narapo
MM Forum Member
Posts: 8
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Post by narapo on Apr 18, 2008 15:20:48 GMT
it looks great ! I wish we have very soon more pictures and samples of the final, production guitars. It will be great to have a side by side comparison with the regular Busker's
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Post by snakehips on Apr 18, 2008 22:45:20 GMT
Hi again !
Two piece neck ? Heel and neck ? Is the headstock one piece ? Still looks good despite this - also considering the cost. What is the neck wood anyway ?
Thanks
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Post by Michael Messer on Apr 19, 2008 10:16:41 GMT
Hello Richard,
The necks are two pieces and made of maple. The headstocks are not separate. It is just the heel. I could get them made as one-piece necks, but the price will go up and that will defeat the object of the exercise.
I do know what I am doing with this and would not put my name on these guitars if they were not exceptionally good. I have spent months designing them and making adjustments to get them right. I have played & tested these instruments and so have a few other highly respected National guitar experts. Everyone that has played the prototypes has agreed that (a) these guitars are easily the best available at the price, and (b) that they are darn close to the real thing. Possibly rivalling one or two very well known brands of guitars that cost a lot more.
Something I am learning as I go through this process of manufacturing the best resonator guitars I can for under 500 quid, is that one has to make one or two concessions to 21st century technology.
NRP for example, build fantastic high quality guitars and have now rightfully gained respect almost equal to that of the original National company. However, they have incorporated design features and manufacturing techniques that some purists might question; such as removable hand-rests and necks cut four at a time on CNC machines.
From looking at the photographs I have posted, I don't think anyone could say that these folks are not doing an amazing job of hand-building our guitars. Their workmanship and attention to detail is first class and this is reflected in the quality of their instruments.
While I am interested in how they look and have paid a lot of attention to that, I am far more interested in how they feel, play and sound.
From reading this post I think I am becoming quite protective about these guitars and the people who make them!
Shine On Michael
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Post by SoloBill on Apr 19, 2008 11:43:14 GMT
Hi, Does one person make all the necks, another the bodies etc? It would be nice to know their names.
Is mine ready yet? (I'm like a kid on a long car journey!).
Bill
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Post by wolvoboy on Apr 19, 2008 17:13:40 GMT
Hi Michael The the guitars look fantastic and knowing what you have put in to them i am sure they will probably be one of the best resonator guitars on the market. looking into the future,when most of us will venture out and buy one,how much better would they be if we upgraded and put a National Hot rod cone in ,sorry if i am jumping the gun but it was just a thought ;D ;D wolvoboy
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2008 22:58:47 GMT
Hi Mike I am a resonator fan in Adelaide, South Australia. Will you have a distributor here in Australia....if not how can I get one of your guitars. Would you like someone here to help promote your guitars. I would love to help. I am impressed with what I have seen on your site and I would be very keen to get my hands on one of your guitars and put them in the hands of other resonator fans here in Australia.........
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Post by Michael Messer on Apr 20, 2008 9:54:25 GMT
Hi Bill,
Your suggestion is an excellent one and I hope to know the names of the people in the photos, and who does what job on the guitars very soon.
Regarding delivery dates: I too am on that long car journey and desperate for news! I will know a delivery date any day now.
This first run of MM guitars has taken longer than expected, but that is because we have really pushed to get everything as we want it.
Shine On Michael
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Post by Michael Messer on Apr 20, 2008 10:16:01 GMT
Hi Wolvoboy,
Good to hear from you.
Your question is a good one that has not been asked yet.
One of the points that attracted me to the workshop in China was the very high quality cones they were already using in Republic & Busker guitars. These cones are by far the best in a budget-priced guitar that I have seen. They are properly made like real National cones. They have excellent tone and they are loud & clear with a lovely sustain & natural reverb. So people buying Michael Messer guitars have no need to spend money upgrading.
However, there is no denying that the cones made by National Reso-Phonic, both standard and Hot-Rods, are superb quality and would very likely be an improvement on the cones we are fitting. I say 'very likely' because I have not tested any other cones in the MM prototype guitars yet. I am trying to produce an instrument that doesn't require an immediate upgrade of new cone, bridge and nut. So I have just been using the standard cone and road testing that.
To add one more point so there is no misunderstanding; I believe that Mike Lewis at Fine Resophonic Guitars in Paris and National Reso-Phonic Guitars in California, make the best cones in the world. Which is better is matter of personal taste, as there are differences.
Shine On Michael
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Post by Michael Messer on Apr 20, 2008 10:25:27 GMT
Hello Bluesboy,
Thank you for your enquiry and for your positive comments.
So far we have not made any moves towards setting up distribution in Australia. We are interested in setting something up, but at this point have not done anything about it.
We would be happy to sell you a guitar and ship it to you. That is not a problem at all. We just need to check out shipping costs.
Regarding helping promote the guitars in Australia - yes I would be very interested to talk about this. Send me a private message with your email address and then we can go from there.
I look forward to receiving your PM,
Shine On, Michael
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Post by rickS on Apr 20, 2008 10:40:37 GMT
Re cone upgrades - I have a 14-fret Republic Duolian, which I assume uses the same spec spun cone? Anyway, I swapped it out for a NR hotrod cone which I had to hand, & have to say the difference was discernible, but very slight (volume-wise, nothing in it, tonally, a little more complexity, & slightly enhanced top-end) - if I hadn't already had the NR cone, it wouldn't have been worthwhile to upgrade, IMO; these Republic-type cones really are excellent, way better than the older-style asian ones, & even the pre-hotrod NR ones, to my ears - coupled with the guitar's spot-on construction & sufficiently sturdy neck, they make for an instrument that really nails the sound & feel of the originals - in fact, better than some of the old'uns that I once owned! Buy with confidence..
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Post by snakehips on Apr 20, 2008 13:58:33 GMT
Hi again !
Back to my last posting a second :
For the voice of doubt, I wasn't criticising the guitars, or your choice in components or anything negative (I don't see a problem with 2 piece necks - especially if that reduces the overall cost). The trouble with buying online is that you don't get the same "feel" as holding a guitar right in your hands before buying. The photos are good quality but I wasn't sure 100% from the photos if I was seeing 2 pieces at the heel or not.
They look cracking great guitars - and I can't wait to get one in my hands. Thanks again for your hard work AND dedication.
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Post by Michael Messer on Apr 20, 2008 14:17:21 GMT
Thanks Richard! I couldn't agree more about seeing a guitar in your hands, rather than looking on the Internet. I am sure we'll soon be able to email guitars to each other My apologies if I appeared over-protective. Shine On Michael
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narapo
MM Forum Member
Posts: 8
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Post by narapo on Apr 20, 2008 21:36:51 GMT
Michael, are you taking pre orders for the MM guitars now ? how many guitars in the first batch will be available ?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2008 9:26:09 GMT
It’s been very interesting to see the photos of MM guitars being built. The Chinese workshop looks good. Too often in the West we see Chinese made goods as inferior, perhaps with some justification in the past, but they’re coming on in leaps and bounds. The best Chinese manufacturing plants are now turning out very high quality goods, the equal of anything we can do in the West. I’m sure this will be true of guitars in the future if it isn’t already.
One thing does slightly bug me about the photos of Busker and Republic guitars I’ve seen, also the MM prototypes. The shape of the body doesn’t look quite right to me. The shape of the upper bout where it meets the neck appears to be too rounded. I’m no expert so perhaps it is the correct shape, I’m only comparing it to photos of original Nationals. It’s just a small detail, it wouldn’t stop me buying one. The correct headstock shape more than makes up for it.
I can’t wait to see photos of the finished article.
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Post by Michael Messer on Apr 21, 2008 17:46:46 GMT
Hi Narapo, Yes, you can order a guitar from Robin at Busker Guitars ( . Busker is handling all sales of MM guitars. The first batch of MM guitars is just 25 of each model (25 x BLUES & 25 x LIGHTNING). Plus 4 x fourteen fret BLUES. This first batch was ordered to get the product going and to test out the marketplace. The response & worldwide interest in these guitars has been fantastic. Way beyond what I expected! The second batch will probably be a larger amount and will only take a few weeks to be completed and delivered. There is a list of people wanting one of the first batch of MM guitars, but we are not sold out yet. Thanks Narapo, Shine On Michael
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