The Steel Guitar Forum

Looking at two:

Morrell with Quaterman cone


Regal RD-30MS


Both in my price range.

Scott,
Have you taken a look at the Regal Black Lightning?

Hi, Scott, if you're going to make a serious stab at enjoying reso, which it sounds like is your goal, try to budget just a bit more for a Gold Tone Paul Beard model, make sure it's the Beard setup. You truly won't be sorry with the increase in tone and response. Much more inspiring over the long term.

Scott,

I'd agree with Mark. I cannot recommend either of your choices.

h

Check over at the ResoHangout classifieds for a used Goldtone and others. Lots of choices.
http://www.resohangout.com/classifieds/

I found a cosmetically challenged '86 OMI Dobro for around the same price as a new import.

It is not as deep as the Gold Tone, but I love the authentic tone.

Nothing wrong with a Regal Black Lightning RD52 like Erv says. Better than a 30 model. They sound and play fine.. Don't know about the current issues, but the earlier ones used a Quarterman cone and they have a decent setup.

You can find a used one for around $350

I found a nice one with a Fishman Nashville bridge pup and a hard case for a fair price here.

Of the 2 you are considering, certainly the Q cone is an upgrade, but I'm not crazy about the Morrells....build and quality wise, probably the Regal would my choice.....hard to say without actually seeing and playing them. They vary a lot among individual guitars.

I've played some inexpensive Gretsch resos that were pretty decent.

Getting anything that is a decent dobro to get you going sooner rather than later I think is the best idea. This way you can see for yourself after awhile if it going to "take" and you'll want to stick with it.

But it's that same deal as virtually every other instrument in the world - try to buy the best you can afford.

The "imports" tend to get sort of lumped together in one big pile, regardless of cost. I've used this analogy before and it bears repeating: say you're shopping for a fairly inexpensive flattop acoustic and you go into a guitar store that is a Yamaha dealer and they have a number of the Chinese-made Yamahas in stock. Okay, they are all "imports" but I can tell you that there is a very significant difference in overall quality between a Yamaha that goes for around $350 vs. one that sells for $700-$800, as well there should be.

Same deal with lap style resonators. The entry level Goldtone/Beard that sells new for around $800 is a night and day difference as compared to a $350 Regal, Morrell, Gretsch etc.

And used Goldtone/Beards can be found in very good to excellent condition in the $600 range. Same with the no longer made Wechter/Scheerhorn resonators. I have seen used Wechter/Scheerhorns that looked virtually new for $550-$600 in the past year.

Go for either one of the above and you will be way ahead of the game.

Thanks guys for all the tips but my spending budget is locked to about $400.

I'm not a "pro" player, but just a casual player that plays at church, nursing homes, or an occasional jam session. My pedal steel is too heavy for my arthritic shoulders and back, so I switching to lap and dobro.

I have a modified Rogue lap steel (aluminum nut, electrics) and once I get a dobro I would like to look into a better 6 string lap steel.

I don't believe there is that great a difference between the Q cone Regal Black Lightning RD52 and the lam mahogany Gold Tones. At least not in my experience. To imply they are less than "decent" is wrong.

It will give a beginner and even part time reso player all they need comparably. And they can be had used well within Scott's budget, maybe even under and leave some spare change for strings and accessories.

It's all opinions Jerry, so one can be a good as another.

One thing the veteran players here do know for sure is that setup on a dobro is very important. I think of them as being sort of half acoustic guitar/half mechanical device. So in some ways setup is more important than on a flattop acoustic.

In my experience, a new in the store Regal Black Lightning that has not received an aftermarket setup from someone who is adept at this sort of thing vs. a Godltone/Beard - and in particular one that has gone through the Beard shop in Maryland for final setup and assembly after arriving on "a slow boat from China" - the Black Lightning to me is not in the same league as the Goldtone.

But I have heard a couple Black Lightnings with some aftermarket setup work that sound quite good.

Yessir, Scott asked for opinions so he got mine. Not all Gold Tones go through the Beard shop either. I maintain there's not that much difference between them.

I had an OMI Dobro 60Ds from the late 80's with a Quarterman and a setup with a bone nut. My RD52 is a better instrument in every way. I would not trade it back for the Dobro even.

I don't know what there is about the Black Lightning that makes it a target for the haters. I'm not a pro reso player but I have a pretty danged good ear and it sounds just fine to me.

I'll edit and add one more thing. Scott, I apologize for my part in the debate or debacle whatever you want to call it, but at least I did address your initial question. To further comment on that, if someone has gone to the trouble to install an updated cone in the Morrell, perhaps they may have gone further with the setup.

Either of those 2 instruments will let you get your reso fingers wet and barring some bizarre construction disaster or massive accident should be quite playable.

It's pretty easy to spend someone else' money, but when one is one a budget I respect that. Been there, still there. To suggest that neither of these instruments is even worthy of consideration is just a little bit insulting as I see it.

Scott Duckworth wrote:Thanks guys for all the tips but my spending budget is locked to about $400.

Within that price range, I'd suggest the Gretsch G9210 Boxcar resonator guitar. They're sold for under $400 just about everywhere. If you get a used one, they're considerably less.

Stay away from the Morrell and you'll be fine, though.

I actually just traded a Regal 30 to Guitar Center in Tallahassee Fl. It has a quarterman cone, new spider bridge and bone nut. You might could find it in the system in the next day or so for well within your price range. To be honest though, even with all of the upgrades, it sounds terrible next to the Weber I traded it in for. Just my two cents.

I just noticed that www.musiciansfriend.com has Regal RD52 on sale for under $400.

One of the new guitars I am looking at does get shop setup before shipping.

Well, sometime today, I should get a Regal RD-30MS from Elderly Instruments. They had a special on guitar, case and accessories.

I'm planning on exploring the G tuning, but would like to also look at the E7 tuning, as that's what I am using on lap steel currently.

Ahhh.. the pleasures and experiences of playing a string instrument with a steel bar!

Congratulations and best of luck with the new axe!

I just picked up a Gretsch Boxcar on eBay for $319 including shipping from Oregon to Massachusetts.

I formally owned a custom made koa/spruce Benoit. The Gretsch is a Chinese made laminated mahogany guitar. I was surprised at how well-made and good-sounding the Gretsch is. The tone and bass volume is not complex and for sure, no one is going to confuse it with a high-end resophonic, but for what I wanted it fits the bill and at a wallet happy price.

my vote for the black lightening.
played all day on mine with 3 great pickers, and it kicked butt, plus they were diggin the sound.
mohagany seems to give a real sweet tone