micing a dobro

Mark Krutke · Post by **Mark Krutke** » 13 Sep 2000 4:39 pm

I wanted to know the best way to mic a dobro. I started using a SM57 and I get too much feedback. Is there a good mic to use for this, or a decent pick-up?

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 13 Sep 2000 5:44 pm

Hey Mark. I use a SM-57 on both my National's and my tricone/Weissenborn. With no feedback troubles attributable to the mic. Maybe your getting too much monitor?
I have seen folks use those little lapel or the "saxaphone" mic's to pretty good effect.
I'd still look at the monitor situation though, a cardioid like 57 just shouldn't feed back so much.

Mark Krutke · Post by **Mark Krutke** » 13 Sep 2000 5:58 pm

Yes, there was the feedback because of the loudness of the monitor, but there has to be a way to get around that. What area do you mic your dobro? Is it tilted away from the monitor?

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 14 Sep 2000 8:30 am

The only lap guitar I play is a tricone/Weissenborn and I play sitting. But I basically point the 57 right behing the bridge about 4 inches away. if it helps make sure the monitor is 180 degrees behind the mic. They pick up almost nothing there.

David Stehman · Post by **David Stehman** » 19 Sep 2000 10:06 pm

Mark - I've tried lots of ideas and had lots of help from this forum and the resogit newsgroup folks. What helps reduce feedback is a directional mike, reducing monitor volume to minimum needed, angling your playing position away from the monitor, reducing preamp gain to minimum needed to make a loud enough sound out from your amp/house system, and angling the mike toward your resonator at right angles (in both axes) away from the angle pointing toward the monitor. McIntyre pickups are still the favorite. My new Melobro is louder enough I don't worry about it nearly as much now. Let us know what works, as lots of us deal with this, and it's a work in progress for a lot of us.
Dave Stehman

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 21 Sep 2000 4:58 am

For microphones you might want to try the Audio Technica Pro35X or the ATM35 micrphones. They come with a spring loaded clamp and gooseneck assembly. Sam Ash has them for $119 and $199 respectively. They can clamp right on to the resonator cover and then moved via the gooseneck to where you need it. They are quality small condensor mics that run off batteries or phantom power. I personally use the McIntyre pickup coupled with an L.R.Baggs preamp and it sounds great into a PA.

Mark Krutke · Post by **Mark Krutke** » 21 Sep 2000 8:52 pm

Michael,

Is the McIntyre pick-up you're talking about the small round pick-up with the gum-type adhesive that sticks to the dobro? Also, how would these mics you're talking about perform compared to the SM57's with the feedback from the monitors, even if the mike is turned away?<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Mark Krutke on 21 September 2000 at 09:57 PM.]</p></FONT>

Mark Krutke · Post by **Mark Krutke** » 21 Sep 2000 8:54 pm

Michael,
Does the Bagg's preamp give you a different tone compared to if you don't use it?