Schatten RG-03 Series Pickups for Spider Bridge Resonator Guitars
Designed For 'Dobro' Style Reso's - The Original Center Mount Reso Pickup
Available in three passive models and one active preamped model.
It took several years to accomplish but we finally produced a
resonator guitar pickup that met our exacting standards. For faithful
sound reproduction, ease of installation, great anti-feedback
characteristics, and so much more.
Until we designed the RG-03, all resonator pickups were either
stuck onto the side of the cone (which invariably caused feedback
issues) or else required the replacement of large parts of the
resonator assembly (not to mention a lot of expense and probable
modification to the instrument). There also were some magnetic pickups
that were meant to fit under the strings at the end of the fingerboard
- but these were never particularly acoustic sounding
The RG-03's in passive format are available with your choice of either an endpin jack or one of two jack assemblies (one with a volume control) - both of which simply adhere to the instrument and snuggle in right next to to the tailpiece. Featuring our new MVC jack assemblies, which simply attach to the underside of the existing tailpiece or the area next to the tailpiece.
For those players who want an on board preamp, the RG-03A is the active version in the lineup and combines the RG-03 sensor with our Artist II endpin jack preamp that may be run from phantom power - so no battery need be installed.
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Details
Features:
* Passive models, no preamp.
* Excellent feedback resistance.
* Light weight. Does not alter the acoustic sound of the
instrument.
* Only a tiny 3/32" hole need be drilled for the lead wire and
that hole is hidden under the tailpiece - on RG-03 Std and RG-03
Pro installations.
* Superb Sound.
If you wish to have a preamp onboard,
then the RG-03A provides you with an RG-03 sensor combined with our
Artist II endpin jack preamp (that doesn't require an onboard
battery).
Clean, clear sound reproduction.
This pickup has been designed to operate properly and sound good
without the use of a preamp when plugged into any 'normal'
electric guitar amp. As with any pickup, the sound can be
further enhanced and EQ'd with an outboard preamp. If you require
the added ability to be able to plug directly into a P.A. or mixer
on a regular or occasional basis and you don't wish to have an on
board endpin jack preamp, then you may wish to add one of
our Preamp/DI units to your pickup system.
View the RG-03 Installation Instructions (pdf)
MVC Jack
Assemblies - These low profile
jack assemblies are only 1/2" high and may be mounted either from a
thin stand-off plate that adheres securely to the area under the
tailpiece or may be mounted directly to the top with 3M VHB tape.
The MVCplus with volume control (shown right) provides a
non-invasive means of putting an output jack assembly on a reso
without damage.
Pictures
RG-03 Player with endpin jack
RG-03 Std with MVC Jack Assembly
RG-03 Pro with MVCplus Jack Assembly with volume control
RG-03A with Artist II Endpin Jack Preamp
Technical
RG-03 Player (passive)
The basic RG-03 comes prewired to a high
quality endpin jack. This jack may be mounted through the end
block of an instrument and used as a strap button or it may be
used as a standard output jack and mounted through the side of an
instrument.
RG-03 Std
The RG-03 Std combines our RG-03 center mount sensor
with our MVC non-invasive low profile 1/4" output jack assembly
RG-03 Pro
The RG-03 Pro combines our RG-03 center mount sensor with our
MVCplus non-invasive low profile 1/4" output jack assembly with
volume control
RG-03A
*Active Model with multiple power capability
*May be run from phantom power (up to 48v d.c.) or an outboard
battery pack or you can put a battery inside if you wish.
*2 Channels with a trim pot per channel
*Pickup Installs Quickly to the underside of the resonator cone
*Excellent Feedback Resistance
*Does Not Alter Acoustic Sound
*The only hole that you have to make is for the endpin jack preamp
*Superb Sound
*Each pickup system is completely wired and requires no soldering.
Everything that you need comes with the system
Sound
Special thanks to Dan Walsh for sending in these samples. Dan's reso is a 1985 Dobro with a quarterman cone installed. The pickup is our RG-03 and we'll let him tell you about the clips. Here you go......
This first clip was recorded with a Fender Deluxe Reverb Re-issue amp. The dobro was plugged directly into the amp. Treble on the amp was set at 6 and the bass was set at 3. The amp was mic'ed with an Audio Technica AT 4033. It was recorded into a Roland VS 2480 digital workstation with absolutely no EQ or effects added. The sound from the pickup to the amp is as true as it gets. I can't believe how true the sound of the dobro is thru the amp as it is when I mic it. It's amazing............
RG-03 - Dobro Sample One
For the second clip, I plugged the Dobro directly into the VS 2480. Again there was absolutely no EQ or effects added. Once again I can't believe how true the dobro sounds with this pickup.........
RG-03 Dobro Sample Two
Thank you to Jason Fowler for the following MP3 (played on a National Style O)
Here are a couple of videos featuring me playing my Wechter/Scheerhorn squareneck with the RG-03 installed. The mics were basically "decorative." The Schatten gives me a well-controlled sound in an instrument that is typically a nightmare to amplify. Thanks, Schatten!
Good Kings Highway - RG-03 Spider Bridge Reso Pickup
Benediction - RG-03 Spider Bridge Reso Pickup
Enjoy!
Bob Knight
www.newcommand.info
Guitar, bass,
mandolin, bouzouki, lap steel,
Dobro, vocals,
arranging, production, hand percussion
"Guess what?! I've
got a fever, and the only prescription... is more cowbell!"
Reviews
I chose the Schatten
pickup simply because the RG in the RG-03 is the same as my
initials, so I took it as a sign that I was meant to try this
pickup.....just joking. I chose the Schatten
pickup simply because the RG in the RG-03 is the same as my
initials, so I took it as a sign that I was meant to try this
pickup.....just joking.
The passive RG-03 is a great pickup for resonator
guitar. I have one in my wood bodied spider bridge resonator and
it provides a full bodied signal that gives a pretty close
representation of a resonator cone.
I haven't had any problems with feedback playing either through
amplifiers or live with PA systems.
I play in a three piece folk
and blues group ("Latitude") that plays at a variety of venues and
need a no-fuss pickup system as we often can't be guaranteed what
kind of sound system will be available.
The instructions are clear and concise and it includes
extra installation components that competitors seem to overlook.
The people at Schatten were also very helpful in negotiating
postage methods over here to Australia and the pickup arrived a
lot earlier than expected!!
Richard Galluzzi "Latitude"
Chris Kleeman is "Vermont's best-kept blues secret... a virtuoso
guitarist and singer... red hot, real and electrifyingly
talented..."
....."The Schatten RG-03-A is the only pickup I have ever used
that faithfully reproduces the actual sound of my 1933 National
Steel Duolian... No other pickup has ever done that!"
"Thanks, I am really getting happy with this pickup!"
Chris
Chris Kleeman is a master blues singer and song
stylist. A performer of great energy and focus, Chris is based in
the Green Mountains of Southern Vermont. Now, you may say, a Blues
musician from Vermont??? You better believe it! In 1970, B.B. King
produced Chris' first album.....
http://www.chriskleeman.com
Hi Les,
I just wanted to let you know that I played the new
reso bass at our blues festival at the weekend (see photo). The
first night it was plugged straight into the PA, it didn't even
need a DI box, and the next day I plugged into a borrowed combo
amp.
On both occasions the pickup behaved impeccably and
both times other bass players in the audience complimented me on
the bass sound.
Can't wait to try the pickup in a biscuit bridge!
.....I really am pleased with the RG-03 in the bass. It's already
my pickup of choice for spider bridge instruments - it sounds
good, it's easy to install and it's hassle-free because it doesn't
need a preamp.....
Peter Woodman
Rod,
I have installed the RG-03 in my National Estralita. What a
wonderful pickup...! Natural cone sound and mid-range bite and
definitely the best resonator pickup I have tried to date. I
appreciated the ease of installation too. I have to get one for my
Style 1 Tricone next !
Sincerely,
Mark Searcy
www.marksearcy.com
About Pickups and Amplification
Terminology
Passive Pickup - A piezo pickup.
Impedance - To simplify things as much as posssible we'll say that impedance refers to the range in which an amplifying device can 'hear' a pickup plugged into it.
Preamp - A device specifically designed for use with piezo pickups that increases the signal strength and lowers the impedance of a passive pickup.
Active Pickup - A piezo pickup with an attached preamp.
Microphone Preamp - a device that may be built into P.A.systems and mixers that is designed to work with microphones. These units will not generally work with passive pickups.
'Normal' Electric Guitar Amps: A passive pickup has an impedance of approximately 2 mega ohms (2 million ohms) which virtually all 'normal' electric guitar amps can generally handle without issue.
'Acoustic' Amps: may or may not require the use of a preamp with a pickup and that will depend upon whether or not there is a special built in preamp section to that amp that specifically allows for the choice in plugging in either a passive (non-preamped) or active (preamped) pickup. This choice is quite often in the form of pushbutton on the amp's control panel. Many acoustic amps show a selection that may indicate the choice of 'high impedance' and 'low impedance'.
Low impedance in these instances usually indicates that in this range the amp will handle an impedance of 1000 ohms or less - which will allow active pickups with preamps to be used.
High impedance in these instances may indicate an allowable impedance into the 2 or 3 mega ohm range - which will allow passive pickups to be used. Or it may indicate a maximum input impedance allowed of 20,000 ohms or less - which will handle magnetic electric guitar pickups but not passive pickups. You should carefully read the technical specifications of your acoustic amp in order to see what it will do.
P.A. Systems, Mixers: all of these units will require the use of a preamp between themselves and a passive pickup. Microphone preamps built into P.A.'s and mixers are not designed for use with passive pickups and will not work properly.
Computers: Due to the vagaries and variables inherent in the sound cards found in computers, the only thing that we can advise is that a preamp will almost certainly be necessary.
