resonator questions.

[evol04gt]

i was playing a pretty pricey (well.... for a decent guitar 1000) dobro resonator and im not sure i really liked it.... action was crummy. and the guitar just sounds really well...like an 80 dollar acoustic.

is this how they are supposed to sound? are these aquired tastes?

[Sollophonic]

A good quality resonator should sound great, but even the more expensive ones will sound ropey without a proper set-up and decent strings. Go and play some well set up ones like the Republics or the Buskers. Go and try out an National Reso-phonic or if you can an old National

Remember that there are different types of resonator. Dobro/spider cone ones are more mellower soounding than biscuit bridge ones, though they should all sound much louder than an acoustic. There are also tri-cones which while being loud, have a resonator tone all of their own.

When you say action was crummy, maybe it has been set higher for playing slide, or even for lap style playing, which dobro/spider cone ones often are. I have a fairly cheap dobro style one, which I have put a decent cone in, and a nut raiser, and I use it for lap style playing and it roars. Resonators, however are not just for playing slide, and you can set the action on a resonator lower for fingerstyle as well. Tri-cones are often used for jazz playing, without a slide.

I also have a med quality properly set up biscuit cone brass bodied one, and it is my number one guitar, it sings, howls and growls. I have one of the ones from Busker Guitars over here in the UK www.buskerguitars.co.uk

For some the sound is an acquired taste. But once youve acquired it.......!

[ironweed]

If you weren't playing that reso with fingerpicks and a slide of some kind, it is unlikely that you were pulling any tone out of it at all. There are many kinds of resonator guitars (metal body, wood body, spider bridge biscuit bridge, roundneck squareneck), with different voices, but all of them require a "firm hand" to perform.

[VerySlowHand]

Try a Republic Resolian – sound samples on their website. I bought one today and just want to tell the whole world about it, I'm soooooo excited!!!

I agree about the Regal – I thought the ones I plucked today sounded lifeless, but that might be my inadequacy as a player!

The action is necessarily higher than other guitars, to prevent the strings from bottoming out on the frets when playing slide.

As for the 'quality', well the reso is essentially a 1930s 'depression era' guitar and most makers try to capture something of the authenticity of the originals, which had to be made as inexpensive as possible. Having said that, it's 2009 and you expect a repro (of anything) to be of a quality that matches the price.

[porgy]

I have been looking into getting a resonator myself. I play slide from time to time, but i get tired of going from standard to open tuning on my other guitars. I thought a resonator might solve the problem. But here in this video comparison I like the sound of the Scheerhorn better. Most peoples comments on the forums is for the regal over the other cheaper models. But, I like the Scheerhorn sound. Now I know these resonators have been setup, as far as I know, and apparently you will get a better sound if your resonator is set up, and from what I understand many are not. So, having a properly set up instrument is going to sound much better.

[zombywoof]

I have owned a few 1930s Nationals and gotta say the new ones are just as good and, if you include the fact they have an adjustable neck, even better.

For a reso on a budget though you just are not going to do any better than the Beard Goldtone.

[TNO]

Man, I really love my Rogue Triolian.

[porgy]

For a reso on a budget though you just are not going to do any better than the Beard Gold tone

You sound like you know what your talking about. I would prefer a National Reso.. O type, or a vintage 1930's model, but unfortunately I don't want to shell out the bucks right now. The Nationals are pretty pricey, and the vintage not any less pricier. So a cheaper model will have to suffice. I'll check out the Beard Gold tones, I have heard a lot of good stuff about them. I also have heard a lot of good stuff about the regal. Certain models of Regal. Thanks!

[porgy]

Man, I really love my Rogue Triolian.

I checked it out, only 200 bucks! Is it that good for that price? If so, Hey can't beat 200 bucks!