Dobro amplification idea

[Tim Toberer]

I have been experimenting with making my own bobbins - winding pickups in a very low tech way. Finally I got around to winding a small floating pickup for my archtop guitar and it it got me thinking. There have seen a few threads about the problems of amplifying resonators and I think something like this may work. This pickup is very very low output and very microphonic. I could only get about 2500 winds of 40 gauge wire on the bobbin and the magnet is a 2 1/4" Neo. The pickup has 1.37k resistance. Strong magnet, big wire, few winds. It looks like a CC pickup.

I was using it with my new Quilter Superblock (amazing by the way) and pretty much have to crank the master volume all the way up and I don't get useable volume until the gain is about 8 then the volume goes up quick from there. At full gain I get a pretty nice vintage bluesy breakup, dialed back just a little and I get a nice clean with a VERY faithful acoustic sound and NO feedback problems at all. I feel like this pickup with a few more winds maybe exactly what I want for my archtop, and I think it may work for a dobro as well, but haven't tried it. Has anyone tried anything similar? I already hear the doubters chiming in. I am unsure if anyone makes a pickup like this. It's weird, but I actually really like it. I think it may tame my clone Tweed Deluxe too, currently on loan, can't wait to get it back and try it out. I need to get me a Dobro!

[Tim Toberer]

[Tim Toberer]

[Peter Jacobs]

I like the idea, Tim — a microphonic pickup may help with adding some natural resonance. Krivo pickups are built that way (according to their website).

Does the cat help reduce eddy currents and standing waves? I don’t think there’s room in my gig bag for one, though.

[Larry Allen]

I was able to buy a DXR5 dobro PU from Bill Lawrence in St. Louis in the late 90’s, so far the best after trying several over the years

[Tim Toberer]

I like the idea, Tim — a microphonic pickup may help with adding some natural resonance. Krivo pickups are built that way (according to their website).

Does the cat help reduce eddy currents and standing waves? I don’t think there’s room in my gig bag for one, though.

I never leave home without 2 or 3 cats

[Glenn Demichele]

I made a low profile neck pickup for my C6 neck. It has few windings, a 1k Rout, and correspondingly low output. I used the tiny transformer from inside an XLR to 1/4” mic adapter - 600 to 50k ohms, connecting the pickup to the XLR side (600). Output is nice and big, and sounds great.