Resonator... Gretsch or National?

[Martin Maniac]

Well I did some research and ended up buying an Epiphone Dobro Hound Dog. I found this video of Eric Clapton playing one.....just like the one I ordered.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocbYA50CJi4

I got it at zzsounds......

https://www.zzounds.com/item--DOBDWHOUNDLX

only problem is it is back ordered, so I don't know when I'll get it....

"UPDATE: It should be in at the end of the month per zzsounds."

Due to financing problems this order will be delayed for about two weeks anyhow.

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Martin Maniac

Well I did some research and ended up buying an Epiphone Dobro Hound Dog. I found this video of Eric Clapton playing one.....just like the one I ordered.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocbYA50CJi4

I got it at zzsounds......

https://www.zzounds.com/item--DOBDWHOUNDLX

only problem is it is back ordered, so I don't know when I'll get it....

"UPDATE: It should be in at the end of the month per zzsounds."

Due to financing problems this order will be delayed for about two weeks anyhow.

I think the Epiphone reso is a good budget reso, but the one that Eric Clapton is a vintage 1930's Model 45 Dobro with a swapped neck that sounds nothing like the one you just bought. The construction is different (spruce top and ebony fingerboard on the vintage dobro)and the cone is QUITE a bit different, and the cone makes up most of the tone. The Epiphones are made to look like that, but trust me when I say the don't sound remotely alike. I've played more than enough of them to know that first hand.

Here's one like Eric Clapton is playing, but according to some people in the know his has a swapped neck... https://reverb.com/item/941505-dobro...-natural-1940s

[Martin Maniac]

here's a video of the exact one I ordered....good enough for me....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1vaayGDwqc

[Martin Maniac]

here's another I really like.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid...ature=youtu.be

[Hoyt]

Look at Beard Deco Phonics. These are American made, not like the Goldtone/Beard collaborations.

I never liked National necks for round neck playing, but the Beard Deco Phonic has a great neck and very smooth sound.

If you want to go really inexpensive, the Gretch Boxcar is a good choice.

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Martin Maniac

here's a video of the exact one I ordered....good enough for me....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1vaayGDwqc

yes that's what the ones I've heard sound like. As I said, a good budget reso.
For fun, you might what to check out some of these new thumb-picks for your reso. They are supposed to be very easy to use for people that don't normally use thumb picks, and you can get some good drive out of a reso with a pick.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlackMount...g_id=794487301

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Hoyt

Look at Beard Deco Phonics. These are American made, not like the Goldtone/Beard collaborations.

I never liked National necks for round neck playing, but the Beard Deco Phonic has a great neck and very smooth sound.

If you want to go really inexpensive, the Gretch Boxcar is a good choice.

Which National round necks have you played???

[Martin Maniac]

I've been practicing slide with my D-35.....I have a long way to go....

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Martin Maniac

here's another I really like.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid...ature=youtu.be

That is a biscuit resonator, that is quite a bit of a different tone than the spider cone reso that you bought. Biscuit guitars have a quick attack and more punch, spider resos have better sustain and more present midrange. They both have their place, I like biscuit style better for blues, but sometimes spider cone models sound good for blues.

Here's me playing one of my blues songs with a spider cone National (Western Model D). Forgive my timid playing I literally wrote the song the morning that I recorded the show.

[Martin Maniac]

Good job, Very nice !!!

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Martin Maniac

Good job, Very nice !!!

Thanks, if you like that sound, you should be able to get a similar sound with your spider cone!

Some open tunings to try for slide...

Open E from low to high E B E G# B E
Open D from low to high D A D F# A D
Open G from low to high D G D G B D

[Martin Maniac]

i've got DADFAD ----Dm on my D 35 right now, but thanks for the suggestions i'll try them all.

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Martin Maniac

i've got DADFAD ----Dm on my D 35 right now, but thanks for the suggestions i'll try them all.

The different tones that come from the different string tensions of the different tunings can be pretty inspiring

[Martin Maniac]

Yes I know, I've written lots of music using EBEEBE Tuning. That's one CSN uses a lot. I've read that the Rolling Stones use an open G tuning because Keith Richards has arthritis in his hands, and it's either that or nothing.

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Martin Maniac

Yes I know, I've written lots of music using EBEEBE Tuning. That's one CSN uses a lot. I've read that the Rolling Stones use an open G tuning because Keith Richards has arthritis in his hands, and it's either that or nothing.

That's not even remotely true about the arthritis and his G tunings, the real reason Keith uses G tunings is because, early on in his career, he was hanging with guys like Jesse Ed Davis, Taj Majal, and Ry Cooder who were using open tunings for slide, and Keith who was interested in the sound, started applying the tuning to new chord shapes as he was intrigued by the way the chords sounded with the repeating notes and the octave drones. And his G tuning is special as he only uses 5 strings GDGBD (low to high). That way he has the root note on top!