StephenSelby - Posted - 02/07/2010:  17:53:07

I'm playing dobro with an un-plugged group that includes guitar, banjo and mando (and sometimes a base).

So they are all sitting/standing with instruments that face the audience, while I have an instrument that faces heaven. They are complaining that my volume is way too low (even with solid picking.)

Is this a common problem? And is there a common solution?

DaveInAL - Posted - 02/07/2010:  18:34:22

I assume you are not using a mic in this situation. I play standing up and angle the guitar out toward the audience and away from the "facing heaven" position. I do not have the problem you have. Although the banjo is usually a bit louder, I am probably the second loudest instrument. My instruments have good volume and I do pick hard. Tell us a bit more about what you are playing and the situation.

Dave

StephenSelby - Posted - 02/07/2010:  21:09:10

Right now, we're mostly sitting and trying to record our sessions so as to improve them. I'm not using a pickup. When we're all the same distance from the mike, my volume is much lower than the others.

DaveInAL - Posted - 02/08/2010:  05:35:07

Try a separate mic on the dobro for recording. Other things you might try are picking harder, improving the volume characteristics of your instrument (setup) or a pickup. Good luck!

Dave

bmizell - Posted - 02/08/2010:  06:30:43

Its probably your reso, what do you play? A good setup from a pro like Bobby Wright would probably do wonders for your guitar. I have nocticed that after a year or so they need a anouther setup/tuneup to keep the tone and sound to stand up in a jam with banjo's etc.
Bob

Alan Rausch - Posted - 02/08/2010:  14:53:24

We record our practices with a zoom box digital recording device then burn them to cds. It is good to do that, I sometimes have a similar problem, because the zoom is like a "one" mic situation. I sometimes sit on a stool closer to the box. In a live situation individual mics take care of the problem.

StephenSelby - Posted - 02/08/2010:  18:10:10

Thanks for the advice. I'm playing a Regal Black Lightning. It was well set-up when I bought it in Australia; but here in Hong Kong there is no professional support for folk musical instruments. I'll look in to pick-ups. In the meantime I have to resort to a lap steel, but I don't like the tone.

Dan Mahoney - Posted - 02/09/2010:  07:39:17

Stephen,
My guess is that they are toto loud. If they can't hear the dobro then they are not listening and are probably playing too loud. This is a syndrome I've been fighting for almost 40 years. If you have to play too hard to be heard your tone will suffer. Good luck.

StephenSelby - Posted - 02/09/2010:  19:24:30

Thanks, Dan. But I'm afraid of being like the Momma at the Polish passing-out parade, saying, "Why's my little Woycek the only one in the platoon marching in time?"

SteveH - Posted - 02/10/2010:  10:41:17

I can definitely relate to your problem. In fact, I have a new dobro coming in a few days (modern post / baffle) design that I hope will remedy the situation. My Hound Dog, even with upgrades of cone and saddle, is still pretty quiet. I actually prefer playing mic'd up because it keeps me from having to attack it so hard. The harder I have to play the more I lose accuracy and tone. Playing in a small jam group is not too bad, but when the group gets too large - ugh...