Installing a pickup on a Dobro?

[olddawg]

Has anyone got any suggestions on how to put a pickup on one of these. From reading it seems the best and least invasive way is to put a quality piezo disc on the resonator. Has anyone here ever done it? Any tips or suggestions. I don’t want to mess this one up!

[big_teee]

If you do a search for electric dobro, or electric resonator guitar?
https://www.google.com/search?q=elec...mgIwBQ#imgrc=_
Looks like the standard place is at the neck.
I wound and installed a pickup for one once, but the hole was already routed at the neck.
GL,
T

[olddawg]

If you do a search for electric dobro, or electric resonator guitar?
https://www.google.com/search?q=elec...mgIwBQ#imgrc=_
Looks like the standard place is at the neck.
I wound and installed a pickup for one once, but the hole was already routed at the neck.
GL,
T

Thanks for your response BT... yes I did a search... several. Yes sandwiching a piezo element in the neck pocket is a common practice. I’ve seen it done on Strats and Teles to try to get an “acoustic” sound. I actually have a “thin body” electric resonator that has a mini humbucker near the neck, a piezo (I believe) in the neck pocket, and a blend pot. Its... ok... from my reasearch it seem that the preferred method for a metal Dobro like this is to attach a quality piezo disc directly to the reasonator disc and use an end pin jack and preamp. The problem I see is the PLACEMENT of the element on the reasonator surface. These things are a real bitch to disassemble and put back together. I need to get the placement correct the first time. So I’m looking for someone who has done it before.

[rjb]

Here's an opinion from a resophonic builder:
For an awesome electric tone, install a P90; to sound like a resonator guitar, use a mic.
http://muleresophonic.com/just-use-mic/

-rb

[Steve A.]

Has anyone got any suggestions on how to put a pickup on one of these. From reading it seems the best and least invasive way is to put a quality piezo disc on the resonator. Has anyone here ever done it? Any tips or suggestions. I don’t want to mess this one up![ATTACH=CONFIG]49688[/ATTACH]

According to the Schatten site putting a piezo disc on the cone can create feedback problems. If the dobro has a spider bridge they have two different kits, one with a condensor mic and preamp.

http://www.schattendesign.com/resonator.htm

Steve A.

[olddawg]

According to the Schatten site putting a piezo disc on the cone can create feedback problems. If the dobro has a spider bridge they have two different kits, one with a condensor mic and preamp.

http://www.schattendesign.com/resonator.htm

Steve A.

Thanks Steve... funny thing 5 minutes ago a luthier I know called me back and recommended this as the best option. I hadn't seen it searching. He said that the advantages this system has is the placement is finite and easy, it's minimally invasive, and it is not prone to feedback. The disadvantage is it has VERY low output even compared to a standard piezo. I think this is the one I am going to use.

[rjb]

If the dobro has a spider bridge they have two different kits, one with a condensor mic and preamp.

I think this is the one I am going to use.

But, but but... isn't that guitar a Duolian, with a biscuit bridge?
Will the Schatten system be compatible?

-rb

[olddawg]

But, but but... isn't that guitar a Duolian, with a biscuit bridge?
Will the Schatten system be compatible?

-rb

Yes it is a Duolian... but Shatten says they have a compatible pickup. I'm going to call them just to make sure. This is an early 90s long scale roundneck. I've never had it apart, just changed strings. From what I understand the whole reasonator assembly is mounted on one Central bolt. The Shatten pickup is like a big washer that is sandwiched between 2 nuts on that bolt. The luthier I use said he would install it for $100.

[olddawg]

For anyone that’s interested... this is a “biscuit” bridge. Schatten discontinued the pickup I was considering because some players said it muted the resonator a bit because of the mounting scheme. What they have now is something called the NR-2 or the NR-2 Pro. It’s a piezo strip that simply attaches to the bridge with double sided tape. I don’t want to drill the body since you can’t install an end pin jack for a jack mount. The Pro version has a little box with a jack and a volume control that you also mount with 2 sided 3M tape. I think this is the way I’m going to go...
http://www.bluestarmusic.com/Schatte...me_p_1072.html