Opinions Please: Square or Round Neck?

Daver Yukl · Post by **Daver Yukl** » 28 Oct 1999 4:09 pm

Although Bluegrass is my primary musical interest, I find many styles of music interesting and worth exploring. Therefor I am torn when faced with trying to purchase a resonator instrument(entry level-wood body), as to whether it makes more sense to commit directly to a squareneck, or buy a roundneck and use an extension nut in the name of style-alistic flexability. With so little dobro experience I can't but wonder what the real world tradeoffs would be of one neck over the other. If most of the time I will indeed be playing bluegrass, does the ability to use heavier stings, wider string spacing or____(?)___ outweigh the possibility of fingerpicking rags or playing a little bottleneck? I seek guidance and would deeply appreciate any information or perspective on the matter. Thank you, and Fare well. db[This message was edited by Daver Yukl on 10-29-99]

mikey · Post by **mikey** » 28 Oct 1999 8:51 pm

2 choices...buy Regals and get a Roundneck and a squareneck or buy a roundneck and a nut extender...
Aloha,
Mike

Mike Tatro · Post by **Mike Tatro** » 29 Oct 1999 7:51 am

I own a squareneck only and was under the impression that they had noticably better tone. That is until someone pointed out that Mike Auldridge plays a round neck, at least some times. So there goes that theory.

Personally, I would buy the best instrument I could afford and not worry too much about square vs. round. Being able to find a great reasonably priced round neck would be a bonus.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 29 Oct 1999 12:35 pm

I recall this question being asked last year and at least one person felt that 'Dobro' style playing on a roundneck w/ nut extender was real stressful on the neck. After all, that's why a squareneck's neck is square. Makes sense to me. BTW--the best price I've seen anywhere for new Regal square or round is at Elderly Instruments (.com). $325.

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 29 Oct 1999 1:44 pm

If you want to play on the lap, get a square-neck. If you want to play bottle neck, get a round neck and simply keep a highish action. If you want to do both, get two different guitars. Slacking the strings to put on and remove a riser nut will kill your strings in no time flat.

If you want to play a resonator, I don't think there is any real choice: square neck on the lap. You can bottle neck on a regular flat top, but nothing beats a resonator for lap playing. This is all strictly in the acoustic realm.

A real world consideration is that if you play a round neck on the lap, it will tend to try to slide off your knee whereas a square neck will stay put.

mikey · Post by **mikey** » 29 Oct 1999 7:32 pm

There are ALWAYS exceptions...Pete "Brother Oswald" Kirby played a roundneck w/ a nut extender on the Opry for what 5 DECADES???...never heard any complaints, just my 1.5 cents,
Aloha,
Mike

sliding bill · Post by **sliding bill** » 30 Oct 1999 10:04 am

I went through this trauma for a while - my biggest headache really was the fact that in the UK we have so little choice anyway !.
I initially went for a round neck and after playing bottleneck for a while I raised the strings to learn some lap style. The trouble is that now I really need that wider board and higher strings. So I am mortgaging the wife and dog for a new Guernsey. Just joking !
There are some wonderful instruments around and people here help immensely when choosing what is right for you.

Given a reasonable budget - go for 2 guitars if you are serious about playing.

Hey - I founded the society for men who play beautiful instruments and aspire to be mediocre --- seriously !!

Good luck with your search.

Keep slidin'

Bill

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 31 Oct 1999 4:03 pm

with a square neck you don't have that agonizing decision constantly nagging at you of which way to set it up today.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 1 Nov 1999 10:51 am

Mike tatro says:

That is until someone pointed out that Mike Auldridge plays a round neck, at least some times. So there goes that theory.

Umm..Don't think that Mike ever recorded a round neck, lapstyle. He used his Regal/Dobro on the early stuff, then went to Ivan Guernsy's reso. I think the eight string reso he recorded with was an RQ Jones.

Mike...You still out there? Wanna make me a liar?

hp

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Howard Parker
www.resoguit.com
ListOwner RESOGUIT

Charlie Fullerton · Post by **Charlie Fullerton** » 2 Nov 1999 7:03 am

The Dobro I had several years ago was a square-neck -- and it was a "Dobro"! The main difference I've noticed is that the square-necks are joined at the 12th fret, all the various round-necks I've played are joined at the 14th fret -- this can be a distraction if you are used to one or the other. I have recently seen two round-neck, resonator guitars with a "zero" fret -- the nut was a quater inch beyond where it should have been. On these, you have to put the "steel nut" over the "0" fret, and the standard Hawaiian conversion nut doesn't work unless you grind it down on the back. Good luck!
Charlie

Mike Tatro · Post by **Mike Tatro** » 2 Nov 1999 8:14 am

Howard, not today thank-you very much

The MA info was completely anecdotal and was given to me when I asked about square vs. round necks a few years ago. I'm sure your info is more reliable.

Since I ultimately ended up with a square neck Hound Dog Dobro (New Old Stock '91 for $275 - dealer just wanted to be rid of it) it was a moot point for me. Yeah, God was watching over me that day!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 3 Nov 1999 5:32 am

My recommendation: get a Regal and have Paul Beard at Resophonic Outfitters do a $200 modification/set-up that includes new bridges and a Quarterman cone. The difference is remarkable and well worth the additional bucks. Personally, I would never, ever, use a round neck for lap slide. The only exception being an old, beat-up guitar you might want to set-up with an extender to test the lap-style waters .

Charlie Fullerton · Post by **Charlie Fullerton** » 3 Nov 1999 6:41 am

I have a question for all you learned gentlemen: is there am difference in "scale length" between the "square-necks" and the "round-necks" or are the bodies a different shape? I've three locals who sell then, or have sold them; they couldn't tell me. Two of the three play square necks themselves!
BTW: they all recomended round-necks for versatility -- but not for Bluegrass.

mikey · Post by **mikey** » 3 Nov 1999 11:17 am

The Scale length is the same, but 14 fret roundnecks have the resonator moved closer to the nut making the bridge closer, so as keeping the same scale length, altho I'd like to add, I learned on a Roundnck Dobro which had a 12 fret to the body neck, so...I've never owned a roundneck Reso with a 14 fret to the body neck, I think all old Dobros were 12 freters.
Aloha,
Mike

Charlie Fullerton · Post by **Charlie Fullerton** » 4 Nov 1999 6:57 am

Thanks Mike:
A friend of mine measured his '74 SN for me, it came out to 24.375". Did the Sho-bro's use the same scale? Don't remember ever seeing a SN one.
Charlie

mikey · Post by **mikey** » 4 Nov 1999 6:17 pm

Charlie,
My ruler wasn't that exact but, I checked...Weissenborn, National Tricone SN, and Regal all were like 24.9", But my Dobro was a bit shorter like 24.4",but offhand I don't know what the scale of Sho-Bros were...
Aloha,
Mike[This message was edited by mikey on 11-04-99]

David T · Post by **David T** » 6 Nov 1999 6:36 pm

Mikey - The prewars came in 12 & 14 fret, round or squareneck. My Dobro teacher (Cal Hand) had the first prewar 14 fret squareneck I had ever seen. I lusted over that thing for years. There's just something about those small bodied ones that I love. And the tone can't be beat. I would take exception with whoever said the sqaurenecks are louder than the roundnecks. I think that is more a function of resonators, at least in the old ones. My 14 fret roundneck with a spun cone is louder than my 12 fret squareneck with a stamped lug cone.

David T · Post by **David T** » 6 Nov 1999 6:40 pm

Howard - I think the impression that Mike A. played a roundneck set up lap style may come from the cover of the "Dobro" album which features a photo of a roundneck. Just a guess. Where is the real authority on this question?

Dave Tanner

Mike Auldridge · Post by **Mike Auldridge** » 7 Nov 1999 7:24 am

I have played some round neck guitars, belonging to someone else, that sounded fine. But I've always felt that the mass of a square neck contributes to the tone. In fact, Ed Dopera told me that he felt that way, also. All of my guitars over the years have been square necks. For trivia buffs, the guitar pictured on my first album "Dobro", actually belonged to the photographer and pruducer Jim McGuire. It was a twin to my guitar...Jim was in N.Y., so he just used his own guitar. Both of those guitars were Regals that had square necks that were slightly rounded on the edges.

Mike Auldridge

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www.mikeauldridge.com

Daver Yukl · Post by **Daver Yukl** » 12 Nov 1999 2:14 pm

I wish to thank all who took the time to share with a beginner the benefit of your mileage. I have been on the net for years but have never joined a forum until now and I must say I am quite impressed by the absence of condescension, and the generosity with which otherwise difficult to obtain information is offered.
Mr. Paul Beard had told me squareneck was the way to go and I respect his opinion, but since economically 2 guitars just is not a possibility I really needed to hear specifics on why this is the case in order to justify this expenditure to myself.
I hope to return to the forum able to assist another in like circumstance. In the mean time I bid you again, Fare well. db

Oh,..and Sliding Bill? I think I know just what you mean re: the beautiful/mediocre factor. I am right there with you.

[This message was edited by Daver Yukl on 11-12-99]

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 17 Nov 1999 6:15 am

I love this place!
Having Mike A. answer a reso question is like getting a tip from - oh let's say, Chuck Yaeger about aviation...

Kevin Ruddell · Post by **Kevin Ruddell** » 31 Aug 2002 3:48 am

Last winter I put a metal nut extender on my 14 fret acoustic guitar for lap style playing. There was a loss of tone using the metal attachement as opposed to a solid raised nut. I could play the istrument fine but the roundneck and neck / body relationship were no way near as comfortable as my Regal squareneck dobro for lap style playing

R. L. Jones · Post by **R. L. Jones** » 1 Sep 2002 6:18 am

My 2cents, My first steel was an old small Hawiian steel ,a $5.00 job,1941. At that time that this guitar had a good sound,I played it through 1945. Ive used many round necks with raised nut, some sounded good, some didn`t. I say why go through that If you want to play steel, I go with Andy , then here comes Mike A, Find yourself a good squareneck. Try it before you buy
Old man jonesgtrmn3,
good luck pal

Andy Alford · Post by **Andy Alford** » 1 Sep 2002 8:00 am

The living Legend Brother Oswald member of the Grand Ole Opry and with the King of Country Music, Roy Acuff played a prewar Regal/Dobro dobro that was not a square neck.Gibson has the brother Oswald dobro on their web site.[This message was edited by Andy Alford on 01 September 2002 at 09:01 AM.]