The British Steelies Society

I bought a dobro off forum member Tawpick last year (hope you're enjoying your new one Dave!) , finally got around to recording something.



If anyone can tell me how you're meant to record a dobro I'd appreciate it, it's got a bug mic in but doesn't sound great.

I've used the onboard mics on my recording console but it's only really meant to get a stereo pair in a room.
Should I get a mic? Do I need a particular sort of mic (I know nothing about mics)!!

I've heard (from Allan K) that I need to point the mic at the resonator cone...

Henry

Sounds good to me Henry! I don't think you could go wrong with an SM57 type mic, maybe angle it away from the neck to minimise bar noise...?

I'm very much a beginner on Dobro but I recently joined a bluegrass jam in Walthamstow, last Wednesday of the month - you should come along!

Henry
Sounds like dobro.. what's the eq like on onboard mics, a bit less top end, a bit more bottom & I reckon it would be ok for home recording.
Pretty sure we used SM57 in studio on Rosellys tracks, check with Chris, it was recorded at Reservoir.

Live is another issue............

thanks guys, my flatmate says he has a hypercardioid. I told him I hope he feels better soon.

sorry.

Anyhow, I dont know what it means but maybe I'll give it a go and see how it comes out, but yeah I'd like to make it sound a bit less in the distance but with less bar noise and stuff.

I EQd the top up and took the bottom out cos I thought it sat in the mix better that way, but maybe that was just cos the recorded sound wasn't so good

I'll see what Chris says

Bluegrass jam eh? sounds good I'll keep you posted . There's a folk session in a the grosvenor in brixton/stockwell that is pretty good too, first Friday of the month, although I think it's shutting down soon. great atmosphere, stays open til 5am, good beer, real shame.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1416621 ... 5/?fref=ts

henry wrote:I bought a dobro off forum member Tawpick last year (hope you're enjoying your new one Dave!) , finally got around to recording something.



If anyone can tell me how you're meant to record a dobro I'd appreciate it, it's got a bug mic in but doesn't sound great.

I've used the onboard mics on my recording console but it's only really meant to get a stereo pair in a room.
Should I get a mic? Do I need a particular sort of mic (I know nothing about mics)!!

I've heard (from Allan K) that I need to point the mic at the resonator cone...

Henry

Henry, woking with Bob Dixon a few years ago, and asked him how he got a brill Dobro sound.
He sais it was a mike he had bought for the job,(STAGG 50 50) so I bought one, no good for vocalising but what a great Dobro sound, think it's designed as high frequency and only cost £27.00 used on a mike stand over the sound hole, just a thought my friend.p.s. it needs phantom power from the P.A.

I have tried many different mics on my dobro both live and the studio: SM57, SM58, K&K Silver Bullet and AKG C1000s. I didn't like the SM57 because I felt it coloured the sound too much, and the K&K had feedback problems on stage. I settled on the AKG for both live work and recording. You can decide whether it gives the sound you are after in this recording:

Hard Times (Come Again No More)

The mic was on a stand and pointed between the cone and a sound hole.

Chris

thanks everyone, great advice all round.

Lovely playing Chris, and the dobro sounds very natural to me.

I will have a dig around on ebay with my new found knowledge..

Henry

Thanks, Henry. I'd be interested to know what you go for in the end.

I'm still at a loss about how to amplify the dobro in a live band with electric instruments. Using a mic just won't cut it but I'm loathe to install a pickup.

Cheers,

Chris

yeah, Allan has said the same thing. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it

my one experience so far involved loads of feedback and not being able to hear myself

Are you touring with Danny and the Champs, Henry? I see they have a gig in Cardiff in October. If you're on steel I'll try to get along.

I was talking to Dave from Western Skyline on Saturday night and he mentioned you sometimes play in his band too. If you're headed out west, let me know. Always to see/hear a fellow steeler.

Cheers,

Chris