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Post by laverdasf750 on Feb 14, 2022 17:48:23 GMT
Hi I think I read some where in the forum regarding Angel Resonators , tricone made by Dave King? Any thoughts on these would be well appreciated. I played 001, which is I think little surprise given they only made 1 I was told (?). It seemed super and a real step up and very different from my Busker Delta…I liked it a lot….
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 14, 2022 18:37:51 GMT
I remember Dave King building these guitars and I remember the triplate. It was numbered as 0001 because it was the beginning of a plan that never materialised because Dave really didn't want to become Beltona Mk2. Steve Evans had gone to New Zealand and Bill Johnson gave Dave King some of the tooling and a few bodies that were unfinished. I believe the Triplate was one of those, but I could check it with Dave if you are interested. At the time Dave even started spinning his own cones and was doing a great job. As well as not wanting to be Beltona Mk2, Dave also felt that Mike Lewis was leading the way with his Fine Resophonic Guitars and that he did not want to compete in any way. Dave and Mike Lewis are also friends with great mutual respect for each other's work. I actually have some photos of 001 that my friend, Ron Smith, of NoTom Guitars sent me recently. I remember the guy that bought it from LRC in 2004 and I know he cherished it until recently when he decided to sell it. I don't believe it has been played much. Dave King made a handful of very fine National-style guitars, but he was more interested in building wood bodied guitars and mandolins, so he stopped making the resonator guitars. As I remember it is a beautifully built instrument and is not a copy of a Beltona. It definitely has Dave's own style in the way the neck was designed and built. I am sure it sounds and plays really well, but if I was serious about buying it I would do so and then hand it back to Dave for a 20 year service. I am sure that is could do with a little TLC from its creator to really make it sparkle. If you would like me to ask Dave about it for you, I am happy to do so. I saw the asking price, which considering it includes a mint Calton case is really very reasonable. I have no reason to help Ron sell it. I am speaking openly and honestly and not because both Ron and Dave are friends of mine. Forum member, leeophonic, will remember these guitars and also is the owner of a beautiful Dobro that Dave King built for him back around that time. In addition to the above - at some point in its life this guitar will become a collectors item. Dave King's reputation precedes him and this is a one-off piece of his work in beautiful condition with a 001 serial number. I hope that is helpful information. Shine On Michael Attachments:
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Post by snakehips on Feb 14, 2022 18:44:15 GMT
Hi there !
These are Beltona resonator guitar bodies essentially, with a neck made & fitted by Dave King.
Ron may have told you that this is the only Angel Tricone made, but that is not the case (and I told him so, perhaps after you discussed things with him ?). I have seen TWO Angel Tricones in Dave King's Reading workshop (around about the time he was making them, circa 18yrs ago). The one for sale doesn't have neck binding. I saw one with neck binding in his workshop (on a guitar stand) AND I also saw a gold-plated one, mid-build on his worktop, that he said was custom-ordered by a Police Chief (or something).
I don't mind telling you, but I was sorely tempted to buy it BUT ..... I'm just not crazy enough about Tricones. I'm really a single-cone National type of guy !
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Post by laverdasf750 on Feb 14, 2022 18:44:59 GMT
Hi Michael Many,many thanks for the thoughts, info, and idea. Really generous of you to say so much. Its the beauty in the photos and Ron suggested contacting you regarding the guitar. I think the 20 ish year service idea is a super one and it certainly seemed lightly played for its age. Great sound and very playable even from my novice perspective. Best Simon
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 14, 2022 19:21:09 GMT
Snakehips, well done! You have reminded me that there were others. One I believe one is in or around Liverpool.
I think to clarify all this I will speak with Dave tomorrow.
Either way it is a brilliant deal for the price.
Shine On Michael
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Post by snakehips on Feb 14, 2022 20:02:29 GMT
Hi again ! Here are the best pictures I have showing the Angel Tricone (with neck binding) that was in mid-construction, when I was at Dave King's back garden workshop in Reading, circa 18yrs ago. That's the just-sprayed Baritone neck, hanging from the ceiling, that Dave made for my ex-bakelite-necked Triolian body - with the Angel tricone at the back of the room. I include a few extra pictures, partly to show the tricone, a bit closer up, and partly to show one of Dave's custom-build parlour sized 12-string guitars, with Brazilian rosewood back (and sides, I think). Absolutely beautiful looking guitar, and easily the best set-up on a 12 string guitar I have EVER played. It played like the proverbial BUTTER !!! Unfortunately, I didn't take any pics of the gold-plated Tricone. (PS. I'm pretty sure I haven't just imagined seeing a gold Tricone !!!)
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Post by laverdasf750 on Feb 14, 2022 20:34:18 GMT
Many thanks for the information and replies…. I guess all things considered it’s still a beauty and there can only be one 001! …… ? 😬
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 14, 2022 20:35:38 GMT
Nice to see photos of Dave's garden workshop. I spent a lot of time in there.
Dave made one of those parlour guitars for me. It was a six string model and was a superb guitar. Foolishly, in fact very foolishly, I sold it, which I really should never have done.
I will have a conversation with Dave about the triplate.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by leeophonic on Feb 14, 2022 22:19:57 GMT
I will try and dig out some photos, just thinking the guitar magazine ran a monthly tutorial with Dave and he either fixed something or other of did a step by step of how to make a guitar acoustic or electric, featuring in the background of some of these photos are the resonator bodies which would either become Angel resonator's (for the London resonator centre) or Dave's own commissions. I commissioned an unusual 12 fret body whilst also a 12 fret Walnut dobro. From the earlier images there is a Dobro front hanging from the rafters, maybe this became mine. I remember seeing a completed Tricone but was already over committed so had to pass the tricone, the police commissioner that Snakehips mentions was a friend of Daves in the force, not sure he was as high in the ranks though. Regards Lee
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 15, 2022 11:44:56 GMT
Hi All,
I have just had a chat with Dave King about Angel Resophonic guitars.
Dave said there were/are no more than six single cone guitars and six, at the most, triplate guitars.
The bodies and cones were made by Bill Johnson for Dave because the Beltona UK business had ceased to exist. Dave was going to have all the tooling and go into production, but apparently the tooling was stolen from where Bill was keeping it. So that is the reason for there being only ten or twelve Angel Resophonics at the most.
One triplate was gold plated and engraved by the engraver at James Purdey & Sons, gunsmiths. Dave said he would see if he could find some photos of it for us to see.
Dave was very pleased to hear that 001 triplate is for sale and he would love to see it. He made a great offer, which is that as long as it is just a 20 year service and nothing serious, that he would give it a service free of charge, just because he would love to see it.
Considering the current price to import a Calton case, the quality of that guitar and the current prices of NRP guitars, for the asking price it should be snapped up. I nearly went there myself half an hour ago, but after a strict talking to myself I decided I would pass on it.
Shine On Michael
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Post by laverdasf750 on Feb 15, 2022 11:59:00 GMT
Michael you are a star...and very happy you had a stern word with yourself! From what I could see and hear & from what Ron was suggesting a set up and very lite service would seem appropriate.
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 15, 2022 12:07:45 GMT
Michael you are a star...and very happy you had a stern word with yourself! From what I could see and hear & from what Ron was suggesting a set up and very lite service would seem appropriate. My pleasure. If you do buy it, don't have it set up or touched by Ron's guy, get Dave to do it. Ron's guy, Gerald, is excellent...first class, but after so long and considering Dave would like to see it and has made that offer, just take it to Dave for a service. I can put you in touch. I would tell Ron that Dave is going to do it. Shine On Michael
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Post by snakehips on Feb 15, 2022 18:30:55 GMT
Hi All, Dave said there were/are no more than six single cone guitars and six, at the most, triplate guitars. The bodies and cones were made by Bill Johnson for Dave because the Beltona UK business had ceased to exist. Dave was going to have all the tooling and go into production, but apparently the tooling was stolen from where Bill was keeping it. So that is the reason for there being only ten or twelve Angel Resophonics at the most. One triplate was gold plated and engraved by the engraver at James Purdey & Sons, gunsmiths. Dave said he would see if he could find some photos of it for us to see. Shine On Michael Phew ! I did start to wonder if I had been making it all up in my head, the notion that I saw a gold-plated Tricone in Dave King's workshop, all those years ago. So, I didn't just imagine it then ? I was beginning to wonder if all I saw was the one I posted pictures of (nickel-plated Tricone with bound fretboard) and mixed up seeing a gold-plated guitar with a gold-plated single-cone Beltona I saw at the Acoustic Centre, in Wapping (or was it Whitechapel ?). I definitely remember trying that one out in the shop. Pretty sure there was the Beltona Electro for sale too (possibly MM's ?) Phew !!! Any other thing that just popped up in my head - I thought Dave told me he put the dies/tooling in his loft. I might be making it up this time !!
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 15, 2022 18:55:30 GMT
Hi All, Dave said there were/are no more than six single cone guitars and six, at the most, triplate guitars. The bodies and cones were made by Bill Johnson for Dave because the Beltona UK business had ceased to exist. Dave was going to have all the tooling and go into production, but apparently the tooling was stolen from where Bill was keeping it. So that is the reason for there being only ten or twelve Angel Resophonics at the most. One triplate was gold plated and engraved by the engraver at James Purdey & Sons, gunsmiths. Dave said he would see if he could find some photos of it for us to see. Shine On Michael Phew ! I did start to wonder if I had been making it all up in my head, the notion that I saw a gold-plated Tricone in Dave King's workshop, all those years ago. So, I didn't just imagine it then ? I was beginning to wonder if all I saw was the one I posted pictures of (nickel-plated Tricone with bound fretboard) and mixed up seeing a gold-plated guitar with a gold-plated single-cone Beltona I saw at the Acoustic Centre, in Wapping (or was it Whitechapel ?). I definitely remember trying that one out in the shop. Pretty sure there was the Beltona Electro for sale too (possibly MM's ?) Phew !!! Any other thing that just popped up in my head - I thought Dave told me he put the dies/tooling in his loft. I might be making it up this time !! The Beltona Electro at the Acoustic Centre in Wapping was mine. I recorded with it in 1995 and I can't remember how long I kept it for. It was never a guitar I got on with and I left it with Seamus at the Acoustic Centre in Wapping to sell. If Dave had put the dies and tooling in his loft it would not have been very safe to visit him! Shine On Michael
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Post by snakehips on Feb 15, 2022 19:14:40 GMT
Ah, so, VERY heavy then ? !!!
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