Dilemma ! Please advise guys (and gals !)

[archiekidd]

Dear all. I'm back after a long lull, just playing my parlour guitar for a few years. BUT ... now I need some advice.
The big regret was passing on my National NRP/ black rust, 2010 model, when I was going through a bit of a 'mad' phase. Anyway, down to business. I'm weighing up THREE options. Wishing to get back into resonator ownership there are 3 guitars I'm currently looking at.
1)-A 1993 Continental Tricone (supposedly in German silver/'white brass'... could someone clarify this for me please? I believe this is a GOOD thing but is it true?, and are the 1993 models the 'better' ones).Apparently later Continentals had questionable build quality and weren't put together in Munich as this one is. Do you guys out there rate the Continental ??
2)-1981 Dobro (with the flower etchings)
3)-I hang around for the right National to appear ... (which probably means a long wait.Patience is a virtue, but I've never been that 'good'.
Oh , and incidentally, I missed out on a pretty nice looking Busker Sidewalk. Cheers very much in advance to anyone who might lend a hand with some supportive words. 

[archiekidd]

Incidentally, the Continental's a style I ... signed by Hans Graf

[archiekidd]

Oh, and I'm also looking at an early 30's National style N. Quite pricey, with a crack near the neck heel, which apparently isn't moving. Sorry for bombarding !!

[Deleted]

No2 - with the small f-holes? I really like these guitars, but they don't sound like tricones at all. They have a funky 'old time' sound that suits me , but maybe not you. The one I have currently has a 9.5" cone precariously installed because I like the sound a little better than the 10.5" cone that they usually come with.
The vid below isn't me or my guitar BTW.
TT

[archiekidd]

Yes indeed. That looks just like it ... small 'f' holes as you say, the one I'm looking at has a different design patterned on to it but yeah, looks the same. I've always preferred slotted head-stocks but this Dobro might come at the right price. I know it's all about personal taste, but do you feel Dobros are up there with Nationals? Strictly talking metal bodied resonators here ...

[Deleted]

That one probably has a 10.5" biscuit cone. Being honest, its not the metal dobro I'd really want - I'd have a fiddle edge dobro, with a dobro cone, but I still love it. Mine seems to have thin gauge steel - its lighter than other 'nationals' I've had. Maybe Dessery could chip in - he's had both recently.
Generally wooden dobros sound better than metal ones - generally, in my opinion. YMMV etc....
TT

[archiekidd]

Thanks for input ... Do you know anything about the Continental I mentioned? Opinion seems pretty divided on-line (but then opinion always is-that's because it's opinion!)It looks classy, but buying a resonator can be a minefield. This will be my fourth foray and it's not getting much easier. I'm trying to nail what I want out of a guitar, then seek out the promising ones. I'm not a logo or brand freak. If it's good it's good !

[Deleted]

Most people say the best Continental resonators were the ones made by Amistar, from August 1997, for a few years. There's lots of heated discussion in the forum archives (use the search function).
 
I had a single cone Continental, which was made in China sometime in the 90s, and assembled in Germany. I thought it was awful, but the person who bought it from me thought it was wonderful.

I also had a recently made Continental tricone, which was OK, though nothing special. The NRP polychrome tricone I had was much better, and I regret selling it.

[archiekidd]

Hey there. Much appreciated. It's good to hear some first hand experiences of the Continental. Regret selling my NRP too. That was a single cone though. Very heavy but I loved it.

[blueshome]

I think if you do a search of the forum you will find quite a bit about Continentals. If it is truly German silver then it may be a good one.

[Deleted]

Feb 9, 2016 21:31:05 GMT @jryder said:

Most people say the best Continental resonators were the ones made by Amistar, from August 1997, for a few years. There's lots of heated discussion in the forum archives (use the search function).

there's this on another forum too.
www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=399726

[lexluthier]

Hi!
The early Continentals were made in both German silver and brass with nothing on the guitar to denote it either way, you have to look for signs where the plating might have worn through or where the body has been drilled, like the end pin, and check the colour of the base metal.
Also, all Continentals up until late 1993 have an interior neck block assembly with a screw showing just below the heel, going through the body, the afore mentioned block and into the neck stick.(I understand this was aping a device found on some metal bodied Dobros but I know zip about those)
Apart from the fact none of this was needed and a bit of a tone killer to say the least, this huge screw penetrates the neck stick right where the dowels are that hold it to the neck. Result:- neck joint often weak allowing the neck to pull away from the body. The one I've worked on was certainly like this and I've seen the same quite a few the same in my searches and inquiries.
The best Continentals come from very late 1993 through to early 1997(IMO) when they had their mojo working!
Can't comment on your other choices other than to say if a National Resophonic worked for you before.......!

[archiekidd]

Hello there Lex(luthier) ...great name !
That's really helpful. Very concise and informative. Seeing as I knew diddley squat about Continentals and found some rather conflicting information, that's VERY much needed advice/knowledge. Yes, I would love another National, but don't want to be too hasty knowing myself too well. There's a lot going on in my noggin - National versus Dobro, new versus vintage, other so called 'budget' instruments that are getting great reviews at the moment. I know it wasn't necessarily your intention but you've steered me away from the Continental ...seems to be too many variables and inconsistencies. Best to take my time, and see what you clever chaps on here have to say over the next few weeks. I need to try a Dobro (metal/alloy body , not wood) and see how it compares to my National experience. Many thanks to all.

[archiekidd]

I think as a footnote, and reading some of Michael's advice,it's apt to say I'm aiming for that Blind Boy Fuller sound. Single cone. Rag picking. Not having used a Dobro I can't comment on them,but they appear to generally cost less. Re-sale value and all that. As said, I'd love a 1930's National ...but the price tag scares me, as does the possibility of duff 'historical' amateur tinkering on them, as in bungled 'fixes'.

[Dessery]

I used to own a 1971 Dobro 33D, basically the same guitar your looking at but with the kind of Celtic design pattern and have very recently bought a mid 30s fiddle edged Dobro. Both are completely different animals.

First of all the 33D, I loved and if I'm honest I regret selling as I loved the tone but that seems to be quite subjective, a lot of people don't, this is as TT has said because they have a 10.5" cone instead of the standard national 9.5" cone. Also it's important to note that most of these have biscuit bridges, not spider bridges so they don't sound like a 'Dobro', they are more national like but because of the larger cone they have there own sound. The reason I sold mine was because of the tiny neck, very un-national like. I like a big fat neck and just couldn't get used to this. But I loved the tone so much I was very tempted to have a new neck built for it, one day I may well buy another and do that!!

The fiddle edged Dobro however is a completely different story, it has a spider bridge and a baseball bat neck and sings like nothing I have played before and I love it!!

It sounds to me like your looking at 3 completely different instruments and comparing them to something that you loved which was again a completely different instrument, there all great guitars but it depends the type of guitar your looking for. If it was me if go back to basics and watch loads of videos of single cone biscuit bridge guitars, spider bridge guitars and tricones, and then wood and metal body versions of both and see what takes your fancy and then start looking at brands.

Hope that helps

Good luck on your hunt and let us know how you get on

All the best
David