SM81 on the fiddle.Or other quality SD condenser.Watch out for 'wolfing'...

Any good small dia condensor (and many Large).
My suggestion is NOT to mic it from above. Mic it from below the headstock about 12" to 18" and slightly in front. pointed at where the neck hits the body.
You wont get that nasal sound nor the dry scratchy bow sound. Much fuller!

I play pedal steel, and I typically wouldn't use a 57, too hyped.

I think you're on the right track with the condenser, use one that's not too bright, the steel has LOTS of upper harmonics, actually that's the main reason steelers typically tune to something approaching a just temperment (instead of equal, like a piano), the high level of upper harmonics make equal temperment thirds sound really bad.

Steelers go for a very clean signal chain, very little preamp or poweramp distortion and usually bright clean speakers like JBLs, so you don't want to grunge it up with 57.

I use a Royer R121 typically on my steel amp, but a condenser will work fine too.

You may want to take a direct feed from the amp or some other way and mix that in, like with bass guitar.

Originally posted by Davedog:
Watch out for 'wolfing'...

And what would that be exactly? I have never hear of that term unless you're talking about what to do with a big plate of cookies. :D

Ribbon mics are good for fiddle.

I searched for a 'proper' definition of 'wolfing'for you and gave up after a while...lazy....what it amounts to, is an acoustic harmonic distortion in a fiddle or other stringed instruments due to an improper bridge set, or perhaps a string with improper tension.You realize(of course) that fiddle strings can be bought with all sorts of string tensions and if theres one on there thats not the same as the rest of the set it can cause problems....especially when theres a nice accurate mic on it.Sometimes the postion of the sound post can cause this....While this is not a very accurate overview of the phenomenem let me assure you that if your fiddle you're going to record is 'wolfing' whoever is in the booth and listening will be the first to know it.
I've experienced it on a couple of occasions and the only cure is a trip to the violin shoppe for repair and adjustment.

The fiddle player that we're using played on the last Shania CD - I think his gear will be up to scratch. But that's good to know for the future.

thanx

Well then hes a real pro. You should ask him for a complete explanation of this.And what to do with it should you get a fiddle in sometime thats wolfing its ass off.....have fun...sounds like a great session.
Oh yeah, I like the Shure KSM44 for dobro though I think the 414 will cover you well....if this is another 'nashville session player' he'll probably have his sound and rack all together and maybe even his own mic...

Have you thought of running the steel direct? Last steel guy in here ran his Zum through a couple of pedals (Dyna-Comp, ancient Chandler Tube Driver, TC Chorus, Goodman volume pedal) into an 80's era Blue Tube II (ours) preamp...line out to a Radio Shack (!!!) impedance converter into a channel on the OctoPre...Killer sound...