Reso Pickup question

David Morgan · From: Encinitas,CA,USA

Does anyone have an informed opinion of which would be the best pickup for my new MecKenna square neck resophonic? I've played a reso with the McIntyre "feather" and it's very quiet without preamp. Has anyone tried the new Fishman pickup which attatches to the resonator bridge screw? I'm miking it now and that's OK but I think I'd like to combine that with pickup.

Mike D · From: Phx, Az

David any resonator transducer (non-magnetic) has to have a pre-amp. You can't make any valuations without one.
Paul Beard supposedly has something new cooked up, you might want to look into it.

David Morgan · From: Encinitas,CA,USA

That's McKenna, sorry Gregg.

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

The old McIntyre pickups were hotter than the feather, but I still think they sound better with a preamp. But no pickup sounds like a miked Dobro.

Andy Zynda · From: Wisconsin

I went through this same agony when I used to play Banjo onstage. Nothing sounded as good as a microphone, and miking it live was a real bitch.

Since then, I don't "banjo" live anymore, and I have yet to bring my reso onstage.

I guess I'm waiting for the "miracle" pickup.
-andy-

R. L. Jones · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

I agree ,Stephen, I love the sound , Ml\iked . just ease away from the mike to fade out . A friend of mine tryed everthing toget the sound he wanted ,a pickup the clip on shirt mike , now he mikes it.

R.L.

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · From: Branson, Missouri, USA

David, I have used a Barcus Berry magnetic and hated it, then I bought the older McIntyre and have been very happy with it so far, with the exception of a few feedback issues. Those were on my Dobro 60DS. I have a Morrell roundneck in which I installed a "Woodpicker" available through ebay. I installed it in the same fashion as the McIntyre and it works fine. I think it would sound better on a better guitar, but it tends to be much bassier, and had a lot of mids. Maybe not exactly what you are looking for. I purchased an F60 last week and I am going to order the new Fishman/Beard pickup as soon as possible. Go here to check it out. http://www.fishman.com/whatsnew/reso.htm . It is supposed to correct all the feedback problems we have and sound perfectly natural too. I can't wait to try it. I agree that a mike is best, like a Sennheiser 421, or another good quality large diaphram mic, but sometimes that's just not possible in todays world. Thanks, Michael T.

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David Morgan · From: Encinitas,CA,USA

Thanks for the input, guys. Michael thank you for the web page. That picture answers another question. The Fishman apparently mounts on the underside of cone (as does the "feather")so you don't have to poke more than one hole in your instrument.
I've played every different instrument from electrics and pedal steels to accoustics with magnets and transducers over the years, but I appreciate any advice. I intend to continue miking, just want that extra "direct" line that a pickup gives and don't want a magnet.

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

Nothing sounds as good as a condenser mike or a pair of them.

I know the feather is not the answer, but it is useful for tuning and adding maybe 20% to the mix.

The new Fishman piezo ring that fits to the spider bridge screw thingy looks interesting. I bought one from Beard, and will install it on a reso this week. If nothing else it will make tuning easy.

I got the chance to have a good talk with Mike Auldridge (sp?) about electronics, at the ISGA. Same conclusion. Get a good mike, a good preamp, and make friends with the sound man.

Ron

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

Ron, Mike auldridge uses an old Neumann condenser mike, and if he moves his right hand an inch, you can hear it. He also has the odl style McIntyre pickup, just in case. At least, the last I heard. But when you play like Mike, people just listen, anyway.

Michael Brebes · From: Northridge CA

I've gotten a good sound out of the McIntyre as well, but you definitely need to use a preamp with it. For the purist that wants the best tone, the Audio Technica miniature gooseneck condenser mics were great. I believe the number is AT835, but am not sure. It sound great on both of my resophonics. It has a clip at the end of the mini gooseneck that I clip into the holes of the cover, move it into place, and it stays there without me having to worry about staying on the mic. Has a small thin cord that goes to a belt pack that runs off of batteries or phantom power.

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

I hope this helps.

I have been using Fishman's new piezo ring that fits to the bridge/cone screw for a few days now.

So far I really like it. The sound is very good. I like it. I have not played in a big setting yet, but I think it would be fine. It still will not beat a pair of KM184's, but is very good. Darn sure beats a MatchBro.

I like it for tuning and sound reinforcement. Let the amp/pickup add to the acoustic sound coming from the guitar.

It will feedback at close range. I used a notch filter on my Fender Acoustisonic Pro and killed it.

So far, so good.

Ron

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Clay Maxam · From: Shelton, WA a/o 3/5/2021

Hi David....
I hope not to reiterate all the good info that has been posted above but I would like to tell you what my experience has been too.
I've been trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear, i.e. I've got a Regal RD-35 that has been modified by replacing the brige, the cone and the spider. I used an ebony bridge, Quarterman cone, and Tut Taylor Spider. The overall sound improvement has been very good. I also installed both the McIntire Dobro Feather pickup on the cone, and a Don Lace magnetic pickup at the end of the neck. I put in a stereo jack below the cord strap lock, bought a Samson 4 channel mixer and plug the output into my Peavey Session 2000 amp. Prior to doing all this I was using an Audio-Techna gooseneck sax mic as one of the other guys has mentioned. So what does it sound like. Well, quite frankly I think the best sound still comes from mic. I've plugged all three of them in to the mixer. Left the eqalization flat and used the mixer just to mix the various pickups along with the mic. Except for the feedback from the mic (which I can now control) it sounds very good. But hindsight being what it is.....I think if I had it to do again I'd stick with mic and put the extra bucks in my savings account (which is now somewhat depleted). It's been an interesting experiment though.

Want to wish you the very best in what ever approach you use.

Clay

David Morgan · From: Encinitas,CA,USA

Thanks again for "helpful hints." I also played a Regal for awhile, with replacement parts and pickups, etc. That sounded familiar, Clay. For my McKenna reso, I've just ordered the new Fishman/Beard pickup (passive model) and I'm going to try blending it with condensor mike through a small powered mixer then to the PA. We just all keep trying, don't we... It's always something. Now if I just had...

Keith DeLong · From: Dartmouth NS Canada

Schatten also makes a pickup that attaches to the bridge screw--I had one installed and it has a good sound, even without a preamp. It would work a lot better with a preamp--there is feedback if you stand too close to your amp or the monitor speakers,it's hard to avoid that. Info --www.schattendesign.com

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

can the new fishman reso pickup be ordered on-line?
hey peter grant....i bet you know.......i still have to show you my magic dobro capo concept!

[This message was edited by chris ivey on 16 September 2002 at 01:49 PM.]

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