Jump to content
HAPPY NEW YEAR, TO ALL OUR HARMONY CENTRAL FORUMITES AND GUESTS!! ×

Resonator Guitars - Need Help


bambam

Recommended Posts

  • Members
Posted

Looking for help and guidence on Resonator Guitars. Can anybody offer any tips or reccomendations on a purchase?

 

Thanks.

  • Members
Posted
Originally posted by bambam

Looking for help and guidence on Resonator Guitars. Can anybody offer any tips or reccomendations on a purchase?


Thanks.

What's your budget?

  • Members
Posted
Originally posted by bambam

My budget is 500 bucks or less!

I spent about that much on a Regal metal-bodied reso from Musician's Friend. It's not bad, for an inexpensive one.

Later upgraded it with a Quarterman cone and a better bridge, and now I think it sounds very good.

Looks cool, too :cool:

  • Members
Posted

There are a lot of fundimental questions to ask first besides just the budget - what kind of music are you going to play? Lap or blues style? Slide or fretted? Unplugged or plugged? Wood bodied or metal? Single or tri cone? Biscuit or spider bridge?

 

Inexpensive reso's have been discussed extensively in this forum and others. There is a whole sub forum over at the Unofficial Martin group called "Slide it on over" - you might lurk there a bit

 

Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum

 

I didn't do my research and my first reso really doesn't suit my playing style because of the neck, but it might be perfect for some other folks (and it was not an inexpensive one). I mostly play the 1932 Dobro 27 that I picked up for 200 bucks and someday will replace my 1980 type 33 with a tri cone.

  • Members
Posted

Originally posted by bambam

Looking for help and guidence on Resonator Guitars. Can anybody offer any tips or reccomendations on a purchase?


Thanks.

 

 

Hey Bambam,

I have played a few resonators in my time

  • Members
Posted

Also, check out dobros or resonators from Folk of the Wood. They have a great trade-up policy. I bought a squareneck and eventually traded up to a Regal round neck Triolian. Got full credit from one guitar to the other.

  • Members
Posted

In your price range there are plenty of imports. Any of these can get you started and you can always save up and purchase a nice National later, if you stick with this instrument. As Freeman said, you need to do a lot more research to find the best one for your preferred style of music. Wood vs. metal, steel body vs. brass, biscuit bridge vs. spider, round neck vs. square neck. The only way to figure this out is to take a trip to a store with a decent selection. Unfortunately, most stores don't carry them, or only have a few models. To fully appreaciate your reso you will also need to become versed with open tunings (D and G primarily), so there will be a learning curve. Check out National Reso-phonic's site for sound clips of different types. Also spend some time with Google just searching for reso infor. Brad's Page of Steel is a good place to start. He has lots of links on his site.

  • Members
Posted

i got the rogue roundneck biscuit reso from musicians friend for $129 and i love it. nice looks, great sound and loud!

  • Members
Posted

for great info and dialogue on resonators check out this forum

www.http://acousticguitarseminar.com


lots of knowledgable players. they have an area for selling.
I got a great deal on a National reso thru one of the forumites; he deals resos. vintage will be expensive. new can be, depending on the brand.

most imports need upgrading. usually the cone.

  • Members
Posted

If you're looking for a big body, acoustic reso sound this isn't for you.

I excerpted my post on the "I want and electric resonator guitar" thread. Check out Lauren's video for an idea what Jay Turser has to offer. Well under $500, stock.

Originally posted by fantasticsound

Look for the Jay Turser
Birdmove
mentioned.


A friend of mine is a gifted songwriter and guitar player who's specialty is slide. She's also a luthier who repairs instruments as a sideline when she's not touring.


She has a dobro and at least one other resonator, but she plays a Turser she found at the store she techs at. I know she did some mods on it, but I don't know if the pickup was one of them. I believe she replaced the nut with bone, but don't quote me on that. The pickup is a soapbar type. You can see and hear the Turser in action in the video on her site at
http://www.lama.com/laurenellis/
. Click on recordings, then scroll down to this image and clonk it to view her documentary video. And yes, that is the Turser, but it looks a lot better in the context of the video.


videothumb.jpg

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...