Amplifying a resonator

Chabenda

Good day - What is the best way of playing my resonator through the PA?

I have tried a stick on Schaller mic/pickup and that sounded awful.
Mic-ing it with an SM58 is a bit of a nuisance because if you start enjoying yourself whilst you're playing, like you should, you tend to move in relation to the mic. The SM58 may not be the best mic to use either.

Is there any type of mic/pick up that can be fitted that will give a true reproduction of the sound?

Many thanks in advance..

Bob-Dubery

Highlander make pickups designed for both tricone and single cone resonators - but those may be a hassle to get hold of and to install.

I think you might do well to look at a low output humbucker (run into a pre-amp if you want to play into the PA), maybe in combination with a contact pickup to catch some of the clang. The mic is easier if you're playing lap steel sitting down.

AlanRatcliffe

Firstly is your bridge a spider or a biscuit?

The Highlander pickups have always been the best sounding to my ear:

Also worth looking at are the Schatten pickups.

Chabenda

Firstly is your bridge a spider or a biscuit?

Ummm.... ??? I'm not sure Alan. It looks like a biscuit I think. Bob, I don't play it like a lap steel. But I do play it sitting down.

AlanRatcliffe

That's a spider.

http://highlanderpickups.com/catalog/spider.htm
http://www.schattendesign.com/resonator.htm

The Schatten is way more affordable, but you'll need an external preamp for it to sound its best. The highlander comes with internal preamp and an external power supply, but is way more expensive.

Chabenda

Thanks very much indeed Alan and Bob.

The Highlander looks like the way forward. I assume that these pickups are not available on the shelf in SA. I'm sure that I can 'make a plan' to import one and bring it in by courier.

Stoner-Riff

Chabenda wrote: Good day - What is the best way of playing my resonator through the PA?

I have tried a stick on Schaller mic/pickup and that sounded awful.
Mic-ing it with an SM58 is a bit of a nuisance because if you start enjoying yourself whilst you're playing, like you should, you tend to move in relation to the mic. The SM58 may not be the best mic to use either.

Is there any type of mic/pick up that can be fitted that will give a true reproduction of the sound?

Many thanks in advance..

Well, you have two options, the way i see it.

Either you can plug in, like Eric Sardinas, or you can surface mount (ductape more like it) the dedicated Reso pick up (Lace pick ups) to your Reso, just like the late Great Chris Whitley R.I.P.

http://www.nippertown.com/zeblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/ChrisWhitley02.jpg - Chris Whitley
http://allthingschriswhitley.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/national-resophonic-style-o-2002.jpg

http://www.lacemusic.com/USA_Acoustic.php - just ad black tape ?

http://www.nga.ch/img/JPG%202006/Blues%20web%20jpg%202006/Eric%20Sardinas.JPG/Eric%20Sardinas038-01.jpg - Eric Sardinas
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/RBF_2009_Eric_Sardinas_06.jpg

If you do not know either artists, do YOURSELF a fav and look into them !

Both ROCK, in vary diff ways !

Chabenda

Thank you Stoner Riff. I think that I'll give the Lace a try.

It's incredible how they do not have one dealer on the whole continent of Africa. Do we really have that few prospective clients?

Bob-Dubery

Chabenda wrote: Thank you Stoner Riff. I think that I'll give the Lace a try.

It's incredible how they do not have one dealer on the whole continent of Africa. Do we really have that few prospective clients?

Richard Bruyns who plays resonator for The Swamp Dogs and who is recording his second solo album uses a lace on his tricone. So they can be got. IIRC he feeds the lace into a Baggs GigPro pre-amp.

Stoner-Riff

Chabenda wrote: Good day - What is the best way of playing my resonator through the PA?

I have tried a stick on Schaller mic/pickup and that sounded awful.

Mic-ing it with an SM58 is a bit of a nuisance because if you start enjoying yourself whilst you're playing, like you should, you tend to move in relation to the mic.

The SM58 may not be the best mic to use either.

Is there any type of mic/pick up that can be fitted that will give a true reproduction of the sound?

Many thanks in advance..

If you want to use your SM57 . . .

http://magazine.dv247.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/se-electronics-gm10.jpg ...there are many version of this out there !

http://www.scanproaudio.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/SchoepsCCM4-+-GGH-clamp-on-FyldeGuitar2-LRes.jpg - keep your distance consistant, no matter what !

Stoner-Riff

Chabenda wrote: Thank you Stoner Riff. I think that I'll give the Lace a try.

It's incredible how they do not have one dealer on the whole continent of Africa. Do we really have that few prospective clients?

It really SUCKS when it comes to choices in this country.

I just heard, that you can not even get Mesa Boogies any more - WTF !!!

. . . so, my dear friend, do what *I* do.

Import the stuff yourself !

It's cheaper that way anyways !

AlanRatcliffe

Stoner Riff wrote: It really SUCKS when it comes to choices in this country.

I just heard, that you can not even get Mesa Boogies any more - WTF !!!

Ja, well, when they are here, they don't sell well (Mesa or EMG). So you tell me...

Import the stuff yourself !
It's cheaper that way anyways !

Not always - especially with the bigger/heavier items that cost a fortune to ship. Or run on mains power. Or might need backup.

Still, I import the esoteric/speciality items myself (and I think resonator pickups would fall squarely into that category) or when there is a huge price difference, even after a good discount.

Stoner-Riff

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Stoner Riff wrote: It really SUCKS when it comes to choices in this country.

I just heard, that you can not even get Mesa Boogies any more - WTF !!!
Ja, well, when they are here, they don't sell well (Mesa or EMG). So you tell me...

Import the stuff yourself !
It's cheaper that way anyways !
Not always - especially with the bigger/heavier items that cost a fortune to ship. Or run on mains power. Or might need backup.

Still, I import the esoteric/speciality items myself (and I think resonator pickups would fall squarely into that category) or when there is a huge price difference, even after a good discount.

VERY TRUE.

I was referring to pick ups, stomp boxes and what not.
Even the odd guitar, but cabs, and amps - NO WAY !
Too bloody heavy.
So we have to pay the uber high prices.

PS : not one of these items was bought in SA.

Chabenda

Well, I can tell you that as far as Africa goes, you guys have it best. There is certainly nothing available in Tete, other than an occasional set of Chinese, acoustic strings of doubtful quality. Anything that I get has to be imported.

For me SA is cheap if I compare prices that we pay for everything except beer.