Unique Resophonics

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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HowardR
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Unique Resophonics

Post by HowardR »

I've been scarce here over the past 18 months and I see a lot of new faces here.....which is great.....

With inspiration from Alan's Stringmaster refinishing thread, I've decided to start this one for the newer folk who haven't seen these before.

I have collaborated with a couple of very fine builders in producing some one of a kind resophonic guitars.......this first one is Called "The Phoenix".....built by Carroll Benoit.......this is based on the D'Angelico Teardrop.......


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Rick Alexander
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Post by Rick Alexander »

Wowee what a beauty!
I guess you'd never forget which guitar that case is for . .
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HowardR
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Post by HowardR »

Good point Rick........I won't make that mistake again.... :eek:


This next one was also built by Carroll Benoit.....I wanted to make a resophonic version of Gypsy Jazz guitars built by Macaferri back in the days of Django......


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Tom Pettingill
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Post by Tom Pettingill »

Those are sweet ... thanks for posting :)
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HowardR
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Post by HowardR »

This is a 7 string with the body 1/4" larger all around.......also by Carroll



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Harry Dietrich
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String Bender!

Post by Harry Dietrich »

Howard...what do you have the bender set up for?

Raise, lower, or both?

Harry :)
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Don Kona Woods
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Post by Don Kona Woods »

Howard says,
I've been scarce here over the past 18 months and I see a lot of new faces here.....which is great.....
Welcome back to the World of Reality, Howard!!! :wink: :wink:

Your collection looks magnificient. 8)

Hope to see you in Joliet. You might want to schedule your flight a day earlier to compensate for those flight problems in NY. You know what I mean? :wink:

Aloha,
Don
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HowardR
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Post by HowardR »

Hi Harry.....the bender is a half tone lower....

Don, with regret, I will not be able to attend this year.....I will miss the wonderful music and miss seeing everybody......this hopefully will be the only year that I will miss going forward.......

I will say,.....anybody who has the chance to attend the HSGC.....do yourself a favor...DO IT.....you will not find music and people like this anywhere.....
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HowardR
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Post by HowardR »

This next one is also a Benoit......and quite the accomplishment.......an archtop resophonic.....



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Jason Dumont
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Post by Jason Dumont »

Gorgeous!
I love the arch top one especially.
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Randy Reeves
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Post by Randy Reeves »

what is that cord and tag? one pic has it plugged into an outlet?

what are my eyes seeing?
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HowardR
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Post by HowardR »

Three of the four guitars have the Higgins peg bender......the spring loaded tuning assembly has a lever and cable that attches to the foot pedal.....the pedal releases the cable for a lower of a half tone.....

the 7 string is tuned to G7

1. D
2. B
3. G
4. F......lowers to E
5. D
6. B
7. G
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Randy Reeves
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Post by Randy Reeves »

thanks Howard.
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HowardR
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Post by HowardR »

This is the.....Weissonator.....by Mike Dotson

a Tricone Weissenborn style hybrid....



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Joey Ace
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Hey HR !

Post by Joey Ace »

It's great to see you back posting Howard.

Now that you have some web design experience, I'd encourage you make a web page to showcase your collection, c/w sound clips.

I could only imagine the domain name you'd come up with.

Folks, I've seen some of these guitars in person and they're even more beautiful than the pix.
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HowardR
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Post by HowardR »

Hey Joey....... :D


I have all the intentions of doing just that.....sound samples & all.......in time.......right now I have some major endeavors going on, and don't have the time to devote to it.....but after the first of the year.......I'll have more time than I'll know what to do with......and hope to be active as I was....for better or worse... :D ......so be careful what you wish......

I have a couple more one-of-a-kinds in the works.....one is completed and I should have it in my hands in two weeks time......I'll be sure to post it.......
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Fred Kinbom
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Post by Fred Kinbom »

Thanks for posting Howard! Very interesting! I seem to remember a beautiful Selmer/Maccaferri-style 7-string lap steel (à la Gino Bordin) that you once posted a pic of at the IGS forum - how about some more pics of that guitar? :)

Cheers,

Fred
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HowardR
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Post by HowardR »

hmmmmm.......ya' got me there Fred......can't recall that..... :?:
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Fred Kinbom
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Post by Fred Kinbom »

The IGS thread is here. Is it not your guitar?

Fred
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HowardR
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Post by HowardR »

Ah.....you threw me off with...lap steel......Congratulations....you just won first prize on "Stump The Chump".........thumb pick is on the way to you....catch is, it'll cost you 30 Euro in customs.......

that guitar has warped & cracked under the pressure of the strings.....it was a standard guitar that was retrofitted with a square neck....fortunately, it was not a custom......but it now looks like an archtop......it sounds good though.....

funny you should bring this up......Michael Dunn has just completed an 8 string modern version of the Macaferri "Le Hawaienne".....that I expect to have within the next two weeks........I have not seen it......nor would he let me have a peek......"like the bride on the wedding night"......was what I was told.....

as long as I don't have to pay child support, I'm fine with that......
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John Bushouse
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Post by John Bushouse »

What fun, Howard! I had a uke made for me by Michael - the materials he used were a complete surprise to me when I opened the case (in a good way). I'm glad to know he keeps other customers in the dark, too.

THe 8 string will be a killer - I had the opportunity to play an original 7 string (GBDEGBD) during a living room jam session. The sound just jumped out of the box, with the tone that only a non-reso guitar has. I'm guessing Michael's will be like a Mac Le Hawaienne, only "more."
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Dave Burr
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Post by Dave Burr »

Howard, That's some awesome hardware! I have a weekness for handcrafted instruments ~ There's just something about holding, playing and possessing a wonderfully hand crafted instrument... At least to me anyway. I've been trying to figure out how to get around the 10 year wait on one of Wayne Henderson's acoustic masterpieces. :whoa:

Would it be rude if I asked how many instruments you have? If so, I understand. Thanks for the cool pics!

Respectfully,
David Burr
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Roy Thomson
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Post by Roy Thomson »

Howard... an amazing display to say the least.
I look forward to your new Web Site and the
sound samples from these instruments.
My impression is that they are beyond Bluegrass
and/or Country...not knocking either of course.
I hear something different from them all..
say a cross between Hawaiian,Blues, as well as jazz
Country/Bluegrass. Beautiful! :D
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HowardR
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Post by HowardR »

Dave Burr wrote: Would it be rude if I asked how many instruments you have? If so, I understand. Thanks for the cool pics!

Respectfully,
David Burr

somewhere near or over 100......non pedal, pedal, acoustic steel.....also about a dozen mandolins, a hammer dulcimer, a few basses, an accordina, a Cajun accordian, some chromatic harmonicas,......but I only own 1 couch and a coffee table......

anyhow....this all took the place of wife & kids......
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HowardR
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Post by HowardR »

Roy Thomson wrote:Howard... an amazing display to say the least.
I look forward to your new Web Site and the
sound samples from these instruments.
My impression is that they are beyond Bluegrass
and/or Country...not knocking either of course.
I hear something different from them all..
say a cross between Hawaiian,Blues, as well as jazz
Country/Bluegrass. Beautiful! :D


yes Roy.....you are 100% correct.....I love various genres of music....and each unique instrument has it's own voice.....the archtop just oozes jazz....not saying that I can play it.....but that guitar is perfect for that....just an example......
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