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Post by hamilton on Feb 24, 2015 9:34:45 GMT
I'm watching this on eBay. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121577614335?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D121577614335%26_rdc%3D1Looking to to buy my first dedicated guitar for slide, and I've been itching for a reso for years. I'm after a big sound with some decent bite, doesn't need to be a rabid dog though. This being metal bodied and biscuit bridged, non spider? I'm figuring it might hit the spot. I have gleaned from some previous threads that OMI guitars might be an acquired taste (what sets it apart so?) and that the tail end of their production, before Gibson took over, was not the finest. so and thoughts most welcome. Ps - I'm competent with tools, so had considered a cheaper model guitar with a decent neck, and upgrading the cone. Hot rod or PB depending on the guitar in question. Or - perhaps a MM blues is the ticket to joy. |
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 24, 2015 10:06:15 GMT
Hello Hamilton,
Welcome to our forum.
The late OMI period pre-Gibson was not their best time, but if that guitar can be bought for between £450 and £600 it is well worth buying. I would think carefully about spending more than that on it.
OMI guitars are good instruments and in the days before the National Reso-Phonic company and Far Eastern built instruments, they were the only people making them. You asked what makes OMI guitars an acquired taste, well it is mostly to do with the large 10.5 inch non-spiral resonator, whereas all other single cone National and National-style instruments have 9.5 inch cones with spirals. The OMI cones sound fine.
Buying a cheaper guitar and upgrading the resonator, is in my opinion a pointless exercise. The tone of a resonator guitar comes from the whole thing and in tests that I have been around, the upgraded resonator does very little.
I hope that is helpful,
Shine On
Michael.
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Post by hamilton on Feb 24, 2015 11:40:29 GMT
Thank you so much for your swift response, you helped me avoid a potentially rash purchase in persute of eye candy. And thanks for doing what you do here, invaluable information and infectious passion. Greatly appreciated.
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 24, 2015 12:30:44 GMT
My pleasure. Thank you for your kind words.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by bod on Feb 24, 2015 15:08:02 GMT
.... I have gleaned from some previous threads that OMI guitars might be an acquired taste (what sets it apart so?) and that the tail end of their production, before Gibson took over, was not the finest. so and thoughts most welcome. .... Or - perhaps a MM blues is the ticket to joy. Re. OMI Dobros, I know very little, but like you have gleaned something from earlier threads, in this case it's that 70s ones may be seen as more desirable than 80s ones - so it might be of interest that a 1971 33D is currently up for sale in the 'Tin Can Alley' section of this forum... Also, you might well find an MM Blues to be a ticket to joy, more than a few folks around here have - see if you can get your hands on one for a try. (Where about are you?) |
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Post by blowingrocknc on Feb 24, 2015 20:32:19 GMT
Michael, thanks for your comments. I had been considering buying cheap metal resonator, then putting in top quality parts, basically just using the body and neck. I figured I might have to at least dress the frets, but I was prepared to even change them entirely if necessary. You can change everything and end up with only a third or half of what a National cost. After much thinking and reading, I decided it would be best to just spend the money for a National. Seeing your words above makes me feel better about it. By the way, my tenor is playing wonderfully right now. If it slips back, I'll call the folks at National. I truly don't think I've broken anything or done any permanent harm with my experimentation, but I won't do it anymore. You are right, given the price and quality, I should take instructions from them who built it. Bill.
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Post by blowingrocknc on Feb 24, 2015 20:34:37 GMT
By the way, I'm new to this forum, but I have been very impressed by the fact that MM doesn't push his own guitars, particularly considering that he has mighty fine guitars. Just saying.
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 24, 2015 22:18:27 GMT
Hi Bill,
Thank you, your kind words are very much appreciated.
I believe that one of the factors that makes this forum successful is that it is, (apart from the Main Street section which is for me to plug my guitars, shows, records etc), a non commercial forum with no advertising. The MM guitars evolved organically from the existence of the forum, it was not the other way round. I believe there is a time and a place for everything and nobody, including me, wants to hear me banging on about how wonderful my guitars and records are. I am the same at my concerts, I do not plug or even mention my MM guitars when I am on stage, even if I am playing one. The stage is a place to play music, it is not a market stall.
As a non commercial forum, we can all discuss and share our knowledge without every conversation ending up as an advert. If somebody asks me about whether they should buy a guitar manufactured by my competitors, the last thing they need is to have me coming in saying 'don't buy theirs, buy one of mine'. I am primarily a musician, not a guitar dealer and I hate being pushed by sales people.
Shine On
Michael.
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Post by twang1 on Feb 24, 2015 23:23:44 GMT
I have got an '86 OMI metal dobro and it sounds excellent. Very warm and balanced; a bit less volume than a National but, again, to my ears it sounds better than many National I played. I might have been lucky, I don't know...
Only thing is that with the years I got used to big chunky necks and that Dobro has got a narrower and a more "normal" neck compared to other reso instruments. Best thing would be investing some gas and check it out in person if you don't live too far.
Frank
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Post by leeophonic on Feb 25, 2015 7:31:39 GMT
I personally am a fan of the Dobros(pre Gibson etc) although there are pitfalls and potholes along with excellent ones.
Some of the custom models are works of art, the necks on some of the metal ones can be thin at the nut and need further attention to detail.
There was a point in there history where budget was more important than tone (plastic nuts), quality etc,over the years some good people have worked @ Dobro Ren Ferguson, Don Young etc....
Have a look and you may find a good one.
Lee
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 25, 2015 13:24:30 GMT
I don't think plastic/nylon nuts on OMI guitars were a cost-cutting exercise in the last years of their existence. Plastic nuts were fitted on most OMI guitars that I have seen. OMI Dobros were expensive guitars; I paid £370 for my 33H, which was a lot more than I paid for a Telecaster in the same year. Knowing what I now know about manufacturing guitars, the costs involved and what I know about the Dopyera family, I don't believe the plastic nuts were a cost-cutting device, more likely an alternative material to use instead of animal bone.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by hamilton on Feb 25, 2015 14:25:15 GMT
I'm limited in my ability to cruise guitar shops to my hearts content, if only someone would pay me for that. So im relying on good advice and a selection of questionable recordings on utube. I noticed a Busker Delta reso on eBay that might be had for 300ish, well thought of, but I'm really not a fan of the finish. I know it's the tone at the end of the day, but you sort of have to fancy your guitars as well, I'm not alone on that surely? Can I throw in the PB Gold Tone into the mix? Would the extra money for the deluxe version be solely for the bling, of would the maple make a better guitar? Thanks for all your input, I'm off to tin can alley again  |
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 25, 2015 14:45:46 GMT
Hi Hamilton,
The Busker Delta is a good guitar. I agree that there has to be a visual attraction too. I have never bought a guitar that I don't like looking at!
The PB Goldtone is a good guitar, has a spider-bridge and Dobro-style cone, so it doesn't sound like the Dobro 33D, the Busker Delta, or a National guitar. I don't think that would have the 'bite' you mentioned that you were after. It has a country Dobro tone.
The 33D is a real Dobro, but instead of a spider-bridge and concave cone, it has a 10.5 inch convex National-style cone. At a reasonable price it would not be a mistake.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by hamilton on Feb 25, 2015 15:54:58 GMT
A thousand pounds is reasonable grounds for divorce if my wife found out  |
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Post by uatru on Feb 25, 2015 16:52:24 GMT
I have a Busker Delta which I bought last year, and I love it. The photographs don't really do it justice, but then buying a guitar without seeing it is always a risk. But different people like different things - I love the look of the Gibson Moderne but other people think it is pig ugly. When you buy a guitar how it looks is all part of the experience - you have to want it .... perhaps some members on here live close enough to you to let you see a busker or an MM (or the PB) and then you can work out what you want.
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