hkc
MM Forum Member
Posts: 17
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Post by hkc on Nov 21, 2019 12:04:09 GMT
Hi there
I have a problem. I have recorded a song which has surprisingly ended up on an album which I may have to tour with. Obviously that is not the problem, being a good thing, but I used a resonator for the main guitar part and I pick the guitar in the style of Blackbird so I need to find a way to recreate that sound. I want to put a pickup in my rather nice Kay resonator (one of those built in the late 40s by former National employees) but I can't find a system that picks up the sound convincingly without also being likely to feedback. The guitar needs to be able to work in rock environment with stage monitors, loud volume etc. I already have a DPA 4099 but it feeds much to easily so I'm hoping for an internal solution where the pickup is installed.
I am not really familiar with how people in general deals with resonators in live situations but I have seen people playing them so there must be a way......
PS please note that it's for fingerpicking and it's essential that the "banjo-like" quality is intact. Obviously I would like the solution to be versatile enough to be used for slide as well.
All the best
Henrik Krogh
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Post by richclough on Nov 21, 2019 16:07:24 GMT
Hey Henrik, I've read quite a few threads here on pickups and miking up resonators. If I were you I'd search...
However, the general conclusion is, in preference order:
1) Use an SM57 to mic it.
or
2) Blend an SM57 with a pickup, either piezo or magnetic, with the emphasis on the SM57
or
3) Use a pickup. Highest recommendations are Highlander for a piezo pick-up (on singlecone as they don't make the tricone one anymore) or Sixtus for electric pickup.
At least, that is my understanding of the various threads on this subject.
Cheers,
Rich
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hkc
MM Forum Member
Posts: 17
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Post by hkc on Nov 22, 2019 12:41:30 GMT
Thanks for the reply, I will look into that. For live use a SM57 won't do because I stand up so I will look into the Highlander or Sixtus.
PS I did a search on "pickup" but got nothing.....strange
All the best
Henrik
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Nov 22, 2019 13:02:16 GMT
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Post by jono1uk on Nov 23, 2019 13:19:20 GMT
Yup i would go with SIXTUS ..
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hkc
MM Forum Member
Posts: 17
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Post by hkc on Nov 25, 2019 6:08:03 GMT
Thanks for the replies, would you go for the humbucker or the single coil (Sixtus). Remember that it's for fingerpicking, not really normal resonator approach.
All the best
Henrik
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elmar
MM Forum Member
Posts: 10 
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Post by elmar on Dec 2, 2019 21:12:13 GMT
The Sixtus resonator pickup has two humbucker-wound coils. It detects a longer bit of the vibrating which is the supposed reason why it sounds open and harmonic, catching more of the subtile overtones of a resonator guitar.
The Sixtus Slim has one single coil. The sound spectrum is slighty more mid range than the twin coil. While the twin coil is clearly more "acoustic", the Slim is more an allrounder, also sounding great on distortion and raunchy high gain overdrive.
For live situations: The output level is less than that of common humbuckers. Dialing in the volume towards 11 might me a challenge for the sound guy.
The new generation is not wax potted. In case needed, they can be ordered as wax potted. Anyway, I would assume nobody would put the resonator (!) guitar in front of a monitor :-)
My opinion is based on my impression and on feedback from Sixtus customers.
All the best :-) Elmar
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Post by tokyo on Dec 8, 2019 18:26:32 GMT
Folks as to the MM pickups yeah great but my small niggle was I kept catching my thumb on the edge ...So thinks !!!! aha that old strat 3ply scratchplate and with a saw and some files hey presto problem solved ,Done a dummy run on the Gretsch worked fine then the tricone now my thumb slides over lovely without the hesitation that was starting to creep in Regards Attachments:
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Post by obrienp on Dec 9, 2019 10:55:21 GMT
Hi Henrik, I haven’t tried the MM/ Sixtus pickups myself but I do have a Highlander in my National single cone. It does produce a very nice resonator tone but in live situations there can be issues with feedback, like any other piezo pickup. Whereas with a standard acoustic you can put one of those feedback busters bungs in the sound hole, with a resonator the last thing you want to do is impede the vibrations of the cone. It’s almost the perfect recipe for feedback. Another issue with the Highlander is that it has an outboard battery box that supplies phantom power to the preamp in the guitar via a stereo lead. The standard Highlander battery box doesn’t have any low power warning lights and requires a screwdriver to change the battery: not ideal for gigging. I have ditched mine and replaced it with a Headway preamp that supplies the phantom power, feedback suppression, 3 band eq controls, warning lights and a mute switch. Much better for gigging.
Anyway, long story short: Highlander great for resonator tone in low volume situations but several drawbacks for loud gig use. You might be better off with the MM/Sixtus pickup for your requirements but I can’t speak for the sound they produce.
Good luck! Pat
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Post by washboardchris on Dec 11, 2019 14:43:09 GMT
Hi, what kind of venue's will you be playing? are you touring on your own(carrying your own PA or are you playing venue's with there own sound man.
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hkc
MM Forum Member
Posts: 17
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Post by hkc on Jan 9, 2020 10:17:58 GMT
Hi again
Sorry for being away for so long but has been a busy time.
I really appreciate the responses and I will clear up a few things underneath.
What venues do I play: It varies, some are huge, others are much smaller so versatility is a must.
The Highlander feedbacks: Very useful info, it just won't do then.
My own questions is now, does anybody use the Sixtus, how tall is it, do they go into an amp and, very important, do they fingerpick on their resonator.
All the best
Henrik
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Post by richclough on Jan 9, 2020 11:13:38 GMT
Hi again Sorry for being away for so long but has been a busy time. I really appreciate the responses and I will clear up a few things underneath. What venues do I play: It varies, some are huge, others are much smaller so versatility is a must. The Highlander feedbacks: Very useful info, it just won't do then. My own questions is now, does anybody use the Sixtus, how tall is it, do they go into an amp and, very important, do they fingerpick on their resonator. All the best Henrik I used the Sixtus on my Busker Tricone. When I upgraded to a National Style 1 I put a Krivo electric pickup on the guitar. I only did this because it looked better. Yeah, I'm that shallow. Both are great pickups - can't really tell a difference between the two. The Sixtus is very flat, the Krivo is slightly higher. I had to get quite clever with how I stuck it to my guitar to prevent string choking above the 14th fret. Both are good for fingerpicking. If you put any electric pickup through a guitar amp you will lose the high end and overtones - guitar amps kill everything over 6kHz. This may be good or not good, depending on the sound you are looking for. If you use Phosphor Bronze strings one key thing is making sure that you can balance the 3rd string - only the core is magnetic and not as loud as the others. Both the Sixtus and the Krivo can be balanced in this way using the pole pieces. If you use strings that have magnetic windings you won't have a problem. Cheers, Rich |
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hkc
MM Forum Member
Posts: 17
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Post by hkc on Jan 11, 2020 21:49:47 GMT
Hj again
Rich, that was the reply I was hoping for. I will order the Sixtus asap. BTW does anybody know why the MM shop doesn't reply to mails, I have written them about the difference between the single coil and the humbucker version.
All the best
Hernik
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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 11, 2020 23:21:49 GMT
Hj again Rich, that was the reply I was hoping for. I will order the Sixtus asap. BTW does anybody know why the MM shop doesn't reply to mails, I have written them about the difference between the single coil and the humbucker version. All the best Hernik Hello Hernik, I am the MM shop and I ALWAYS reply to emails. You wrote to me in November and I replied within hours.... 25th November at 6:18am Hi there I am interested in the Sixtus stuff. I am not a conventional resonator player but often use my resonator for a more standard guitar approach, finger picking style. Will the Sixtus work ok with that, and what about the single coil versus humbucker option, which would you recommend. All the best Henrik Krogh 25th November at 10:15am Hello Henrik Thank you for writing to me about MM Sixtus pickups. I followed your thread on the forum, but if I join in it becomes advertising, rather than a discussion. The good news is that you can’t beat these pickups. On resonator guitars they are fantastic and if you are looking for the natural sound of the instrument, then the single coil “Slim” is the one to have. The humbucker is excellent too, but has more of an electric guitar tone. The bad news is that I don’t have any in stock at present. I am waiting for a delivery, but because they are handmade by one person running Sixtus as a part-time business, I am not sure when they will arrive. I hope before Christmas. My advice is to ask me again in a week and just keep doing that until they arrive. I hope that is helpful and I am sorry I don’t have one to send you right now Best wishes Michael Thank you for your enquiry, but I do not do business at 23.00 on a Saturday night or on Sundays, so I will reply to your email on Monday during business hours. Shine On Michael |
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hkc
MM Forum Member
Posts: 17
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Post by hkc on Jan 13, 2020 16:12:15 GMT
Hi again
There is no doubt that you replied, I can see your reply. I did however not receive it which is a little worrying but maybe it was conceived to be spam and deleted after a month.
Anyway I have been in contact with Michael Messer now and it seems that the single coil is the better choice for my needs, It is sold out at the moment but I will definitely get one when they are available again.
Thanks for the inputs everyone, it has been a great help on a topic that very few people know much about.
Henrik
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