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Topic: New Resophonic Cover Plate Designs from Paul Beard |
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 25 Mar 2009 6:40 am |
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So how do the various designs stack up acoustically ?
I can't believe that you can randomly cut pieces out of a faceplate without altering the tone properties. These designs are a work of art, but for an instrument I would want to optimise the tone, not the appearance.
Maybe the faceplate doesn't change the tone. Has anyone ever carried out a study on this ? |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 25 Mar 2009 7:00 am
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There was a thread about this on www.Reso-Nation.org but I think to be able to read it these days you have to be a member.
It wasn't specifically about these Beard proprietary coverplates, but about different designs that are available in general. Some people claim they can hear differences, but I think you would have to listen really hard.
A note to those whom might like the looks of the Beard coverplates: You have to order a Beard guitar to get one, they aren't an aftermarket accessory that is available for customizing your favorite dobro.
_________________
Mark |
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Mike Harris
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2009 7:07 am
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What if you already own a Beard? Can you order one?
I can't imagine the coverplates make a difference in the sound, but you don't know till you try. I think it would be so subtle that, given the time it would take to compare one to another it would be difficult to tell. I know that when I tried different patch cords and speaker cords for my stereo I was underwhelmed by the difference between the mid-range cost cords versus the ridiculously expensive ones. However, the difference between the mid-range and cheapest seemed entirely justifiable.
I know people who swear bridgepins or tuners (friction pegs versus gears, for instance) make a difference in the sound. I remain unconvinced so far--and this is coming from a guy who has his stereo speaker stands filled with sand and lead shot to improve the bass response. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 25 Mar 2009 7:25 am
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| I suspect you would see the differences between coverplates if you looked at the audio waveform but for all practical purposes the audible difference would be practically undetectable. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 25 Mar 2009 8:59 am
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| As Paul Beard explains here, a resonator instrument is more like a speaker cabinet than a guitar. Just as a speaker without a cabinet has an incomplete sound, a resonator projects only part of its sound from the front surface of the resonator. The full tone is mostly developed from the back of the resonator by the design and materials of things like the soundwell, soundpost, baffle and body. Changing the coverplate is like changing the grill or grill cloth of a speaker, very little effect. Changes in the sound holes of a resonator instrument have big effects, because that affects the reflex characteristics of the cabinet. |
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Jason Dumont
From:
Bristol, Connecticut, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2009 11:52 am
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Those plates look awesome!!
About time we see some variety! 
Made in the USA to boot!!(I called and asked to be certain)
Right on Beard! |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 25 Mar 2009 12:06 pm
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| yeah..i dig the radio one and the radiating sun one..appropriate for the end of the mayan calendar! |
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Mike Harris
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2009 1:07 pm
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David,
thanks for that info on the sound. |
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Beard Guitars
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2009 5:20 am
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We've had those cover plates for about 2 years.
The top three are available to anyone. We reserve the bottom 4 for Beard guitars. We'll be happy to sell them to any Beard owner. All we need is the s/n of your guitar.
We also reserve 2 additional cover plates for the Mike Auldridge and Jerry Douglas guitars.
Cover plate design is an art..and science. They have to look good of course. There also has to be an appropriate balance between open and closed spaces. Position of the design on the cover plate is also important.
Considering the size of the market we have a "non trivial" investment in these designs. 
cheers
h
_________________
Beard Guitars, LLC
21736 Leitersburg Pike
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301-733-8271
pbeardguitars@hotmail.com |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Mar 2009 9:51 am
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| so in reality no new offerings to the reso cover market unless you buy a beard. that kinda sucks and seems like a short sighted business model.You'd make more selling them. No one buys a beard for the cover plate (they sell themselves on sound and quality) so holding the cover plates back isn't really making a big difference as a competitive guitar builder keeping something proprietary factor. |
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Beard Guitars
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2009 10:04 am
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Uh..OK.
_________________
Beard Guitars, LLC
21736 Leitersburg Pike
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301-733-8271
pbeardguitars@hotmail.com |
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John Drury
From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2009 10:11 am
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I like the Lotus! Not available though.
All my Dobros have the same tired @$$ old cover plates. Even my Phil Leadbetter has the standard plate. You would think Gibson could have made it look more like a $2500- axe!
I may buy a Poinsetta for it, or my Hound Dog, another hi-dollar axe ($1499-) that looks pretty plain for the money! Just to be different.
Anyone know if the screw pattern is the same?
They should offer a Dobro with a spinner type hubcap! And maybe flourescent lights inside!
_________________
John Drury
NTSGA #3
"Practice cures most tone issues" ~ John Suhr |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 26 Mar 2009 10:13 am
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| AJ, Beard put in the R&D time, design time, money, etc. so I can see why they'd desire to leverage their competitive advantages in whatever way they see fit. If I were a Beard owner (I'm not - I own a Benoit), I don't think I'd want to see the identical cool coverplate on my $2000+ Beard guitar onsome other guy's GoldTone. |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 26 Mar 2009 2:19 pm
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I had the Lyre on a Tut Taylor I had and it's really cool. I think it's very upstanding for Beard to offer some of it's original designs to the world at large.
Howard, do Beard Gold Tones count as Beard guitars for the purpose of the bottom 4 designs???
_________________
Primitive Utility Steel |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 26 Mar 2009 2:51 pm
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| AJ Azure wrote: |
| so in reality no new offerings to the reso cover market unless you buy a beard. that kinda sucks and seems like a short sighted business model. |
Nobody is stopping you from making your own. |
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Beard Guitars
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2009 2:56 pm
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Hi Twayn,
Unfortunately we will not supply the custom plates for guitars built by Gold Tone. There are several reasons, including a practical one...
The Beard cover plates use the same mounting pattern that's been traditionally used on Dobro® for 70 plus years. Import guitars use a different mounting pattern for their hardware. The screw holes don't line up.
cheers
h
_________________
Beard Guitars, LLC
21736 Leitersburg Pike
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301-733-8271
pbeardguitars@hotmail.com |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 28 Mar 2009 12:12 pm
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| Alan Brookes wrote: |
| Has anyone ever carried out a study on this ? |
yes,....I have
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Mar 2009 2:38 pm
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| HowardR wrote: |
| AJ Azure wrote: |
| so in reality no new offerings to the reso cover market unless you buy a beard. that kinda sucks and seems like a short sighted business model. |
Nobody is stopping you from making your own. |
Yeha umm Howard if you knew my psychical disability limitation you'd feel like a total bone head for making such a comment or i guess the dunce cap would do. Since you probably don't I'll let it slide. On top of that, everyone out there is not a loaded guitar collector some of us are poor working (never mind disabled) musicians who can't commission a guitar like it's picking up groceries for the week. Sorry but,you kinda crossed the line and stuck that foot in your mouth. |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Mar 2009 2:51 pm
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| Andy Volk wrote: |
| AJ, Beard put in the R&D time, design time, money, etc. so I can see why they'd desire to leverage their competitive advantages in whatever way they see fit. If I were a Beard owner (I'm not - I own a Benoit), I don't think I'd want to see the identical cool coverplate on my $2000+ Beard guitar onsome other guy's GoldTone. |
Andy sure it's their right. I never said it wasn't. my observation of this sucking is that it's not contributing to the guitar as a whole just their brand but, hey it's their brand.i was merely making the observation through my years of business experience and analysis of marketing,etc. that the coverplate is just not the all grand proprietary factor in any guitar. it's decorative bling. that does not sell a guiatr, a car, etc. Ultimately releasing the coverplates would be more profitable as far as someone with a Goldtone having the same thing, so what? that's silly. If someone is buying a guiatr because, of the coverplate there would be something very wrong with those guitars, i.e. that their sound would leave such a minor impression that the coverplate is what stands out.
Somehow i don't think that's the case with a Beard guitar. On the other hand we are living in a very money oriented, bling, non-substance mind set these days so who knows. maybe there's enough of a demographic out there who buy a reso because it looks spiffy. |
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John Drury
From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
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Posted 28 Mar 2009 3:22 pm
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| Andy Volk wrote: |
| AJ, Beard put in the R&D time, design time, money, etc. so I can see why they'd desire to leverage their competitive advantages in whatever way they see fit. If I were a Beard owner (I'm not - I own a Benoit), I don't think I'd want to see the identical cool coverplate on my $2000+ Beard guitar onsome other guy's GoldTone. |
Andy,
I'm with you on that one, I plan on dropping a few large for a Beard before too long and if I saw somebody afterwards playing a chinese reso with a Lotus coverplate I'd be just a wee bit P!$$ed!
Howard,
Good call.
_________________
John Drury
NTSGA #3
"Practice cures most tone issues" ~ John Suhr |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Mar 2009 5:01 pm
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| John Drury wrote: |
| Andy Volk wrote: |
| AJ, Beard put in the R&D time, design time, money, etc. so I can see why they'd desire to leverage their competitive advantages in whatever way they see fit. If I were a Beard owner (I'm not - I own a Benoit), I don't think I'd want to see the identical cool coverplate on my $2000+ Beard guitar onsome other guy's GoldTone. |
Andy,
I'm with you on that one, I plan on dropping a few large for a Beard before too long and if I saw somebody afterwards playing a chinese reso with a Lotus coverplate I'd be just a wee bit P!$$ed!
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seriously why? Why would you be so pi$$ed? Would you have less of a guitar? Would they not be paying say $200 or whatever Beard would charge for it? is there hard earned money soemhow less of value than yours? Is the Beard suddenly cheap because someone else has the same coverplate? if that were the case they would have already been that when they had the old coverplates.
Sounds like reverse envy or shallow status seeking. It's nothing to do with the actual instrument either person would have in their hands. |
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Beard Guitars
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 28 Mar 2009 5:49 pm
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Quite an interesting turn..
The cover plate is like any other design element on our guitars. It's like the curve of the headstock, a particular stain or finish, the shape of our tailpiece, the arch of a guitar's back.
Because we own manufacturing rights for our parts we choose not to share some of our designs. We set them aside for our guitar customers, our family, some of whom come to us and commission new works. Uniqueness sells and our customers appreciate that certain elements are reserved for them.
As for the rest of our hardware designs, we share freely. Want to know who our biggest customers are for those elements? They are my competitors. Yes, the majority of domestic spider bridge resonator luthiers use our parts, including cones and spiders. They are also our friends. We are a close knit community. We don't use their priority design elements (we know each others' guitars well) and they respect our "special" parts and designs.
Every luthier is an artist with a vision. We want to put our creative stamp on our own works of art...not the next guy's.
Greed? I think not. If you can't journey to our little shop you should chat with those that have made the trip. Just a couple of guys building guitars.
cheers, peace, make music.
h
_________________
Beard Guitars, LLC
21736 Leitersburg Pike
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301-733-8271
pbeardguitars@hotmail.com |
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John Drury
From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
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Posted 28 Mar 2009 7:42 pm
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If my new Beard gets mixed in with this pile of canoe paddles, it will be so much easier to find, that Lotus coverplate will stand out like a hair in a biscuit!
_________________
John Drury
NTSGA #3
"Practice cures most tone issues" ~ John Suhr |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 28 Mar 2009 10:05 pm
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I used to just love it,....when people who couldn't do what I did,.....would tell me how to run my business, and in a condescending way......
"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."
Mark Twain |
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