Which is the loudest acoustic guitar?

Ron Stroud · Post by **Ron Stroud** » 14 Mar 2006 6:03 am

Which is the loudest acoustic guitar, preferably a resonator, that you've ever seen or heard? Are there any noticeable differences in volume between body shapes or sizes? What about body materials? What about cone types - biscuit vs. spider? I'm looking for the loudest instrument available for outdoor jams, standing too close to the banjo player, etc. For this purpose I would sacrifice some tone for volume.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 14 Mar 2006 6:50 am

The Beard E model. Way too loud for me. I played it and had to put it down. I felt that I couldn't really hear the tonal quality because of the volume & sustain.

I prefered the Mike Auldridge Beards over the E. That's the loudest reso I've ever played.

I'm sending Howard Parker my bills from the ear doctor....

[This message was edited by HowardR on 14 March 2006 at 06:51 AM.]

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 14 Mar 2006 9:22 am

There are a lot of loud resonator guitars that can hold their own against banjos.

Beard, Scheerhorn, Wolfe ported, I have a loud Clinesmith, Guernsey, and guitars from several other builders.

I don't think you can declare that one builder makes the official "loudest" reso.

The modern designs, which were pioneered mainly by Rudy Q. Jones, furthered by Tim Scheerhorn, and joined by these other builders-are inherently loud when need be.

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Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 14 March 2006 at 09:23 AM.]

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 14 Mar 2006 9:35 am

How about the National Tricones? I attended a workshop with Bob Brozman once and my ears were ringing for days.....

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 14 Mar 2006 9:47 am

I'm sending Howard Parker my bills from the ear doctor.

DENIED. Send the claim to your insurance company.

Glad you like the guitar though.

HowardP

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 14 Mar 2006 9:53 am

there is no doubt that the Beard MA is one of, if not the loudest, resonator on the market.

I don't know if it is true or not, but legend has it that one of the reasons Jerry Douglas got interested in Beards instead of his Sheerhorns was that he was a jam and the guy with the Beard out volumed him.

Lee Gillespie · Post by **Lee Gillespie** » 14 Mar 2006 9:59 am

Has anyone had an experience with a Jasper Reso.?????

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 14 Mar 2006 3:28 pm

Biscuit bridges are louder than spider-bridge resos, especially on the high strings. But the spider bridges have better sustain and tone. Also, metal bodies are louder.

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Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards

Todd Clinesmith · Post by **Todd Clinesmith** » 14 Mar 2006 4:31 pm

I second what David says. The single cone guitars are very loud as well as a few of the wood bodied biscuit bridge guitars. But the sound decays quick....the volume of a modern spider bridge resonator guitar will surely out sustain a biscuit bridge guitar.
The tricones have the best of both worlds as far as volume and sustain goes.... not as loud as a single cone guitar. The tone is not as versitile as a Spider bridge guitar IMO.

Most of these guitars have enough volume I think tone and what kind of musical setting i am playing in is the deciding factor. i have owned a Metal bodied single cone , and a tricone and I love those guitars , but bluegrass never worked on those two guitars...... for me atleast. Great for Hawaiian, swing and blues.

To answer the question....I belive the Biscuit Bridge guitars are the loudest. I honestly have never done a A B comparison..but if my memory serves me right......

Bill, I would think J. Douglas is far more concerned with tone than volume.

Disclaimer ***all of the above is just my opinion***

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 14 Mar 2006 8:59 pm

Bob Brozman has described the biscuit single-cone National Aragon as the "loudest resonator instrument ever made."

Dana Duplan · Post by **Dana Duplan** » 14 Mar 2006 9:52 pm

Well, I've never played an Aragon, but consistent with several comments above on Hawaiian guitars, the loudest I've played is a steel bodied, biscuit bridge Duolian from the '30s--it rattled my fillings, and prompted my wife to tell me to "turn it down". My tricone is much sweeter sounding, but along with that, it has less volume. My spider reso is somewhere in the middle, and mics up nice in live settings--more so than the tricone.
DD

Travis Bernhardt · Post by **Travis Bernhardt** » 15 Mar 2006 1:27 am

I played one of those Aragon's once, and yes, it was very loud. The loudest that I've ever personally experienced, anyways.

-Travis

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 15 Mar 2006 2:14 am

I don't know if it is true or not, but legend has it that one of the reasons Jerry Douglas got interested in Beards instead of his Sheerhorns was that he was a jam and the guy with the Beard out volumed him.

What are "Sheerhorns"? Sideburns?

[This message was edited by Fred Kinbom on 15 March 2006 at 02:18 AM.]

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 15 Mar 2006 3:17 am

"Has anyone had an experience with a Jasper Reso.?????"

YES!!! I met Floyd at a bluegrass festival a few years ago, he found out I played a Guernsey, and handed me HIS guitar. That thing'd wake the DEAD! It wasn't just loud, though, had plenty of good, rich tone---But I'm still playing the Guernsey

.

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 18 Mar 2006 11:49 am

I have found that although metal bodies are louder under most circumstances that when the temperature gets low, the metal bodies seem to lose more volume. So if you're talking about outdoor music fest jams, especially at elevations...Strawberry, Telluride, Leadville......

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 19 Mar 2006 12:34 pm

Re: Jasper guitars. Yes, I have a Jasper resonator, s/n 004. It's made of Indian and Brazil Rosewoods. Has a nice loud, balanced sound. I would recommend checking out the Jasper.

Thanx,
Jim

Warren Cohran · Post by **Warren Cohran** » 21 Mar 2006 2:33 pm

check out this Luttrell T100 .http://www.songramp.com/view.ez?sampleid=34489. Then check out Ralph Luttrell's video on tone woods and constuction . http://www.luttrellguitars.com/

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 21 Mar 2006 4:52 pm

I just re-read your original question regarding OUTDOOR jams. You will probably never get louder than the banjo due to the banjo projecting the sound outward (towards the front) while the dobro goes upward. If there no ceilings to reflect the dobro, then the sound goes 'up and away'. Most all comments I read in this topic are true when jamming inside a room with a low ceiling. Outside is a different story.

If you don't believe me, please try it outside in front of an small audience, and get their comments on your sound.

Thanx,
Jim