How can I make my "Dobro" acoustically louder?

[Paul Seager]

I own a Recording King Phil Leadbetter model. Really happy with it but I think that it's not quite loud enough. That said, my only means of assessing this is that, when sitting in an acoustic setting with other dobroists, I feel they have more volume than I do but this may be a false perspective. Indeed, I spoke with a local player who I respect and enjoy listening to and asked him this question and his opinion was that there is no gear-upgrade he can think of that increases volume but to consider "thumb power"!

Now it should be added that this guy owns an original "made by Tim" Scheerhorn, which sounds wonderful although I could not tell you whether these are "loud" instruments by design or whether it's the man's thumb-power. When I think about it, players that have I considered to have louder instruments, do literally attack the strings! His comment has certainly made me think about my attack but, before I attempt to worsen my already arthritic thumb socket, I just thought I'd throw the question out here to you all for potential hardware upgrades.

FWIW, the instrument has an open body design, I've changed nothing except the strings. I use Pyramid Phosphor Bronze strings (.056 - .016) and normal Dunlop picks (fingerpicks are .018).

Btw, at a recent workshop I tried the same model instrument which had a Beard Cone upgrade and I honestly could not perceive any difference in tone or volume. So maybe there is a set-up trick? Howard, what can I do?!

[Howard Parker]

If your guitar is typical of the Leadbetters that I've played I'd say that they are capable instruments. Can they be upgraded? Sure but I'm not sure you'd hear a dramatic difference.

So, that leaves you with technique, importantly how you "attack" the guitar. It's not just the thumb either. It is an acoustic instrument and it really requires a fair amount of energy to get that cone excited, vibrating enough to extract tone from the guitar's design.

If lap/pedal steel has been a focus then I might guess the right hand is in that "mode". If so, you might need to be way more aggressive. Like aggressive enough to kill a set of strings in 3-5 hours.

I'm talking generalities, of course because I have not heard you play. Take the above fwiw.

I have no setup "tricks" up my sleeve either.

Good design, quality components, proper setup and good playing technique. That's it.

does this make sense?.... That's all I got for now

[Nathan Laudenbach]

Have you adjusted the tension screw for the cone? It definitely needs to be “calibrated in order for the guitar to sound its best, and sound as loud as possible. I think the general rule is a half turn more after you feel it tighten up enough so the cone no longer rattles.

[Jack Hanson]

Many years ago I attended a small seminar with about a half-dozen other folks given by the late Bob Brozman at Homestead Pickin' Parlor in Richfield, MN. He strongly recommended using plastic fingerpicks instead of metal fingerpicks on resonator instruments. I gave 'em a try, and after some experimentation with shaping them to fit, it was readily apparent to me that Bob was correct, and that the plastic picks increased the instrument's volume substantially. They allow one to really "dig in" and coax a big sound out of a reso. When playing as hard with metal fingerpicks, they're liable to fly off your finger(s) in any direction at the worst possible moment! Although I generally use metal fingerpicks (.025 Dunlops) on my electric instruments, on my resos and my Weissenborn I switched to plastic Dunlops and have never looked back. The trick is molding them to fit. I purchase them in bags of a dozen, and hope for two or three that turn out usable, since there's a high rate of attrition, and a small degree of masochism involved in the process I've developed to mold the plastic Dunlops to fit my fingers.

[Gene Korte]

Try wearing a cowboy hat. Seriously, it could just be your how you're hearing your instrument. The hat will reflect the sound.

[Bill Groner]

I own a Recording King Phil Leadbetter model. Really happy with it but I think that it's not quite loud enough. That said, my only means of assessing this is that, when sitting in an acoustic setting with other dobroists, I feel they have more volume than I do but this may be a false perspective. Indeed, I spoke with a local player who I respect and enjoy listening to and asked him this question and his opinion was that there is no gear-upgrade he can think of that increases volume but to consider "thumb power"!

Now it should be added that this guy owns an original "made by Tim" Sheerhorn, which sounds wonderful although I could not tell you whether these are "loud" instruments by design or whether it's the man's thumb-power. When I think about it, players that have I considered to have louder instruments, do literally attack the strings! His comment has certainly made me think about my attack but, before I attempt to worsen my already arthritic thumb socket, I just thought I'd throw the question out here to you all for potential hardware upgrades.

FWIW, the instrument has an open body design, I've changed nothing except the strings. I use Pyramid Phosphor Bronze strings (.056 - .016) and normal Dunlop picks (fingerpicks are .018).

Btw, at a recent workshop I tried the same model instrument which had a Beard Cone upgrade and I honestly could not perceive any difference in tone or volume. So maybe there is a set-up trick? Howard, what can I do?!

Get your friend to play your dobro and see if his playing sounds different to yours.

[Steven Wilson]

I recently acquired a new Beard Trailhead with a "vesper" cone. I noticed right away that it seems louder than the other two Beard's I have (Legacy E and Radio E - yes, I know this seems excessive and indulgent). I'm unfamiliar with your brand, but a cone upgrade seems like it might be affordable (if it fits the instrument). I've also learned that occasional cleaning improves volume. That can be as simple as blowing out the dust with canned or compressed air w/o removing the cover plate. There are some youtubes out there on this; maybe even a search on this forum would provide more info.
Steve

[Jerry Overstreet]

How can I make my "Dobro" acoustically louder?

I'm not sure you can. The RK PL, by all acounts, is a pretty good upgraded instrument but it's still just what it is.
I don't think there's any way to make a comparison about projection and volume with custom built guitars by folks like Tim Scheerhorn, Paul Beard et al. experts in the trade.

I asked Jim Adams about increasing the volume of one of his traditional body guitars. He said that I might benefit by trying a Beard Legend cone, but the guitar was probably already at it's peak.

Given that a guitar has a good professional setup with professional grade nut, bridge and internals, it's likely limited otherwise to it's body size, construction and quality of build.

Make sure it has a Beard, Scheerhorn or less likely Quarterman cone and a #14 spider. That's about the best you can do.

If you watch the big boys play, you'll probably find that they are pretty aggressive with their attack. That's what makes their guitars sing and gives them that bark that you seek.

In my own experience of several years, I find my technique is very similar to that of my attack on the pedal and lap steels. My strength is in my middle finger and thumb with either.

A pretty good grip and attack with heavier finger picks, app .025, should let you get the most out of your instrument. If you have trouble keeping picks on with an aggressive attack, try something like pick stix, gorilla snot, rosin etc. to make you feel more secure about keeping them in place. Then, as we say in Ky, just "get after it". There's your dynamics on any acoustic instrument. Depends what sound you're looking for.

Most of all though, try to enjoy the experience and unique color of these resonator instruments and try to focus more on the playing of it rather than it's limitations.

[Alan Davidson]

In regards to upgrading to a Beard Legend vesper-coated cone: I have done that on two instruments. In my opinion, in each case, the instrument did not sound louder, but sounded better. The high end wound up smoother and more bell like -- less tinny.

[Brooks Montgomery]

I can’t speak for your Recording King model, but I have a Dobro (Gibson) Phil Leadbetter model that I sent to Beard for a “tune up” a number of years ago. New # 14 spider, Nashville p/u, bridge, Quarterman cone, set up by their experts, and it came back sounding great and much louder.

And I had Tim Scheerhorn soup up an import guitar (Wechter), and it came back louder.

And I watched Tim Scheerhorn and Paul Beard set up various guitars at seminars at the first two Reso Summits in Nashville. The participants and I were very impressed with the results from their masterful set-ups.

I would bet your guitar would benefit from having a dobro Jedi tinker with it.

And I also have a Tim-built Scheerhorn. And yes, it has significant volume.

[Paul Seager]

Thanks all for your replies and solid advice.

If lap/pedal steel has been a focus then I might guess the right hand is in that "mode". If so, you might need to be way more aggressive. Like aggressive enough to kill a set of strings in 3-5 hours.

Lap / Pedal have been my focus and I'm now convinced that working on technique and in particular the attack is the way forward. I can't afford to get through that quantity of strings though!

Have you adjusted the tension screw for the cone? It definitely needs to be “calibrated in order for the guitar to sound its best, and sound as loud as possible. I think the general rule is a half turn more after you feel it tighten up enough so the cone no longer rattles.

Yes, at a recent workshop there was a fella who had taken some set-up instruction from Paul Beard and he did exactly that for me.

He strongly recommended using plastic fingerpicks instead of metal fingerpicks on resonator instruments.

I agree! When I first started dabbling with acoustic instruments, I did use plastic picks and was quite happy with them. I met last year with Sebastian Müller and he is equally convinced. But also last year, I met Sally van Meter and noted she used metal picks and as I have these in abundance for lap steel, switched back to those. So, today I went to my local music shop to get some new plastic picks and was told "oh, we don't stock those anymore" I will probably have to order on-line (which I hate doing!)

Try wearing a cowboy hat. Seriously, it could just be your how you're hearing your instrument. The hat will reflect the sound.

According to my wife, daughter and several friends, I look so ridiculously stupid in a cowboy hat that I have given up searching for them!

Get your friend to play your dobro and see if his playing sounds different to yours.

Bill, that is such blindingly obvious and good advice that I actually felt stupid not to have thought of it! On the next occasion I shall!

I would bet your guitar would benefit from having a dobro Jedi tinker with it.

Unfortunately Brook, these are not the Jedi's you'll find over here! That said, there is a "dobro" / weissenborn builder in Munich https://www.koch-guitars.de/guitars/index.html?L=1 and I may give him a call.

[K Maul]

For the record…the plastic fingerpick idea isn’t something I’d do.

[Bill Leff]

I have the same guitar. It’s plenty loud. I think it’s a technique thing. Dig in. Also put on fresh strings.

[Paul Seager]

Thanks Bill, yes I agree with your advice.

I just read another current thread "Right Hand Question" which is in respect to 8 string lap-steel. Mike Neer writes:

"We don’t really need to pluck the strings very hard. I think if you listen to the Memories of Joaquin Murphey album that I posted in the Steel On The Web forum, you can hear a good example of a light, fluid touch. The harder you pick, the harder it is to maintain control over every stroke."

I've been playing swing and faux Hawaiian on lap 8 for quite some time and am in complete agreement with Mike and I think this why I've not been digging in to the dobro in a bluegrass setting. But hey, I'm planning on releasing that beast now!

[Bill Leff]

Hi Paul. Check your messages.