How To Amplify A Resonator Guitar - Resonator Pickup Type And Comparison - The Washboard Resonators

How to amplify a resonator guitar?

Here we discuss the three main ways of electrifying your resonator.

Microphone / Transducer / Magnetic pickup.

We use the 1931 Triolian through a Shure SM57 into the Bose PA.

The Highlander pickup through a Fishman Platinum Pro EQ into the Bose.

We then use a magnetic pickup into a Supro Blues King 12.

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[TheWashboardResonators]

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Thanks all!

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[andrewnell]

As someone who has not got a resonator yet just gretch electric and a 3 string cigar box, I really enyour videos so informative and concise. I have learnt so much thank you.

[tag]

You are correct - this is already and will continue to be a great resource for reso/pickup info. ALSO, I really wanted to point out that it is refreshing to see someone post this type of info, ask for comments and then actually follow up with responses to everyone who decides to contribute. That is pretty rare in this YT world these days. Thank you killer and I wish you all the success in the future - you deserve it for your efforts.

[JohnNathanCO]

Thanks a million for the tip on electric vs. acoustic strings. This I did not know... and my cheapo flat humbucker has driven me crazy with super loud strings 1 and 2! Trying some heavy gauge electrics today.

[seanantley]

Excellent info, THANK YOU!!! After playing lead guitar in rock and metal bands for 30+ years, for some reason I became obsessed with wanting to play resonators and just their whole sound and vibe. The day I bought one, like a little kid, I was so excited I bought one that is totally acoustic... never thinking I’d want to amplify it lol!!! Now that I’m used to mine, and want to plug it in, , I’ve struggled with ways to amplify it since I don’t sit down or very still lol, I now know what to try and see what is going to work best for me. Thank you for your help!!!

[robbieguitar]

Hey. This is Rob from Long Island NY. I’m still a novice at open G resonator.. I’d like to say thank you for the sharing of information to this style of guitar. I play a Beard RFD resonator.

[mikefullerton]

I’ve recently stumbled upon your videos and want to say thank you for your generosity in providing such useful instruction and information. I started playing a reso in finger style and slide just over a year ago and your videos have touched on a number of the rabbit hole I’ve gone down. It’s so easy to get distracted with gear and uncertainty about what reso to buy, what slide on what finger, string action, string types, how to amplify, and whether to record practice sessions (and what recording platform to use). Yikes, the hours I’ve spent on such topics is remarkable. Again thank you for your very clearly articulated videos. I look forward to following up on things like microphones (my reso doesn’t have a pickup), harmonics (they are still a mystery), and learning to sing and play at the same time (time can be a challenge especially when lyrics start on the “and” of a measure). Hopefully addressing these will be made easier due to your videos. Cheers from Ottawa, Canada.

[BadTemperJoe]

Great one. In all my resonators are two pickups installed. A magnetic soundhole pickup and three piezo pickups under the cone. You can blend them together or use them separately. Peter Wahl, who built my resonators, uses this system a lot. I usually use only the magnetic soundhole pickup but it's great to have the option for a more acoustic sound with the piezos.

[FrancRobert]

My experiences- if you're looking at a pickup, Krivo is the first choice IMO-reasonably natural sounding, easy to install and move around, and a fair amount of volume before feedback. I have one on my NRP Style 1 tricone, and it works great. Just be aware of the height of the pickup, it's pretty even with my fretboard, and string clearance is pretty tight. I have used the Schatten pickup as well on this guitar-it's OK, but because it's a contact pickup, you need to be REALLY careful on placement! We have a Schatten on my wife's Dobro Hound Dog (metal body biscuit, similar to Style O), that one actually is not bad at all. As for microphones, I've used 57s and numerous others-they can all work well, but as you mentioned, moving around will change your volume and tone! I have a '32 Duolian that I recently acquired, and I'm trying a Myers Feather pickup on it-it's actually a microphone on a gooseneck attached to a preamp, which you then feed into whatever you're using for amplification. It's a bit fiddly in getting the placement right, but the sound is extremely accurate, and best of all, doesn't mar the finish of your instrument-my Duolian still has it's original frosted Duco finish, and the putty that my Krivo pickup uses to attach pulled the finish up too easily (tested on a spot nobody would notice first!). Thanks for the video!

[chadvandam]

That’s a lot of really great information. I’m going to have to look through all your other videos again! So I can see what information you have for me or us! It seems like you’re really nice enough to to reply to all the people that comment on you, so I’ll give you a break here don’t comment on my comment unless you think you might be coming to Seattle at some point and then I’ve got to come and see ya good luck! Take the world by storm with a resonator guitar! 11:06

[hammerstrumm]

I put a Lace humbucker near the neck of a single cone biscuit all metal resonator, (only place it fitted) but struggled to keep the reso sound when using gain, until i found this solution: that humbucker goes through a stereo pedal (flanger in my case), then one half of the signal goes to an acoustic amp for the reso sound, and the other half goes to a small tube amp. Awesome for bluesrock.

[RichOReilly]

Great video..it would be great if you could share mic and recording techniques. Always a challenge for us that record at home.. awesome stuff...thanks

[rogersnyder]

Thanks for your insights! You've inspired me to try my Fishman Jerry Douglas Signature Aura Imaging Effects Pedal for Resonator Guitar (usually used on square neck dobro) on other guitars... hmmm...

[rogerogrant]

Unrelated to this wonderful demo - is your Triolian a bakelite neck? 😊

[davidpuccio]

Very interresting video. Thanks for these precious informations.

[midi]

Really like my Platinum Pro EQ preamp. A Cadillac of acoustic preamps.

[paulrouse]

How about reviewing the Fishman Jerry Douglas Aura pedal?

[mitchellstrauss]

Nice, nice overview... Tricones, I think present a bit of a problem using the piezo... Highlander manufactured a nice set up but it is unclear if they are still in business, plus as you say, to mount a Highlander involves some serious guitar surgery... I ordered a Krivo even though I don't like the idea of sticking the pickup on with putty balls and would rather have a more permanent set up... nevertheless, I like to run my resonator through a pedal board to alter the tonality so the Krivo makes sense... thanks for the lesson...

[stevieraveon]

Thanks for the videos, they are helpful. Assuming the room mic is still on for the magnetic clip, how much "resonator" sound does it convey from direct pickup signal alone?

[albertlevy]

I purchased a resonator guitar last year. It is a Fender FR50 yeah it was cheap. Having never played one I was not certain about the subject. Can they be played like a regular guitar in standard tuning. Or is it slide only. It us a spider bridge. Any advice would be helpful. And no I can't afford a 2000 dollar guitar at my age.