Roundneck Resonator Builders

[The Bard Rocks]

At Woodstock, I saw three exhibitors who made roundneck wooden-body resonator guitars. Google searches turn up a couple from other countries and a bunch of more budget guitar "brands".

Besides National, who else is out there making high end resonators? There's got to be more.

[Halcyon/Tinker]

My old Larrivee alumni Jason Friesen and Mark Thibeaux make gorgeous resonator guitars up in Smithers. I know they do square necks for certain, obviously, but would be surprised if they wouldn't make a round neck.

http://rayco.ca/

[Tony Done]

This is a make that has long interested me:

http://metalgitar.com/instruments

[Silly Moustache]

I've seen a couple of Rayco square neck Dobro style guitars - spider cone of course, and they were both impressive tone wise (which is just about whose cone assembly you use) but their website says nothing about making a biscuit style reso (like Nationals.

The other website had no details at all.

Most resos, biscuit ,spider, or tri-cone get most of their tone from the cones and the best come from National (biscuits) or Beard and, f still available Quarterman. Square neck resos have differing cone mounting method, although with National style the metal bodies have distinctively differing tones.

My current (and last square neck is a Dobro, built by Gibson. It was given to me by a dying friend, but it sounded awful, and I couldn't play it in tune.

I took it to the British reso expert who told me that Gibson had been making Dobros about 1/4 " out of true and cheap cones. He virtually rebuilt the inset and replaced the cone with a Beard cone and special spider made to compensate for the inaccuracy of Gibson made instruments.so,don't buy Gibson made resos.

There are some Chinese made National/biscuit style instruments, undervarious brand names but the cones are very poor.... IMHO.

[The Bard Rocks]

Thanks, Ed. I have now written to Rayco.

Terry - I have seen Del Rey's Phiilips-made instruments and am very impressed with the great sound she get from those little things. Absolutely top shelf, no doubt. However, they are too small for my comfort level.

[markallen]

I just purchased a Mule Resonator from a member here and really love it.

Check them out at: http://muleresophonic.com/

Cheers,

Mark

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

At Woodstock, I saw three exhibitors who made roundneck wooden-body resonator guitars. Google searches turn up a couple from other countries and a bunch of more budget guitar "brands".

Besides National, who else is out there making high end resonators? There's got to be more.

Paul Beard

[MC5C]

Paul Beard is probably considered the pre-eminent builder of spider cone resonators. He built guitars for Mike Aldridge, and builds them for Jerry Douglas. He has a small 10 - 15 person shop and is putting out a fair number of guitars from around $2K up, from what I recall. He has several lines, ranging from extremely traditional (evoking the original Dobro's of the 1930's) to custom lines for Mike and Jerry, to modern guitars with carbon fiber bodies and magnetic pickups. Anything from birch plywood (considered by many to make the best resonators) to extreme figured solid woods. He turns all of his own cones. The man has dedication.

[The Bard Rocks]

Paul was one of the 3 who showed resonators at Woodstock. I don't think anyone out there handles more of them than he does. I have talked with his folks, also Mike Franks and Chris Holcomb, the other 2 at Woodstock.

[Twinpeaksbirds]

I second Mule Resonators. Matt built #55 for me, and it's incredible!

[Reso1]

Originally Posted by Twinpeaksbirds

I second Mule Resonators. Matt built #55 for me, and it's incredible!

I third the vote for Mule resonators! I have one on order, however I was able to also pick a up a minty used 2017 Mule steel Tricone! I have had new resonators from custom builders and well known builders, as well as the vintage stuff. The Mule to my ear, is my current favorite. When my build slot comes up, I will be getting a brass Mule Tricone.

[niko]

The best resonators I ever tryed are made by Mike Lewis (Fine Resophonic) near Paris (FR).
Mike is also a true expert in original National.
customers include Louisiana Red, Eric Clapton...

http://www.fineresophonic.com/