thooms
MM Forum Member
Posts: 6
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Post by thooms on Mar 26, 2009 0:36:55 GMT
Hi everyone, I just stumbled across this forum today, and after browsing through it for a while, it seemed like the right place to ask. Although I have read through several of the "beginner's resonator guitar" threads on here, I wanted to ask my questions anyway, as I didn't feel that those gave my a clear answer. As the title suggests, I'm looking for a rather cheap resonator guitar (£300-400, although I might be willing to spend a bit more if I can get a much better instrument), to play "old-style" blues of the Robert Johnson and Son House sort, both with and without a slide. My local store only stocks Regals priced at about £600 and upwards, which I find is a bit too steep for my current budget, so I might be "forced" to buy online. I'm not very experienced in the field of resonator guitars, or in the field of determining whether a resonator is of the Dobro or the National kind, but I'm quite sure that I'm looking for a National, since I believe that's what Son House played (but please do correct me if I'm wrong). I've recently been browsing the thomann.de website, where the Fender FR-50 and the Harley Benton HBN-100 both caught my attention - are any of these good/decent beginner's resonators? (and are they fit for my desired playing style?) Also, I've been browsing the www.buskerguitars.co.uk/ site, which seems to sell instruments of high quality, according to what I've read on this forum - but I can't really figure out which of their guitars would fit my bluesy needs (this is where you come in)  Though I have been playing guitar for several years, I'm not too experienced in setting up instruments, so I might not be interested in a "project purchase", needing a lot of work before sounding decent - although, if the required setup isn't too complicated, I'll probably be able to work it out. I live in Denmark, so I won't be able to visit any UK dealers in person, unfortunately. What do you think of the two guitars mentioned from thomann.de (or any of the other resonators thomann sells, for that matter) ? Which of the Busker guitars would fit my needs (and my price range) ? Do you have any other suggetions that I might have missed entirely ? I thank you in advance (but won't hesitate to thank you again later  ) /Thomas |
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Post by fibrebundle on Mar 26, 2009 0:52:25 GMT
If you go for a Busker guitar, I'd say you could either go for an 'MM Lightning' (brass, 12 frets), or a 'Busker Sidewalk'
(brass, 14 frets). I've heard excellent things about Busker guitars, though I do not own one. The
reason I do not own one has to do with shipping logistics (apparently Busker guitars
are mostly shipped within Europe, and if you live outside, say in India where I live, the shipping
and customs works out to a bit too much). However, I own a couple of Republic resonators
(a brass tricone and a single cone), which are excellent, and from what I've heard, are similar in make to the Busker models (except perhaps their MM range of guitars).
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2009 2:02:14 GMT
Never heard anything good about the Fender, or anything at all about the Harley Benton! For Son House style you would be looking for a metal bodied National style single-cone. Bear in mind that a lot of his tone comes from hitting the strings really hard with his bare fingers, rather than the fingerpicks most reso players favour. My own reso is branded Ashbury, but is a Chinese import which has been sold under several brand names. It's pretty solid, and the tone is 'in the right ball park' as they say. For quality reso tone on a budget, the choice seems to be between Busker or Republic. I have not played either, so I'm simply saying what appears to be the consensus view of the forum. (In busker I include MM guitars). Other names can be risky, especially as you won't necessarily know what to look out for. You will gain a much better understanding if you read through MM instrument reviews which can be found here: www.michaelmesser.co.uk/ [use the side menu to get to instrument reviews, as I can't seem to link direct to that page] each review contains little enlightening details about instrument manufacture, though as they were written separately there is obviously some overlap. Of course the other option is to buy a cheap but structurally sound Chinese import and upgrade it yourself by replacing the nut, cone and biscuit. If you decide to do this you will need to consult all the experts on this forum, though there are probably quite a few threads about those mods knocking around already! Good Luck LR |
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Post by wolvoboy on Mar 26, 2009 7:18:22 GMT
what ever you do dont buy the Fender FR-50 i bought one of them a few years back got be the worst resonator ever made,i gave it away i was so disgusted with it , i've owned two or three Ozarks ,and Regals,had them upgraded ,but still lacked what i was looking for in the end i bought a National,(Michaels MM's had'nt come out then,my advice is not to buy something cheap and have it upgraded,by the time you have bought new cone and saddle and had it set up you could have spent the extra money on something decent,if you have not got the money to spend on a National you wont go wrong with a MM messer or any of the Busker range,
wolvoboy
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Mar 26, 2009 8:11:54 GMT
Hi
I have played and taught guitar full time for 18 years go straight to busker guitars you cannot make a mistake! i own two and asap will own more FORGET about fender resonators they make great electric guitars no problem there
my suggestion is go straight to busker guitars and read what many pro musician writes under feebback and reviews and yes you will find my review there as well
good luck
al
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Post by jackstrat on Mar 26, 2009 9:01:22 GMT
Yes indeed, Busker resonators are fine instruments and at a superb price. I've also got two (a steel body Delta and a Hobo lapsteel) and am delighted with them...these instruments really 'box above their weight' in terms of tone etc.
I bought my first one about a year ago, and not unlike yourself Thooms, I was a newcomer to resonators (although I'd been playing guitar for the most of 20 years). Buying my first reso has become a landmark in my guitar-playing life that's second only to getting my very first guitar I reckon. Best few bob I've spent in years and years.
The really great thing about Buskers is the service from Robin...I was able to (and still do occasionally!!) ask all the silly newbie questions and I've never yet failed to get valuable, informative answers from him, without ever feeling that I'm at the other end of a sales pitch or anything. In fact all of the gang on this forum are great that way, plenty of genuine discussion and loads of excellent information.
Drive on!
Niall
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Post by andys on Mar 26, 2009 9:25:56 GMT
I have owned a budget resonator before, and while it served the purpose to a certain extent, of getting me into resonator playing and appreciation, it needed serious amounts of work to get it to sound and play nicely. It needed a new cone, new nut, new bridge, its neck angle was so shallow that playing it harder and louder (like Son House for example!) meant that the strings kept popping off the bridge. The neck was also pretty narrow as well.
At the time Busker guitars wern't available, but as soon as Robin and Michael started producing them, I knew that that was the next step.
So I bought a Busker MM Blues, a brass bodied one, with 14 frets. I didnt have to do anything to it out of the box, except change the strings for something heavier. Sure later on I stripped off the paint, but beyond that I have done very little to it, playbility and sound wise
It is a great guitar, it gets played everyday, and I cannot recommend them enough. Busker guitars have raised the bar considerably as far as affordable resonators are concerned.
In fact I would safely say that if I was forced to sell my guitar collection, the Busker MM Blues would be the one I would keep!
Also Robin is extremely helpful, and gives great customer service IMO. Get in touch with him, I'm sure he can sort out getting one of these great guitars to you in Denmark.
You'l find a lot of genuine love for Robin and Michaels guitars on this site, and in my case, on other web forums as well.
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Mar 26, 2009 10:18:45 GMT
Hi
in additions to andys comments i have recieved two buskers in belguim without a problem ,secondly IMO also there is a great fraternity on this forum
i can put my hands up and say at no time whatsoever, have i known of any salesman type talk from buskers
this week i have recieved good prompt assistance from busker within 15 minutes of emailing
al
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thooms
MM Forum Member
Posts: 6
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Post by thooms on Mar 26, 2009 12:00:58 GMT
Thanks for all your replies, you've been very helpful!
It really seems like the Busker guitars are the way to look for a good, reasonably priced resonator!
Now, which of the guitars in their range would you recommend for my desired playing style ?
The Busker Delta, perhaps ? or the MM Blues ?
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Post by fibrebundle on Mar 26, 2009 12:33:10 GMT
There are sound samples of the various models at the Buskerguitars website. They
should help you decide. It eventually comes down to choosing between a steel body
and a brass body. If you want an all round resonator which
is good for playing slide and fingerstyle, in my opinion, brass body (MM Lightning
or Busker sidewalk) is the way to go. Though, steel (MM Blues, Busker Delta) would
probably be fine as well! In brass, you have the option of a 14-fret instrument as well
(Sidewalk).
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Post by Gerry C on Mar 26, 2009 12:37:24 GMT
Hi thooms. I own a Michael Messer Lightning which I bought from Busker Guitars last summer when I wanted to upgrade from an Ozark single-cone. I have no hesitation in recommending these guitars to everyone! Friends of mine who really know about guitars admired this guitar when I bought it and always at some point asked me "How much was it?" I never told them straight off but invited them to guess: NOT ONE estimate came in under £1000! And this was from guys who own Nationals, Beltonas and other top-of-the -range instruments. Either of the MM models would probably suit your needs - I play both slide and 'normal' on my guitar and it's great for both. A pal of mine has a Busker Delta which is also a very fine instrument. If you want to hear and see my MM Lightning, go to YouTube and search for "GerryCoop" There are also some vids on my MySpace page at www.myspace.com/gerrycooperCheerily Gerry C |
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Post by toom on Mar 30, 2009 11:17:47 GMT
I've just given my Harley Benton away! Couldn't wait to get rid of it. Horrible bulky neck, tonal qualities of a tin can. Horrible.
After some initial problems with my MM Blues, it's now tremendous, and I'm hardly touching my National Polychrome Tricone.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2009 21:58:37 GMT
I am with Al in this.
Get a Busker Delta. The Cannon is good, the Deco is full of more tones that an good champagne is full of bubbles but the steel Delta is so good, even better than the Cannon.
I've had mine 12 hours, played it for 45 minutes and think it is the best mix of wood and metal I have ever had!
Barry
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Post by mikeclement53 on Apr 2, 2009 19:02:20 GMT
Hi Thooms, the link below may help you to decide which type (it's bootleneck John)
I'll go along with the others and recomend Busker Guitars. I've had a brass Busker Deco for a couple of weeks. It's a revelation and seems to improve every week.
Mike
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