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Topic: George L's soundhole pickup - making a Weiss more electric? |
Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Posted 2 Jun 2008 2:50 pm |
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Really liking the sound of the George L's "E66" pickup that is featured on an 8-string lap steel that was very kindly given to me recently, I checked out their website and see that they do an acoustic soundhole pickup. Now, for acoustic tone, I have an K&K Pure Western Mini in my Lazy River Weissenborn that I blend with a mic at gigs with great results, but, I am looking for a soundhole pickup that gives more of an electric steel guitar sound, as this would enable me to do "electric gigs" with my Weiss, which would be very practical as I would just need to add a non-permanent pickup to my regular gigging guitar rather than having to bring an electric lap steel too. Having travelled abroad to do gigs, without a car, with my Weissenborn and Dobro plus a backpack full of gear plus all my clothes etc., I know what sore feet means  and I like the prospect of just adding a few grammes in form of a pickup rather than another guitar when travelling to to gigs where an electric lap steel could be needed.
Has anyone tried this pickup? It is only $75, and as George L's make "industry standard" pedal steel pickups, and as the Rare Earth, Baggs etc. are designed to sound as acoustic as possible, I thought the George L's could be the ticket. Any thoughts?
Fred
_________________
www.fredrikkinbom.com - New lap steel album out now - listen here: fredrikkinbom.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-lap-steel-and-harmonium |
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Stephan Miller
From:
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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Posted 2 Jun 2008 6:38 pm
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Fred, I know what you mean about only schlepping the "minimum" amount of gear-- and I think I understand what you're going for here. Haven't tried the George L soundhole pickup...but since it's designed to represent the acoustic properties of your guitar, it sounds like you're hoping it's a failure in that regard! You might get your wish, but that's because it's relatively inexpensive, not because it's made by George L.
Your Lazy River will probably sound more "electric" if the soundhole pickup is being run through, say, delay and overdrive pedals, and then into an electric guitar amp (and you'd have to figure out a way to be feedback-free). Also it might take a while for you to come up with a sound that is persuasive to your own ears. Why not just buy the cheapest soundhole pickup available in your area, and see if you can replicate gig conditions (mainly the sound chain) as you woodshed the problem.
This is kind of funny, in a way-- dobro players have complained for years that electrifying their instruments (and forsaking a mic'ed sound) makes 'em sound like a lap steel. So hey-- how hard can it be? 
--Steve
Last edited by Stephan Miller on 3 Jun 2008 2:15 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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David Venzke
From:
SE Michigan, USA
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Posted 2 Jun 2008 6:58 pm
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Fred,
I just recently got a George L acoustic pickup. I have it mounted on a non-acoustic 6-string "practice guitar" and I like the sound I'm getting. I do run the signal through a small and cheap guitar effects processor to get the necessary lapsteel effects (delay, reverb, echo, etc.). I have had no problems with feedback so far. You might find that just adding the right effects to your existing pickup is all you need. But, at the same time, I don't think you'd be disappointed with the George L.
-Dave |
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Peter Jacobs
From:
Northern Virginia
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Posted 3 Jun 2008 4:58 am
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Fred - I don't have any personal experience with this, but I have read on multiple forums that the Lace Dobro pickup makes resonator guitars sound like lap steels (the people posting comments were complaining about that), so it might be an option to explore.
Regards,
Peter
_________________
Peter
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www.splinterville.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@splinterville6278/videos |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2008 5:51 am
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| I have a Sunrise pickup installed in the sound hole on my Superior Weissenborn. |
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Peter Schilske
From:
Germany
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Posted 3 Jun 2008 6:06 am Shadow SH 145
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Hi Fred,
an alternative could be the SHADOW SH 145. Very easy to mount. And not expensive. Use it for my Gibson FJN with Hawaiian Setup.
All the best
Peter |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 3 Jun 2008 8:14 am
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| My opinion of the George L's I've heard on non-pedal instruments is that they sound better on pedal guitars. They're kind of hot and Hi-Fi to my ears without the warmth and overtones of some the other pickups out there. You have a great-sounding National, Fred, are you looking for a hybrid between the acoustic and the electric sound? I'm guessing Rick Aiello, Jerry Wallace or Jason Lollar could likely wind a pickup that would give you the exact sound you want. |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2008 9:15 am
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I used a fishburne on my Weisse with excellent results. I have to admit never doing a venue where feedback was a real problem. Occassionally a minor nuisance until we got the hang of the place. But I find there's really nothing easier to haul around for amplified gigs than a short scale electric like perhaps the Chandler. They're light and compact as well as having a very nice sound. And now that I think of it, the body style is based on the weissenborne look.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Alvin Blaine
From:
Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2008 4:39 pm
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
| I have a Sunrise pickup installed in the sound hole on my Superior Weissenborn. |
I use the Sunrise pickups also. They are closer to the $200 range, but a very good pickup for that David Lindley sound. I think Lindley uses the Sunrise in his Weissenborn's.
_________________
http://www.oldbluesound.com/about.htm
http://www.facebook.com/cowboytwang |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 4 Jun 2008 7:12 am
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Alvin,
I really like the Sunrise pickup.
I also have a Baggs, under the bridge, pickup.
I blend the two together.
This way I get a sound from the strings and another from the body of the guitar. |
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