|  Author | Topic: Hi and What Reso? (Read 480 times) |
flashart
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|  | Hi and What Reso?
« Thread Started on Sept 13, 2010, 5:03pm » | |
Hi everyone. I've played slide for well over 20 years. Most of the stuff I like to listen to is played on flat tops rather than Resos. I'm not that crazy on how a lot of Resos sound, but guess what? I feel that one is in my future.
Tone is a hard thing to describe but "Round, Warm, Flutey" would be what I'd like to aim for.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should be looking for?
Money is tight, so please bear that in mind.
Thanks, in anticipation.
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blueshome
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| | Re: Hi and What Reso?
« Reply #1 on Sept 13, 2010, 5:35pm » | |
Tricone!
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ChickenboneJohn
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| | Re: Hi and What Reso?
« Reply #2 on Sept 13, 2010, 6:15pm » | |
Depends on how you define being tight for money...a grand, £500, £250? A Tricone may suit, but a good spider bridge guitar will give you a warm singing tone if that's more the direction you are going in.
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Michael Messer
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| | Re: Hi and What Reso?
« Reply #3 on Sept 13, 2010, 6:33pm » | |
Hi Flashart,
Welcome to our forum.
To help you choose a type of resonator guitar, it would be helpful to us to know which players you are influenced by and what style you are learning to play? There are three types of resonator that each give a very different tone; Dobro, National Tricone, National Single Cone.
Shine On
Michael
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flashart
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| | Re: Hi and What Reso?
« Reply #4 on Sept 18, 2010, 6:35am » | |
Players I like would be Ry Cooder, Rory Gallagher, Mick Taylor, Derek Trucks, George Harrison, John Hammond.
I like a lot of old blues too, Robert Johnson, Son House etc.
But as far as Reso tones go I'm not that much of a fan of the metallic rattly sound. Tampa Red, Casey Bill Weldon seems to be okay, but you never know if it was just how it was recorded.
I bought a Yamaha LS16 that was going to be my dedicated Slide guitar but then decided it was too nice to "ruin".
I'm thinking of around £500 but I do have a mint high end Strat that I could part ex.
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Michael Messer
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| | Re: Hi and What Reso?
« Reply #5 on Sept 18, 2010, 8:46am » | |
Hi Flashart,
We will do all we can to point you in the right direction, but I am not sure I understand a couple of your comments. Do any of the players you have mentioned make the metallic rattly sound?
Looking at your list of musicians the only resophonic instrument that is used by more than one of them (Rory Gallagher, John Hammond, Casey Bill Weldon), is a single cone steel bodied National.
Shine On
Michael
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Matt
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| | Re: Hi and What Reso?
« Reply #6 on Sept 18, 2010, 11:21am » | |
Flashart, Michael really is the expert here, but as someone that's just got into resos and has been searching for one at a similar price to you, I'll add what I can.
I think I know what you mean about the metallic sound, and from my limited experience (I've only played single cone resos) I think you'd prefer a brass body to steel. For something like that in the price range you're looking at, I'd suggest one of the 'Michael Messer Lightning' instruments. I first came across this (and the steel bodied MM Blues) in a local music shop that's been run by it's owners for 40 years, and they've always been open and honest when giving advice on instruments. They no longer stock any resonator guitars other than the MM range, as nothing in that price range or below can come close on the consistent quality of these instruments, and to get instruments of a higher quality you have to pay a hefty chunk more (from what I've heard from various sources, we're talking hundreds of pounds)
I first tried the Blues in the shop, but as I was playing somewhat more melodic pieces than the driving metallic blues thrashing (which is also a great sound, don't get me wrong), they suggested I try the lightning. It made enough of an impact on me that I've patiently saved over 8 months or so to get one, as once I'd tried one I don't think I could settle for anything less. Cheaper models I've tried aren't worth the saving, a reso half the price of an MM will be less than half the quality, at least out of the ones I've tried.
Having said all that, I've not tried a tricone, so you may want to try one of them or a 'Dobro' style spider bridge guitar, as ChickenboneJohn suggests. You may also like the sound of the wooden bodied resos, although I found the ones I've tried to lack that full resonator sound I was looking for.
One last thing to be aware of is that lots of music shops may stock a couple of resonator guitars, but that doesn't mean that the staff know anything about them. I've found it really helpful browsing these forums to try tog et to grips with what to look for in a resonator, and how they work, what's inside etc. There are some good videos on youtube from Lenny at Vintage Nationals in the states, and others, dismantling various instruments or comparing how they sound when comparing new/vintage, brass/steel, single/tricone etc. There's also a fairly cool series if you search for 'How it's made guitar' and scroll down the results a bit, showing various stages of resonator guitar production, if you're interested.
Cheers
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flashart
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| | Re: Hi and What Reso?
« Reply #7 on Sept 18, 2010, 4:50pm » | |
Thanks for the replies. It was early in the morning when I posted so I'll try to explain a little better. The players I mentioned are some of those that I like, but not necessarily their tones. I used Tampa Red as an example of a Tone that I know is a Reso which I don't mind.
I wondered whether a brass or wood body would sound okay or whether a Tricone is good enough in it's own right. However, there's no shops where you can really A/B these things.
I had a look at the Busker site and liked the look of the brass tricone. I play with fingers instead of picks and would describe my style as "ultra-clean", rather than raging emotion. (More George Harrison than Son House) Or think in terms of a "jazz tone" rather than a "country blues tone".
Once again, thanks for your patience.
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Michael Messer
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| | Re: Hi and What Reso?
« Reply #8 on Sept 19, 2010, 4:52pm » | |
Hi Flashart,
I think there is a misunderstanding about the sound of resonator guitars. There is no reason for a steel bodied National-style guitar to sound any less clean than a brass bodied Tricone. The 'clangy sound' that you don't like is in the player, not the guitar. A Tricone or a brass bodied single cone can sound very clangy in the wrong hands. Having said all that, the three types of resonator system >single cone National-style, Tricone National-style and Dobro, do have quite different tones.
If you play without picks I would not recommend a Tricone as you will constantly be getting buzzes & rattles. I would recommend you try a brass bodied single cone National-style guitar, or a wood bodied Dobro-style guitar.
(Greedyostrich, thank you for your kind words about MM guitars)
Shine On
Michael
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flashart
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| | Re: Hi and What Reso?
« Reply #9 on Sept 20, 2010, 4:45pm » | |
Thanks for the replies. My whole reason for taking the Reso-route was to buy something built for purpose (slide). Are there any recommendations for any wood body dobro-a-likes for around £500?
A quick Google gives me Regal. Are these any good?
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Michael Messer
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| | Re: Hi and What Reso?
« Reply #10 on Sept 20, 2010, 5:19pm » | |
IMO the best Dobro copies available in your price are made by Beard Goldtone.
Shine On
Michael
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