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Post by hawgadi on Nov 24, 2009 16:14:15 GMT
Hey guys, new to the forum, new to resonators, new to acoustic blues. I'm looking for a guitar that I can keep in open tunings and use for slide work. I'm having trouble getting the correct (I hesitate to say "clean") slide tone I'm looking for with my current guitars. They're set up pretty low. I'm getting either buzz on strings where the slide isn't making enough contact, or clacking into the frets. Clearly my technique is part of the issue, but I don't think it's the whole issue. I have a dread, and am looking at an OM later this week. I'd love to get a resonator as well, so I'm looking for something under a grand for sure. This will be only for blues at this point, so it's a round neck for sure. The metal ones are HEAVY, but seem to have more of that tone than the wood ones. Agree? Disagree? I like the idea of the wood ones being as they're so much lighter. I've seen recommendations for Regals, but a lot of the online reviews talk about moving the cone, pulling off or adding tape to fix the tone, bad fret ends, etc. Not really wanting to deal with all that, but if that's the cost of the cheap ones, that's OK I guess. I see that you can get a National Cone for around $85 and upgrade the tone. Any comments? Recommendations? Stupid assumptions I'm making that you are dying to point out?  Thanks everyone! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2009 17:16:05 GMT
Don't spend money on a guitar, spend it on lessons! I did most of my learning (and still play) on cheap little guitars. If you are in the USA, pick up an old Harmony Stella for a few bucks (like less than $50), put new heavy strings on it, and have at it with the bottleneck..it's sure to have high enough action for slide! I use these all the time..stick a Lawrence soundhole pickup in it, put it thru' an old amp and blow the place apart. Resos do have that distinctive tone, and they can be rather flattering for slide work...but if you can hack it on a cheap acoustic, that's a great way to start.
I've seen far too many players buy better guitars than I can possibly afford, and I know full well they will never get the most out of the instrument, because they are investing in the guitar not their own learning.
If you've got to have a reso, then so be it, but a regular guitar, properly set-up for slide will serve you well without breaking the bank.
Don't get obsessed with tone, get obsessed with playing.
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Post by hawgadi on Nov 24, 2009 17:27:20 GMT
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Post by hawgadi on Nov 24, 2009 17:47:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2009 6:33:45 GMT
That Stella is way overpriced..they are cheap Sears Roebuck catalog guitars and should only cost a few bucks...seriously, $50 -75 is all I'd pay unless they are totally mint. The archtop is a nice guitar in it's own right for a budget archtop, but you'll probably find it lacking in volume for slide work. There are loads of cheap and nasty old guitars knocking around on eBay, (and I bought plenty of 'em!) but I almost always end up doing a neck reset and setting them up properly. On those Stellas, I've never had one with a bent neck - the action gets high like on all old guitars as the whole body /neck geometry creeps, and it can range from OK for slide to totally unplayable!
The Harmony Stellas have a shortish scale (24 inch typically) and will take heavy strings no bother.
At that price, a cheap Chinese acoustic is probably a better bet.
For the money, the Regal resos are OK, and I've played few, but it seems that the MM guitars are better regarded all round, however I would think it pricey to get one to the USA. I think the Republic metal bodied reso. also seem to get fair reviews. If you do decide to do down the reso route, do try one, as some people just don't get on with the weight and balance of a metal bodied guitar..a wood bodied reso is heavier than a regular acoustic, but even so they are pretty weighty. Generally I'd avoid the cheap Spider bridge resos, I've played very few decent ones.
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Post by fitchmeister on Nov 25, 2009 12:26:40 GMT
As Chicken bone John recommends - i started out with lessons and a parlour guitar. I have an AMI cedar Parlour guitar, strung with a set of 12s and replaced the 12 with a 13. (not necessarily the same as fitting a set of 13s) It's fine for slide. It was under £200 here - they are made in canada by the godin factory so there shloud be a few cheap ones around the US & ebay.
If you search under 'oldmanknott' in you tube there's a link to me playing slide on it. Hope that helps
Roj
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2009 14:05:02 GMT
Good call on the Art & Lutherie Ami parlor guitar...nice little instrument.
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Post by Blues Pertti on Nov 26, 2009 7:36:27 GMT
Hi, Here is a good example  - cheap acoustic guitar, amp and slide. Pertti |
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- cheap acoustic guitar, amp and slide.