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Post by mrstrellisofnwales on Mar 24, 2023 12:05:42 GMT
So I’ve got the bug. 6 months with an old cheapo has made me want something better. Trouble is where to try them out? So does anybody know any shops in the U.K. where a decent selection of metal bodied resonators can be found? I have no idea what I want until I’ve tried some and being an old fashioned type I prefer physical shops with real people to talk to and a stool to sit and play on. I travel the country a lot during the Summer so would be happy to make a trip just about anywhere. Obviously Denmark St, but where else? Mrs T.
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Mar 24, 2023 14:40:12 GMT
Buy an MM Blues or an MM Lightning or if you want something really special an MMFE. See: www.michaelmesser.co.uk/about-mm-guitarsThey are the closest you'll ever get to an original pre war National or Dobro. Talk directly to Michael Messer. Yes, I do have an affiliation but I'm trying to give impartial advice having tried loads of resonators. ...and I'm lucky enough to own vintage Nationals and a vintage Dobro M-32.
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 24, 2023 14:50:40 GMT
Mrs T,
Sadly those days of going to shops that carry a range of resophonic guitars are long gone. In fact even when they existed there was only ever one shop in the UK that carried a full range and a couple that sort of tried to. "Obviously Denmark Street"....well that is not the case at all. You will find Gretsch and a few vintage instruments in NoTom Guitars, maybe some new National NRP guitars at Wunjo's Guitars and a handful of vintage instruments at Hank's, and that's about it. Most high street shops that claim to do this type of thing carry Gretsch and National resonators, and maybe one or two other brands here and there.
My advice is to talk to the people that know about this subject - ie members of this forum.
Shine On Michael
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Post by snakehips on Mar 24, 2023 15:48:31 GMT
Hi there !
Having spent 30yrs or more, buying resonator guitars, as well as non reso guitars, and had cheap resos (wooden & metal ones), National Resophonic guitars, Beltona resonator guitars, vintage National guitars (from the late 1920's to early 1940's), AND Michael Messer resonator guitars, I have developed a strong taste for vintage National guitars. I tend to buy Nationals needing some work done to them - then have a top luthier work on them to get them in tip-top form, when required. If you don't want the hassle of that and/or you don't want to spend a couple of thousand on a guitar, then you can't do better than a Michael Messer guitar.
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Post by Michael Segui on Mar 24, 2023 23:10:50 GMT
We are all kind of biased being on this forum. LOL
I really like modern NRP guitars but the prices have become ridiculous over the past few years.
My next resonator will be a Michael Messer blues. No question about it.
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Post by richclough on Mar 25, 2023 9:17:44 GMT
Frailers in Runcorn usually has a good range of NRP guitars. Good luck Rich
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Post by davetracey on Mar 25, 2023 12:20:24 GMT
I spent a good afternoon at Frailers many years ago - 2009, in fact. They they had quite a few modern resonators there at that time. I eventually came away with an NRP - the one pictured on the left was the model I went for. I can remember selling them one of the original James Burton telecasters in part exchange.
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Post by calvoi on Mar 25, 2023 19:35:58 GMT
Last time I was in Frailers (3 months ago), they only had Ozarks and a fender. Was a very small selection. They may have more stock now though. Frank mentioned getting stock and selling NRP is hard. If you are anywhere near Manchester you are welcome to try my Beltona tricone to give you an idea. Others with MM guitars may make similar offers. But of course the difficulty is that you wouldn't be able to play them back to back in a shop situation.
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Post by pearsall on Mar 25, 2023 23:36:56 GMT
Coda Music in Stevenage have a wide range of NRP metal bodies in their shop, might be worth a try.
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Post by neilm on Mar 27, 2023 8:57:50 GMT
I have 2 MM guitars and i would most certainly echo the comments on here about their build quality and sound ( i have never owned a vintage National or an NRP), if your not `savvy` about older guitars, which i`m certainly not, the main advantage as i see it is dealing with Michael himself, he is one of the nicest people you could ever hope to deal with, he is always happy (time permitting i guess) to talk through the best MM guitar for you and has a vast wealth of experiance.
PS. I hope i haven't overstepped the mark there Michael, just talking from my personal experience.
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Post by mrstrellisofnwales on Mar 27, 2023 15:44:23 GMT
I’ll try both Frailers and Coda when I start getting out and about in the Campervan. Their websites look promising but I’d still want to try before I buy. Problem for me is that both my hands are what you might call “industrially damaged” so playability and my ability to get a decent sound with my dodgy fingers is really important to me. The old saying that Tone is in the hands is very true for me and until I got this old cheapo I didn’t realise how much more touch matters on a resonator. I’d say that touch is 9/10 of the art. So until I can actually play some I’ll hold fire. Any more shop suggestions would be gratefully received. Thanks, Mrs T
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2023 23:30:48 GMT
Eagle Music in Huddersfield have a reasonable selection of new and used resos - including NRP, Ozark and Gold Tone Paul Beard. There are lots of resonators for sale on Gumtree - including an MM Fiddle Edge in Glasgow, a Busker Tennessee in Falmouth and Gold Tone in Devon. You could ask if you can play them before deciding if you want to buy (or do the same on eBay).
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Post by snakehips on Mar 31, 2023 8:00:00 GMT
Hi again !
In Scotland, I think the only place to try out some NRP guitars, and a few cheaper brands, is GuitarGuitar, in Glasgow. I've seen them have anywhere between about 2-4 NRP guitars when I've been there. A 14 fret NRP "Black Rust" painted steel 14 fret reso guitar looked particularly cool and played & sounded great. They don't know much about reso guitars though ! There is a decent sized GuitarGuitar shop in Edinburgh (but not as big as the Glasgow one) - but the Edinburgh shop doesn't stock NRP guitars, just the cheaper reso guitars. I asked the manager of the Edinburgh shop why they don't stock NRP guitars in their shop - and the bonkers response was "well, they just get covered in fingerprints" !!!! That doesn't happen in Glasgow ???
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brucer
MM Forum Member
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Post by brucer on Jun 25, 2023 13:04:15 GMT
I bought a MM Fiddle Edge in January and I have just ordered a MM Lightning which sort of tells the story really. I am biased but have no affiliation with Michael other than as a customer.
I recently looked at a couple of 30'3 Nationals but neither was the right one for me, I have always wanted a 1930' style O type but never found the right one. I have an old Regal spider and a Vintage steel bodied biscuit, I have played quite a few resonators over the years including a Beltona and been around musicians who own them.
Once the Fiddle edge was played in, I realised that it was so close to guitars of the golden period of pre-war resonators that I lust for.
I do not like the NRP instrument overmuch, especially at the price point they are at - if someone offered to swap a NRP for my MM on condition I could not re-sell and buy another MM guitar I would refuse. Hey don't get me wrong NRP's are good, but not as good as the pre war Nationals whereas the MM Fiddle Edge appears to be as good as earlier guitars even without the 50 years of tone. I do have a 90 y.old Kalamazoo so have a big attraction for guitars of this era. Unfortunately 90 year old guitars do not take well to being out and in this sense are a pain in the arse, nice for pleasure at home but not a something you would take to a gig.
So my advice (along side; Nelm, Pickers Ditch, Snakehips and Michaelsegui) is to get to play one of MM guitars - the build quality is superb, the set up is top rate and the price they sell for it is a no brainer, there are 5 models to choose from.
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Post by Michael Messer on Jun 28, 2023 12:42:42 GMT
Thank you bruser, your kind words are very much appreciated.
Shine On Michael
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