Resophonic Guitar

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 24 Jan 2013 8:38 am

You probably already know this, but I believe for the last several years of his life, Mike played his signature model MA Beard which is essentially a birch, I think, large bodied Beard E model with Mike's appointments. The specifics can likely be found on his or the Beard website.

Steve Ahola · Post by **Steve Ahola** » 29 Nov 2013 6:37 pm

Bob Eldridge wrote:I want to get the best sound possible for a price I can afford. It's really a curiosity thing for me - I LOVE the sound that my "low-end" guitar has and that just makes me want to know what a really good sounding guitar would be like!

Bob:

So what did you decide to do? I ask because I just got a Morgan Monroe MSQ-100 from Hello Music for around $250 and I am very pleased with it. I have a real Dobro that I got used in the late 70's and I like the sound of this one better (I screwed up the cone over-tightening the screw and got a new one from Dobro but I guess I didn't set it up right.)

The cone on the MSQ-100 is spun aluminum which reportedly sounds better than the pressed aluminum cones on some of the cheap imports. I think that replacing the cone with something better would be a good upgrade, and maybe the spider and the bridge as well.

I check out the imported dobros that come through the local music stores and have not been as impressed by them as I have been by the Morgan Monroe. I'd recommend them to anyone looking for a low cost resonator that sounds good.

So did you get the passive Fishman pickup or the active one (with the preamp and the battery)? I couldn't figure out where to put the battery in a dobro...

Steve Ahola

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 1 Dec 2013 8:02 am

Try looking at the classifieds in:

<resohangout>

Lots of variety there and help.

Thanx,
Jim

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 1 Dec 2013 1:26 pm

So did you get the passive Fishman pickup or the active one (with the preamp and the battery)? I couldn't figure out where to put the battery in a dobro...

Steve Ahola

Steve, do yourself a favor and avoid the old Fishman "donut" style pickup that attaches to the screw underneath the cone, passive or active. I am actually amazed that Fishman still offers these things for sale. It's like night and day between the old donut pickup and the newer Fishman Nashville Series resophonic pickup.

Bill Mollenhauer · Post by **Bill Mollenhauer** » 1 Dec 2013 2:38 pm

Steve,
I agree with you on the Morgan Monroe. I dont know for sure what the cone is but it is pretty good. I did put a Beard cone in mine and it didnt change it too much. If I was to do it again I would put the Legend cone in it now.

Bob,
You might consider putting a Legend cone in your dobro. I bought an RD-40 for 120$, put a Legend cone and Beard nut on it and took it to a festival where they had Beards displayed. You would be hard pressed to tell the difference between it and the 2500$ Beard.

The Legend cone is the lightest of the cones I have weights for and I believe that is the secret of the Legend cone.

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 1 Dec 2013 4:27 pm

Howard Parker wrote:
Also, setup is key on resonator guitars. An expert setup can get the most out of a lower end guitar. A poor setup can make a $5,000 box sound like trash.

Howard,any tutorial,video,explanation,etc... on the web about how to set up a reso at its best ?
Thanks.

Bill Mollenhauer · Post by **Bill Mollenhauer** » 1 Dec 2013 4:53 pm

For starters, here is a good site on the web

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/String_ ... xsr=408887

Beard guitars also has a good video. Try the Resophonic Outfitters website.

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 1 Dec 2013 4:58 pm

Thank you Bill !!!

Bill Mollenhauer · Post by **Bill Mollenhauer** » 1 Dec 2013 6:58 pm

John,

It took me awhile to find it but look here

http://phlogredux.org/wordpress/

for the best information on reso theory that I have found so far.

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 1 Dec 2013 7:02 pm

Sorry you should go to:
ResoHangout

and check out the Classifieds

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 2 Dec 2013 2:09 am

I'm too in the market for a nice reso, and so far this is what I'm looking at

Gretsch G9230 bobtail, with a Fishman "Nashville" pick up already installed, pick up itself if you want to buy it is around 200 bucks... very nice guitar, and sounds beautiful...for $400-$500

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 2 Dec 2013 2:14 am

never mind...

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 2 Dec 2013 7:25 am

Damir, please stay on topic.

There are many good inexpensive resonator guitars out there, as many people have suggested. Search the forum for many discussions of the Gretsch resonator guitar in particular.
I think personally the Gold Tone Paul Beard resonator guitars are the best value under $1000.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 2 Dec 2013 9:48 am

I don't, I don't like Gold Tone, just my personal opinion..sorry to burst your bubble.. and Paul Beard has nothing to do with those guitars, he designed them, and that's all.... he doesn't build them,checks them out or even see them, you are making it sound like every Gold Tone "Paul Beard" goes through his hands...and that is simply not true...

Db

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 2 Dec 2013 10:01 am

I've played at least half a dozen Gold Tones and I think that they are the best value money wise, tone/sound wise and visual wise...whether Paul himself tickles them or not.....and they hold their value very, very well if and when the time comes to acquire a higher end reso....

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 2 Dec 2013 10:16 am

Damir Besic wrote:I don't, I don't like Gold Tone, just my personal opinion..sorry to burst your bubble.. and Paul Beard has nothing to do with those guitars, he designed them, and that's all.... he doesn't build them,checks them out or even see them, you are making it sound like every Gold Tone "Paul Beard" goes through his hands...and that is simply not true...

Db

Some Gold Tones do indeed go through the hands of Paul Beard and his small crew in Maryland for final setup in assembly, this is indicated by a sticker affixed to the back of the guitar inside the bass side screen hole.

The Gretsch is a decent resonator guitar for the money, I have played several of them now. They have done a good job on correct installation of the Fishman Nashville pickup, which is really saying something for an inexpensive guitar as these things can be tricky.

I'm with Brad, I think the Gold Tone is the best imported reso under a thousand, but then as I pointed out some time back when he posted something similar, you're comparing apples and oranges. The cheapest Gold Tone goes for $750 new, and the Gretsch without the Fishman pickup goes for about $350. If one were to take two Yamaha flattop guitar models selling in those price points, you would see a big difference in the specs.

Of course this wouldn't matter to Damir since he doesn't like Gold Tone resonator guitars.

On the other hand, an Asian-built Gretsch reso vs. a high end "boutique" level resonator guitar is a little like a Carter Starter vs. a Promat pedal steel.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 2 Dec 2013 10:24 am

I tried Gold Tone 20 years ago, maybe I would change my mind if I try the new one, I based my opinion on Gretsch, of a customer reviews, so I can't be 100% sure that I will like Gretsch neither, but at that price I can't really ask for a lot. I was under the impression that he was looking for a cheaper guitar, and Gretsch was as cheap as I could find, and to still stay with a reputable company and have a nice guitar...

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 2 Dec 2013 10:29 am

Mark Eaton wrote: The Gretsch is a decent resonator guitar for the money, I have played several of them now. They have done a good job on correct installation of the Fishman Nashville pickup, which is really saying something for an inexpensive guitar as these things can be tricky.

yes, these are kind of reviews I read about the Gretsch, and based on that I'm making my opinion, nothing less, nothing more...I never played one personally...

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 2 Dec 2013 11:06 am

Oh, so you haven't actually played the Gretsch.

Gold Tone from 20 years ago? Gold Tone has been in business for about 20 years total, they started with banjos. I don't know if they had earlier resos than the Paul Beard models, which have been in existence for maybe eight years.

John Mulligan · Post by **John Mulligan** » 2 Dec 2013 11:55 am

I have played the Gretsch Bobtail in stores. I have not played it using the built-in pickup, only acoustically. I like the tone it has. It's not a $1000 instrument, it's a $500 instrument. For it's price range it has the nicest tone I've heard. However, tone is a personal thing. Just because I like its projection and woodiness doesn't mean you will. You should play it, though. As a first dobro it might be good enough to play on for a few years until you decide you need a better instrument. As a player who mostly plays in the music room in the basement I can hardly justify spending a lot more on an instrument, and I really like this one.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 2 Dec 2013 12:12 pm

Just a couple of details.

The Gold Tone reso's became available about 10 years ago, about the time I came on board with Beard Guitars.

These days maybe 10% of the Gold Tone resonators pass through the Beard shop. These have the Beard setup sticker instead of a Gold Tone s/n sticker.

The Gold Tone sold guitars are offered with the Gold Tone case. Beard Guitars offers several TKL cases.

Beard Guitars will sell the Gold Tone resonators direct or you can get them through a number of Beard Guitar dealers. Note: Some Beard dealers opt to buy the guitars from Gold Tone.

Caveat..I am no longer full time with Paul but occasionally work on projects for him and otherwise make trouble.

h

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 2 Dec 2013 1:09 pm

Mark Eaton wrote:Oh, so you haven't actually played the Gretsch.

Gold Tone from 20 years ago? Gold Tone has been in business for about 20 years total, they started with banjos. I don't know if they had earlier resos than the Paul Beard models, which have been in existence for maybe eight years.

no I never played Gretsch, I tried to go and try one out at the Guitar Center, but they didn't have one available...but like I said, I base my decision on players like you, who played one and they write their review, I like to hear pros and cons about an instrument before I make decision to purchase one... I did the same thing with my RK35R banjo, and I did the right thing, all those positive reviews really helped me out, and today I have a beautiful banjo I'm very happy with, and all that thanks to the other peoples opinions... I never tried a Gold Tone reso, I played some of their banjos...

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 2 Dec 2013 1:09 pm

Damir Besic wrote:
Mark Eaton wrote:Oh, so you haven't actually played the Gretsch.

Gold Tone from 20 years ago? Gold Tone has been in business for about 20 years total, they started with banjos. I don't know if they had earlier resos than the Paul Beard models, which have been in existence for maybe eight years.
no I never played Gretsch, I tried to go and try one out at the Guitar Center, but they didn't have one available...but like I said, I base my decision on players like you, who played one and they write their review, I like to hear pros and cons about an instrument before I make decision to purchase one... I did the same thing with my RK35R banjo, and I did the right thing, all those positive reviews really helped me out, and today I have a beautiful banjo I'm very happy with, and all that thanks to the other peoples opinions... I never tried a Gold Tone reso, I played some of their banjos...

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 2 Dec 2013 1:18 pm

John Mulligan wrote:I have played the Gretsch Bobtail in stores. I have not played it using the built-in pickup, only acoustically. I like the tone it has. It's not a $1000 instrument, it's a $500 instrument. For it's price range it has the nicest tone I've heard. However, tone is a personal thing. Just because I like its projection and woodiness doesn't mean you will. You should play it, though. As a first dobro it might be good enough to play on for a few years until you decide you need a better instrument. As a player who mostly plays in the music room in the basement I can hardly justify spending a lot more on an instrument, and I really like this one.

thank you, that helps a lot, I appreciate reviews from other players, I'm only looking for a resonator because I do recordings on my iMac at home for other people, they send me tracks and I record, mostly pedal steel on it, lately I had few projects where a nice slow dobro lick would fit much better than a steel, that is the reason why I'm looking into purchasing one. I like the fact that Gretsch has built in a very good quality Fishman pick up, so I can go directly into my iMac without dealing with amps. I was looking at some cheaper resonators, but even if I get 150-200 dollars reso, after I pay shipping and install a Fishman pick up, I'll be up to $500, and it still will be some Johnson or SX reso, this way I can get a new Gretsch on eBay for little over $400 and don't have to mess with a pick up..so, for me Gretsch does everything I need it to do..if I was going to spend $1000 + on the reso, I would buy that nice Tut Taylor that is for sale on the forum right now, but for what I need it, and how good of a reso player I am, Gretsch seems to be the right choice for me, at this moment...

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 2 Dec 2013 3:12 pm

i never thought of it til now....but....if you got the gretsch with the fishman set-up, wouldn't that possibly allow you to just swap over the spider with pickup to your other dobros? that way you'd have the convertible aspect of running with your reso of the month. since the main installation of the fishman into the spider is the critical step, you've just upgraded all of your dobros and can experiment to your heart's content. this is a brilliant idea!! no charge. of course if you'd like to contribute to the 'i spent all my money in scottsdale and my wife has brain cancer and my house was destroyed in a flood earthquake tornado', you can. (just kidding)