Recording Dobro

[muzeman]

Not "The Dobro",dobro guitar.

Has anyone ever recorded one?

What is the best way to do it;
compression?
reverb?
tube pre?
large condenser?
small condenser?
mic position?
lunar position?


Thanks for any help,
Pete

[muzeman]

Oh ya,
Has anyone heard or have any opions on the Gretch Dobros,Historic series?

Thanks,
Pete

[bongolation]

Originally posted by muzeman
Has anyone heard or have any opions on the Gretch Dobros,Historic series?

They're not true Dobro-style resonators, as the sound well is not there. They just look like Dobros. Other than that, I think the Gretsch Historics are pretty nice guitars. I picked up a "Hawaiian" on Labor Day and it's the best flattop I've ever owned and probably ever played. Boy, was I surprised!

As far as quasi-Dobros go, under no circumstances get a Fender FR-50. They are absolute, 100% garbage with some breathtakingly idiotic design flaws that destroy them as resophonic instruments. Junk, pure and simple. Can't be fixed, either.

[ruebarb]

Used two small condensor mics...balanced Oktava MC012's.

Didn't do much differently then when I mic a normal acoustic...a bit easier because you don't have too much bass from the soundhole..but you did have to muck with mic placement a bit ... depending on how the cavity's constructed.

I'd leave it as effect free as possible...but that's just me..it kinda has an almost natural "spring" reverb to it anyway..and this was also slide guitar...so I kept it drier then the vocal.

[muzeman]

bongolation,
Thanks for the info,
I never played a real dobro so I wouldn't know the differance,
but for $550 the Gretch sounded pretty good.
Funny you should mention the Fender,that's the other one I was
looking to try,I guess I won't bother.

What is a Hawaiian Guitar,how does it differ from a regular flatop?

ruebarb,
Thanks for the tip.
I'm using a large diaphram,seems like mic placement is the problem.
Think I'll try Harvey's over the shoulder technique.

I really love the dobro sound,adds a new dimension to everything,now if I could just learn how to handle this darn slide!

BTW,
Anybody know what the bars that are under the resonator are for,there are 4 in a cross shape.
You can move them if you pry with a screw driver,seem to be some kind of tensioner?

Thanks again,
Pete

[bongolation]

Originally posted by muzeman
...for $550 the Gretch sounded pretty good.
Funny you should mention the Fender,that's the other one I was
looking to try,I guess I won't bother.

What is a Hawaiian Guitar,how does it differ from a regular flatop?

Here's the Hawaiian:

http://www.gretsch.com/Historic1/g3100.html

Fantastic guitar. Beautifully made, gorgeous wood, plays like a dream and sounds better than any flattop I've heard under $2500. It is MUCH prettier than in the picture.

GC closed them out for $199! I couldn't believe it. This makes my Gibson J-45 DeLuxe and my (US) Guild D-40 sound and play like garage-sale guitars.

I heard a Gretsch resophonic (technically speaking, these are not true resonators as they do not have the Dobro soundwell from which the "resonance" comes) in GC and it sounded OK. I believe it's the same mechanism as in the Fender, but Fender has made this 1/2" arch at the top of the resonator hole, so when everything's screwed down, the so-called "resonator" assembly is BENT so it won't seat correctly, work properly or sound worth squat. This is the single dumbest thing I have ever seen in guitar design in my life. Epic stupidity.

Unfortunately I bought one sight-unseen on the recommendations of a couple of people on musicians' sites who hadn't a clue of what they were talking about. At least I got a good price on it.

[muzeman]

bongolation,
Thanks again for the info.
How long ago did you get the Hawaiian?
I'm wondering if I can possible still get one?

Thanks,
Pete

[muzeman]

BTW,
Do you have the 3100 or the 3440?