First reso Chinese or American ?

[cliffardo]

Hi all, I'm looking to buy my first reso.
I've been an acoustic guitar player for a long time, I'm mainly fingerpick,fancy a reso for something new to try but I don't want to waste money on something rubbish, I'm very sceptical on the quality and playability of the Chinese/korean made resos.
I've been reading a lot on the internet and there seems to be very mixed reviews on the lower priced guitars, I've read good things about the mm guitars do I guess that's why I'm here.
From listening to utube vids,i think I prefer the sound of the tricone but mm doesn't do one, there is what seems to be a good deal on a 95 usa dobro built in the omi factory on gumtree which I'm tempted with because it is a real dobro,i would like a tricone but all the affordable ones, Johnson, regal, recording king etc all look like they might actually be the same guitar, the regal is generally dearer so I don't know if that one is different or not, that's one of the reasons I guess in sceptical if the Chinese made guitars,a lot are just slightly different versions that could even be made on the same place, it becomes a bit of a minefield especially to a reso newcomer it's a shame the nationals aren't like a 1000 pound second hand then the decision would be easy 2 or 300 over a Chinese guitar would be a no brainer to me.
Anyway, any info that might be helpful would be much appreciated on affordable tricone, general adviser on the quality of different makes etc.
I'm struggling to make a decision bit I'm keen to get playing a reso.
Cheers cliff

[creolian]

Hi !

A fingerpicker as well, I personally would not judge a guitar (or anything else) from listening to audio on the interwebs... IMO You tube vids have no standardized method of recording audio and most are sonic garbage.  A simple difference in choice of string brand and gauges makes a world of difference in how reso guitars sound.

Ive never actually played a tricone, regardless, I'd be wanting to play any guitar before investing. For what im doing fingerstyle wise I prefer a wood spider reso for piedmont and a metal biscuit for delta. There is nothing inherently wrong with the imports other than some inconsistent finish and setup. FWIW, you might find a MM that has gone through some QC and setup a better choice than an off the Internet deal.

my .02, Good Luck! With whichever you choose.
J

Ps. 30 years as a sound recordist for film and tv...

[Deleted]

The Johnson, Regal and Recording King etc tricones are not necessarily all the same. I had a RK and a Tanglewood tricone, and there were some significant differences (the RK was pretty good - the Tanglewood was really poor). Also, I wouldn't say that a '95 OMI was a 'real dobro' either - despite having the logo.
The most sensible thing to do would be play a few. Are you anywhere near a hobgoblin store? Or do you know any players near you that have a few? Otherwise, maybe do what most of us have probably done. Get one, then move it on if you fancy another (or just get more).
TT

[Dessery]

Hi cliffardo

There not made any more but if you can find a second hand busker deco tricone, there great!! I used to have one and I'm kind of sorry I parted with it.

Short of that, in my personal experience, it's an MM guitar all the way, there amazing, miles ahead of the competition in the same price bracket and in all honesty, not that far off what you would have to spend 3 times the amount for. I think lots of others here will echo that sentiment.

Good luck with your search

All the best
David

[vagabond]

Hi cliffardo
I second Davids comments, I am also mainly a fingerpicker and was unsure about getting a mm guitar without being able to play it first but having taken the plunge it was well worth it, certainly far better than anything else I tried in the affordable price bracket.
I also managed to get a busker tricone recently, if you can find one you won’t regret it (and having tried both I’m not convinced the National Resophonic tricone is any better)

Nick

[cliffardo]

Thanks for the replies,
i had a play of a few resos today an Ashbury tricone, felt hard to play, sounded ok, then a regal tricone, better to play and sounded better+ louder, then a second hand national tricone with a non standard pickup fitted and the cover missing off the t bridge and a well used look. But played great and sounded better than the others put together.. Then I noticed a fender single cone f50 or similar I think the number was and it felt really solid,played better than the others for my style at least, but was quiet in comparison, almost sounded like a normal acoustic when finger picked.
Guess I've learned that just like buying an acoustic it's very personal and the feel and sound don't always go together, The national won on sound by a mile, would have been good to try more metal bodied single cones to compare, also maybe I'm expecting too much as far as playability goes being used to nice playing acoustics.

[Deleted]

There's a Continental CS1 tricone for sale in Deals of Cardiff.

www.dealswales.co.uk/index.html

It's brass bodied tricone, in very good condition going for £675. They cost around £1500 new. It's been there for several months so they might be open to an offer. They're built in China and assembled in Germany.It's got a sweet sound. I used to own it, and only sold it because I have a stomach injury and it's too heavy for me to pick up and put down without making the injury worse. I have absolutely no financial interest in the guitar now.

www.continental-gitarren.de/modell-cs-1/

For details of new models. It doesn't look this good in real life!

[slide496]

There's one or two things I would like to add.

Some people have an issue with the height of the handrest on the tricone so if there is one that you can check out of any brand to see if that would be an issue for you and also I have seen people remove the hand rest on a regular resonator to accommodate their style of playing - you might want that option or at least might want to know it exists. I have parlor sized resonators and have had a 14 fret duolian - I never had an issue with the handrest myself.

The three cones can be fiddly and need adjustment from the occasional posts here, nothing unresolvable but you might want to be aware of that - if I remember forum members helped sort out any issues.

Harriet