Best value resonator?

[JimH]

Can't go national - just can't afford it. Don't want a cosmetic one like AXL or ozark.

 

Amistar?

Is there some middle ground?

[Danocoustic]

Jim, I bought a Regal Duolian (?)---the chrome one---from Musician's Friend a couple years ago for about $400. Upgraded the cone with a Quarterman, put a better bridge in it, did a serious set-up on it.

 

I'm quite pleased with it for the $500 or so I've got into it. Piedmont blues with steel fingerpicks

[JimH]

Thanks - Regal eh?

 

Heard mixed reports about them. Cone upgrades and stuff aren't something I know anything about unfortunately. Hmmm. May have to learn that.

[Terry Allan Hall]

I have this model Dean and it sounds quite a bit better than you'd think for the $$$...definitely check one out before buying anything!

 

 

Even though it only has the neck P/U, the "reso-ness" comes through the amp/PA nicely!

 

More skinny:

 

http://www.deanguitars.com/ce.htm

[Freeman Keller]

I've played a bunch of inexpensive resonators and was pretty underwelmed by them. I have not played a Beard Goldtone but they get very high marks from people that have

 

http://www.goldtone.com/products/cat_signature.asp?cat=beard

 

I've given some consideration to selling the metal one - it is a type 33 Dobro (don't mean to make this SPAM) PM me if you would have any interest in this

 

Also, if you were to tell us more what you were looking for in a resonator maybe we could help (biscuit or spider, metal or wood, squareneck or round, single or tricone)

 

[JimH]

Thanks guys - great responses, sorry I've not been more specific - not had much response on the acoustic forum in the past so I guess I didn't go into much detail.

 

 

Also, if you were to tell us more what you were looking for

 

 

Defeinitely round neck. Am I kidding myself that I can use one for slide and fingerstyle? Or is that t a two guitar situation?

 

If it is a two guitar thing then I don't know. If one guitar then possibly wood bodied. Really openI must say. I'm an experienced elecrtic lead player, do some classical, jazz, blues, slide, folk and some banjo and thought a resonator might be just the thing. Trouble, think ideally I'd get a wood bodied tricone with a cut away. But that's without experience. Only ever played cheapies in shops and they just sounded dead to me - like the resonator concept was just cosmetic. Like a metal box with strings on it.

 

Also I'm in UK - choice is pretty limited for resonators here. Also precludes me getting that Dobro I think - thanks though.

[brooksblues]

If you are looking for a wood body resonator I would say check out the Beard Goldtones they are very nice but still a tad expensive. I have a Johnson metal Body Resonator, with a wild rose engraving pattern. I bought it used for like $325, I have yet to upgrade anything, but I want to upgrade the cone and get some sort of pickup or transducer on it so i can actually start playing it more live. But the metal body resonators are very heavy, it is definatly something you have to get used to.

 

One thing I have noticed with the cheaper wood body resonators is they dont project very well at all. I remember trying a few wood body regals and they were very quiet but there metal bodies were nice.

[Andrewrg]

I had a Regal RD45 roundneck which sounded good even with the standard cone.For slide or Dobro style I got a nut extender-an angled piece of metal which slid over the nut to raise the action.Done using it just slacken off the strings and slide it out.

Regal are made in China by Saga,the company which brought you Blueridge guitars.

[JimH]

Yeah those goldtones look good and decently priced. - hollow neck?

[JimH]

Labeda?

[Chief Ten Beers]

I picked up the goldtone beard solid mahogany square neck used for$775 and it's an awesome instrument.

[Freeman Keller]

 

Originally posted by JimH Defeinitely round neck. Am I kidding myself that I can use one for slide and fingerstyle? Or is that t a two guitar situation? Trouble, think ideally I'd get a wood bodied tricone with a cut away. But that's without experience. Only ever played cheapies in shops and they just sounded dead to me - like the resonator concept was just cosmetic. Like a metal box with strings on it.

 

 

This helps. Yes you can play both fretted and slide on the same resonator just like you can on any acousitc. I play slide on every guitar I own (except the classical, whow, how about some bottleneck Bach>), and all my guitars, including the metal reso have action about 3/32 on the low E. The wood Dobro is a slide only git - the action is 5/32. Both reso's are strung with mediums and the wood one usually gets an unwound third. The wood one stays in open G, the metal one gets played in standard, D and G. I usually tune it down two half steps. Look at BBF - everything he did was standard tuning on a Style O played fretted.

 

I happen to prefer flat fretboards for slide - most 12 fret reso's are 1-3/4 or ever 1-7/8 wide and flatter radius than a 14 fret. Most 14 fret are 1-11/16 and the 16 inch radius of a normal acoustic. Personally I prefer 12 fret resonators but then you run into the body with your slide - compromises, compromises....

 

Obviously to play bottleneck on a fingerstyle guitar you need fairly good slide technique - I tend to use the fingers behind the slide both to dampen but also as a gauge of how much pressure to apply so I don't fret out. So, long answer is yes, you can do both.

 

I also like fingerpicks on the reso to give a little more snap, but I play without them on my acoustics.

 

If you want to play lap style (which you can do with a roundneck) you will want a high nut or an extender and Shubb or Stevens steel. You can take the extender in and out but it is a hassle. If you are going to play mostly bluegrass "drobro" style you'll probably end up with special strings and tuned to "dobro G". That is all I know about lap style - I don't do it.

 

I'm not aware of anyone that makes a wood bodied tricone. That would be kind of contradictory - tri cones tend to have short attack and sustain, while wood tends to have that sweet long sustain (which is helped if it has a spider).

 

Most people feel that inexpensive resonators can be helped a lot by an cone upgrade and some serious setup work - many of the ones I've played have all sorts of rattles and buzzes. That is the advantage of the Beard - as I understand it the guitars are build overseas but with cones and parts spec'ed by Beard and he does the setup. That is why they cost more - that is why they are worth it.

 

National had a great cd available on their site with Bob Brozman playing all their current models - it made it real easy to hear the difference between brass, steel, wood, single and tri - and believe me there is a difference. Cd was out of production for a while but might be back. Worth finding if you can.

 

I would also add that every cheap one I've played with built in electronics sounded bad unplugged, so unless you really need it I would stay away from that. There are pickups made specifically for resonators (they aren't cheap) and it would be better to add one of these. Some of them cost as much as a Regal or Johnson.

 

When you say "hollowneck" are you thinking Weisenborn? Whole different animal.....

 

Last year when there was some interest about inexpensive resos I played a few at a local shop and wrote up my reaction. I probably still have that document sitting around somewhere - I could e-mail it to you. But you also need to get out and play a bunch of them yourself.

[JimH]

Freeman keller - thanks - excellent info.

my mails 'jhanley16@hotmail.com' if it turns up.

 

Wow - a lot to digest there. wooded tricone:

 

[Freeman Keller]

 

Originally posted by JimH Freeman keller - thanks - excellent info. my mails 'jhanley16@hotmail.com' if it turns up. Wow - a lot to digest there. wooded tricone:

 

 

I stand corrected. I'd love to hear that one.

 

Found two little things that might help. They are headed your way. Let me warn you, these things are a total hoot!

[JimH]

THanks.

[daklander]

Let me throw Liberty Guitars your way too. Just to add some confusion and make your decision harder.

[JimH]

Thanks darklander - they look really cool, ubnfortuately being in the UK it's not really worth getting anything other than V expensive stuff due to shipping and tax.

 

Freeman - thanks, great articles.

 

Well round neck, spider, wood body seems like the ticket for best value and I think I'm leaning towards sweet rather than harsh as I'm intending more than gut wrenching blues.

 

Hmmmm. Quest begins.

 

This is my nearest dealer:

 

frailers

 

and this is supposedly best in UK

 

london resocentre

 

If you're interested or feel like a look please go ahead and see if anything catches your eye. If not no problem and thanks.

[Freeman Keller]

Jim, it looks like you have a great opportunity to do some serious comparing.

 

To simplify a very complex subject - the spider bridge will almost always be in a wood body, and will have the sweet sad sound that I associate with bluegrass dobro (Jerry Douglas et al). I play blues on mine and it sound good with or without finger picks. The action is so high on mine and the intonation is pretty bad so it is strickly a slide axe.

 

The metal bodies are a lot nastier sounding - when you think of the old Delta bluesmen they were usually playing some sort metal. Brass is a little mellower and tri cones seem to have a longer sustain. Almost all metal bodied single cones will be biscuit bridge and some wood are depending on the manufacture.

 

Just glancing at the two stores in your area, I am intreged by that Continental Style 1 - that is a copy of a National tricone with a 12 fret body and I have heard good things about the Continentals (never played one tho). You have several models of Dobro to compare with - should be interesting.

 

I feel that a good store will let you (and should encourage you) to retune to what ever you want (as long as it is down, don't ever tune these things up) and to play with a slide and/or finger picks if that is your style. If they have a soundproof room, all the better ..

 

For sure take the time to go to London - what a great opportunity to play a lot of them. You are going to have a ball!

[rbuono]

I'm new to this reso game and I just started playing in open G and with a slide but.....if anyone wants to hear a Regal RC-2, Reso blues is a little test recording I did with my Regal and my Zoom PS-04. I think the sound is pretty good and it can be ALOT better. The recording was done in a 20/30 room into an on board condenser mic from about 3 feet away. The boomyness on the rhythm is the recording not the guitar.

 

Since posting the MP3 I have done alot in Cakewalk to clean up the recording and it sounds much better than this link but this might give you a basic example of a Regal in the hands of a rookie delta player.

 

 

[rbuono]

But the address is there between the tags

[JimH]

Keller - thanks very much - should be interesting. I'm thinking wood bodied single come will be what I end up with due to cost. - having said that, if the continental is there or there abouts I reckon I'd stretch that far. Shame can't get your prices here. That continental is $1400. hoping I can find half way house action wise for finger and slide, got a feeling it's going to end up a two guitar situation. Hope not.

 

rbuono -thanks very much - really enjoyed that - great sound. RC-2? Hmmm.

Incidentally saw this on ebay lately if anyone has an opinion:

 

RD3

[Freeman Keller]

Believe it or not the Continential is what I would call a "medium" priced resonator - about half way between the Asian imports and a new National. Remember that a Style 1 National lists right now at $3200 and Elderly sells theirs for $2600, so even tho the Connie is pretty spendy, it is half or so the National.

 

The e-bay one could be a good guitar for the price - I don't know anything about that Lance pickup but most people feel you need to mic the cone or bridge directly.

 

I think you are going to have an exciting little trip through the wonderfull world of resonators - hold on to your money, take your time and enjoy the ride!

[JimH]

Yeah - I don't regard