Trying to find an effect for a dobro tone.

[Securb]

I think I know how I will approach this, but I haven't dived in yet. I guess I will start with my piezo pickup with a metallic flange barely in the mix to give that metallic sound. But I do not want the modulation that comes with the flange.

If anyone has tackled this or has any ideas on how to get this tone, I am open to suggestions. I am looking for a "live" quality dobro, not studio quality. Close enough that the audience gets the vibe I am throwing down.

 

[ICTGoober]

Man, that is a tough row to hoe.

 

[justFred]

MIDI https://youtu.be/AJefGCkqLTo

 

[Securb]

MIDI https://youtu.be/AJefGCkqLTo

I could go midi with my Parker and one of my synths, but I am not gonna have a separate setup for one tune.

 

[Mincer]

I use a Line 6 Variax, but without that, be sure to program a 'boxcar reverb'. And lots of mids.

 

[Mikelamury]

What is a Dobro tone?

 

[beaubrummels]

It's a very nasal mid-tone with that metallic sound, and a touch of acoustic warmth in the lower mids. What I've found (but never owned/tried myself)...

Goodrich Match-Bro dobro simulator

CRY BABY® Q ZONE™ FIXED WAH QZ1

Tom Bradshaw's MXR Custom Shop RESONATOR II Pedal

Worst case scenario, an EQ pedal like a BOSS GE-7.

 

[Securb]

What is a Dobro tone?

It is a guitar with a metal top that is typically used for slide

 

[Securb]

CRY BABY® Q ZONE™ FIXED WAH QZ1
.

I use a Line 6 Variax, but without that, be sure to program a 'boxcar reverb'. And lots of mids.

Both are great ideas. If this were golf I feel like I might be on the green. I am going to play around with the H90 tomorrow.

 

[justFred]

why not just get yourself the real thing?

 

[Securb]

why not just get yourself the real thing?

I would love to buy one, and I have thought about it for other reasons. Right now I need it for 4 minutes in our set. I am not packing another guitar for four minutes If it was a studio thing I would buy a dobro, live I just need the people in the room to say/or think "That sounds like a dobro".

 

[El Dunco]

I think I know how I will approach this, but I haven't dived in yet. I guess I will start with my piezo pickup with a metallic flange barely in the mix to give that metallic sound. But I do not want the modulation that comes with the flange.

If anyone has tackled this or has any ideas on how to get this tone, I am open to suggestions. I am looking for a "live" quality dobro, not studio quality. Close enough that the audience gets the vibe I am throwing down.

I think I know of just the thing. In my Digitech unit, it has an MXR flanger which lets you set the sweep to zero to keep on one static part of the flanger and assign it to the expression pedal to sweep the flanger manually yourself. If it’s based on a real flanger which it ought to be, because it’s not a proprietary Digitech effect just for the unit, if you figure out which flanger it is, that will give you the flanged sound without it modulating.

MXR® Flanger
A big rich and organic Flanger tone made popular by such people as Eddie Van Halen. The MXR® flanger
creates a variety of wild sounds from dynamic jet plane or cool space effects to short delay, chorus and
vibrato. Back off Width to zero to disengage auto-sweep, then use the Manual knob to physically place the
effect anywhere along the frequency spectrum. Manual knob selects frequency center of effect when auto-
sweep is disengaged Width knob at zero disengages auto-sweep, rotates clockwise to increase total phase
sweep of effect Speed knob modulates rate of effect Regen knob feeds effect back onto itself at adjustable
intensity, increasing the total phase effect.

EDIT: It’s the M117R.

 

[Securb]

I think I know of just the thing. In my Digitech unit, it has an MXR flanger which lets you set the sweep to zero to keep on one static part of the flanger and assign it to the expression pedal to sweep the flanger manually yourself. If it’s based on a real flanger which it ought to be, because it’s not a proprietary Digitech effect just for the unit, if you figure out which flanger it is, that will give you the flanged sound without it modulating.


EDIT: It’s the M117R.

Thanks I can get a very convincing MXR117 in the H90

 

[El Dunco]

Thanks I can get a very convincing MXR117 in the H90

Let me know if it does the trick!

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Thanks I can get a very convincing MXR117 in the H90

That'd be my suggestion - flange with width at zero and regen turned up a bit - once you find the right delay time you'll probably know it.
Plus a touch of really short, boxy reverb. Cutting all the bass out of it will help too.

 

[beaubrummels]

Worst case scenario, you could go organic hardcore and lean a 1960's metal hub cap up against the speaker with the mic on it. ;-)

 

[Mikelamury]

It is a guitar with a metal top that is typically used for slide

So is there a difference between a resonator and a Dobro or is it the same thing?

 

[beaubrummels]

So is there a difference between a resonator and a Dobro or is it the same thing?

Dobro is a brand name, which is now associated with that type of guitar. Resonator is the type of guitar.

 

[Securb]

Thank you all. That was easier than I thought. I listened to the sound clips on the MXR site Beau pointed me to. Then incorporated everyone's suggestions and this sounds great not just with the piezo but even with the magnetic pickup

 

[Aceman]