Sponsored By
 

Fishman Resophonic Amplification

 

Mike Witcher on amplifying a dobro-style resophonic guitar using Fishman’s Nashville series pickup and Aura imaging pedal.

 
July 12, 2018
 

Fishman is one of the pioneers of acoustic amplification and has offered solutions for resophonic guitars for years. Its most advanced package for dobro-style guitars with spider bridges is the combination of Fishman’s Nashville Series Spider-Style Resophonic pickup and the Jerry Douglas Signature Series Aura Imaging pedal. (The company also has pickups for National-style biscuit bridges.)

The Nashville Series pickup is a piezo-ceramic design built into a pair of replacement saddles that mount into the spider bridge assembly in the same way that standard saddles are installed. It is a passive design, and thus doesn’t require a battery inside the guitar.

Although the Nashville Series pickup can be used by itself, its performance will be enhanced with an external preamp such as the Jerry Douglas Signature Series Aura Imaging pedal. Fishman’s proprietary Aura Imaging technology uses actual recordings made with specific instruments (in this case, one of Douglas’ own Paul Beard resophonic guitars), and a variety of high-end microphones to create processing algorithms that enhance the pickup’s direct signal with microphone-like qualities. The Jerry Douglas Signature Series Aura Imaging pedal includes 16 different sound images, as well as controls for volume, blend (to choose how much of the image is added to the signal), and phase-reversal. It also includes a footswitch for turning the processor on and off or muting the signal.

In this video, Peghead Nation Dobro instructor Mike Witcher demonstrates the Nashville Series pickup/Jerry Douglas Aura pedal combination installed in his custom Schoonover guitar (check out Mike’s demo of this guitar here). He runs the Aura pedal’s signal into a Fishman Loudbox Mini amp and demonstrates several settings. “It’s always been a struggle for me to hear my dobro, to get it up loud enough without getting feedback in the monitors. Ever since I started using this Fishman pickup, I haven’t had this problem,” he says, adding, “The Aura system is as close as we’ve ever gotten to a pickup sounding like a microphone.”

Fishman Nashville Series Spider-Style Resophonic Pickup Specs

  • Piezo-ceramic pickup for spider-style resophonic guitars
  • Passive design
  • Mounted in two-piece saddle replacements
  • ¼-inch output jack
  • $209.95 street

Fishman Aura Specs

  • Resophonic instrument processor pedal
  • 16 custom Aura images
  • 24-bit A/D/A, 32-bit internal processing
  • Volume, blend, image select, and phase-reversal controls
  • Input trim control
  • Bypass/mute foot switch
  • All-metal construction
  • 5.6 x 4 x 2.1 inches
  • Powered by nine-volt battery or external power adapter
  • Designed and engineered in the USA, assembled in China
  • $429.99list/$269 street

fishman.com

You can study dobro with Mike by enrolling in his Beginning Dobro and/or Dobro Workshop courses on Peghead Nation.

Related Instrument Demos Posts

Video discussing all of the basics of amplifying acoustic instruments  

Acoustic Amplification 101

A basic guide to using pickups, preamps, amps, and PAs with acoustic instruments.

Read More

 

Wes Corbett’s Performance Gear

Peghead Nation banjo instructor Wes Corbett discusses the pickup, amp, and pedals he uses when playing onstage with the Sam Bush Band.

Read More

 

Four Fishman Preamps

A look at Fishman’s ToneDEQ, Aura Spectrum DI, Platinum Pro EQ, and Platinum Stage EQ.

Read More

Fishman Blackstack pickup in soundhole of guitar  

Fishman Blackstack

A great passive soundhole pickup.

Read More

Fishman Rare Earth pickups  

Fishman Rare Earth Pickups

We take a look at Fishman’s flagship soundhole pickups.

Read More

Fishman Neo-D Pickups review and video demonstration  

Fishman Neo-D Pickups

A look at an affordable line of soundhole pickups.

Read More

Demonstration of the complete line of Fishman Loudbox amplifiers  

Fishman Loudbox Amps

A look at the complete line of Loudbox acoustic amplifiers.

Read More

 

V-300 Violin Pickup | Fishman

IBMA Award Winning fiddler Becky Buller demonstrates her pickup and preamp of choice.

Read More

L.R. Baggs M1 Active and M80 pickups side-by-side on top of an acoustic guitar  

L.R. Baggs M1 Active and M80

Two great magnetic soundhole pickups.

Read More

Dobro instructor Mike Witcher demonstrates the Beard Squareneck Copper Mountain resonator guitar  

Beard Squareneck Copper Mountain

New resonator guitar includes a Beard Legend cone and composite back and sides.

Read More

 
Sponsored By
 
 
 

Peghead Partners

 
Peghead Partners feature image
Creating the AEG-1 | L.R. Baggs
Company founder Lloyd Baggs talks about the background and design of the new AEG-1 acoustic-electric guitar.
 
subscribe sample lessons
 
 
 
 
  Follow Us: facebook icon instagram icon twitter icon youtube icon newsletter icon  
 
spotify icon facebook icon instagram icon twitter icon youtube icon newsletter icon
  About Us       Shop         Support         Contact Us         Email Sign up         Advertise         Sitemap         FAQ         Privacy         Terms         Subscribe   Sign In  
 
    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
Peghead Nation logo
 
© Copyright 2025 PegheadNation.com
 
 
spotify icon facebook icon instagram icon twitter icon youtube icon newsletter icon
    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
Peghead Nation logo
 
© Copyright 2025 PegheadNation.com