resonator advice needed

djphelan01 · #1 10-19-2010, 09:44 AM

I'm planning on picking up a resonator guitar but I have no experience with them. The local stores don't seem to carry any for me to try. From some of the research I've done I think I prefer the warmer tone of a wood body,but maybe the videos I watched didn't give me a true perspective. So any advice you guys might have would be appreciated such as possible good brands to look for without breaking the bank. I'm also thinking a roundneck might be more versatile but I may be wrong there too.

ruger9 · #2 10-19-2010, 09:52 AM

I just started this quest myself, so I have no experience, but my research has me leaning towards the Recording King RR-50-VS. Round neck (there's also a square neck version.) All mahogany. Spider cone. There's a youtube demo of it that sounds pretty darned good for an entry-level instrument.

I've also heard good things about the Rogue Classic Spider, I think it's called, it's mahogany, but with a spruce top. There are a couple other brands in the entry-level range, but as I said, I'm just getting into this myself.

The Rogue, at 2 bills, scares me. I'm leaning towards the RK based on almost every review I've read of any RK guitar was at least "good" if not "very good." So it seems RK has their QC down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m64q43OEywg (it's just a crappy camera mic, but even so, you can hear it's on the warmer side of things)

Allman_Fan · #3 10-19-2010, 09:55 AM

How are you intending on playing it? Upright like a normal guitar or flat on your lap?

Are you intending on playing it with a slide or fretting it . . . or both?

djphelan01 · #4 10-19-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruger9

I just started this quest myself, so I have no experience, but my research has me leaning towards the Recording King RR-50-VS. Round neck (there's also a square neck version.) All mahogany. Spider cone. There's a youtube demo of it that sounds pretty darned good for an entry-level instrument.

I've also heard good things about the Rogue Classic Spider, I think it's called, it's mahogany, but with a spruce top. There are a couple other brands in the entry-level range, but as I said, I'm just getting into this myself.

The Rogue, at 2 bills, scares me. I'm leaning towards the RK based on almost every review I've read of any RK guitar was at least "good" if not "very good." So it seems RK has their QC down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m64q43OEywg (it's just a crappy camera mic, but even so, you can hear it's on the warmer side of things)

Some of the research I've been doing has led me to the Gold Tones by Paul Beard http://www.beardguitars.com/index.html. They seem to get a lot of good reviews. I don't want to spend a real lot but I also would rather spend a little more now and be happier down the road. So The Gold Tones are about my price range. This was one of the places I got some good info from
http://www.resohangout.com/forum/

djphelan01 · #5 10-19-2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allman_Fan

How are you intending on playing it? Upright like a normal guitar or flat on your lap?

Are you intending on playing it with a slide or fretting it . . . or both?

Originally I thought I wanted a roundneck so that I can play it like a normal guitar also. But after doing some research and knowing that the little bit of slide playing I've done I feel more comfortable playing in my lap and that will also increase my tuning options. If I decide I need to play it as a regular guitar I'll have to just pick up one of my other guitars. So as of now I think I'm leaning towards a squareneck, but that can be easily swayed by somebody with experience.

Drmike · #6 10-19-2010, 10:51 AM

Ok, a square neck is really a lap dobro, usually spider cone. A round neck is played like a regular guitar, mostly bisquit cones. In all honestly, the body material just needs to be very hard, I have seen laminates that sound great.
Nationals are always the way to go IMO, or customs. There is an Australian company that builds nice resonators, but are pricey.
National puts out a great CD of all the different models and someone playing each model so you can gauge the sound, tone, resonance etc.
A tricone is another matter, for the beginner, I think they harder to control due to the amount of after-tones. They are loud and reverberate forever, but again it all depends on what type of music you are going for.
The old blues guys used bisquit cones on a round neck almost exclusively.
I have several resonators and love them all.
Be careful of going for the cheapo models, the necks are usually trash, too thing and poor fret jobs.
Hope this helps
Drmike

Mudskipper · #7 10-19-2010, 10:58 AM

During your search, I strongly recommend playing some old resonators (both wood and metal body guitars) to get some insights into how these guitars sound.

Allman_Fan · #8 10-19-2010, 11:14 AM

In my mind, though, this is the first question that should be answered: lap or upright? Honestly, I would suggest postponing buying a resonator until you have this answered.

Have you tried playing slide on a regular guitar? That way, you can try both ways to see how you like each and then make a decision. Just cut up a credit card a put a layer or two under your nut. Maybe a layer under your bridge. Tune your guitar to "a chord" and try it both ways!

jmcphail · #9 10-19-2010, 11:17 AM

My experience in researching resonators prompted me to put the links in my signature that are there now.

Be aware of what you read, where you read it, and who wrote what you're reading. Even "civilian" posts on message boards are not always what they seem. Be skeptical, and don't buy anything without a liberal return policy.

zombywoof · #10 10-19-2010, 11:30 AM

Agree with the Beard Goldtone recommendation.

Also, as mentioned, do not rule out oldies. I have seen some really nice prices particularly on Dobro wood body squarenecks.

Also, depending on what kind of music you want to play, if you primarily want to play lap guitar you might check out a Weissenborn style instruments. Goldtone and many others offer them.

ruger9 · #11 10-19-2010, 11:44 AM

Beards are out of my price range. The Recording King, at $350, is about my limit currently. If I find I love playing a reso, then I'll save up and get something really nice. I don't want to go as low as a Rogue, I haven't read many good reviews on those, but most RK reviews I read are good.

Thanks for the link the the Reso Hangout! A new forum to join & learn!

macfawlty · #12 10-20-2010, 06:30 PM

Here's a guy that just builds resonators. He gets all the parts and assembles the various models. You can customize different elements to get it with the best parts, like the Quarterman cone. I have the all-mahogany model in a round-neck.

Give him a call or email.

http://www.libertyguitars.com/

zombywoof · #13 10-20-2010, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macfawlty

Here's a guy that just builds resonators. He gets all the parts and assembles the various models. You can customize different elements to get it with the best parts, like the Quarterman cone. I have the all-mahogany model in a round-neck.

I may have heard wrong but the rap on Liberty Guitars is that they are made in China and setup and "customized" stateside. If I am wrong I apologize in advance but I would check into it before laying out your hard earned scratch.

rbock · #14 10-20-2010, 09:15 PM

Almost as important a consideration as the round neck/square neck, lap/upright decision is the type of cone. Spider cones are the most usual choice for bluegrass- think twang. Biscuit cones are more common for blues, ala Muddy Waters or Son House, among others.