MM 28 volume question

[Deleted]

Hi, I'm new here, just found your guitars online as I'm looking to buy my first resonator. I'm mainly a busker and play acoustic guitar but love the resonator sound, I was wondering what is the volume of MM28 like in comparison to metal bodied models? I like the sound of the wooden one more but as many cities ban the use of amplifiers on the streets I wonder it would be much better than lets say standard dreadnought size guitar. I mostly play fingerstyle.

So is the volume of wooden model so much lower that it's worth compromising the tonal quality.

Thanks

[Michael Messer]

Hi kubalansing

You just caught me. I don't always respond so fast!

Welcome to our forum.

Wood bodied National-style resonator guitars with 9.5" resonator cones are loud guitars, so you have no need to worry about that. Of course they have to be built correctly to perform as they should. This is not an exact calculation, but a guitar like the MMB28 or the 14 fret version, the MMB36, are somewhere around five times louder than a regular acoustic guitar. They were designed in the 1920s in the days before electric amplification, to be loud.

Properly built National-style resonator guitars (MMs) are great for street performers because they are durable, powerful and attractive to look at. Maybe a wood one is better because it is also lighter in weight than a steel bodied one.

I hope that is helpful information.

Shine On
Michael

[Deleted]

Thanks, for the fast respond I will email probably in couple of weeks to order one.

Kuba

[stevie2sticks]

Hi Kubalansing

I have owned the MM28 and a Lightening for a few years, some thoughts for you.

Both bang tidy guitars with good back up from Michael.

Lightening -
1. a good looker
2. loud enough to fill any space
2. put 15-56 Newtone strings and a Diamond Bottleneck slide and its a great sound
3. heavy guitar, ok sitting but not for standing
4. it can be louder than you can sing

MM28
1. way louder than any acoustic (you can add a stick on pick up if you were at a plugged in stage venue)
2. can easily be finger picked and it sounds really good picked (I'm not a strummer)
3. Lighter and thinner than lightening (can be transported easily in a normal guitar back pack)
4. put 15-56 strings and Diamond Bottleneck slide and its a great sound but less "growl" than the Lightening
5. has a relative thin neck

I've not regretted buying both and might save up for a steel bodied one.

Best wishes
Steve Isle of Man

[Deleted]

Thanks Steve, that’s good to know. I’m not much of a slide player it’s gonna be mostly fingerpicking for me but will give the slide a shot too.

Kuba

[stevie2sticks]

Hi Kuba
I’d add DaddySlide in Germany does a really good GermanSilver slide
that has a very different tone than glass, and is a belter.

I finger pick my MM28 in Crossnote, Open D and DADGAD
quite happily.

Enjoy your guitar
Steve

[Deleted]

Apr 5, 2020 11:53:30 GMT stevie2sticks said:

Hi Kuba
I’d add DaddySlide in Germany does a really good GermanSilver slide
that has a very different tone than glass, and is a belter.

I finger pick my MM28 in Crossnote, Open D and DADGAD
quite happily.

Enjoy your guitar
Steve

Thanks, I’ll check those out.

[thebluesbear( al)]

Hi
first up welcome to the forum kubalansing, i have all of the MM range , and i use them all for different songs and projects , i would heartily recommend the MMB 28, they have plenty of volume, and would be perfect for street music , my MMB28 is number 3 and i have been playing every day since 2013

be well

al

[Deleted]

Apr 9, 2020 9:38:35 GMT thebluesbear( al) said:

Hi
first up welcome to the forum kubalansing, i have all of the MM range , and i use them all for different songs and projects , i would heartily recommend the MMB 28, they have plenty of volume, and would be perfect for street music , my MMB28 is number 3 and i have been playing every day since 2013

be well

al

Thanks, I’m in the process of ordering one I’m mainly street performer and it is getting more and more tricky as so many cities have no amp policies. Getting that guitar will also mean that it’s less to carry around.
Can’t wait to get this beauty here

[thebluesbear( al)]

Hi
you are most welcome , please let us know how you get on..

al

[Deleted]

Apr 9, 2020 10:41:22 GMT thebluesbear( al) said:

Hi
you are most welcome , please let us know how you get on..

al

I definitely will

[gordon]

I spent many a happy hour playing in the street with an MM28 a few summers ago, good memories.
A restaurant in the touristy part of town took a liking to me and was happy to have me playing for their customers, and yes, many people told me they could hear me from down the street!
Good luck to you, I'm sure you'll like the guitar.

[Deleted]

Ordered MM blues 28 few days ago, it’s my first ever resonator can’t wait to play it. I’ve been playing guitar for over 30 years but never had one of those beauties. This is going to be so much fun. Thanks Michael and everyone else who helped me make the decision.

[thebluesbear( al)]

Hi
well done on a excellent choice

al

[coach]

Apr 5, 2020 9:50:21 GMT Michael Messer said:

a guitar like the MMB28 or the 14 fret version, the MMB36, are somewhere around five times louder than a regular acoustic guitar.

My 36' is the loudest thing in the world, ever. The thing is insane, it seems even louder than any metal bodied resonator I have owned including my MM Blues 12 fret. It just seems to keep going, the more you want to push it, the more it gives. The dynamics are huge.

I haven't actually done a dB test with both guitars to see if the true volume is different by much, it may be more a perception because the sustain is greater with the wood so notes carry through into each other more and create something which sounds "louder" where the metal bodies have a point where it cuts off no matter how hard you play them.