New Member-What Style Instrument to buy?

Maurie Prior · From: New South Wales, Australia

Hello from Australia,

As a new member, and novice, I would appreciate some advice as to which instrument I should buy to get started. Should I buy a Resonator (a la Dobro style)with a square neck to give me lap steel performance, or should I buy a round neck Resonator (and will this allow me to use both as a lap steel and/or acoustic finger slide style?) or should I just get a dedicated lap steel type? or should I have two seperate instruments?

My personal preference is for the sounds that Jerry Douglas gifts us with, and as I know very little about these instruments, I really need some sound advice (pardon the pun)

Thanks in advance
Maurie

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

If you're looking for the sort of sound that's similar to what Jerry Douglas makes, you'd be better off buying a squareneck resonator guitar.

I believe Mr. Douglas plays a Beard resophonic guitar currently.
If you want to spend less money, the Gold Tone Beard resonator guitar is a very fine instrument and one of two I generally recommend for under $1000 USD. The other one is the Wechter Scheerhorn.
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Eric Ebner · From: Texas Republic

Hi Maurie,

I'm a long time acoustic player and would steer you toward the more dedicated square neck instrument. Most likely if you find enjoyment from this style of guitar you will someday own another one of some type and you can't beat having an acoustic instrument in your arsenal no matter where you end up down the road. It would be nice if there was someone in your area to get you off to a good start on the acoustic steel. If not there are many wonderful teaching videos, several by members of this forum and a few on YouTube that could help to get you started. Good luck and enjoy!
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David Doggett · Posted 10 Dec 2007 11:05 pm

It depends on what kind(s) of music you want to play. The square neck lap resonator like Jerry Douglas plays is usually used for country, bluegrass and Hawaiian acoustic music. The roundneck slide guitar is usually used for acoustic blues, or Ry Cooder style acoustic slide. If you really intend to play both styles, you need to have two instruments. To temporarily convert a roundneck for lap playing, you have to slack the strings and put a nut raiser under the strings and retune. The strings will be closer together than is practical for the bar slants of lap style. And the ordeal of switching back and forth with the nut raiser will discourage you from playing both styles.

Since you mentioned Jerry Douglas, I would suggest getting a square-neck resonator for lap style. If you also want to try the round-neck slide style, get an inexpensive acoustic guitar and put some heavy gauge strings on with high action, but still fretable. If you continue with that style, you may eventually want to move up to a round-neck metal-bodied or wood-bodied resonator.

Good luck. Smile

Maurie Prior · From: New South Wales, Australia

Thanks, Brad, Eric, and David,

I am pleased that the consensus is toward the square neck Resonator style. It was really what I wanted to hear. After I posted, I realised that it will mean having seperate instruments, which is fine, and from what I have picked up on when searching this forum, is that most of you fellows have lot's of instruments!

Many thanks thus far, and now to get some instructions in how to play the jolly thing.

Regards from Oz

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Welcome Maurie,from Alabama,happy picking,don't you know.
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