The Band is used equally in folk/rock and classical situations and is a favourite with sound engineers and players alike, as it offers far greater volume levels before feedback than mics. You can avoid being tied down to mic stands, and The Band cuts feedback, bowing noise, body noise and excessive treble with an acoustic filter.
Surprisingly little damping to the acoustic tone. Good rejection of feedback, background, body boom and bowing noise. Reliable, sturdy construction and stores easily in most viola cases. A passive device that does not usually require a pre-amp to amplify effectively. It plugs directly into most mixing desks or combo amps and will drive many pedals and rack units.
The unique "Band" speeds sound checks and minimise clutter and unreliable equipment needed to set up and transport, but most importantly, it offers increased headroom (volume) before feedback, enabling problem-free monitoring at modest to high volumes. Headway pickups are currently in use by many professional musicians, including Peter Knight (Steel eye Span), Tom Leary (Feast of Fiddles) and Crystal (Canadian Nashville Session Musician).
