Charlie Bernstein - Posted - 04/01/2025:  19:30:32

A National Style 0 roundneck reso has found a new home: my house! It's a blast to play. No buyers remorse here. Just pure glee.



Playing it at a pub recently, I found it didn't need much sound reiforcement. Used it with a mic dialed real low, and it sounded good.



But there will be times, I hope, when I'll need to amplify it. There are plenty of ways to do it, and I like five:



- Use my supercardioid dynamic mic.



- Use my large-diaphragm cardioid condensor mic.



- Get a National Slimline stick-on pickup made by Krivo Pickups.



- Get a K&K BB pickup.



- Get a National Hotplate.



I know the pros and cons for price, convenience, usefulness, and looks. I don't know what will sound better or for what.



Thoughts? Thanks!

Edited by - Charlie Bernstein on 04/01/2025 19:32:15

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 04/01/2025:  22:16:32

I would definitely go for the National Slimline made by Krivo. 

To my ears they sound slightly electric guitarish or on squarenecks slightly lap steelish because it's a surface mounted magnetic pickup, though I think they do a fine job overall, and playing out in front of an audience hardly anyone will know the difference.

And on a National Style O I don't think people are as admant about sound reproduction being as acoustically accurate as possible as they are with a squareneck spider bridge reso. 

Another idea is the Fishman Nashville biscuit bridge pickup. That will likely be the most accurate reproduction of the acoustic sound of the Style O, but if you don't have a Jerry Douglas Aura pedal, Fishman Spectrum or some other device like the L.R. Baggs  Voiceprint (which Rob Ickes is using these days) then the pickup on its own might sound "quacky." And it gets expensive. 

Dobrojan - Posted - 04/02/2025:  05:46:39

I use a Myers pickup when needed.

Oops, wrong topic!!! Apologies!  

Edited by - Dobrojan on 04/02/2025 05:51:52

Charlie Bernstein - Posted - 04/02/2025:  07:01:56

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkinSonoma

I would definitely go for the National Slimline made by Krivo. 

To my ears they sound slightly electric guitarish or on squarenecks slightly lap steelish because it's a surface mounted magnetic pickup, though I think they do a fine job overall, and playing out in front of an audience hardly anyone will know the difference.

And on a National Style O I don't think people are as admant about sound reproduction being as acoustically accurate as possible as they are with a squareneck spider bridge reso. 

Another idea is the Fishman Nashville biscuit bridge pickup. That will likely be the most accurate reproduction of the acoustic sound of the Style O, but if you don't have a Jerry Douglas Aura pedal, Fishman Spectrum or some other device like the L.R. Baggs  Voiceprint (which Rob Ickes is using these days) then the pickup on its own might sound "quacky." And it gets expensive. 

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Thanks, Mark!

I was expecting you to either point to one of the mics or put the Nashville at the top of the list.

Good to know you like the Krivo. It's the easiest of the list to deal with, and I like being able to take it on an off.

Charlie Bernstein - Posted - 04/02/2025:  07:03:36

quote:

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Originally posted by Dobrojan

I use a Myers pickup when needed.

Oops, wrong topic!!! Apologies!  

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Interesting! I Googled Myers. It looks like a handy gadget. Batteries can be fickle, though, so I only use passive pickups.

Dobrojan - Posted - 04/02/2025:  07:41:32

I don’t use it that often but I have never had a problem with the batteries.