resonator guitars

[timjtitus]

can someone suggest some lower priced resos or dobros that are solid wood? i'm also looking for roundneck. i'd like to be around 500 but open to suggestions. thanks

[Freeman Keller]

Why does it have to be solid wood? Most wood reso are laminated because you need some strength in the back and sides, and frankly, the wood does not color the sound all that much. Even the very expensive ones (Sheerhorn, Beard, Dobro, National and many customs) are laminated (altho they may not be plywood in the true sense).

 

You say you want a round neck - how about the bridge and cone, and the neck profile? Probably the best bang for the buck in spiders is the Beard Goldtone - Paul Beard imports the guitars then changes cones and does a really good setup. I believe they run just a little more than your budget.

 

http://www.beardguitars.com/guitargoldtonemain.html

 

I don't believe Goldtone has a biscuit if that is the sound you are seeking. A brand that I have no experience with but gets good (sometimes mixed) reviews at the reso forum is Republic - again, an American importer of Asian guitars who tweaks them before selling. I came close to buying one of his tricones, but decided to hold off for a NRP

 

http://www.republicguitars.com/

 

The other players in your price range are the Regal/Rogue/Dean/Fender.... imports. The early ones I played were pretty uninspiring, but they seem to be getting better. Careful setup, possibly a cone transplant (I just put a new NRP in my 33H Dobro - huge improvement) and they might be OK. You can find both spiders and biscuits from these folks. Be forwarned that most of the biscuits will be 14 fretters if that makes a difference.

 

Or hold out for a National....

[Queequeg]

I found a used (Dobro) Hound Dog a few years ago for around $600, which I like pretty well and has a nice warm sound. It is laminated; actually closer to regular old plywood. The Fenders I played I thought were just ghastly, but they were mostly nickel/brass.

[daklander]

You might also have a look at Liberty Guitars.

[lauren]

pretty gits:love:

 

 

You might also have a look at Liberty Guitars .

 

[jd-drafter]

i got to look a an play one of the liberty resonator's -

 

not impressed much at all- it has the looks nice from far bit it was really far from nice... very shoddy craftsmanship, poor sound, and over priced.

 

this particular model purports to have a 'copper top' but really it was just a copper toned or plated metal laminate over a laminated/plywood top-

 

now i know that the top is not really the key with a resonator cone but over all it was lacking- sorry to say...

[AndrewGG]

I had a Regal RD45 Dobro roundneck which played and sounded good with a hefty set of 15's on it. Like Freeman said solid wood really makes no difference on a Reso; it's more the quality of the cone that counts.

[daklander]

 

i got to look a an play one of the liberty resonator's - not impressed much at all- it has the looks nice from far bit it was really far from nice... very shoddy craftsmanship, poor sound, and over priced. this particular model purports to have a 'copper top' but really it was just a copper toned or plated metal laminate over a laminated/plywood top- now i know that the top is not really the key with a resonator cone but over all it was lacking- sorry to say...

 

 

It's certainly possible they've changed, I've not kept up with them. They used to have very good reviews on tone, playability and quality at a great price point.

[Freeman Keller]

 

I had a Regal RD45 Dobro roundneck which played and sounded good with a hefty set of 15's on it. Like Freeman said solid wood really makes no difference on a Reso; it's more the quality of the cone that counts.

 

 

When you stop and think about it, the new spun NRP cone that I just dropped in my 33H was $80 with biscuit (however, I put a $25 carbon fiber biscuit in mine too). You can buy a completer resonator for, what 200 or so. In his setup dvd for spiders Paul Beard shows taking the stamped cone out of one and tapping it with his finger - nice dull thud. He picks up the spun replacement (Quarterman?) and it rings like a bell.

 

And changing the cone in mine (true Dobro ) from the stock cone to the NRP made a huge difference. I did record it before and after and one of these days I'll post that (along with the Word doc that I wrote a couple of years ago about the basics of resonators) on the Annex.

 

I am also really particular about both the neck and the setup on mine - I like a relatively flat fretboard and a medium action because I play both fretted and bottleneck. When I put the new cone in mine I spent the better part of a day getting the setup right, then played it without the cover and redid it when the cone settled. I know that a good reso setup guy can do it a lot faster but I'm not sure the lady on the Korean assembly line can do as good a job.

 

A good resonator is an absolute joy to play - the dog will howl, the cat will hide, your wife will say "quit making all that racket" - ah, life is good.

[totamus]

I have a rogue resonator with a round neck. While I dont want to be promoting Rogue, the resonator has been a good instrument. Good neck, great sound. I thing I paid $200. It looks like they are on sale right now for $149. I would never buy a rogue acoustic, but the resonator has been very good. No complaints at all.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rogue-Classic-Spider-Resonator?sku=519190

[jd-drafter]

very tempting- i just got a rogue 12 string and it's been great- it took a little setting up- would have been fine for slide when i first got it- 8^)

 

but i would not hesitate to buy another rogue if the urge struck me- and as cheap as they are it's a pretty affordable urge~ poor boy's GAS/NGD

[Fred Fartboski]

I picked up the Rogue Spider roundneck earlier this summer for $110(I ordered a "blem" which turned out to be damaged, so MF replaced it with a new one at no extra cost!). The specs claim it has a "spun" cone, so that's must be one of the reasons why they sound so good at this price point. Good looking(vintage burst) and well put together instrument with a nice neck. Easily worth the $179 they go for now.

[timjtitus]

thanks for all the info everyone. whats the difference between a spider and a biscuit?

[AndrewGG]

 

thanks for all the info everyone. whats the difference between a spider and a biscuit?

 

 

Ok, the spider is the framework which transmits the sound to the cone via the bridge support (biscuit). Spread your fingers over a soup bowl touching the edges to visualise what the spider looks like under the cover plate.

[Freeman Keller]

thanks for all the info everyone. whats the difference between a spider and a biscuit?

 

PM me your e-mail addy. You need to read Resonators 101. However, guitar on left is a brass bodied single cone biscuit bridge 14 fret, the one on the right is a laminated wood bodied single cone roundneck spider bridge 12 fret. Different critters, different sounds. Both are true Dobro ™ brand guitars, but the metal one is more like a Style 0 National

 

 

There are also tricones (almost always medal bodies) and wood bodied biscuits (almost alway round necks) Here is a picture of the cone and biscuit

 

 

I don't have a good picture of a spider bridge, but lets just say it looks like a spider.

[lauren]

Beauties they are.

 

PM me your e-mail addy. You need to read Resonators 101. However, guitar on left is a brass bodied single cone biscuit bridge 14 fret, the one on the right is a laminated wood bodied single cone roundneck spider bridge 12 fret. Different critters, different sounds. Both are true Dobro (tm) brand guitars, but the metal one is more like a Style 0 National There are also tricones (almost always medal bodies) and wood bodied biscuits (almost alway round necks) Here is a picture of the cone and biscuit I don't have a good picture of a spider bridge, but lets just say it looks like a spider.

[jd-drafter]

this seemed to cover the topic at hand very well-

 

http://www.acousticfingerstyle.com/ResonatorsExplained.htm

 

i would like to read freeman's paper though-

[Freeman Keller]

Beauties they are.

 

Thank you. The woodie isn't much to look at but has a wonderful history. I bought it as a total wreck from a woman who says her dad got it when she was born - in 1932. The model number, 27, was its price back then in dollars (a new D28 would have been about $45, a Style 3 National tricone about $150). Anyway, I dissassembled it, refinished as close as I could to original, straightened the cover plate, new cone - and took it back to play for her. It was a very touching moment for both of us. That old git has 75 years of stories bound up inside - sometimes one of them creeps into a song.

[lauren]

a song to be written about this guitar.

 

Thank you. The woodie isn't much to look at but has a wonderful history. I bought it as a total wreck from a woman who says her dad got it when she was born - in 1932. The model number, 27, was its price back then in dollars (a new D28 would have been about $45, a Style 3 National tricone about $150). Anyway, I dissassembled it, refinished as close as I could to original, straightened the cover plate, new cone - and took it back to play for her. It was a very touching moment for both of us. That old git has 75 years of stories bound up inside - sometimes one of them creeps into a song.

[bjorn-fjord]

I build biscuit-bridge resonator guitars (not for $500, sorry ) and I have tried all the available cones. My favourite by far is the National cone and they cost $80. The Quarterman cone was OK but did not compare to the National. However I hear that Quarterman make superior spider-bridge cones.

 

I would recommend purchasing a guitar that plays well and feels comfortable to you. Then take the pie plate out of it and replace it with a National cone. This would be the cheapest way to get a killer resonator guitar.

 

It would be akin to buying a cheap but decent acoustic guitar and replacing the soundboard with a Collings or Froggy Bottom soundboard for $80.

 

As FK mentioned, you will likely not find a solid wood resonator for 10 times what you're willing to spend. Even National's top end wood resos are laminated.

[whit townsend]

You could come close on your budget to a Gold Tone Beard.

I'm guessing aroudn $600? Havn't priced em lately.

 

I have a Regal RD45 squareneck. $325 from Elderly about 5 yrs ago.

Decent tone stock but not very loud.

Upgrades:

Q. Cone $50

#14 cast alum spider $15(stock was some sort of thinner metal w/plastic coating)

Ebony tipped maple bridge inserts: $10

 

Now she is plenty loud enough to hang in a bluegrass jam. Tone still decent but not to die for. Just as loud as my buds Gold Tone Beard, altho his is a little richer sounding. All in all, well worth the $400 bucks invested.

[Freeman Keller]

 

this seemed to cover the topic at hand very well- http://www.acousticfingerstyle.com/ResonatorsExplained.htm i would like to read freeman's paper though-

 

 

That is an excellent article and really covers the construction differences. The one thing that I take slight issue with is the necks. In my experience

 

1) All squarenecks are 12 fretters - but that doesn't matter because they are alway played lap style

 

2) The big difference between 12 and 14 fretters is not a change in scale or a repositioning of the cone - the upper bout is larger in a 12 fretter and this will affect the tone (listen to the NRP sound clips that compare both).

 

3) Every 12 fretter I've ever played has been a wide (1-3/4 or 1-7/8) flat (20 inch radius neck). Most of the 12 fretters (including my 33H and almost all the imports) is a narrower (1-11/16) more curved (16) inch neck (just like a Martin dread). IMHO is it easier to play slide on the former and easier to fret the latter. Choice of neck might be influenced by how you are going to play.

 

4) I have purposely made the saddle on my 33H flatter than the radius of the neck since I play 80 percent slide on it (100 percent on the 27)

 

5) Only having 12 frets clear is not a problem for slide (after all the great old tricones are 11-1/2 fret clear) - you seldom go above 12 and if you do it is pretty easy to roll your hand and continue to dampen.

 

6) Reso's have such terrible intonation I can't imagine wanting to fret one above 12.

 

7) The only advantage a 14 fret neck has for me is that I can capo my open G up to A to play with Robert Johnson, Rory Block, Scott Ainsley)

 

8) I can see no reason for a cutaway on a reso, but I know they are kind of in vogue

 

Because of the neck issues I would seriously recommend playing a reso (in the style you plan to play) before buying . I would have no problems tuning one down to G or D, putting on my bottleneck and fingerpicks and wailing away on that thing in a store. Have done it frequently.

 

Otherwise, great article.....

[Fred Fartboski]

OK. Here's a heads up on a cheapie res: MF has a "blem" Rogue black squareneck spider and a sunburst sqareneck spider for $137.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rogue-Classic-Spider-Resonator?sku=519190X

The "blems" sometimes go fast, so they might be gone by the time you see this.

 

Plus, MF has an additional 15% off if you order by phone through noon, Dec. 1 when you say "Save 15" to the person taking your order. That comes out to only $116 and it qualifies for free shipping.

 

 

They're worth checking as you can always return them on MF's dime.

[timjtitus]

any experience with the Triolian? it's really pretty. lol

[Fred Fartboski]

 

any experience with the Triolian? it's really pretty. lol

 

 

No. But they have, for the most part, very good reviews. I'll probably snag one when a nice price drop comes along given my satisfaction with both the round and square neck spiders.

 

Aside from the HC and MF reviews of the Triolian and the Spider, here's a thread I found on them: http://www.guitarseminars.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/011800.html