First Reso Experiences?

[Matt]

These forums seem to have gone quiet over the last few days, so I thought I'd post something! I couldn't think of anything overly interesting to say, so I thought I'd as a general question instead.

What first got you into resonator guitars? Was there one in a music shop that you picked up and fell in love with? Did you someone perform with one? Was it just wanting *that* sound you heard on a certain album? Share your stories!

Cheers

[charleyhouse]

My first experience of a Resonator (although I had no idea at the time) was a compilation, Monster Tracks. Which, along with hits by Soft Cell, Adam & the Ants, Kirsty Macoll, Polecats et al, contained Romeo & Juliet by Dire Straits.

By way of evolution, plus a keen interest in history, I worked my way back to the 20's through Bowie( via Punk) to the sixties bands playing their versions of American music, then back to the classic Chicago bands. I got into acoustic playing after hearing Blind Boy Fuller round a friends. (a tape of BBF, he wasn't there)

Terry Garland's first cd made actually want to try slide.

In no particular order, Corey Harris, Catfish Keith, Steve James and Alvin YoungBlood Hart started shaping my playing.

Seeing John Hammond solo got me to ditch the shit band I was in and start saving for a National.

Best track on Monster Tracks?

Tainted love by a mile.

A.

[fitchmeister]

Personally - it's pretty much Marshcat's fault. I saw Delta Echoes at a 'party in the park' type affair - went over said hello asked for some lessons and so began the lazy descent into 'conehood', Tricone, bluesweek and so on.

I'm told there is no cure

Roj

[Deleted]

My route into resonators is similar to Charleyhouse. Starting with Brothers in Arms, onto the Nottinghillbillies and then into blues players such as Steve James and Kent Duchaine and backwards form here.

As time goes on the addiction grew stronger and I found that I had to have one. This is how I ended up with a Pete Woodman Resocaster (Reluctantly for sale elsewhere on this site to help fund hopefully a National).

D

[gaucho]

I first noticed the sound of a resonator in songs by Faces in the 60s like Mandolin Wind and this one (still one of my faves)

I didn't know what it was, but I knew I liked it!

[honeyboy]

I can pinpoint this rather exactly - In retrospect, two particular album tracks stick out - Street Fighting Man from the album 'An Old Raincoat Will Never Let You Down' by Rod Stewart (1969) - bottleneck dobro played by Ronnie Wood and Cut Across Shorty on Gasoline Alley from 1970. I just loved the sound of that 'trashy' acoustic guitar..

Before that I had listened to plenty of Sleepy John Estes, Robert Johnson, Leadbelly and Skip James, but never consciously heard any resonator guitar.

It wasn't until very recently (just over 12 months ago) that I finally got my hands on a resonator (firstly an MM Blues) and began to try to play slide guitar.

And I'd always assumed all the slide on 'Gasoline Alley' and 'Every Picture Tells a Story' had been played by Ron Wood (when he actually played bass) and the great slide parts I'd so loved were mostly played by Liverpool's late Sam Mitchell.

[Deleted]

the first time i properly heard a resonator, was from a guitar tuition dvd by scott ainsley, robert johnson signature licks, and loved the sound, that s how i came to buy my mm blues special.

[thebluesbear( al)]

Hi
the first time i heard one and really listened was in the early 80s and Rory Gallagher was the culprit

Al

[gaucho]

Cool to hear someone else was first turned on to the reso sound via Faces. I also always assumed it was Ronnie Wood playing, I love his square neck playing in the Richnmond video I embedded. Another early one I remember was Clapton and Dwayne Allman on Mean Old World.

[ken1953clark]

The Kinks, Top of the Pops, Lola. There's a vid on youtube.

[gouranga]

I was attracted by slide playing.Guys like Johnny Winter, Leslie West, Alan (Blind Owl) Wilson.I was always attracted by the old blues men and the sounds they made. Seeing Leslie West live and watching him play slide caught me on that side.. For many years I wanted I Tricone,just as a guitar.I had an old National Triolian years ago, but sadly never understood it's worth and wealth at the time,but at that time I had more guitars than I could possibly know what do do with.. I just really like the sound of different Reso's. For busking they are great, they cut through more than any acoustic... They just give that original bluesy sound.They smoke, they honk, they groan, they sing,they cut, they ring, they're great.. Just need someone top lay it nicely,and that sadly aint me. I like listening to others.

Take care and best wishes always...

Gouranga

[washboardchris]

I first came into contact with a resophonic guitar some 35 years ago.I was introduced to the best acoustic blues player in Basaildon(where I lived at the time)& he had an old 14fret National style 0 which he had had since the late 50s.I was amazed when on very short acquaintance he offered to loan it to me & I took it home with me and played it for 6 or 7 months.His name is or was Colin Curtis and I will allways remember his generosity in loaning it to me.Dont know what happend to the guitar, last I heard Colin hit hard times & had to sell it.

[Michael Messer]

This is a good thread.

It is quite hard for me to pinpoint my very first sighting of a National or Dobro resonator guitar. There are a few early recollections that are not too different from other forum members of a similar age to myself.

Johnny Winter- Progressive Blues Experiment - 1968

Volume One Guitar Shop - Springfield Road, Harrow. They had an OMI Dobro Model 1000 in for a while, and I used to bunk off school and visit Volume One to play the Dobro. That was my first contact!

The Kinks performing Lola on TOTP - 1970

Rory Gallagher with his Triolian - late 60s in Taste, and early 70s with his RG trio.

Ronnie Lane & Ronnie Wood - 1970/71

Rod Stewart (Sam Mitchell) Every Picture Tells A Story - 1971

Chappell Music Shop - Bond St, London - 1971/72/73, I worked nearby and used to spend every lunch break staring at a large OMI Dobro display. They had the full range of Metal & wood bodied OMI machines.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken' featuring Bashful Brother Oswald on the Dobro - 1971

Josh Graves & Walter Haynes playing Dobro on JJ Cale's first two albums - 71/72...

Between 74 and 78, many sightings and occasional contact. I used to see Sam Mitchell playing and in the late 70s got to know him.

Then I bought a Dobro and the rest as they say.....is history. I have talked in depth in a few interviews about my connection with these guitars and how the guitars and the music were all part of the same journey for me. It was never just about resonator guitars for me. It is the slide guitar and the styles of music I heard it used in, that I was and still am obsessed with 35 years later.

Shine On
Michael

[oldnick]

Hi,
The first time I remember seeing one in use was Son House on one of the blues package tours in the 60's at Birmingham Town Hall.

Nick

[rickS]

wa-a-a-y back in autumn '65, Mike Cooper in the Reading folk clubs, then, like oldnick, seeing Son House & Bukka White on the '67 blues festival package tour - which was also the time I first acquired one ( 1930 fancy Dobro, bought off original owner for £50!)