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Styrélius contact microphone is developed out of the electric violin microphone I have constructed. ( See  www.elvari.com )  The leading star was to achieve an acoustic violin sound.
When having succeeded with that it was natural to go further with an acoustic pickup having the same characteristics.    

Slowly grown spruce, usually from the Alps, is the tone wood on the top of, for example, violins and guitars. Styrélius contact microphone is built in the same material.          
The acoustical difference between plastic, sheet metal and tone wood is obvious. That is the reason for the choice of material. It is tone wood forwarding and amplifying the vibrations of the strings. Consequently it ought to be tone wood carrying the string vibrations all the way to the electronic components which transform the vibrations into electrical signals.
The wood in the microphone constitute itself an acoustical unit and is a part of the system string - bridge - top and body - mic. So it has to be tone wood of spruce.

Besides the quality of the actual microphone there are two critical facts concerning all contact microphones. If this is not considered it does not help even with the best of microphones.

First you have to find the best place to adapt the microphone. There are many fair enough places. But take some time to find the spot where you can hear the instrument sounds the best. As an alternative you can let a professional handle it. But is it not you yourself knowing best what sound you want to achieve? So give it some time. It is not difficult. The document, set-up instruction, will be helpful. However, notice small changes in position make difference in sound. Even rotating the microphone may sometimes change the sound.        

Secondly it is crucial to find the right amplifier. Various microphones and instruments works better or worse depending on amplifier. It is a fact. My experience tells me the contact microphone demands an amplifier for acoustic instruments. The electric guitar amplifier I have tried gave a lousy sound. It does not work well at all with such amplifiers, not surprisingly as they are built differently from acoustic ones. 
Mostly it will work perfectly well just to plug in the microphone directly into a PA.
Sometimes, however, it may happen a specific PA does not work well with the microphone. If plugging into an unknown PA, it could be worthwhile bringing a preamp you know well to be safe.  
On a smaller stage a portable amplifier like e.g. Roland Mobile Cube and Yamaha THR5A will be perfect. Cheap and light acoustic amplifiers. No EQ, just a tone control and some effects.


It is essential the cable strain on the microphone keeps to a minimum. That is why a 3,5 mm jack is mounted on a relatively thin cable.
Fixing the cable and the enclosed adapter is shown in set-up instruction. 
As a standard the cable is approx. 30 cm long for the guitar. 55 cm for the double base.
Shorter or longer is no problem.  


                                                                                                                               
      
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