Mini-microphone for resonator questions

[John Rosett]

I am trying to figure out a way to amplify my resonator guitar for as little money as is reasonably possible. I'm only going to be using it in low volume situations, so I'm thinking about some small microphone attached to the guitar. Also, my amp has phantom power, so I hope that's a plus.
Any recommendations on something in the under $100 range? Thanks!

[Jouni Karvonen]

i'm using this:

http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_cc75.htm

but they don't send overseas.



my low income resos sounds fine thru an exelsior. (good enough for local audiences)

[rodger_mcbride]

I use a small capsule choir mic I got a a Music Go Round for $30. Full freq. response and fits into the cover plate. Seems to work fine as an enhanced acoustic tool, but will feed back pretty quickly when you reach it's limits. I use it with other instruments as well and is a great mix with an under saddle pickup.
rodger

[Rob Anderlik]

As a general rule mini mics work best through a full P. A. system. You can only get so much volume out a mini mic through an instrument amplifier before it will start to feedback. Of course, YMMV

[Brad Bechtel]

Why not just use a Shure SM57 or SM58? Is there a particular reason you want a mini microphone?

[John Rosett]

Brad-The main application for this is a monthly gig my band has in a small restaurant. The rest of the band is all acoustic-no PA, etc. The Dobro just can't cut through the archtop rhythm guitar, mandolin, and upright bass without some amplification. I'm in a very small space, switching between guitar and Dobro, and a mic on a stand would really get in the way.

Rob-I have an Acoustic Image amp with a low-Z(3-pin)input and phantom power, so I think that it will handle the low volume stuff.

Thanks for the comments!

[Tom Keller]

Well you can always go to radio shack and get a lapel microphone and a mini to guitar plug adapter. This will work in low volume situations and its relatively inexpensive.

Tom

[Dave Thier]

I use a K&K Silver Bullet. I velcro the end of the mic goose neck to the coverplate. Others position it behind the tail piece and position the end of the mic through a hole in the coverplate. Lots of options and the sound is very good.
http://kksound.com/products/silverbullet.php

Dave

[L. Bogue Sandberg]

We play regularly in a setting very similar to yours, a small brew pub with no sound system. To give the dobro and the guitar a little boost, we've been running them through my battery powered AC-33. The guitar (w/ onboard preamp) is in the 1/4 only channel and I'm running my Gold Tone ABS-C through a phantom power supply box to the XLR channel. We set the volumes to be heard without straining alongside the unamplified banjo and mandolin and vocals. Not even close to feedback. So I'll bet Rodger and Tom's choir or lapel mic will work for a lot less cash then my ABS-C. And you already have the phantom on your amp.

Brad's comment gave me a chuckle. I was notorious for swiveling the dobro out from under the SM-57, leaving the sound guy helpless at the back of the hall. With the onboard mic he's no longer threatening to duct tape me to a mic stand.

[Allen Hutchison]

Not as cheap an option as those already listed, but you may find a second hand Goldtone ABS mic for reso & banjo. Mine works nicely.

[James Wolf]

Why not just use a Shure SM57 or SM58? Is there a particular reason you want a mini microphone?

This is how I've been set up playing reso in the past. I have trouble getting the volume I need without holding the axe perfectly still. Where is the best spot to place the sm57?

[chris ivey]

james..i don't play tons of dobro but have done a fair amount of recording..and some live playing with a 57 or 58. the best tone for me comes from the treble side about an inch off of the bridge and maybe back an inch or two toward the rear. i point the mic angled down and in slightly about 6 to 8 inches above the coverplate. as long as you're playing with other acoustic instruments even with mild pickups there seems to be no volume problems...but there would be with electric instruments.

[Jouni Karvonen]

[Olli Haavisto]

I`ve been using this for years. Sounds REALLY good, easy to clip on the coverplate:

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired ... index.html

There is a copy also which I have for backup, works fine too.

http://www.performanceaudio.com/item/Su ... 383/38246/

[Michael Kienhofer]

Pyle-Pro PMSAX1 Instrument/Saxaphone XLR Condenser Microphone
$48 US at Amazon

[George Buechley]

I use a Lace resonator pickup through a Cube 80XL when I need to be loud. Sometimes you can get them on sale at Amazon.

George

[chris ivey]

i use the lace pickup, too. of course the tone is not very acoustic. i've been meaning to try that through something like tom bradshaw's new resonator stomp box into an amp. it seems like that should solve the dobro pickup problem fairly cheaply.

[Ulrich Sinn]

I use a DPA with an acoustic lunchbox, admittedly not the the cheapest solution.

Works great in a band without drums. With drums in the band there better be a PA with a sound guy that can give me the 48V for the condenser.

[Bryan Bradfield]

Chris Ivey: Try a dobro-ized EQ between your Lace and the Cube, like the pedal steel players use. I'm using a Barcus Berry into the dobro-ized EQ and then into a Cube 40XL, JC Clean channel. It makes quite an improvement, even though it still does not sound totally like a dobro, but closer.

[George Buechley]

Bryan,
What brand EQ are you using? Are you using a Fish and Chips or something like that?

George

[Bryan Bradfield]

The EQ is a DOD FX40, 7 bands. I believe that any 7 band EQ will work equally well. I bought it cheap, partially beat up, which was perfect. I removed the cover, cut off all of the remaining adjusting levers, replaced the cover, adjusted the levers where they sounded best using the point of a nail, and then covered that area with a strip of duct tape.

The EQ takes all of the sharp edges off of the sound, makes it less brittle.