The Steel Guitar Forum

Howdy, I want to install a good pick up into my 8 string dobro steel, I also want a volume and tone control on the top just like a regular guitar....Am I crazy? I don't really care about drilling into the top, I just want the control at my finger tips during the song. what pick up should I use etc?, Help! I am tired of micing it up

Microphone is still the recommended way to do it. But Cindy Cashdollar, among others is using a pickup. I think she has a link to the company on her website.

Thanks Edward, I will check out her site, It's hard for me to stand or sit still enough for a good mic-up

Scherfler seems to be the pickup of choice for an 8 string reso. I bought one a while ago but have yet to install it. It has a gain control but no tone control.

That would be Schertler. The Fishman Aura has probably trumped the Schertler for latest state of the art. I don't know of any good reso pick-ups with mounted volume and tone. You could go with a magnetic pick-up, but it won't have a very true reso sound. To me any magnetic pick-up for dobro just sounded like a bad straight steel. Since I already have several good non-pedal steels I don't need a bad one.
I've had a Schertler on my dobro for about 4 years or so. Still happy with it.

Dave,
Before I bought the Shertler, I contacted Fishman about the Aura.
They said it wouldn't fit an 8 string reso.

Is there anybody that makes a non magnetic pickup system for an 8 string reso?

You can always go with that little Fishman donut pickup that mounts on the cone's screw. Some steelers bad mouth this pickup but I've always had good luck with it.

Fishman is now working on an 8 string version of the Nashville/Douglas pickup. There is an outside chance that Beard Guitars will have a prototype in Dallas. I emphasize..an OUTSIDE chance.

h

I'll be outside looking for it, then.

Brad,

Outside the room or standing out on John Carpenter Fwy??

Edward Meisse wrote:Microphone is still the recommended way to do it. But Cindy Cashdollar, among others is using a pickup. I think she has a link to the company on her website.

Cindy got herself a few years ago a Beard Mike Auldridge model guitar with the Fishman Nashville pickup installed to use with the the Aura Jerry Douglas stompbox.

Unless something has changed recently, when it comes to the dobro she plays a six string exclusively.