advice on the way to go

[scottishlassie]

Hi, after searching the web this seemed to me the place to get some good advice. Having learned 6 string lap steel, traditional hawaiian and country style, as a youngster, I've had a long break (bringing up bairns) and now have time to get back to playing - still got my much loved vintage hofner hawaiian, but am always reliant on an amp and power supply, so have researched resonators and put out a plea for any for sale in my area. I  have been offered a Ozark 3515b (roundneck) for £350 which is a very fair price by all accounts, but being the one and only resonator I have played, I have nothing to compare it to. It looks beautiful, sounds good but would I be going the right route for lap steel playing? Action is just high enough and no more, but am I better hanging out for a squareneck? any recommendations? I know I could buy allsorts over the web but I want to try before I buy and living in Scottish Highlands makes that tricky!! Any advice welcome, thanks in anticipation

[Deleted]

Hello.
Michael did a review on this make of guitar.
www.michaelmesser.co.uk/OZARK%203515B%20review.htm
Whether Michael still feels the same is a different matter.
Busker guitars do a nice squareneck, but finding a used one could be tricky.
Personally, I would trawl ebay for a good one - and if you are OK with a roundneck, Michaels guitars are superb.
TT

[scottishlassie]

thanks so much for your reply, i have read Michael's review suggested by yourself on this model and it has really helped me decide. The slight camber on the fingerboard causes the steel bar to "ground" in places an although i could remedy this by raising the action with a capo converter,it's confirmed my gut instinct that looks are maybe stronger than sound on this occasion.This model does seem to have good volume but for the type of playing I have in mind, the sustain is not as good as I hoped.I think I will hold out for a wee bit longer to see if I can find what Im looking for, patience is a virtue as they say..... The search goes on!

[thebluesbear( al)]

Hi

to keep this very short simple and direct i second what deuce has said good luck with your search

al

[Michael Messer]

Hi Scottishlassie,

Welcome to our forum.

Thanks Deuce, much appreciated.

I would say that if you are going to be playing Hawaiian and Country style lap steel steel guitar on an acoustic instrument, that you should not be looking at metal bodied resonator guitars, because apart from 1920s and 30s square neck National Tricones, nothing can touch a wood bodied spider-bridge Dobro, or Dobro-type of resonator guitar. If you are looking for a sweet sounding instrument that sustains notes and sings, this is the type of guitar you should look for. Depending on your budget, but if you have looked at Ozark 3515s I can see that you are looking to spend something like £300, maybe up to £500. I am not as up to date with spider-bridge guitars in this price range as I should be, but I would certainly look at BUSKER and GOLDTONE, and search eBay. Maybe also put a WANTED thread up on the TIN CAN ALLEY section of this forum.

One other consideration for your style of playing and budget, and that is to look at acoustic Hawaiian guitars, copies of Weissenborn guitars. These are square neck acoustic guitars and there are some great budget-priced ones around. Possibly better than some of the budget-priced Dobro-type guitars.

I hope that has been helpful. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions that you might want to ask. There is usually someone online who can help.

Shine On
Michael

[scottishlassie]

Many Thanks for the replies, this is just the sort of info I have been looking for, yes Michael, you are right, having tried the Ozark I think wood bodied would be better for the kind of playing I intend, I'll start concentrating my search on those - also Weissenborn - I don't know much about those but I listened to Ed Gerhard play "Killing the blues" on one on youtube and it was beautiful - thats the kind of sound I'm aiming for.Thanks again, I feel now that I can narrow down my search and am much better informed to ask the right questions.

Best Regards

[Ian McWee]

Hi scottishlassie,

If you're willing to take a journey to Northumberland our good friends at Rothesay Music usually keep several wood-bodied Weissenborn-style instruments in stock, from beginners to top-range guitars, it'd be worth the trip just to try a few out & see if it's 'for you' ~ Paul Templeman is the fellow to chat to at (www.rothesaymusic.co.uk)

Slide On!

Ian.

[jreading]

Ian - Are you sure Northumberland? I read your reply and tried looking them up as I visit Newcastle alot, only result is Rothesay Scotland!

[stevie]

Vintage Oahu Square neck on ebay £295 perhaps somebody on here could comment on it's quality

[Keith Ambridge]

I have been considering a Dobro style square neck lately and I was very tempted by the Recording King RR-60-vs. Under 300 pounds from Thomann, ebony fretboard, bone nut, nice Grover tuners and a real nice looker! Don't know what the cone's like though. I also had a listen on you Tube.
However, in the end I decided to buy the hardware and do another self build!
Good luck with your search!

[slide496]

Jul 30, 2014 13:25:42 GMT stevie said:

Vintage Oahu Square neck on ebay £295 perhaps somebody on here could comment on it's quality

I have an oahu.

Those usually have metal fixed bridge that is bolted with the nut underneath and there is a brace or something front of it that prevents easy access - if the nuts are rusted on you won't be able to remove it without some trouble, if at all. The metal bridge itself is not adjustable so far as I can tell. If its already been worked on and the bridge replaced I guess it would be more adjustable but its no longer the original instrument.

I wouldn't pay that for it, maybe more like £70 tops.

Mine has sat in the closet of shame for the past year or so - never gets played.

[Deleted]

The gretsch squarenecks are everywhere right now - not heard anyone say anything too terrible about them.
TT

[Keith Ambridge]

I forgot about the Gretsch's!

[Dessery]

I'd have a look at the Gretsch Boxcar. I have the round neck version. For the money it's a great little guitar.

David

[Nickel]

David could be on to something there. The 'boxcar' is the only wood body reso that I have played, but I was most impressed with its warm tones. I'd be very happy to have my mitts on one. Everything I've seen on them has been positive. Worth thinking about for sure.