I recently tried the Myers accordion pickup, which is basically the same design the company uses for all their other pickups. My main issue with it was that I couldn't attach it to my instrument the way Myers intended, because of the accordion's raised chrome logo prevented the suction cups from sticking on the front side. I couldn't attach it to the grill either because Excelsior grills are completely perforated to allow sound to escape. And even if you somehow find a big enough piece of celuloid to mount the suction cup onto, the audio cable will likely pull it off as soon as you move.
After a few failed suction cup attempts, I came up with my own solution. I used a small plastic bar that connects to the top and bottom bellow strap pins with elastic straps. Then I removed the suction cup from the pickup and used the existing screw holes to attach it to the plastic bar. That little bit of DIY made all the difference.
Once it was mounted properly, it actually sounds great. The tone is clear and natural. I could play fortissimo and there was no clipping. I could play pianissimo without key clanking noises. The pickup delivers a mic-level signal. You’ll want to plug it into a mixer channel with a low-impedance mic input for best results. I also recommend using a 90-degree (right-angle) 1/4" cable so the cable hangs down neatly without pulling on the mount.
For the pit orchestra gig I was playing (Cabaret), I didn't need to mic the bass side, so I tucked the longer bass gooseneck under the plastic strip and used it to pick up the lower notes of the treble side.
So yeah, if you’re willing to spend over $230.00 and to get creative with how you attach it, you’ll have a decent-sounding setup that can be moved onto other accordions.
