The Steel Guitar Forum

Well, this little pickup actually sounds purty decent on low volume using my Award Session Acoustic pre-amp into my acoustasonic. But, our band played at the deer camp Friday night, and I had to turn the volume WAY up to be heard over the other instruments, and YUCK!!! To much feedback, and lost any decent tone I had playing low volume stuff.
I'll try goin from my pre-amp into pA next time, but I have my doubts it's goin to sound much better. I may just start playing acoustically through my SM 57 mic plugged into the PA. I may have a Lace pickup for sale before long. Like I said, nice smooth tone at low volume, but really stinks when I turn er up.
Wonder what it would sound like played through my Nashville 1000?

Terry

Hmmmm. Anybody tried playing your dobro with Lace pickup through a steel amp? Like a Nashville 1000 or other steel amps? Or would it be better to just go from Pre amp to PA system to get a better sound?
ANYBODY GOT ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS!

TERRY

I would doubt it would sound much better through an amplifier than it does through a PA system.

When it sounded bad at the deer camp, were you running through a PA system or an amplifier? What kind?

It may be that an EQ of some sort might help control the feedback.

Well, at least you have the makings of a good story:

"One time, at deer camp...."

there i was, at deer camp...it was a dark and stormy night....

i've used a lace sensor on my dobro for years...tho i don't play it with my country band much,where i would play it through my steel amp (not a great tone but usable) i find that in smaller folksy open mike type settings, it sounds quite nice through the PA.

Check out Bob Brozman's web site for advice on micing and amps.

Hey terry, Sorry you dont like it since I pushed it so hard. I have been having good luck with mine. I play mine into a baggs para accoustic di, then into the pa. I go into my steel king only if I have to. I think a combo of micing the instrument for lead solos in combo with using the pickup is best, The pickup gets you into the monitors, then the punch you need for solos is from stepping up to the mic, so you get the "natural" sound of the instrument. try placing the pickup at different spots on the body, and make sure it isnt too close to the strings. I dont know how loud your band is, But I really dont think there is a better pickup for volume on a real resonator without investing in a flueger/marrs unfortunately. Did you try shooting the guitar player?

Brad, I was playing through my award session pre amp into my fender acoustasonic. My acoustasonic has a feedback adj but no matter where I turned it the feedback was overwelming at louder volume.

Steve, I really like the Lace for lower volume stuff.
It has a really good sound playing through my acoustasonic. I just can't play very loud. Next time, I'll try playing through preamp then into PA. No I don't want to shoot the guitar player, I'd be shootin myself.LOL! I play steel and 6 string, and we usually do 2 or 3 instrumentals with dobro. I got my Lace about 3/16 to a 1/4 inch from my strings.
like I said, I really like the tone I get at lower volume, I reckon I could tell the piano player, bass player, drummer, and acoustic/electric player to tone it down on the dobro instrumentals. Then I'd probly be lookin for another band to play with.

Terry

Terry

Have you tried playing it through the amp you mentioned
at the low volume ? & mic that to the PA .

Its weird to me that your having those problems at high volume. Maybe try pickup >preamp>elctric guitar amp insteda of the accoustasonic? Or mic the amp at those low volumes.
Mine ONLY sounds good at higher volumes. I used to go into a musicman 60w tube amp with it. I think the key is to think of the instrument as an electric guitar when using the pickup.
I moved my pickup away from the neck a little, have the pickup closer to the bass strings than the little strings, and use nickle strings so the pickup hears them.

Have you tried playing it through the amp you mentioned
at the low volume ? & mic that to the PA .

Well, shoot, why didn't I think of that. That's probly what Steve was talking about in his last post.
I bet that would work great! I think it would sound better through my Acoustasonic Steve, rather than my Nashville 1000. I get good tone with my Takamine playin through acoustasonic. That's what I'll do next time. I do use Nickel strings Steve. Thanks for your help guys.

Terry