Favorite Resonator Under 1000.

Arapaho G · #1 03-22-2022, 08:05 AM

As my slide playing progresses I am considering a resophonic. What are your favorites under $1000? Metal or wood?

29er · #2 03-22-2022, 08:25 AM

I have a Republic wood bodied Tricone that is very good. No, it is not a National but it came from Frank well set up for combo slide/fingerstyle playing and for far less than 1k. Click the link to see this model on their web site.

https://republicguitars.com/collections/woody

OnTheLedge · #3 03-22-2022, 08:44 AM

I have a Gold Tone Paul Beard Signature round neck wood resonator. It's a really good quality instrument.

Reverb has some used ones listed a little under $1K and this new one for $999.
https://reverb.com/item/32737324-gol...o-tone-tobacco

L20A · #4 03-22-2022, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheLedge

I have a Gold Tone Paul Beard Signature round neck wood resonator. It's a really good quality instrument.

Reverb has some used ones listed a little under $1K and this new one for $999.
https://reverb.com/item/32737324-gol...o-tone-tobacco

I have one of these guitars.
Took mine to my Tech for a new fossilized bone saddle.
I can't understand why Resonator guitars come standard with wooded saddles.
The new saddle makes so much difference in tone and projection.

mawmow · #5 03-22-2022, 12:12 PM

I used to own a rare and discontinued all metal Hot Rod tricone.
Its 1 3/4" nut width was the spec that had attrected me becquse
I formerly had to let go an original Gibson Hound Dog because of
its 1 5/8" nut width.

yaharadelta · #6 03-22-2022, 04:26 PM

I have a Regal RC-2 Duolian, metal, biscuit cone that works for me. Not long ago I replaced the cone with a National Hot Rod cone, seems to have been a positive change. Sustain is a better and it seems to ring out a little clearer. I recently picked up a used Gold Tone PBR, wood body, spider cone, as others said it's well made, good quality, overall tone is very nice.

Mandobart · #7 03-22-2022, 06:42 PM

I also have a Gold Tone Mastertone Paul Beard round neck resonator. It's now listed for over $1 k new, but I bought mine for $950 a little over a year ago direct from Gold Tone (with the passive pickup installed).

It's great fun to play. Sounds much better (to me) than the cheaper Gretsch and Recording King's I tried out. I knew I wanted a spider bridge and wood body.

Reso's are a niche, so its harder to try a bunch out first.

tdq · #8 03-22-2022, 07:29 PM

I have a National NRP, but I have tried lots of "budget" resos over the years - I always like to check them out when I visit guitar stores - and my main takeaway is try before you buy, if you can - I have played the identical model, side by side, where one was great and the other really wasn't at all.

One model I really liked was a Gretsch Boxcar - the wood, spider cone one. I found the tone really sweet - it was a nice contrast my steel biscuit NRP. I liked it so much I spent a lot of time thinking about what I could sell to acquire it - (I've reached the one in, one out stage)

I would recommend checking out Gretsch & Republic in the "budget" range. The republic Highway 61 is fun and I really liked their miniolian, too.

Wood or steel, biscuit or spider? Well, that just depends on what you want to hear.

Bluenose · #9 03-23-2022, 06:36 AM

I bought a new Gretsch Alligator - single cone, 12 fret, wood body, - back in November and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone that's looking for an easy playing resophonic. It was under $1K.

joe paul · #10 03-23-2022, 06:43 AM

Michael Messer resonators, if you're looking for a single cone biscuit type.
I think steel and wood are more to my taste for slide than brass, but it's really a personal thing. Steve James does some great slide on wooden bodied resonators, as does Alvin Youngblood Hart.
As for steel, listen to some people playing Duolians and Triolians, on the Norm's rare guitars YouTube channel there are some well recorded examples.

Arapaho G · #11 03-23-2022, 02:45 PM

Thanks for your input on this guys. I really like the looks of the Republic wood reso. Wish I could afford a National or a Mule.

Speaking of Alvin Youngblood Hart, "Big Mama's Door" and "Down IN The Alley" are 2 of the best examples of country blues done by a modern artist I can think of. If you know of any more please pass it along.