Which Resonator should I get?

Warren Cohran · Post by **Warren Cohran** » 16 Oct 2016 10:20 am

This may not be the right section lf not please delete.
My cousin. Is undecided about these 2 resonators and at advvice to which you consider is the better deal would be appreciated ,thanks.

used Goldtone pbs- d squareneck with hardshell case .$750

2013 lebeda squareneck with hardshell case $850

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 17 Oct 2016 6:35 am

If you can, play both of them and pick the better sounding instrument. The Lebeda squareneck could be a better deal as it was hand made by Jiri Lebeda.

According to the Lebeda website there are six different models. Do you know which one you're considering?

Warren Cohran · Post by **Warren Cohran** » 17 Oct 2016 7:23 am

Thanks dont know he model but here is some info on it.
This is a very nice dobro. It is handmade in the Czech Republic (The home country of the Doperya Brothers!) by Jiri Lebeda. Jiri is a very well-known mandolin maker. His dobros are entirely handmade and have the same attention to detail as his mandolins. This particular model as a multi ply European Birch top. The cone is handmade/hand spun by Jiri. The construction uses sound posts in the style of Scheerhorn. It has an active Fishman Pro dobro pick up installed. It has a very natural sound when plugged in. The battery is accesssbi
E through screen hole.
On the lebeda site this guitar list for $1895
Thanks for your reply

Warren Cohran · Post by **Warren Cohran** » 17 Oct 2016 7:31 am

Brad I just found its the Standard model

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 17 Oct 2016 7:36 am

This is a tough call as we don't know the history of either guitar.

The Goldtone PBS (birch laminate) sells NEW for $900 w/case. This might be the better deal IF set up by the Beard shop. An internal sticker would identify this as either a GT or Beard set up guitar. Regardless of the set up all Goldtones ship with Beard cones & #14 spiders.

There are relatively few Lebedas around. Nicely built but the "weakness" is the cone and spider, not as desirable as the domestically spun Beard/Scheerhorn/Quarterman and #14 spider combination.

I don't know Lebeda pricing and they only seem to have one dealer in this country. Might be worth a call to them:

Mandolins & More
74 North Main Street
Walton, Kentucky 41094
859-801-9581 or 859-356-0201

Hope this helps.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 17 Oct 2016 7:38 am

I have an 8 string Gold Tone that I enjoy a lot.

And the Black Lightning by Regal is good bang for the buck:

Warren Cohran · Post by **Warren Cohran** » 17 Oct 2016 7:42 am

Thats beautiful

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 17 Oct 2016 8:06 am

I have played a few Lebedas over the years, they are nice guitars. But it's been awhile and when I played them I either wasn't aware of, or did much thinking about the cone and spider.

A bunch of years ago a Lebeda was a finalist when I was looking for a modern resonator guitar but I received a nice bonus from my job at the time so it enabled me to afford a Clinesmith, so that was the end of pursuing a Lebeda.

I think Regal sells a lot of The Black Lightning because they look pretty flashy with the faux inlay work and they have a lot of them produced in China. But for me, a stock off the shelf Regal BL vs. a set up by Beard Gold Tone - no contest - Gold Tone/Beard all the way.

Paul Arntson · Post by **Paul Arntson** » 21 Oct 2016 8:38 am

I have tried about 10 Black Lightnings in the last few years. I found a couple that were amazing, and several that were nothing special. Not sure what the magic is there.

For the last 12 years, I have used a 92 Regal with a nice cone from StewMac. Nickel steel strings seem to be a good combination with this cone.

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 21 Oct 2016 2:39 pm

You need to buy my Fishook Koa listed here. It is all you will ever need, and has Fishman pick up installed.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 22 Oct 2016 7:54 am

gary pierce wrote:You need to buy my Fishook Koa listed here. It is all you will ever need, and has Fishman pick up installed.

Could you please add a link to your ad? I don't see it.

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 22 Oct 2016 12:28 pm

I'll bump it to the top for you Brad.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 22 Oct 2016 3:32 pm

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=304647

That's a nice guitar, but almost three times the price of the two guitars being discussed here.

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 22 Oct 2016 4:05 pm

I know Brad, it's like many instruments, you can buy an entry level, or a pro level. There was also an $1800 Lebeda mentioned.
Between the two the Warren listed, I would get the Lebeda over the Gold tone for sure.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 27 Oct 2016 1:19 pm

There was an $1895 list price mentioned on the Lebeda, but no one ever pays that much or nearly so. I'm not even sure what the marketing philosophy is in the world behind "list" pricing. Obviously it's to make the actual street price sound better to the average Joe Blow but I wish instrument companies would cut the b.s. and just call a spade a spade.

Take Martin guitars for an example. You might see a standard model Martin with a list of $3500, but no one ever pays more than 25% off list which is $2625. If you do then you haven't done your homework. That is also known as their MAP or Minimum Advertised Price. There are even a handful of high volume/low markup Martin dealers around the country where one can get a standard model with a list of $3500 for 40% off the list price, or $2100.

The good thing about an independent boutique luthier like J.D. Myers @ Fishook is the price is the price.

It would be cool if everybody could start out on a nice pro guitar like a Fishook, but I certainly understand why one wouldn't want to take that kind of plunge if it's your first resonator.

Jay Yuskaitis · Post by **Jay Yuskaitis** » 27 Oct 2016 1:44 pm

Get yourself an original "Pre War" Dobro or Regal or National built guitar with all "ORIGINAL" parts, until then, you'll always be searching. Jay Y.

Warren Cohran · Post by **Warren Cohran** » 27 Oct 2016 2:31 pm

Thanks mark yeah I would love to have a fishhook or any other top resonator .
I got the goldtone pbs- d has a lace sensor pickup leather strap beard capo taylor hardshell case 2 nice bars $750 including shipping so for now I am satisfied maybe if I learn and get better I will upgrade .thanks everyone for all the info

Warren Cohran · Post by **Warren Cohran** » 27 Oct 2016 2:34 pm

Oh yeah now if I can get Joe Wright to give me some lessons for free maybe I can learn Joe is married to my niece Connie

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 28 Oct 2016 7:16 am

Warren,
It sounds like you've got all the bases covered!

Warren Cohran · Post by **Warren Cohran** » 28 Oct 2016 10:37 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:Warren,
It sounds like you've got all the bases covered!

Hope so

Warren Cohran · Post by **Warren Cohran** » 28 Oct 2016 10:49 am

Warren Cohran wrote:
Erv Niehaus wrote:Warren,
It sounds like you've got all the bases covered!
Hope so

Well actually I was asking for my cousin to start with but he decided he didnt want either one so I bought the goldtone.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 28 Oct 2016 12:53 pm

I think you did good.

Warren Cohran · Post by **Warren Cohran** » 28 Oct 2016 2:44 pm

Erv Niehaus wrote:I think you did good.

Thanks Erv The only thing is when the guy shipped the guitar he loosened all the strings .I tuned it up and it sounded pretty good but the strings were old. so I put a new set of strings on it one at a time to my ears it sounds good .But Im not a player so it may need to be setup again .A friend of mine Who plays steel and dobro put a tuner on it and tuned it up. It was in tune open and at the 12 fret .yet when he put the bar down over the fret it showed it sharp just a little .He said the bridge proabably moved .I dont know I always rhought if it tunes open and at the 12 fret it was good .so I dont really know .

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