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I have an archtop, I have a nylon... I should probably buy a resonator, right? Any recs? I need a round neck but other than that I'm open. They mostly seem to be imported, which is fine if the quality is good. Any recs??? I'm open to metal body or wood body. Having trouble finding a few that look "right."
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02-14-2017 03:59 PM
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Greetings! If you haven't found the Steel Guitar Forum, I'd do some snooping around over there. I bought a National Resolectric a few years ago, because I enjoyed playing lap steel. I finally gave up on learning dobro, sold it, and bought a vintage es175. Reso Hangout is another resource. Have fun looking.
Last edited by vernon; 02-14-2017 at 04:41 PM.
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I've been a member at SGF for years...those cat's know. I bought a Paul Beard squareneck back in 08. A fine instrument and great guy. Quality instrument custom made. Roundnecks — Beard Guitars
Gold Tone & Import Guitars: Resophonic OutfittersLast edited by BFrench; 02-14-2017 at 07:58 PM.
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If you have the budget get a National Resophonic.
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I have a Republic tricone, as well as a National Resolectric. The Resolectric is almost as loud acoustically, and sounds fantastic amplified. I toy with the idea of buying a nice National Style O or something similar, but I would just end up putting a pickup on it anyway, and ending up with something that only looks different from my Resolectric. The Republic is decently made, but it has required a lot of work to get it really playable. I would definitely go with National, either used or new. The quality is much higher than any others.
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My wife and kids got me a Dobro 33H back in the early nineties from Elderly Instruments. Chrome-plated bell-brass body, nice vintage-y neck (vee-ish but not extreme) rosewood board, Hawaiian scenery etched front and back. A bit hefty (duh) but showy - an eye catching conversation piece, for sure, and LOUD. Projection is not a problem. I really like this guitar! Caveat - the metal body is subject to sudden changes in ambient temperature, so don't book a gig in a small coffee house in sub-zero weather where the stage is 15 feet from the door, which will automatically open for a fresh influx of coffee/cocoa fiends dak smab in the middle of your song(s), for sure. It's by far my favorite summertime porch pluckin' pal. Find your inner Lonnie Johnson and/or Son House, and enjoy....
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Nationals look nice but PRICEY! How about the Beard / Gold Tones : Gold Tone Beard Signature Series Deluxe Resonator Guitar Square Neck | Musician's Friend
edit: I see that's a square neck. But they have rounds too:
Round Neck Resonator Guitar | Gold ToneLast edited by tomems; 02-14-2017 at 07:30 PM.
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Get a National man, it worth every ruble. It's the best investment I ever made in guitars, no bs, for my styles it's the best.
Videos are coming.Last edited by Hep To The Jive; 02-15-2017 at 02:18 AM.
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I have a Regal square neck with a Bigsby Palmbender AND a Barcus Berry pickup I'd sell you. Nice guitar, I just haven't found the time to learn dobro technique the way I thought I would.
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Being a lifelong slide player, I had a resonator guitar for many years, but got rid of it because it's such a one trick pony.
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One of the themes here is it's hard to find time to play in a new style. I'm not big on having time these days…
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I have a Regal RC43 and it is very nice. It's probably not the best bang for the buck but it doesn't cost an arm. If you have the money your best option is surely a National.
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Like probably most people on this forum, I naively think I could play anything with strings. And given an unlimited amount of time, I probably could...
Originally Posted by tomems
But playing and playing well are 2 different things.
I got mine on a whim. I can play Amazing Grace, I'll Fly Away, a bad version of Statesboro Blues, etc. But then I listen to Jerry Douglas, Brent Burke and others of their ilk and I just think I might as well give up now. The dobro is different enough from standard guitar in technique to make it something you just can't pick up and wail away on, unlike say ABB-style slide guitar.
Maybe I'll stick with it awhile--when I retire...
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Am I an outlier here in treating my Dobro like any other guitar, i.e. using standard tuning? The "Dobro" designation is the brand name, and it wasn't long before they were bought out by Gibson. It is in fact a reproduction of a 1933 National resonator. I do use it to play a certain amount of slide-based tunes, but all in standard tuning. I just use it to play whatever I want. It's a guitar. A weight, shiny, sustain-y, beautiful guitar with a range of achievable tones and volume capabilities from whisper-quiet to decidedly brash.
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You mean... just like Mark Knopfler?
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Same here. I never played slide, I play jazz on my reso. I don't see the difference with any other guitar in standard tuning, except it's got a great acoustic sound, and also the loudest of them all, which is great for playing with in brass bands. Like I said, I made all my money back and more in a half year, playing gigs, busking, teaching. Everyone is always commenting how great it sounds Originally Posted by citizenk74
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Not just a brand name. While the term "Dobro" has grown into a generic term for all resonator guitars, a Dobro was actually a decidedly different resonator design compared to the National triple and single cone guitars. You often hear the terms "biscuit cone" (national style) and "spider cone" (Dobro design). Originally Posted by citizenk74
It wasn't long before they were bought out by Gibson? Well, only 65 years......
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Dean is the working man's National?
Dean Chrome G Acoustic-Electric Resonator Guitar Chrome/Gold | Musician's Friend
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I was referring to my specific instrument. I was aware of the distinction, and was attempting clarification. The "not long bit" was in regard to that purchase. Originally Posted by TOMMO
Not just a brand name. While the term "Dobro" has grown into a generic term for all resonator guitars, a Dobro was actually a decidedly different resonator design compared to the National triple and single cone guitars. You often hear the terms "biscuit cone" (national style) and "spider cone" (Dobro design).
It wasn't long before they were bought out by Gibson? Well, only 65 years......
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Alright - understood! Originally Posted by citizenk74
I was referring to my specific instrument. I was aware of the distinction, and was attempting clarification. The "not long bit" was in regard to that purchase.
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i thought about buying a relatively decent Republic brand resonator many, many times, but never pulled the trigger. But when I finally got a real National, I was really glad I'd bought the real thing instead.
I find the modern-era production (i.e. post 1989) to be just a great as the original ones, especially because metal doesn't really "age" the way wood does, and the quality and playability of the new guitars is superb. You can occasionally find used Style 0 single cones for right around $2k, and that's a steal.
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So made a quick video just jamming, practicing tunes, picked the decent moments and mixed them together. Hope it's helpful!
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I think about resonators occasionally... now again I came across this thread.
What I found in youtube about jazz on resonator...
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My favorite is the National M1 tricone. Great sound and it doesn't weigh a ton like the metal ones. A bit expensive, though. But, since this is the Jazz Guitar Forum, you should look into the Fender Reso-Tele (not the Fender Resonator guitar).
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Here's another video I did, enjoy!
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