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Advice needed: buying a resonator.
So, I took an intro to slide guitar class at the second week of PSGW this year, and absolutely loved it, and now I want to get a resonator.
I need to (and plan to) get out and play as many as I can; but I know from having visited area stores in the past that there won't be many options locally. And one thing I've run into when looking at makers' websites etc. is that pretty much all resonators that anyone is making seem to be 12-fret guitars with no cutout, making it awfully hard to work the slide above the 12th fret. I've seen only a few exceptions to this online; and I don't have much hope that I'm going to see those specific models when I go visiting shops to try out guitars. Anyway, does anyone have any advice (general or specific) regarding shopping for a resonator? Or should I think of it like shopping for any other guitar? I'm a little concerned about my inexperience with them affecting my ability to quickly judge a setup (action high enough to make slide use easy; but low enough to make it still possible to fret with my fingers, since I'm not looking for a lap steel). Thanks.
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I need more time to play music. |
#2
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I have a Korean made Fender FR48 reso, 14-fret, that's a very adequate instrument. A lot of folks who have them have compared them to Nationals. They've been discontinued but you can often find them used on Ebay or Craig's list.
A little heavy because of the metal body and whether you need to have it setup differently depends on you. I've read that they were designed with someone who was going to play both slide and fretting and I was happy with the setup on mine so I haven't made any changes to it. Dobro and National both make 14-fret cutaways, but they aren't cheap. Don't recall ever seeing a metal-bodied reso with a cutaway, but that doesn't mean they aren't out there. Check Elderly. They're a good company and they have a big selection. Good luck.
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A bunch of guitars, a banjo, three mandos, and three ukes. |
#3
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I played one of these a week ago and almost bought it. Great sound, acoustic or plugged in, and a very cool look. Went back planning to buy it the next day, and it was sold. They still had the square neck model, but you need to play it flat. Here's a link:
http://www.gretschguitars.com/produc...tno=2716010503
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1950 Martin 00-18 RainSong Concert Hybrid Orchestra Model 12 Fret Eastman E20OOSS. Strandberg Boden Original 6 Eastman T185MX G&L ASAT Classic USA Butterscotch Blonde Rickenbacher Lap Steel Voyage-Air VAD-2 Martin SW00-DB Machiche 1968 Guild F-112 Taylor 322e 12 Fret V Class |
#4
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I owned the Beard Goldtone (made in Asia but set up by Beard in Maryland) PBRCA. It is Mahogany, and has a cutaway. Mine was a roundneck, which allows for a combination of fingerpicking and slide.
http://www.beardguitars.com/guitargoldtonepbrca.html I discovered I am not a slide guy after all. I sold mine last year. The quality of the instrument is outstanding though. And Beard is the authority on slide guitars according to many. Call them and ask their advice?
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i got tired of updating my guitars. Last edited by SalFromChatham; 08-21-2012 at 08:55 AM. |
#5
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If you don't want to shell out for a National, next best thing would be a Hotrod Steel, after that a Republic ( they both make 14 fretters ), the Republic might need tweaking into shape; nothing less than those is really worth bothering with, IMO..
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#6
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Gibson SJ-200 Studio Epiphone Masterbilt AJ 500M Gretsch 5420t Electromatic Mike Terris Maple E body squareneck dobro Squier Telecaster standard Squier Jazz bass vintage modified 70s Yamaha Pacifica Gretsch Electromatic lap steel Gold Tone GT 750 6 string banjo Guild GD 125 12 string http://www.reverbnation.com/alanwalker/songs http://www.reverbnation.com/ravensreturn/songs |
#7
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Granted, sliding above the 12th fret isn't easy on a traditional shape resonator, but that never stopped the vast majority of players, it just makes it more gratifying when you get there. A 14 fret reso has a different sound, not necessarily better or worse, depends on what you're after, but often with less bass, less gutsy.
The Goldtone mentioned above is no doubt a good guitar, but it has a spider or Dobro style bridge. This is a different species to most resonators, National style, which have either single cones with biscuit bridges or are tricones. It's a big difference. Maybe you're aware of all this already, if so, my apologies. If not, this is a good place to get familiar with it : http://littlebrotherblues.com/Gear/ResoHunt/index.html http://littlebrotherblues.com/Gear/R...ound-test1.mp3 or go try some! That's where the fun is... |
#8
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I own this Paul Beard Gold Tone and it is hands down superior to any reso in it's price range. All solid hog and set up in the US with genuine Beard parts. You will find spyder resos in hog round necks and buscuit resos used more on metal square necks. both styles have strong points. Blues |
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I need more time to play music. |
#10
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I've got Bob Brozman's beginner DVD, and almost the first thing he shows you is how to play upper frets by using your thumb to damp.
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#11
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When I first got into playing slide, I rushed out and bought a resonator too. I bought a Republic resolian, great little guitar although the neck is super beefy. I think the Highway 61 (which has a cut-away has a more managable neck).
I ended up selling the resolian after a year or two. Once I'd learnt the basics of playing slide, I found I much preferred to play it on a normal acosutic guitar (well, a 12-fret parlor is my normal acoustic guitar). I guess a resonator is cool when you are first learning as you can use 16 gauge strings so you can get away with poor technique. Playing on an acoustic with 12 guage strings takes a little more control. Best of luck with your search.
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1929 Martin 2-17 Recording King RP-06 Danelectro Pro |
#12
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I have a Fender acoustic/electric cutaway resonator and love it...without the cutaway and plug in, it would be much more limited.
Put in a local ad for a resonator. That's how I got mine. My guessing is 90% of these guitars don't even get played once a year. They are bought by the uninformed or as a novelty and have never played more than as couple of times. Also, if you buy it used you can resell it for more or less what you bought it for. You'll lose half your value on a new one. |
#13
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I need more time to play music. Last edited by funkapus; 08-23-2012 at 06:33 AM. Reason: I spel gud. |
#14
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The sound from a resonator comes almost exclusively from the cone and the materials used to make the body. Nickel plated brass a warmer, more bass driven tone then steel bodied guitars. In my opinion I would save up your bucks and go for the National. They are worth the extra bucks as there is simply no comparison between those and the Asian copies. You could save some $$$ and buy a used one. One of my students wound up selling his Republic after hearing my Nationals and is now searching the classifieds.
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Fingerpicking Acoustic Blues/Rag/Folk/Slide Lessons https://www.tobywalkerslessons.com/ |
#15
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Check out Beard Guitars http://beardguitars.com/
Check out the folks at http://www.resohangout.com/ Blues |