Resonator Guitar Question

John Ely · From: Minneapolis Minnesota, USA

I'm looking at my first resonator guitar and will probably end up with a Goldtone Paul Beard or a Recording King Phil Leadbetter. I understand the difference between different kinds of resonators (spiders, biscuits and tricones). But when I look at images of the Beard and the Leadbetter, the sound holes (correct term?) on the Beard appear to have a mesh cover on them, while the Leadbetter's appear to be "open".
I don't understand the significance, if any, of this difference. Is it meaningful in terms of sound or construction, or just a cosmetic issue? Thanks to anyone who can bring me up to speed. John
_________________
John Ely (but I'm not THE John Ely who played with Asleep at the Wheel).

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

The thinking is screenless sound hole rings restrict the sound less....more volume, I guess....besides that, it's just been a trend among many of the high end guitars.

I don't know if it has any real benefit sound wise, but some people seem to thinks so. I doubt that it makes any real difference personally, but that construction, components and set up are the real important things.

However, I defer to the builders and the experts in the field.

Jeff Mead · From: London, England

It's just cosmetic.

K Maul · From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL

I do like the way the screenless holes look but havenâ€™t noticed much increase of bass or general volume over screens. If your fingerpick flies off it frequently ends up in the guitar, though! Is that a benefit?
John, maybe you should give Paul Beard a call and ask about his Deco-phonic guitars. They are very cool. Iâ€™ve known Paul many years and heâ€™s a great guy to deal with.
_________________
KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Danelectro, Evans, Fender, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing.

Noah Miller · From: Rocky Hill, CT

I know that Beard designs their cover plates with a particular amount of open area so as to optimize the sound. Given that, I imagine they'd say that the screens affect the sound too. That said, the effect must be quite small. If we were comparing two otherwise similar Beard guitars or two Recording King guitars, the difference might be discernable; when looking at two different brands, chances are that other differences in construction will swamp any effect from the screens.

Jeff Mead · From: London, England

Brian Evans · From: Nova Scotia, Canada

Mostly the covers keep dust out of the box. Plus shiny!

John Ely · From: Minneapolis Minnesota, USA

Thanks everyone for the replies.
Hmm, I've dropped a lot of flatpicks through the sound hole into my acoustic guitar over the years, and had to shake them out. Hope I don't drop a Stevens bar into the open soundhole of a resonator and have to bounce THAT out!
Thanks again.
John
_________________
John Ely (but I'm not THE John Ely who played with Asleep at the Wheel).

Mike Christensen · From: Cook Minnesota

This topic has come up in conversations several times over the years. I have tried several resos both ways and can hear no difference and that has been the finding with all I have discussed it with. I have a Wechter in the stable and that has F holes and is a fine guitar and to me looks nicer than the screens. Like what has been said earlier differences in wood and most importantly body size and setup I believe will be making any difference in sound and power. Another major contributor will be your skill and the way you play. The same guitar played by different players can sound completely different. A Mike Auldridge,JD,Phil Ledbetter, or you name it guitar is likely not going to make you sound like any of them. To my mind some of the most beautiful reso playing ever,was done by Mike Auldridge inthe early days with his old guitar. Happy Trails

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

I was working at Beard Guitars when Paul started to offer the "rings". I'm pretty sure they were offered as a cosmetic alternative. Little did we realize that decades later folks are still debating rings vs. screens.

It's the stuff that legends are made of Very Happy

As for me, well, I have guitars with both. I THINK I MAY hear a difference on one of my axes, a E body 8 string.

Or..Maybe not!

At any rate, you can order a guitar directly from Paul with either.

All good!

hp
_________________
Howard Parker

03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I remember years ago seeing Jerry Douglas using a pickup wiring run through the sound hole with the screen removed.

I tried to take one of my screens out of a ring to do that on an OMI I had at the time, but it was no easy task. I figured it would just poke right out, but it was welded or soldered in there I guess, so I just ended up poking a hole through the screen for the lead, soldering the jack then putting the screened ring back in the hole.

So, anybody thinking you can just take the screen out of the ring, think again. You'd need to order those without screens ever being installed for that.

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

THE BEARD JD model comes with no screens. JD used it that way for a long while and then added screens. I had a JD model and left the screens off...
I had a Beard R-Model that came with screens and when I removed them I definitely heard a fuller (more modern?) sound. I preferred it that way.

Perhaps JD put the screens back to make the sound more defined and cut through more in his playing in combos. In his traditional bluegrass group he uses a more traditional reso, with screens, and maybe when he did that he decided that he liked something about the sound and added them to his signature model.

So it may depend on the reso model and what you play and where you play it. And who is playing...

But for the R-model, at least, the difference was quite clear. Not an "in your face" thing, but very audible when A/B testing...as you can easily do. But listen carefully to hear the differences.
_________________
https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

David Ball · From: North Carolina High Country

I guess I'm like Jeff--I've played my resos with and without the screens and can't really hear a difference. But I'm listening through old ears...

Dave

John Ely · From: Minneapolis Minnesota, USA

Eric OHara · From: Port Kent, NY

I second Kevin’s comment.
I recently acquired a Decophonic 57
And it’s perfect. Sound and build
Are tops and the folks at Beard are so
Helpful. EO
_________________
GFI S-10 Ultra (GFI II pickup)
Sho-Bud Super Pro (wood necks) w/BL Pickups
RQ Jones Retrofit
Beard Decophonic 57/ Fishman JD preamp
Goodrich 6122-R
Walrus Slotva Reverb, JHS Thunderbolt, ZVEX fuzz factory
Evans JE-200, RE-150
Peavey Nashville 112, 400
Keal Cases

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

I keep the screens on my Gold Tone Paul Beard Signature Series Deluxe squareneck because that's how it was built. My Gretsch Boxcar had the F holes, but I prefer the screens. I think the dobro sounds great with the screens

Dan Mahoney · From: North Carolina, USA

The answer to the screens/no screens question is actually somewhat complex. It depends a lot on the design of the guitar and how much air it is moving from the inside. Bobby Wolfe's experiments with his porting designs showed that the sound can be changed by the porting inside and the size, number,and location on the holes on the top. He equated the design of a dobro to a bass reflex speaker cabinet. The sound coming from the front off the cone is out of phase with the sound coming out of the box, so changing the balance of the two can make a big difference. If you've ever strung up a dobro with the cover off it is really obvious. Without the restriction the sound is very thin. Most of the bottom end comes out of the box.

John Ely · From: Minneapolis Minnesota, USA

Thanks to Kevin Maul, Eric O'Hara, Howard Parker and all for pointing me towards Paul Beard's Deco-Phonic series.
My Deco-Phonic 37 arrived yesterday; what a good sounding horn.
Big shout out to Denny in Paul's shop. He helped me understand a lot, and NEVER tried to up-sell me.
I ended up understanding EXACTLY why I was choosing the model I did. Anyone looking for a reso will get a lot of information by calling Beard and talking to Denny.
Satisfied customer here.
John

_________________
John Ely (but I'm not THE John Ely who played with Asleep at the Wheel).

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

Pretty!....Inquiring minds have to ask...have you tried it with the screens off yet?

I've forgotten the trick for removing tight screens without marring the finish...maybe pry up with a credit card? Anybody? I know Paul's trick for tightening them..line the hole with a strip of tape before inserting....but I don't remember the removal trick...
_________________
https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

John Ely · From: Minneapolis Minnesota, USA

Not yet Steve; I'm happy with it as is so far...
John
_________________
John Ely (but I'm not THE John Ely who played with Asleep at the Wheel).

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

I'm sure you are! But....someday....not yet....but someday....you'll wonder how much happier you might be...with the screens off....(I got empty rings from Beard to replace the screens).
_________________
https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

David Ball · From: North Carolina High Country

Mark Eaton · Posted 11 Jun 2021 6:14 pm

Very lightweight fishing line works, but my preferred method which I think might be even safer for the finish is wrapping a couple lengths of dental floss and working it under the rings then lift.
_________________
Mark

Wally Pfeifer · From: Illinois, USA

I know the John Ely who played with Asleep at the Wheel and
I have his LP. He has been our guest artist at our HSGA conventions in Joliet IL several years ago.
Wally
Very Happy

Forum Index > Steel Without Pedals	Goto page 1, 2 Next	Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic