randythoades

I intend to use like my regular guitar, but certainly would want to use higher inversions and melody fills to avoid the same frequency range as the accordion. But I don't intend to play high register solos or anything like that. Very true about the strings, acoustic volume probably the deciding factor overall... but if you need a preamp on a mag pickup, does that not mean that the signal from the strings isn't loud enough? I don't have to use a separate preamp for my existing soundhole pickup. I think this is going to be one of those rabbit holes that you wish you had never started down, a bit like when choosing strings for the upright bass... Was looking in detail again over the weekend at some of the tracks and I think it may be possible to also re-arrange the songs better so that both the guitar and the accordion are playing less and therefore creating a little more space for both instruments to do their bit. Thanks for all the input, gives me a great starting point to adjust both playing and sound to enable this to work better.. much appreciated

Thanks. Spent the weekend looking at resonators. I didn't realise there was so much choice. Some have pickups, some piezo and some magnetic. I think a pickup would be handy just in case for those louder setups, and yes, a battery amp would be great for that. Bigger venues I would probably just mic and go into PA as I don't intend to be moving around much, it is a low key affair. It looks like most of the resonator strings are bronze like acoustic guitar, but they don't work great on magnetic pickups. Can I use heavy guage electric strings instead? Also read some info saying that you can't really lower the action on a resoantor, so not sure if slide setups would be too high an action for me to play 'regular' guitar parts. I will make a point of going across to Andertons or Guitar Guitar and actually playing some in the next couple of weeks rather than buy blind...

Another resonator question then, if you have experience. What is the real world difference between a biscuit bridge and a spider cone? Again, just looking on youtube, a biscuit one sounds a little brighter, more metallic and less sustain, whereas a spider cone sounds closer to a guitar with a slightly warmer tone and more sustain. Is that about it? Difficult to tell using my computer speakers. I think that a slightly more metallic one might make me slightly different to the smooth swell of the accordion.

I also have an American sound already as backup, so I could definitely experiment with that as required.

Brilliant, much appreciated indeed. I do feel that a more boxy tone would be of benefit. I am not averse to playing through PA when needed, but like the idea of a small house party or coffee shop type gig, maybe a wedding to just be there as background music mainly without the need of full PA. But true acoustic would be good and convenient for practice and possibly busking.

Thanks @Dad3353. That is a good idea about muting the accordion. Currently I arrange songs based on my pre-conceived ideas and skills and I feel that I ought to play a little more of that stabbing rhythm/comping to keep everyone in time, but some songs definitely benefit from the guitar melody too. So I think there is an element of modifying the approach somewhat. Not to blow a trumpet about it, but I am both the most accomplished musician and vocalist, so I feel it my place to arrange the songs appropriately. It is hard though to arrange with the best overall sound in mind rather than just the parts that I would like to play!! Thanks for your opionion about resos, I did think from various youtube vids that it seemed a little more brash and mid orientated, but haven't had the chance to ever play one. A slightly more aggressive tone might indeed just make it different enough.

That looks lovely. I like the sloped shoulders.

I have a problem with pure acoustic vs plugged in tones. Due to my arthritis progressing at a steady rate I have decided to start a new band before I run out of time... We ideally want to be an acoustic band sitting in the back of the pub or restaurant, playing at a garden party or event, or busking, open mic night or jam sessions. The band make up is one vocalist, myself on guitar and another on accordion, both of us doing accapella type backing to add extra melody, basslines etc as required. We are attempting to play a variety of well known material in a broadly americana style veering from bluegrass, delta blues and folk, to dixieland jazz and almost rockabilly. But my guitar doesn't gel well with the accordion, it isn't loud enough and seems to be missing a huge amount of middle frequency. Obviously, I can't change the overall sound of the accordion, but by it's nature it has quite a polarised nature, lots of bass and lots of treble. I tried playing initially with my dreadnought but it broadly has the same sound space as the accordion. My other acoustic is an OM size with a soundhole pickup and it is better but lacks the volume required when the accordion plays longer notes and although it is more balanced and less bass heavy it still has a similar thing. I like it when playing solo, but don't like the combination with the other instrument. Also doesn't help that due to the arthritis, I can't hold a pick properly so tend to play similar to Mark Knopfler and use my thumb and first finger together as a sort of plectrum motion and the other 3 fingers to pluck upwards, but I don't play actual finger style. It helps when I play barre chords rather than open chords, as well as comping, stabs, arpeggios and melodies in the higher registers, but some songs are just awkward to play. I can plug into my acoustic amp and take some of the bass and treble out, thus emphasising the mid frequency (as well as increasing volume as much as needed) which improves things sufficiently but I want to try and not have an amp if possible, I don't want the extra gear to take, nor the need for electricity if I can help it. I like the idea of being authentic/vintage and the simplicity of being able to just pitch up and play, or even walking around. As I see it I only have 2 options... A: Get a decent battery powered acoustic amp to remain cable free, or possibly a battery powered PA speaker for both lead vocal and guitar reinforcement. B: Get a different guitar... would something like a resonator or archtop be a more mid focussed sound or louder in volume? I certainly wouldn't mind the visual benefits of looking different from all the other acoustic bands The accordion player is a relative beginner so doesn't have some of the subtlety yet on the instrument to vary his volume to a huge degree so it falls to me to fit around him if I can. Are there any other options I might have missed or would just a change in approach be the better option overall?

I tried Reaper but found it a little confusing. I have friends that love it though and it is free to try and then very cheap to buy. I can't say much about the quality of the recording as not been able to compare directly, but mine is clear and as I was expecting. It can only be as good as what goes in so if you have cheap mics or poor technique, the quality won't be as good than with quality mics and clear playing on either one. I chose the Presonus specifcally for the midi ports so that I can connect my keyboard and old drum machine pad to help with the programming side.

I have had very good results using a Presonus audio interface (Studio 24c) which comes with a fully functioning DAW. I haven't found the need to buy another even though I have tried several out with the trial versions. None offered me anything else that I felt was missing from the Presonus Studio 5 software. I am sure there is huge amounts more functionality for either the Pro version of the Presonus software or of any of the alternatives, but if you are just recording bass guitar and vocals then you won't need it to begin with. I wouldn't worry about trying to mic up your amp though. A bedroom isn't an ideal acoustic environment so you probably won't get great results. Just use either software amp sims or the USB out on the Katana. I spent money on getting Toontrack EZ Drummer for quality programmable drums to really lift my tracks, and just use better quality headphones rather than fully fledged studio monitors. I can test the quality of my audio on 'standard' equipment with my Creative computer speakers which gives me a better idea what it will sound like on my phone or in the car. So my recommendation is £105 for the interface and DAW combined, then £100-150 on your headphones rather than monitor speakers.

I echo @sundayguitar. I also use the Blackstar Fly. Great little travel amp. Sounds good (within reason) and batteries last for ages.You can also use it as a speaker for your phone with an aux cable so can play along with audio or use it as a portable music speaker on it's own. I have mine at work for when the inspiration strikes...

You are more than welcome.

I have played through the Katana range and they are great, particularly if you may want to use more than one sound or play more than one style. You can also use them via usb for recording, or output into the PA if you play larger venues (although i think this mutes the on board speaker). They make the range all the way up from a 7w bedroom amp up to stage friendly models. They are popular so crop up second hand quite often on eBay or reverb.

Strangely I have had issues about this too (such is the joy in my life) whilst trying to mic up acoustic close and far as well as use the pickup to do a multi track in one take. Couldn't get it to work properly. Admittedly not trying to get a stereo feel, just recording multiple tracks with which to mix. Couldn't get something about the phase right. In the end i took the view of @Dad3353 and thought, why bother? I just played twice and recorded separate tracks for each mic which worked much better.

At least you will have good timing as a clockmaker... And welcome...