Looking to get an inexpensive dobro

David Mullis · Post by **David Mullis** » 4 Apr 2007 5:09 pm

They had a Johnson Delta Blues sq neck at the local music store last week. It sounded a lot better than the Regals they have. It looked to me like someone had replaced the factory saddle with an ebony capped maple saddle. The Johnson was plenty loud while the Regal was just sort of blah. I'm glad Regal got away from those awful black spiders. Even a cheap sand cast spider sounds better IMHO. What about the black lightnin'? I can take ANY cheap reso and put a beard saddle and nut on it. Done it before and it did make a huge difference, so if I had to get a cheapy and mod it, I could. What y'all think?

Thx
David

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 4 Apr 2007 5:21 pm

Flinthill?? I bought one and liked it. I wanted to up the volume so I made a bone saddle for the bridge and then warmed it up with phosphor bronze strings, it has a great tone. The guitar was cheap, 225 bucks!!! Well I did own a music store

Check ebay or beat up your local store owner and demand one for 375.00. I like em.... for the money.

David Mullis · Post by **David Mullis** » 4 Apr 2007 5:41 pm

Thanks Rick, I have tried the flinthills at the store where I use to teach and they don't sound bad even out of the box. Alot of that stuff is made by the same company (Saga) I might give them another shot.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 4 Apr 2007 6:02 pm

In discussions here on the Forum in the past, the Beard Goldtone has gotten the vote as the best of the lower priced resonators.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 4 Apr 2007 9:35 pm

The Goldtone Beard is in a different price category, but IMO, worth it, because it has already been tricked out with the good "ingredients." I think the cheapest out there now before shipping, etc. is about $570.

I would come up with the dough for that and get one that received the pro setup at the Beard facility in Maryland (they are manufactured in Asia by Goldtone, and the guitar was designed by Paul Beard). I've played some of those off-the-shelf $300 jobs, and the Goldtone kicks its butt-I wouldn't want to waste my time with getting one of the cheaper units and going through the whole upgrade thing.

Remember, the most expensive and most important upgrade, which David didn't mention, is the cone-about $50-$60. By the time you add in the other stuff, you are getting pretty close to the price of the Goldtone.

Played side by side, I also think the lowest price Goldtone is better than a Regal Black Lightning.

It's the old "your mileage may vary," but the Goldtone Beard is the best thing going for the money in the reso world.

The next level up is the "Frugalhorn" or Wechter/Scheerhorn. They are designed by Tim Scheerhorn, manufactured in Asia by Wechter, but all the metal parts are installed and the setup is done at the Wechter facility in Michigan. These are really nice resos for the money.

Tom Taylor · Post by **Tom Taylor** » 5 Apr 2007 4:44 am

I would strongly advise against the price range you're looking in. I had a Flinthill and returned it in a week. The Regals may sound good by themselves, but once you start playing with others, they just can't keep up.

Save your money, and headaches, and wait for a Wechter Sheerhorn. These guitars are well worth the 700+ you'll spend for one, and IMO put even the Beard Goldtone to shame.

David Mullis · Post by **David Mullis** » 5 Apr 2007 7:05 am

Thanks for the info guys. I may get one of the Gold Tones then. I don't really plan on playing out, just want something to mess around with here at the house but, why have hamburger when you can have steak? I think I'll be letting my Evans FET 500 go in a week or two, that alone would get me really close to the price of the Gold Tone. Nevermind the fact that I can probably get those @ cost. Right now I've got the old Oahu tunes to G so I can relearn what I had forgot. I've had some really nice reso's, Tut Taylor, Dobro, but, no more than I played them, I just couldn't justify keeping them. Oh Well..............

David Mullis · Post by **David Mullis** » 5 Apr 2007 7:11 am

Mark, I never did the cone in the real cheap reso's. I found it was a waste of $50 because you'll never get your $$ back out of it anyway. A nut and saddle from Beard and a proper setup does wonders IMHO, unless you have one of those cursed black spiders then they're gonna suck no matter what you do unless you want to spend another $50 for a good spider.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 5 Apr 2007 8:54 am

I don't doubt what you are saying David, the other components make a major difference, but everything I have been taught by a few different pro reso luthiers is that an upgraded Quarterman or Beard cone over the cheapo import cone is where one starts on improving the set up of a Regal, Flinthill, Johnson, etc.

Fact is, there is only one reso luthier whose guitars seem to appreciate in value, at this juncture in history, and I'm talking American-built customs: Tim Scheerhorn. And that is due to the good old "law of supply and demand."

Four year plus waiting list, $6,300 base price.

John McGlothlin · Post by **John McGlothlin** » 5 Apr 2007 11:27 am

Hi David...I purchased the square neck Johnson Dobro last year and this guitar sounds as good as the original Uncle Josh Dobro guitar. The sound is loud.....it surprised me. My opinion of the Johnson is.....its a cadilac dobro.

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 5 Apr 2007 11:40 am

Another vote for the Beard Goldtone. I bought one back in December, and they are very good sounding dobros for the money.

Terry

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 6 Apr 2007 12:51 am

John McGlothlin wrote:Hi David...I purchased the square neck Johnson Dobro last year and this guitar sounds as good as the original Uncle Josh Dobro guitar. The sound is loud.....it surprised me. My opinion of the Johnson is.....its a cadilac dobro.

John, if a Johnson is a Cadillac dobro, then we need to sit you down with a Beard(a "full-blooded" one, not a Goldtone), or a Scheerhorn, or a Clinesmith,or a Benoit, or a Meredith, or a Schoonover, or a Harper, etc...and then you can see what a Lamborghini is like!

David Mullis · Post by **David Mullis** » 6 Apr 2007 7:26 am

I do agree to an extent. The Johnson sounds really good for what it is. It flat leaves the Regals in the dust. Some people either A. don't have the $$ to spend on a high end reso or B. don't play reso enough, especially gigging to warrant the price. I fall into the B. Category. I like to play reso, but I'll every play it out anywhere, just because I'd rather play psg and lead. That's enough stuff to carry to a gig right there!

I do miss my Dobro, even more than the Tut. But I'm not going to shuck out the bucks to get another one at that price. Why? When it's going to sit for months on end until I get the urge to pick it up again. Thanks for all the info so far y'all.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 6 Apr 2007 11:23 am

I'm currently swapping out between a stock Goldtone Mahogany and a Crafter's Custom job. The Goldtone holds it's own with the $1500 Crafters, very slight differences in tonal response and feel. Amazingly, the Goldtone actually sounds better to me than a $2500 Custom Beard I've also owned. Go figure.
All of the other Goldtones I've played have been fine resos and great values.

David Mullis · Post by **David Mullis** » 6 Apr 2007 12:05 pm

Wow that's good to know! Sounds like the Gold Tone is gonna be the one. I've just got to get my Evans back from getting a tuneup. I liked my Crafters Virginian a lot.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 6 Apr 2007 12:10 pm

For those not hip to the lingo, don't mix up Crafter Guitars (Asian imports), with Crafters Of Tennessee (Tut Taylor), which are built by Tut's son Mark and his associates.

John McGlothlin · Post by **John McGlothlin** » 6 Apr 2007 1:46 pm

I do agree with you Mark about a lot of the guitars you listed there....of course the Johnson does serve the purpose for what I use it for which is mainly to record with on my computer, I don't play professionally and also its mainly the finacial situation I'm in that prevents me from purchasing a better guitar.....a matter of fact....my credit is so bad that I have to have a cosigner when I pay cash LOL.

Al Vesel · Post by **Al Vesel** » 15 Apr 2007 1:56 am

I am new to dobro. I played psg for 30 years and just picked up the square neck. I also am an old acoustic player of 40 years. Fender 12 string and an older 6 string Ovation.

I didn't want to spend alot of $ starting out on resonator's, but I did try a few of them out before I bought this one.

Actually being a steel player, the picking is coming along quite nicely on the bluegrass stuff. Jerry Douglas DVD is a big help, also . Even the blocking is coming along after only 2 weeks of playing. The slants will take some time to learn.

But talk about tone on this DANVILLE, like I said I didn't want to spend a lot of money as a beginner of resonator's, but I am really impressed with the sound of this Danville. Beautiful sunbrust color, I might add also.
I know that it is lmass produced overseas, but the sound is beautiful. THE CONE is nice and doesn't vibrate and it doesn't sound like JUNK. Neck is also real good and straight.

I just love it. I am sure that down the road as I progress I will want to upgrade but for now the $200 some dollars I spent on this was well worth it.

Just wanted to let you know. Danville is not bad for $220.00.

TXS

Al Vesel

David Mullis · Post by **David Mullis** » 18 Jun 2007 6:12 am

Well, I've got a Gold Tone Paul Beard De-Luxe on the way. Should be in at the store this week! BTW that other POJ Metal bodied square neck I got for free is now a clock! I figured even if it ain't playable, you can keep time with it! Some idiot that had it before took the round neck off and put a square neck on so the scale length was all screwed up. The 12th fret actually chimed out at about the 11th fret..............

Dennis Coelho · Post by **Dennis Coelho** » 18 Jun 2007 6:56 am

Last year I bought a generic off-shore "Dean" dobro from a mall music store. The odd thing about it is that it is a fourteen fret square neck, not twelve as has become standard. They had it priced at $475, but eventually sold it for $300 since it had set in a floor display, untouched for six months. It is quite loud and clear, and I can only wonder how the longer scale affects the sound. I can also only wonder how a longer scale came to be made in the first place, and if this is the only one?

Dennis

Jack Carpenter · Post by **Jack Carpenter** » 18 Jun 2007 7:11 am

David, I have a brand new Goldtone Beard in a hard case I will sell you for $500 shipped if you haven't closed the deal yet. I tried "Dobro" and decided I wanted to go with lap steel instead, this is "new". Jack

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 18 Jun 2007 7:33 am

Jack,

I might be interested in your Beard Gold Tone. Which model is it - standard mahogany, solid mahogany or maple deluxe?

Is it set up at the Beard shop? (The ones Elderly Instrument sell are, for instance, whereas some aren't - I think there is a label inside (visible through the screens) indicating Beard shop setup.)

Would you ship to the UK?

Many thanks and best regards,

Fred

Jack Carpenter · Post by **Jack Carpenter** » 18 Jun 2007 4:16 pm

I'm sorry I highjacked this thread, probably should have gone to "Instruments for sale"but I was only thinking of selling it until it came up. Its the Standard mahogany with TKL case. I've owned Goldtone banjo's also and all of their stuff is well done with great tone. Jack

James McPhail · Post by **James McPhail** » 7 Aug 2007 10:05 am

To get a Beard Goldtone setup at the Beard factory, you must get it direct from Beard, or through one of their listed dealers. I almost ordered one from someone else. When they told me the Fishman pickup had to be installed at the factory "in Florida", I was able to cancel the order and re-order from Beard. Musicians Friend has the same model. It does not get the Beard setup.

Michael Hardee · Post by **Michael Hardee** » 7 Aug 2007 2:45 pm

If you buy a Goldtone/Beard reso direct from the Beard shop, Beard allows you to trade it in for what you paid for it if you decide to upgrade to a 'real' Beard down the road. This tradeup does not apply to resos bought from Beard dealers. All the Goldtones setup at Beard have a label inside, usually under the left soundscreen.

I lucked into a Beard Maple E at a good price and really enjoyed it while I had it. Sold it for a profit and bought a Goldtone PBS setup at the Beard shop. The inexpensive ($570) PBS gives me about 80% of the tone and volume of the Maple E ($3500.) I get what I consider to be pretty darn good tone out of my PBS ... the main difference between it and a more responsive guitar like the Maple E is I have to work a little harder for it. I also owned a stock Wechter Rob Ickes for awhile and prefer the PBS, hands down. To get the best tone and volume out of any Wechter, you are going to need to replace the cheap import cone and spider. Done by someone like Tooter Meredith, Tim Scheerhorn, or the Beard shop, figure on $200-250 plus shipping both ways. I don't understand the 'bottom-line' mindset of the Wechter shop ... for a bit more retail they could be selling a much better sounding guitar if they would use quality American cones and spiders.

These Goldtones setup at the Beard shop are just an outstanding value. Besides over $100 in Beard cone and spider, they are setup by the same guy who sets up the Maple E's and Mike Auldridge resos. A student could buy one and not feel challenged to trade up for at least a few years.

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