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Post by laverdasf750 on Jan 11, 2022 18:44:14 GMT
Hi I purchased a lovely used Busker 12 fret single cone biscuit Reso which I think is a Delta? It has a steel body, but no name or number other than a Busker badge on the head stock. I am really enjoying it both fingerstyle and adding slide in open tunings. My question is what would be the suggested ‘ step up’ in terms of sound and playability? Perhaps a MM Lightning? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I paid £350 for the Busker so I think another question would be the cost of such a step up… used or new.
I hope I have placed this question in the correct place too!
Thank you
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Post by pete1951 on Jan 11, 2022 22:41:26 GMT
Busker guitars were imported ( some years ago now) in parallel with Michael Messer guitars. Michael had ‘fine tuned’ and had various improvements done to the early Chinese made guitars and as specs were changed Busker tried to keep up. Eventually Busker stopped doing guitars. It is likely that any MM guitar will ‘better’ than a Busker, though late production Buskers will be a step up from ‘standard’ Chinese resos Pete
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Post by stevie2sticks on Jan 12, 2022 10:05:48 GMT
Hi Laversdaf750
I used to have a Busker Tricone and traded up to a MM Lightening and added a MM Blues 28 (wood bodied). I’ve thought of buying the Tricone back!
A good option is to add another to the heard and keep the Busker.
Choice is really on size, weight, neck, what are you going to play etc.
I’ve used the MM Blues 28 for fingerpicking and at venues such as a Folkie Club.
On any stage venue and for slide I’ve preferred the Lightening.
New/old, new as set up, advice and after sales support from Michael is top class.
good luck steve
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Jan 12, 2022 10:14:31 GMT
Hi i tend to agree with Steve , id keep the busker and add another to the herd , here is why.. a delta is a punchy duolian type resonator ok so if you were to add a Lightning you would have a style O type instrument, or a blues 28 for wood body i,e a totally different voice
My gigging Guitars i think of as a choir , with different voices , i have a delta , and all the MM models Michael's customer service is top class, i have been playing MM Guitars since 2009 and can say whatever you choose you wont go wrong...
i wish you the best
al
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Jan 12, 2022 10:51:38 GMT
The only comment I would add is to go with an MM guitar.
You could spend three to four times the money on a modern or vintage US made resonator and not get an improvement.
...and the other Chinese built resonators usually have important/critical bits missing in their designs, too.
My MM Blues '28 is my go to reso.
My vintage triolian and dobro usually only come out on high days and holidays
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Post by Ian McWee on Jan 12, 2022 11:03:43 GMT
Hi, In regards to the question of how much would the cost of a 'step-up' to the next level be ~ that's a difficult one to answer....
.....my personal take on these is to think of the price point as different groups - beginner / intermediate which would be around the £600 / £700 pound mark, then intermediate / professional at which you'd be looking at spending upwards of £1000.00.
The problem for any purchaser nowadays is that there's only the on-line second-hand market place where you'd find a sub-£1500.00 'famous name' instrument - and then take that chance it'll be in a playable condition when it arrives - if it isn't, you'll be looking at forking out an extra £200.00 / £300.00 or more for a professional set-up by an experienced resonator specialist.
The Michael Messer resonators are by far the best buy from that first group and will be set up to your requirements straight out the box, so as mentioned previously would probably be your best option for a 'next step' 😉
Slide On!
The Flaschenmeister.
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Post by leeophonic on Jan 12, 2022 11:40:50 GMT
From the original post I have thought that any answers here will all point you in a similar direction as it is after all from the MM forum, that aside they are great guitars but whether it is the direction you want to go in may still be unclear, musical styles and tastes and maybe who you like listening to may dictate what you want or need. There are few shops stocking resonators so it is difficult to advise the try before you buy rule of thumb, I have a few resonators and all I can say is they drag you down different paths, so look at something different in construction from what you already have, maybe a wood body, maybe spider cone, and even a tricone, there are a few continentals on the used market that pop up from time to time. Or save hard and set your sights on a National,Beltona,Fine Resophonic, Yanuziello or one of the many other drool worthy makers In the meantime make sure the Busker is set up correctly and playing to it's optimum. Regards Lee
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Post by laverdasf750 on Jan 12, 2022 12:24:48 GMT
Thank you all so much for your thoughts and advice. Really appreciated.
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Post by laverdasf750 on Jan 13, 2022 21:14:47 GMT
Again many thanks for the thoughts. I having been thinking and looking and wonder if there were any opinions or experience of Donmo… on eBay or Amistar on Gumtree? They both seem to be a step up (?) and different to my Busker (?). Any ideas or thoughts appreciated and most welcome.
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Post by davey on Jan 14, 2022 11:02:51 GMT
You need to get some different Guitars in your hands and see how they feel and sound. Neck shape and size can make all the difference. I wouldn't buy anything without seeing it if you're looking for a step up. I imagine the Donmo would be fairly heavy, I had a Donmo Mandolin and it was great but not a lightweight.
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Post by richclough on Jan 14, 2022 12:37:40 GMT
Here's how I moved on from the Busker....
I don't have a wide experience, but listened to a lot of Youtube vids to understand the sound of the various formats of resonator and decided that I really wanted a tricone. Picked up a used Busker Deco which started me on the journey. 3 or 4 years ago, I visited Frailers in Runcorn to try their set of new and second hand NRPs and I realised that:
1) I was right re: Tricones, though quite liked the Resorocket 2) I didn't like the wooden M1 tricone - sounded boxy to me 3) I didn't like steel tricones. Steel does something to the top end. Closes it off. 4) The Busker, whilst playable, didn't cut it in either volume or tone. 5) I wanted a better, brass-bodied Tricone. After lots of advice on this forum, I ended up keeping an eye on Ebay and managed to pick up a 1998 NRP Style 1 for £1550. After restringing and several tuning changes it was having problems, so with more advice from this forum, I took it to Steve at Beltona to replace the cones and set-up. So overall cost circa £1800.
This was my journey, your mileage will differ, but the key thing was getting my hands on several guitars at Frailers to train my ears and understand what I liked. Had MM guitars been making Tricones there might have been a different destination...
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Post by leeophonic on Jan 14, 2022 17:10:22 GMT
The Donmo currently on Ebay was one of mine a few years ago, nice guitar, quirky, not a National though as different in many ways, flat coverplate and the cone sits lower in the body over what is the expected norm. Not telling you what to buy but I moved it on. Lee Here is an image from that time
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Post by leeophonic on Jan 14, 2022 21:10:27 GMT
Not sure if I am confused by the original post but initially it was approached as you were dipping your toe in the resonator waters for the 1st time, but looking at some of your earlier posts you were selling a wood bodied NRP on here a year or so ago so a lot of the words and advice offered appear to be pointless. Are you not already up to speed with the ways and nuances of the resonators having previously had the NRP Not a lot more to add unless I have misread the tea leaves. Lee
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Post by laverdasf750 on Jan 14, 2022 21:21:37 GMT
Hi Lee As ever more complicated than it seems. I did indeed own an NRP for a couple of weeks before having to sell it… long story. I happened upon the NRP, briefly had the funds (?!) and thus the story and my experiences ended. I was/ am pretty uneducated but enthusiastic regarding resonators and the Busker is a joy. Having had some ‘nice’ guitars; Atkin, Martin I am aware that there is an inevitable link between cost, playability and quality of sound but how this translates to Resos is where I am reaching out for some advice. Hope that explains things and many thanks got the Donmo info. Cheers Simon
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Jan 15, 2022 19:47:20 GMT
Again many thanks for the thoughts. I having been thinking and looking and wonder if there were any opinions or experience of Donmo… on eBay or Amistar on Gumtree? They both seem to be a step up (?) and different to my Busker (?). Any ideas or thoughts appreciated and most welcome. Hi as always its a matter of personal taste , so ill give you my two pence worth . I was in Melbourne Australia in 2019 and played a donmo there , it didn't connect with me it was well made etc but it didn't work for me I like Amistar Guitars , i have owned a 14 amistar style o for about 15 years its well made well set up and so on i have kept it ....whats my point ? Basically they are both well made instruments as you see id favour the amistar your viewpoint may well be different best of luck with your search al
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