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Topic: Short scale dobro/resonator guitar? |
Greg Gefell
From:
Upstate NY
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Posted 9 Sep 2018 5:34 pm |
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Do these exist? Would like to know if any builder ever made a 24 inch or even a 22.5 inch scale resonator guitar? Would be ideal for higher tunings without needing thinner strings.
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https://www.facebook.com/ggefell/ |
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David Venzke
From:
SE Michigan, USA
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Posted 9 Sep 2018 6:55 pm
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| I believe Jim Adams has made some shorter scale resonator guitars. I'm thinking he sold a 24-inch scale 8 string not too long ago (to Adam Tracksler maybe?). |
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Greg Gefell
From:
Upstate NY
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 5:22 am
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Thanks for that info David, I’ll send him a message. I’m looking into having a 7 stringer made with a high G on top (GBDGBDG). Trying to determine what the best scale would be to support that with a .14 minimum gauge string for the high G.
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https://www.facebook.com/ggefell/ |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 6:18 am
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.014 
fwiw Beard built a 3/4 scale guitar using resonator mandolin components. The tonality certainly favored the high end. I don't think that particular guitar would be suitable as a 7 string.
May be worth a call to discuss possible options and possible issues.
h
Edit to add. I'm uncertain how responsive the cone might be to that high G. Thinking of 8 string dobros tuned to C6.
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Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 6:28 am Re: Short scale dobro/resonator guitar?
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| Greg Gefell wrote: |
| Do these exist? Would like to know if any builder ever made a 24 inch or even a 22.5 inch scale resonator guitar? Would be ideal for higher tunings without needing thinner strings. |
I recall unboxing a shipment of Epiphone short-scale square neck dobros some years ago when i worked for a music wholesaler. I have no idea if they still make them. |
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Greg Gefell
From:
Upstate NY
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 1:27 pm
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I’m rethinking the whole short scale idea now myself! It might be more versatile for me to get a regular scale guitar sounding really good in E and then just capo around if needed.
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https://www.facebook.com/ggefell/ |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 3:21 pm
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I believe this is the wiser choice Greg.
And remember, the resonance of the cone on an 8 string can be somewhat diminished compared to a similar style of guitar but with six strings only, and if you couple that with a short scale it might add insult to injury.
Think of a 000 body Martin flattop. One can buy that body shape under different model names, with the prefix 000 for short scale (24.9") or OM long/standard scale (25.4"). The nice thing about the short scale Martin is that the strings are a bit slack, better for bending and fingerpicking, and a little more comfortable to play and easier on aging fingers. But the tradeoff is that you don't get the same "snap" and sustain as you would on a long scale Martin.
I'm guessing that a short scale resonator might warrant a similar comparison.
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Mark |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 3:45 pm
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As David noted:
Epiphone made an early (ca. 1996) Chinese D-reso with a short neck. Honest Ron's Guitars in Oklahoma City has one I have on consignment there if anyone's curious--not expensive. (My brother, a non-player, for reasons unknown to me, won an auction for it. I kept the real Dobro hard case it came in, but the Epiphone itself sounded pretty good--made me wonder if someone had put a better cone and spider in it.)
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"Gopher, Everett?" |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2018 5:57 pm
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You didn't specify if you wanted it for lap or fretted playing.
For fretted/slide playing the 1960's National Reso-Phonic acoustics are great playing/sounding and real head-turners. The pink mother-of-toilet-seat is a fairly rare color. 23" scale and full-depth 9" biscuit type resonator in a solid fiberglass body just a bit thicker than a solid-body electric. People are very surprised that there are no electronics - and at how loud the little spud is!
The new National Resophonic company makes an electric version but I don't recall the scale.
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Greg Gefell
From:
Upstate NY
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Posted 11 Sep 2018 3:59 am
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Definitely looking for square neck 8 string at this point. I talked to Jim Adams and he can build whatever I want. The GoldTone PBS-8 also gets good reviews by many.
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https://www.facebook.com/ggefell/ |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 11 Sep 2018 6:04 am
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| Ben Elder wrote: |
As David noted:
Epiphone made an early (ca. 1996) Chinese D-reso with a short neck. Honest Ron's Guitars in Oklahoma City has one I have on consignment there if anyone's curious--not expensive. (My brother, a non-player, for reasons unknown to me, won an auction for it. I kept the real Dobro hard case it came in, but the Epiphone itself sounded pretty good--made me wonder if someone had put a better cone and spider in it.) |
The Epi's may have had Quarterman cones. |
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Jim Bates
From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
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Posted 14 Sep 2018 9:28 am
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I have an Adams 22 1/2" scale 8 string he built for me.
I use standard strings for a G 6th tuning, but tune to A6th which keeps string tension about the same.
Jim Adams guitars are made in his shop, by him. in Spring, Texas USA.
Thanx,
Jim
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Jim Bates, Alvin, Texas
Emmons LeGrand,Sho-Bud Super Pro, SB ProII - E13th,C6th on all. Many Resonator guitars |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 15 Sep 2018 6:48 am
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| go cheap. take any guitar and modify it. move the nut...change the scale. easy |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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