The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi. Hows everybody? Does anyone on the Forum know what would be a good Pickup to install in a Dobro? Thanks for the help. Bryan Ainsworth

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Bryan Ainsworth

The Schatten pickup is one of the better pickups available for resonator guitars.
http://www.schattendesign.com/resonator.htm

I think the GHS Acoustic Soundhole Mic is the best way to go. It is a true microphone so you get all the tone of the resonator and it mounts with an elastic strap so nothing is altered on the instrument. I use this unit into a Boss EQ pedal into a Boss RV3 into a Boss tuner stomp pedal and it is perfect. The Boss tuner also serves as an on and off switch. When I put it in tuning mode it cuts the signal to the board. This little mic is right at $100.00.
Jerry

Check out the Lace Dobro pickup. It is inexpensive ($80 - $100), fairly well-balanced and does not feed back too badly. I qualify that by saying that I have suceeded in getting mine to feed back but only at higher volume. The attachment with double-sided foam tape is a little crude but works and is non-destructive if you have an expensive instument you don't want to drill, scratch, etc. I am going to make an adjustable permanent mounting plate for my cheap Regal so I can vary the height from the strings between bass and treble very slightly - my treble strings always sound a bit brighter than the bass.
http://www.adirondackguitar.com/lace/laceacpickup.htm

I presently have a Fishman pickup in my new Gold Tone Beard that was installed by Gold Tone at their shop in FL.
I find it is much brighter than the McIntyre feather I had in my Tut Taylor.
If I had the option to do it over I'd go with the McIntyre. I also had one of those Lace pickups on my cheapo Regal and I think it sounded the best to my ears. But then as I just mentioned it's your ears you must satisfy.
Don

Schatten a very good pickup for Dobro.

I just had the Schatten pickup installed on my Tut Taylor "Virgianin" and so far I am pleased with the overall response. Have only played it at the house so far but, will be using it at a gig this week and Ill report a little more then.I can play it as loud as is "reasonable" at home level with no hum, and so far even at "unreasonable" sound levels for home use!Ha ha! Im' using a LR Baggs Gigpro preamp as well..on stage I plan to mic as much as I can and use the pickup to give me a boost. I would rather not use a pickup at all of course but, just try and get a drummer and bass player to turn down! ....

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72 Professional 8&5,73 PRO II 8&4, 79/80 PRO III 8&4,Fender Steelking, Hilton pedal, USA Tele, Fender Twin,Peterson tuner,Tut Taylor Reso's and Twang to the Bone!!

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 16 July 2006 at 09:35 AM.]</p></FONT>

I have the original McIntyre in my dobro, which works well, but does have that piezo pickup sizzle. I also use an Audio Technica ATM35 condensor mic, which sounds great and to me is the best solution. Comes with a mini-gooseneck that I clamp right on to the resonator cover. Position the mic and it stays there no matter how you move.

Do those of you that use the Schatten use it with a pre-amp or straight in to an amp or the board?

John,
As I posted above, so far I am using a LR Baggs "Gigpro" pre-amp. It will work without a pre-amp but I like to have a little more control at my finger tips.
Have not used it too much yet but, so far...
so good! http://www.lrbaggs.com/html/products/products_preamps.shtml

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72 Professional 8&5,73 PRO II 8&4, 79/80 PRO III 8&4,Fender Steelking, Hilton pedal, USA Tele, Fender Twin,Peterson tuner,Tut Taylor Reso's and Twang to the Bone!!

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 18 July 2006 at 02:30 PM.]</p></FONT>

The Schertler BASIK pickup has generated a lot of buzz since Tim Scheerhorn started working with it. I believe he installed one in Rob Ickes reso among others, and he expected to have a reso kit available by now.

I have a Schertler BASIK Pro, purchased from Brad Harper, and installed in my Rayco when it was built. To my ear it has a nice, acoustic sound but I don't have any experience with other pickups for comparison.

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Lynn Oliver
http://www.ryegrassband.com