What is the best Dobro amplification device ?

Steve Garrison · From: York, SC, USA

I want to play my dobro in live shows and would be interested in whats the best device for amplification that won't feed back and blow my brains out. I dont want to sound electric, I want a natural sound like Tommy White and Jerry Douglas. Hope someone can gimme some advice....Thanks[/b]

Bari Smith · From: Spartanburg SC USA

Jerry Douglas model with the matching pickup.That's what Jerry is using live now....best I've come across.......but it ain't cheap!It's a mic modeler and does an outstanding job.You can make it feed-back but ya gotta work at it to make it do it! Very Happy

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Lynn Oliver · From: Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.

Bari is referring to the Jerry Douglas model Fishman Aura Pedal and Pickup. There is also an Adjustable Spider that is designed to work with the pickup.

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

I use a Baggs paracoustic DI into the PA.

Bob

Mark Eaton · Posted 15 Jan 2010 8:33 pm

Steve, do a search - you'll find several threads on the subject from the past couple years.

It begins with the pickup, and the vast majority of dobro players these days that need to play plugged in will tell you that the two best pickups on the market are, as posted earlier, the Fishman Aura, and the Schertler Basik.
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Steve Garrison · From: York, SC, USA

Thanks Guys! I'll check em out. I appreciate the feedback.

Marvin Born · From: Ohio, USA

The complete system:

Fishman Jerry Douglas pickup
Fishman Aura pedal
Adjustable spider for the pickup

Fishman SA220 amp
six drivers driven by 200 watt amp and a single hf driver driven by a 20 watt amp. SA for solo amp and 220 for the wattage. It makes a really nice PA system with two channels, or one PA plus the dobro.

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-FSM-SA220

Jerry Roller · From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA

Steve, here is a setup that is sure to please you. A GHS Acoustical Guitar Mic. (about $100.00) It is a small preamp with a gooseneck held mic about the size of the last digit of your forefinger, velcro the preamp to the basket cover, from the GHS run into a Boss Acoustic EQ unit, from there into a RV3, then into a Boss pedal tuner then to the amp or board. The tuner serves as on/off switch as well as keeping in tune. This can be very loud without feedback and since it is a mic you get the natural resonator sound. Of course you can do without the EQ and or RV3 but they make it nice for EQ'ing tone as well as control of volume and the RV3 can put a haunting sound out. This is the best I have found.
Jerry

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Schatton make a great Dobro pick up and have sound clips on their web page.
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David Wren · From: Placerville, California, USA

I have a Schertler "Basik Reso" audio transducer, which I hear was designed with Tim Scheerhorn, and I'm very happy with the natural dobro sound. The pickup ships with it's own external preamp. If I remember right it was around $350.
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Lynn Oliver · From: Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.

Jim Simon · From: Moses Lake, WA

When I got my Dobro I called Mike Auldridge. Had heard his Seldom Scene albums. Mike actually took my call and was very gracious toward me. He told me that to get good sound he used three sources. Transducer, wound pickup, and mic. This was about 1980 or 81. Technology may have changed things but that was his take on the problem.

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

I have a Schertler Basik in my Rob Ickes Wetcher/Scheerhorn and I like the idea of havin the preamp close so I can adjust my volume. But to be honest, I like the tone of my Ickes model best, when I play through a good mic and PA system.
I'd love to have the Fishman Aura system though. But the price is to rich for me.

terry

Lynn Oliver · From: Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.

Here's Mike Auldridge playing his MA6 just after Paul Beard installed the Aura system.

Jim Simon · From: Moses Lake, WA

Very interesting link Lynn. Mike would sound good playing a railroad tie.

Julian Goldwhite · From: Alhambra, CA, USA

I'll also weigh in with a big thumbs up for the Fishman Aura system. I installed the pickup in my old USA Hound Dog and life couldn't be more simple now when it comes to playing with drums and electric guitar, bass, etc. Not a perfect representation of your acoustic sound, but very good indeed and way better than any of the previous methods I tried...

Best,

Julian
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Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

I use a small Sony or AKG lavalier mic clipped onto the coverplate paralel to the bridge on the treble side. pointing at a 45-degree angle across the strings (towards the headstock) plugged into a Baggs ParaAcoustic DI. Ad a hair of delay and it sounds as natural as can be through a good PA.
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Larry Robbins · From: Fort Edward, New York

I like the Schatton pick up I have used for about 4 yrs now.I mainly use it for a little stage volume so I and my bandmates can here what I am doing and rely more on the sound man and a good mic and the house system for the rest.
I have also used a set up simaler to Jerry Rollers sugestion with very good results. The Fishman system is first rate
as many here have stated! but, if cost is a concern the whole system will set you back more than some entry level instruments although its probably woth every penny!....one more thing...as with any "reso" type inst. be careful of where you place your stage monitors.Reso's do "resonate" and stage monitors can and will become a sourch of much feedback if your not careful.
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Mark Eaton · Posted 23 Jan 2010 9:29 am

I've never come across anyone out here with a Schatten, I'd like to hear it live. The sound byte that Ken referenced doesn't "tell" my ears anything, I figure it must be in the same league as the Fishman "donut" pickup I have in my Clinesmith right now that I use in conjunction with a Shure microphone, which on its own (the donut) isn't so swift.

Can't listen to Larry live, he's about 3000 miles away, and Ken in England is closer to 6500 miles. Whoa!

Yeah, the Fishman Aura is expensive alright, but the price you pay is freedom from a microphone stand and better control of the whole fighting feedback situation.

Jim, with the small Sony mike, how's is your battle against feedback?

There's more than one way to skin a cat, but if you're looking to the pros that play these things as their primary source of income,not just playing dobro for a few songs during an evening, when using pickups, it seems to be pretty much 1. Fishman Aura and 2. Schertler Basik

A lot of the guys who are in straight bluegrass bands still just use an instrument mike on a stand, just like the other players in their respective bands.
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