Maybe it's me but I've seen a trend on several sites that sell "things". A bunch of cigar box guitars with resonators that have a magnetic pickup and only that pickup. No piezo under the bridge or resonator. To me, that's defeating the whole purpose of adding a resonator to a cbg. I've heard sound samples of said guitars and all you hear is the magnetic pickup. I just don't get it. Go to all the trouble of adding in a resonator and then don't amplify it? Oh well, I'm done......I feel better!
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
Any pickup that has been well potted. ( a process of using wax or wax like chemicals to eliminate all except magnetic induced energy) wont work. Single or double coil. A good replica of of an unpotted pickup would work. Not sure where you would find information on which one would be best to use. You may find answers on acoustic guitar building forums. Or even large forms like ultimate Guitar.
Perhaps an easier and less expensive option would be to use a combination.
Electrifying reso's is not all that simple,many personal tastes come in to play,i've done it with mags on body,[pointless],mags on the cone/resonator,[better],discs inside,[best],and rods in saddle/bridge[good],i've found to my ear ,the closest to a reso sound is the disc if mounted well,which in turn leads me to think a good microphone set up well is probably best for reso's rather than internal amping
Not going to open the huge can of worms about mag pickups. Will say this. Some mags are designed to be microphonic. They not only give a good sound. But pick up the sound of the instrument as well. Cheaper mags will pick up everything. Unfortunately some cheaply made mags are better off used for wall hangers. Guitars made as art and not meant to be played. A piezo would sound better and have less feedback.
Guess in the end it depends if the builder has done research. The right pickup will give you that cool sound of the res threw an amp. Put a $90+ Seymour Duncan and the res becomes nothing more than a decoration. Total waste of build. So I do totally agree with you. If it's a good mag there should be a piezo to bring out the cool sound of the resonator.
I use quality mags because my music depends a lot on fuzz, distortion and overdrive. Love the sound of piezos. Unfortunately with heavy fuzz piezos sound like Godzilla before puberty.
Scott > Cause the Blue ratOctober 24, 2015 at 7:44am
I agree, no can of worms here, was not my intention. I just needed some explanation from more learned souls than I. One prolific builder who sells online who I shall not name, has several videos of his creations and they just sound like a standard electric guitar. Although very pretty to look at, like you said, waste of a build. I went so far of asking him if he uses an under bridge piezo and his response was a single flat "no". Well ok then.
I appreciate the honest responses. Now, since I don't have a resonator in my collection, I'll have to make a decision whether to build one myself or purchase one from a builder. I have listened to several samples of Schmied intsruments...quite an authentic sound. We'll see.
contrary to popular belief , a mag pup does pick up more than just the strings, especially if it's monophonic or vintage . if you doubt it ,,, just yell into a pickup on a guitar and see for yourself .
this is also why some hollow bodies have pups and soundholes / f-holes . the combo would make no sense otherwise .
that being said , even faux resonator guitars (with no cone ) were the rage in the 60s . it did not reso like a reso , but added some twang , mass , and a cool look.
in actuality , a reso guitar should not need any amplification , save for a mic. that is actually what it was designed as , a non electrically amped acoustic.
so , yes , they do make a difference , just not as drastic of one .
Scott > the anonymous pickOctober 23, 2015 at 7:53pm
Well ok, I'll give you that but still, for my ears, I'll take a simple piezo under the bridge or somewhere in the reso. For my money you just can't beat that raw hollow with a slide sound!
Replies
Any pickup that has been well potted. ( a process of using wax or wax like chemicals to eliminate all except magnetic induced energy) wont work. Single or double coil. A good replica of of an unpotted pickup would work. Not sure where you would find information on which one would be best to use. You may find answers on acoustic guitar building forums. Or even large forms like ultimate Guitar.
Perhaps an easier and less expensive option would be to use a combination.
BTW, what would be a good example of a monophonic pickup? I would assume a humbucker is not monophonic?
Electrifying reso's is not all that simple,many personal tastes come in to play,i've done it with mags on body,[pointless],mags on the cone/resonator,[better],discs inside,[best],and rods in saddle/bridge[good],i've found to my ear ,the closest to a reso sound is the disc if mounted well,which in turn leads me to think a good microphone set up well is probably best for reso's rather than internal amping
Not going to open the huge can of worms about mag pickups. Will say this. Some mags are designed to be microphonic. They not only give a good sound. But pick up the sound of the instrument as well. Cheaper mags will pick up everything. Unfortunately some cheaply made mags are better off used for wall hangers. Guitars made as art and not meant to be played. A piezo would sound better and have less feedback.
Guess in the end it depends if the builder has done research. The right pickup will give you that cool sound of the res threw an amp. Put a $90+ Seymour Duncan and the res becomes nothing more than a decoration. Total waste of build. So I do totally agree with you. If it's a good mag there should be a piezo to bring out the cool sound of the resonator.
I use quality mags because my music depends a lot on fuzz, distortion and overdrive. Love the sound of piezos. Unfortunately with heavy fuzz piezos sound like Godzilla before puberty.
I agree, no can of worms here, was not my intention. I just needed some explanation from more learned souls than I. One prolific builder who sells online who I shall not name, has several videos of his creations and they just sound like a standard electric guitar. Although very pretty to look at, like you said, waste of a build. I went so far of asking him if he uses an under bridge piezo and his response was a single flat "no". Well ok then.
I appreciate the honest responses. Now, since I don't have a resonator in my collection, I'll have to make a decision whether to build one myself or purchase one from a builder. I have listened to several samples of Schmied intsruments...quite an authentic sound. We'll see.
contrary to popular belief , a mag pup does pick up more than just the strings, especially if it's monophonic or vintage . if you doubt it ,,, just yell into a pickup on a guitar and see for yourself .
this is also why some hollow bodies have pups and soundholes / f-holes . the combo would make no sense otherwise .
that being said , even faux resonator guitars (with no cone ) were the rage in the 60s . it did not reso like a reso , but added some twang , mass , and a cool look.
in actuality , a reso guitar should not need any amplification , save for a mic. that is actually what it was designed as , a non electrically amped acoustic.
so , yes , they do make a difference , just not as drastic of one .
After seeing where this ended up I fear it was posted in the wrong discussion. I apologize.