#1
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Mics vs Pickups for Squareneck Resonator Guitars
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#2
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Well, I always look at it in terms of simplicity. If getting a good miced sound was as easy as plugging in, wouldn't we all always use one?
The problem is it isn't. clip on violin style mics are getting better and better, and they are a perfect fit for lap playing.
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I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#3
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Fair enough. Part of the live performance sound equation is the method you use to amplify your instrument - mic or pickup. The other part is the variable nature of room acoustics. There are far more bad sounding live performance venues than good ones. This is where having a pickup can be a real lifesaver. See the article for more details
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#4
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I did. Have you tried any of the violin clip ons?
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I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#5
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I have a Myers Grip I use for Uke, square neck, cigar box guitar, etc. and it works well for me. It is a mic on a small gooseneck, with a pre and a suction cup. Stick it on, point the mic, and play. Perfect if you have a bunch of instruments you plug in infrequently. Something permanent would be better if gigged often.
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2007 Martin D 35 Custom 1970 Guild D 35 1965 Epiphone Texan 2011 Santa Cruz D P/W Pono OP 30 D parlor Pono OP12-30 Pono MT uke Goldtone Paul Beard squareneck resophonic Fluke tenor ukulele Boatload of home rolled telecasters "Shut up and play ur guitar" Frank Zappa |
#6
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Blue, in the article I reference some of the different mics I've owned or used over the years, including the DPA 4099G which is one of the highest quality clip-on microphones on the market.
I'm neither for or against microphones. I own a couple of high quality mics and use them in certain circumstances. My interest in writing the article was to share my experience in the quest for a good live performance rig which for me involved a lot of experimentation with different mics and pickups. There's no right or wrong in these matters, IMO. |
#7
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Quote:
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I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#8
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I would think that for that distinctive resonator sound you'd want a mic. A pickup would just be reading the vibration of the strings against the bridge or vibration of the soundboard (or banjo head if that was the case).
You'd lose some of that "metallic twanginess" of a resonator... |
#9
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Quote:
The basic tone of a reso is hard to keep down. I have a National resotone which has a standard single cone in a solidbody, and the only pickup on it is a tele neck pickup. It does not in any way sound like a tele even though it has the same wood recipe (why mess with perfection? ) with a cone slapped into it. Check out some demos on youtube. It sounds like a reso. Not like a nice miced one, but the cone refuses to be ignored.
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I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#10
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In my experience, as long as you are playing in a great sounding room, its true, nothing matches a mic. But this comment is misleading because it does not take into account the highly variable nature of room acoustics in live performance venues. If you are gigging a lot it doesn't take too long to run into a situation where its either difficult to get a mic to cut through the mix (noisy bars, large disinterested crowds, echoey halls, etc) or difficult to shape your sound to get the desired effect through a mic, whether with EQ or spatial effects. So if you are playing in concert halls I would tend to agree that a mic may sound better than a pickup. FWIW, I'm not against mics! I do use them from time to time.
And - YES - when it comes to squareneck resonator guitars - the Fishman Nashville Series pickup/Aura combination has effectively resolved the old issues with resonator guitar pickups and in 95% of the live performance venues I've used it in its worked very well. In fact I prefer it greatly to any microphone I've ever used because it gives me a lot more control over shaping the way my guitar cuts through the mix. Of course, as they say YMMV. |
#11
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I've been through many different mic solutions, and never found something that was practical for me in a live performance setting. I've been using the Fishman Classic series pickup, which everyone seems to hate, and honestly I like it a lot. Very dependent on preamp and EQ though.
I enjoy the blog, BTW.
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1943 Gibson J-45 Martin Custom Shop 000-28 Authentic Aged 1937 Voyage Air VAOM-4 |
#12
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Blue, in your post above you mentioned Highlander and K&K pickups on biscuit style and tricone guitars. Just curious, are you a squareneck player?
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#13
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I am. But, and I'm not sure why I feel the need to say "but", I play an original National tricone squareneck. So the Spider solutions, other than the goosenecks, don't apply to me.
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I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#14
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Thanks, sounds like a really nice instrument. Do you have a YouTube or Soundclound channel? It'd be great to hear your music
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#15
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I'm kind of a luddite. Don't even have a digital camera. My wife tripped and fell on it back in September and we haven't replaced it.
__________________
I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |