Shops with a decent selection of resonators

[leeophonic]

I will have to look up the name but there is a guitar outlet in the Netherlands that is trying to specialize in plinky plonky resonators, whilst on this it annoys me when guitar shops list them as folk instruments, hurdy gurdy anyone

Regards

Lee

[Michael Messer]

They are called Mainwood Guitars.

Shine On
Michael.

[paulsblues12]

Mar 24, 2023 14:40:12 GMT Pickers Ditch said:

Buy an MM Blues or an MM Lightning or if you want something really special an MMFE.

See: www.michaelmesser.co.uk/about-mm-guitars

They 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.

[paulsblues12]

Well said p.d
Putting my own opion on this you will not go wrong with any of the Michael messer range
I have 2 and love them both.
Keep sliding
Paul

[mrstrellisofnwales]

Well it’s almost a year now so I thought I’d give a bit of an update. I’ve visited plenty of shops all over the country and to save time my tactic is to go straight to the counter and ask to be pointed in the direction of their resonators. The responses have been varied from completely blank looks, some quite amusing responses ( sent to the amps section once and told “sorry we don’t do brass instruments”) to the standard, “well we had one in but it got sold last week” or “were expecting a delivering in a week or so”. 
There are just so many fewer shops now obviously but I did still find one or two instruments to try out. The first thing I realised was that I didn’t actually want a metal guitar. I have nerve damage to my right arm which makes it hypersensitive to cold so I found them unpleasant to play. Never mind, game on. So eventually I got to try the usual suspects’ wooden resonators. All new guitars - nothing used found anywhere outside Denmark St where I found a couple which were well out of my price bracket. Newcastle was easily the best city for choice with several big shops and a couple of interesting small independent shops. I was close to buying a Gretsch Boxcar but didn’t.  Late August we went to the Beautiful Days festival in Devon and a fellow camper was sitting out playing a neat little reso. So Wefinished up chatting over a beer and he let me play it. This was the one. First thing was the size, small, thin bodied and 12 fret comfy neck. Biscuit cone.  It was louder than my old spider but had less sustain. Most of all was the shape and weight balance of the body which suited my body position- I play sitting with legs open a little like a banjo player and with the headstock up high. This was perfect for me. So I decided to get one - whether used or new. Keep looking. A month ago I managed to pick up a used MM Blues28 from a friend of a friend of a ……Search over. Delighted. 
Mrs T

[Pickers Ditch]

Told you so!

(Sorry Missus, couldn't help myself - enjoy your guitar).
PD

[perry]

Mrs T,

I am also like you, I like to try before I buy, so in my search for a Steel or Brass Resonator I also began with Denmark St, I must have tried at least 9 or 10 different guitars ranging from £3000 National’s and Dobro’s steel brass and wood, to some of the more popular Chinese copy’s, I also  tried Hobgoblin Music, in Rathbone place, W1, they have another 3 steel Resonator’s from Regal, and Ashbury, and a Beautiful wood Dobro, I also went to Guitar Classics, Webbs Rd SW11, they have a really nice Republic Highway 61Traveler which was nice but not what I was looking for, they did however have a MM Lightning which I was really looking forward to playing, unfortunately it was in need of a set up and was being sold for a customer, so I thought I’d come back, as I’d arranged to see the Busker the following day I thought it could wait until after then, also I might add that the New Gibson Shop in Eastcastle st W1 has two Epiphone Dobros, my budget was generally between £400 to £900 with possibly a part exchange with an old Banjo I have

[perry]

Well it seems you’ve found what your looking for, well done 👍

[perry]

Sorry I didn’t notice the date from the original post 😇

[Deleted]

Mar 25, 2023 9:17:44 GMT richclough said:

Frailers in Runcorn usually has a good range of NRP guitars.
Good luck
Rich

[snakehips]

Hi there !

I just did a check on GuitarGuitar's website.

They have FOUR NRP guitars in their Glasgow shop, and at least 2 each ( I think, in their Birmingham, Epsom and Camden shops, and one (at least) in their Newcastle shop.

The GuitarGuitar Edinburgh store don't stock any NRP guitars for no decent reason. They do stock a few cheaper brand resos though.
I asked them once why they didn't stock NRP guitars, like their Glasgow shop - and the pathetic excuse was that "the guitars get covered in fingerprint smudges" ! That doesn't happen elsewhere
I didn't feel the Glasgow or Edinburgh know enough about resonator guitars in general though. I know one guy who bought a NRP M1 wood-bodied Tricone from the Glasgow shop - and brought it back for minor intonation issues - and they gave the guy MY personal phone number !

I otherwise like GuitarGuitar a lot though - and have bought many guitars, e.pianos, amps & other stuff from them. Resos are just a bit beyond their expertise.
NRP guitars should be perfect from the get-go though, so I wouldn't have any qualms buying from them.

[thinline72]

No affiliation whatsoever, but Coda Music in Stevenage has quite a few resonators (mainly NRPs) that should be available for trying in their acoustic shop.