Resonator around $500?

mojohen · August 19th, 2006, 08:56 PM

Looking at the Regals, tricone.Johnson has a wood reso with slot head I like too.
I like the slot head look, and a wood single cone, but the tricones are nice as well. Johnson? Regal? It'd be nice to have a pickup of some kind too, but I could add it later.
Any advice?

mojohen

Volvoguy · August 19th, 2006, 09:07 PM

I just played one of the metal bodied single cone Regal's. Sell for like $540 up here in canada. AWESOME guitar for the price. I've played some other cheap reso's, and that's what they are. Cheap Reso's. This is is far above the rest, plenty of volume, setup awesome from the box. Check 'em out!! I wanna try out the tricone soon. Will have to find one.

Mr. Sparkle · August 19th, 2006, 10:23 PM

I played a Regal today. Not bad at all. Heavy, solid, well-constructed. Classis resonator tone. Does not really compare to the Nationals I've had the chance to play, but in itself a good guitar that Regal.

drjordan · August 20th, 2006, 12:43 AM

Gold Tone PBS...by far the best reso at that price that I know of. You should also contact the guys at Beard Guitars. They sometimes have blems and such. Also, if you get the guitar from them, you can be sure that they installed all of the hardware and inspected the guitar before it went out.

sandman72202 · August 20th, 2006, 12:11 PM

i haven't tried any of the SX guitars, but i have two agiles and love them both.

http://www.rondomusic.net/acoustics.html

the more research the better i always say

Big Mike Simpson · August 23rd, 2006, 01:45 AM

What sound do you want?
Biscuit cone = Blues, delta sounding punchy short sustain
TriCone = Hawaiian, smooth sweet longer sustain and more overtones
Spider Bridge = country music type of sound, nasal, bluegrass

You can play anything on any of them but these are the music styles that each sound is often identified with. Many people that buy an inexpensive resonator are soon dissatisfied with the tone and quality and end up upgrading the cone and doing some setup work or selling it and getting a good one. (myself included)

mojohen · August 23rd, 2006, 09:30 PM

Update.
After researching alot. I nixed the idea of the steel bodied tricones. Just not what I was looking for. So back to the National style wood body biscuit. Want one to play around the house, but also want to have a pickup for live playing, and will be mostly slide with some fingerpicking.
Kept going back to the same one for features, and bought it. Regal RD52 Black Lioghtning. It is a squareneck, but I can overcome that...
Quarterman cone, Fishman pickup, nice dark mahogany everything, hardshell case... Should get it tomorrow. Got it barely used for a good price.
It will be nice to have a guitar just for slide, amplified and acoustic...

mojohen

mojohen · August 27th, 2006, 11:13 AM

RD52 arrived. Outstanding condition, sounds great. Not sure that the squareneck is for me though...I'll give it some time though, and see what happens. The fit and finish is of excellent quality though, and the sound is REALLY nice.. Played with fingers, it has a sweet tone, with picks it can get nice and snarly...Awesome value. Just not sure it fits me yet.

mojohen

Heather Anne Peel · August 31st, 2006, 01:00 PM

I have a sunburst Fender FR-50 that I got about 4 years ago. It plays and sounds great. I know there's folks that don't like them, but mine is really good.

BluesOwl · August 31st, 2006, 01:23 PM

I have a metal body Johnson (O-style I think)

~$560

Wish I woulda paid a little more for the model with the pickup

August 19th, 2006, 08:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
mojohen Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NY Posts: 177 12 Photos	Resonator around $500? Looking at the Regals, tricone.Johnson has a wood reso with slot head I like too. I like the slot head look, and a wood single cone, but the tricones are nice as well. Johnson? Regal? It'd be nice to have a pickup of some kind too, but I could add it later. Any advice? mojohen __________________ " Time to get ready for the storm"

August 19th, 2006, 09:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Volvoguy Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 401	I just played one of the metal bodied single cone Regal's. Sell for like $540 up here in canada. AWESOME guitar for the price. I've played some other cheap reso's, and that's what they are. Cheap Reso's. This is is far above the rest, plenty of volume, setup awesome from the box. Check 'em out!! I wanna try out the tricone soon. Will have to find one. __________________ As of now, this is the oldest I've ever been.

August 20th, 2006, 12:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
sandman72202 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Arkansas, currently on walkabout Posts: 476	here's a few of you want to go inexpensive i haven't tried any of the SX guitars, but i have two agiles and love them both. http://www.rondomusic.net/acoustics.html the more research the better i always say

August 23rd, 2006, 01:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
Big Mike Simpson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ (PHX) Age: 52 Posts: 1,545 62 Photos	What sound do you want? Biscuit cone = Blues, delta sounding punchy short sustain TriCone = Hawaiian, smooth sweet longer sustain and more overtones Spider Bridge = country music type of sound, nasal, bluegrass You can play anything on any of them but these are the music styles that each sound is often identified with. Many people that buy an inexpensive resonator are soon dissatisfied with the tone and quality and end up upgrading the cone and doing some setup work or selling it and getting a good one. (myself included) __________________ http://www.myspace.com/bigmikesimpson

August 23rd, 2006, 09:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
mojohen Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NY Posts: 177 12 Photos	Update. After researching alot. I nixed the idea of the steel bodied tricones. Just not what I was looking for. So back to the National style wood body biscuit. Want one to play around the house, but also want to have a pickup for live playing, and will be mostly slide with some fingerpicking. Kept going back to the same one for features, and bought it. Regal RD52 Black Lioghtning. It is a squareneck, but I can overcome that... Quarterman cone, Fishman pickup, nice dark mahogany everything, hardshell case... Should get it tomorrow. Got it barely used for a good price. It will be nice to have a guitar just for slide, amplified and acoustic... mojohen __________________ " Time to get ready for the storm" Last edited by mojohen; August 27th, 2006 at 11:09 AM.

August 19th, 2006, 10:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mr. Sparkle Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Carlsbad, CA Age: 41 Posts: 1,313 4 Photos	I played a Regal today. Not bad at all. Heavy, solid, well-constructed. Classis resonator tone. Does not really compare to the Nationals I've had the chance to play, but in itself a good guitar that Regal.

August 20th, 2006, 12:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
drjordan Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oxford, GA Age: 27 Posts: 154	Gold Tone PBS...by far the best reso at that price that I know of. You should also contact the guys at Beard Guitars. They sometimes have blems and such. Also, if you get the guitar from them, you can be sure that they installed all of the hardware and inspected the guitar before it went out.

August 27th, 2006, 11:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
mojohen Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NY Posts: 177 12 Photos	RD52 arrived. Outstanding condition, sounds great. Not sure that the squareneck is for me though...I'll give it some time though, and see what happens. The fit and finish is of excellent quality though, and the sound is REALLY nice.. Played with fingers, it has a sweet tone, with picks it can get nice and snarly...Awesome value. Just not sure it fits me yet. mojohen __________________ " Time to get ready for the storm"

August 31st, 2006, 01:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
Heather Anne Peel Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 45 Posts: 3,000 3 Photos	I have a sunburst Fender FR-50 that I got about 4 years ago. It plays and sounds great. I know there's folks that don't like them, but mine is really good.

August 31st, 2006, 01:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
BluesOwl Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dexter, MI Posts: 575 50 Photos	Johnson's OK I have a metal body Johnson (O-style I think) ~$560 Wish I woulda paid a little more for the model with the pickup __________________ BluesOwl