Practicing, Performing & Recording Gear

My wife surprised me with a Dobro Hound Dog Squareneck for Christmas, and now I am ready to begin taking lessons.  However, I do not have a case yet.  I am lookign for recommendations for a gig bag or inexpensive hard case, preferably something available online.  Budget is around $100.

Thanks in advance,

Mark

A couple of weeks ago I attended the "Hard Times Bluegrass Festival" in Darby, Montana.  Mike Conroy, event organizer, had a simple stage with a single replica RCA 44 mic.

I was blown away at how great the sound was.   I was camped several hundred yards "down wind" of the stage (directly in-line with the stage) in the woods:  The sound was loud, clean, balanced.  Never once did anyone mess with the PA (at least I never saw them).

As an ex-blues/rock-band member, I was blown away at the simplicity and quality of the sound.  I know that many of you old-guard have been preaching this on the forum for awhile. . . but for me it was the first time that the quality was equal to a top-notch complicated sound stage.

What are your favorite mics for live stage work?  As I understand it, the RCA 44's are $$$$$+++.  Are there any bargains out there that you'd recommend.

I like bluegrass and all but when it comes to tunes played at breakneck speed,especially when it comes to trying keep up on dobro,are just not my thing.I much prefer slow to medium tempo tunes,and i think dobro sounds better and more expressive that way.When played too fast it starts sounding forced and almost chinese.I think the mandolin and the banjo are better suited for bionic bluegrass.Anyone else not too big on really fast tunes?

I don't know if anyone here has ever tried these, but I thought I'd throw this out there. I'm not quite sure how I came across these, but after hearing about them, I searched and found a website. Now, Paloma Stone Slides are made by a man named Jay Seibert in Woodland, WA. They are stoneware slides, not porcelain or ceramic. I contacted Jay because I was skeptical about getting good tone out of a reso using a stonework bar. I told him I was interested in buying a bar from him, and he said he'd be glad to make one for me. The thing is, my custom Bradley heat-treated stainless steel bar is my favorite, and I wanted something that had very similar dimensions. This includes 10 degree sloped sides. Now, Jay's reso bars are made in the shape of a Stevens steel, including the flat sides. Jay, however, agreed to try something