Miking a resonator

[ziganaut]

I'd like to hear some of your guys' opinions on the proper or traditional ways to mike/amplify a reso. Things like mike placement, dynamic vs condenser, piezo, etc. I've been miking mine with a Shure SM57 close to the cone. I get too much feedback that way and the sound is so-so. So I'm looking for some alternatives

[daklander]

Give it a shot at about 18"s away and about where the 12th fret is, angled slightly toward the cone, toward about where the neck and body meet. You can also point more toward one of the sound holes depending on whether you want more top or bottom coming through.

 

 

Oh, vary distance and angle to taste....

[Freeman Keller]

Jerry Douglas endorses a Fishman pickup on the cone in his

 

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_resonator/Fishman_Resonator_Guitar_Pickup.html

 

And here is what the Master says about his Nationals

 

http://www.nationalguitars.com/broz_tips.html

 

The couple of times mine have been gigged we just pointed the mic approximately at the sound holes. Most of the time when I play mine people complain that its too loud.

[ziganaut]

Thanks for the info guys. That Brozman article will keep me busy for a week or two. I was surprised to read he'd been using SM57s for years although it sounded like he was doing it out of necessity sorta like me (cough). Do resonator pickups (Fishman's especially) still sound like a resonator? What I mean is that the same article mentions that no pickup sounds good by itself and must be blended with a mike. If that's true, what's the point of even bothering with a pickup?

[Freeman Keller]

 

Originally posted by ziganaut Do resonator pickups (Fishman's especially) still sound like a resonator? What I mean is that the same article mentions that no pickup sounds good by itself and must be blended with a mike. If that's true, what's the point of even bothering with a pickup?

 

 

Actually, that is a very good question (and observation). IMHO you want to pick up the cone sound - that almost requires some sort of mic (whether it is inside the guitar, actually on the cone, or pointed at it from the outside shouldn't matter). There is that little feather thingie that attaches to the cone that is supposed to be pretty good. You also see bridge/saddle type pickups (either under the saddle on a spider or built into the biscuit. I don't have any experience with them but my guess is that you would get more string sound and less cone. Last are the magnetic pickups or the lipstick tubes - my limited experience with them is that they sound like a noisy electric guitar (probably not what you are looking for). National now has on board electronics (might be the saddle type) and Brozman plays so many vintage instruments that maybe he doesn't want to muck them up adding pickups. I'm thinking that Clapton just mic'ed his old 'bro on Unplugged - I've seen the pictures and I don't remember a cord out the back.

 

I heard Jerry Douglas a year ago and not only did he sound good, he sounded DAMN good.

[Freeman Keller]

 

Originally posted by ziganaut Do resonator pickups (Fishman's especially) still sound like a resonator? What I mean is that the same article mentions that no pickup sounds good by itself and must be blended with a mike. If that's true, what's the point of even bothering with a pickup?

 

 

Actually, that is a very good question (and observation). IMHO you want to pick up the cone sound - that almost requires some sort of mic (whether it is inside the guitar, actually on the cone, or pointed at it from the outside shouldn't matter. There is that little feather thingie that attaches to the cone that is supposed to be pretty good. You also see bridge/saddle type pickups (either under the saddle on a spider or built into the biscuit. I don't have any experience with them but my guess is that you would get more string sound and less cone. Last are the magnetic pickups or the lipstick tubes - my limited experience with them is that they sound like a noisy electric guitar (probably not what you are looking for). National now has on board electronics (might be the saddle type) and Brozman plays so many vintage instruments that maybe he doesn't want to muck them up adding pickups. I'm thinking that Clapton just mic'ed his old 'bro on Unplugged - I've seen the pictures and I don't remember a cord out the back.

 

I heard Jerry Douglas a year ago and not only did he sound good, he sounded DAMN good.