Author Topic: Pup for resonator (Read 2921 times)

ToneMonkey · « **on:** January 05, 2007, 02:29:09 PM »

I'm currently building a steel bodied resonator with a luthier I know. These will then hopefully be made available in brass not long after we have the steel one right. After many prototypes, we're definately getting there.

Anyway, because of the work that I'm putting into this project, I'm getting myself a nice shiney new chromed, brass resonator. I'm also thinking that while I have all the plans on my computer, I could add a pick up hole easily enough and have that cut at the same time as the body (we have the steel laser cut and the brass will be water cut). I really wouldn't like to go back and cut a hole in it at a later date.

So do you think that there is a BKP suitable for a resonator? I'm after a classy, chrome job, kind of like the lipstick pickups, but that's just the looks. Do I need something fairly strong as the string height will be set quite high (I'll be using it for slide)?

Cheers guys any help would be greatly appreciated.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2007, 06:16:58 PM »

I just get the feeling that a Tele type neck pup would be the way to go-can't make up my mind, though, what model. Before I finished reading the post I was thinking high action and I was thinking Piledriver and the latter part of your post confirmed that.I would hasten to add that I have not tried one but I can see where you are coming from. I love resonators and Mrs 38th does too.She keeps saying I should get one. I can play a bit of slide but I am not that good. I would love to hear how it works out-any chance of pics?

StefanPrice · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2007, 04:42:06 PM »

Hmm.
You don't want an electric guitar pickup, because that will not give you the sound of the resonator, its like putting an electric guitar pickup in an normal acoustic.
It would probably sound like a mix of electric guitar with a tinny sound.
You would be best with a tranducer, these days people use makes like LR Baggs for National steel guitars, you could try B band.
This will give you the sound of the guitar acoustically as much as possible rather than an electric guitar pickup.

Joe Dorcia · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2007, 06:01:33 PM »

Hi Tone monkey

You would be best getting something from this selection http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_resonator.html

They will all fit the bill and they are especially for resonators. Should be good

Joe

ToneMonkey · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2007, 09:10:26 AM »

Cheers guys, very useful. Stewmac seems to have changed their resonator pups since I last looked at them. Before they had some that went under the cone and they weren't very good at all.

38thBeatle - If my photobucket account starts to work again, then I'll post a couple of in progress pics. Unfortunetly it's not loading properly at the minute. We haven't done anything on it for a couple of months as we've both been really busy, but hopefully things will start again soon. In the meantime though, here's the link to the bloke that I'm working with, the site is a bit out of date, at the minute as no one can get access to it to upgrade it. www.deltaresonatorguitars.co.uk

Ha ha - Photobucket caught up, here are some old progress pics. The shape in the back is just an experiment. It will be much closer to the original when we're done. This is an old prototype, built from thicker guage steel and a wooden cone ring, the final ones will be much nicer. The first photo just shows the metal bent round, hence the big gaps. Let me know what you think:

38thBeatle · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2007, 06:22:38 PM »

Thanks for the pictures Tonemonkey- very interesting. I was thinking about what Stefan said and he is, of course absolutely right in that a pickup would not necessarily produce the sound of a Reso. My suggestion was based upon my interpretation of what you were possibly thinking of and I was thinking back to an Ozark Reso I'd tried that had a lipstick pickup by the neck. The sound was clearly not a reso as we all know and love but was in Tele territory-hence my suggestion.In fact I was, at one point, considering getting something like that. I am looking forward to seeing the fruits of your labours.

Kilby · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2007, 09:11:24 PM »

Mini humbuckers seem to be quite popular for resonators, if you havn't tried them theyre (in my experiance) 'usually' a little brighter than full sized HBs.