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Post by Niek on Aug 12, 2009 0:12:24 GMT
Hi, Long time ago I posted a message here on this forum I am planning on buying a Republic Tricone steel body with the vintage look. At the moment I own a Regal RC-51 handmade by Amistar, but this guitar isn't build perfect. It has some faults. The triangular shaped plates sticks a little bit outside the body at the bottom. The shape at the backside of the guitar is not in the center. It does sound great after replacing the cones myself a couple of years ago and stringing it with some Newtone strings. My guitar had collapsed cones when I bought it, remember? How is the build quality of a Republic? Is it a good guitar? Grtz Nico
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Post by fibrebundle on Aug 12, 2009 1:57:51 GMT
Quite good. I have one, and I love it.
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Post by melp on Aug 12, 2009 11:13:04 GMT
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Post by gouranga on Aug 12, 2009 15:35:49 GMT
Hi. I cannot speak for the Republic. But the Busker Deco Tricone is very good indeed. I have had mines nerly a year and een busking with it a lot and in some heavy weather condition. Was in Serbia during winter. The Deco done a great job and not a thing went wrong. Check one out, you won't be disappointed in the least. Take care and best wishes.
Gouranga
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Post by Niek on Aug 12, 2009 19:03:59 GMT
Those Busker tricones look very good indeed and that for an very affordable price. 525 pounds! If I had new this a couple of years ago I would have never bought my Regal (handmade by Amistar). Paid about 1100 euros for the thing.
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Post by Bottleneck John on Aug 12, 2009 20:04:54 GMT
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Post by Niek on Aug 12, 2009 22:44:29 GMT
Listened at some of your clips. These Republic guitars sound great! Nice singing of you too by the way. Good voice. Wish I could do that
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Post by Niek on Aug 15, 2009 11:00:36 GMT
How is the build quality of the neck and the wooden posts inside the guitar? I saw a Johnson tricone and the build quality is horrible. Are the Buskers far better build then a Johnson?
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Post by fibrebundle on Aug 15, 2009 11:09:31 GMT
From what I understand, Republic and Busker tricones should be quite similar in build and quality, probably use exactly the same materials, for they are built in the same small factory. If you live in the U.K., it probably makes sense to go for a Busker, since they will be a lot closer to you, and after-sales service (which is quite good in both cases, Republic and Busker) will be a lot easier. I am very happy with my Republic tricone, and those who possess Busker tricones are quite happy with them!
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 15, 2009 11:09:37 GMT
IMO there is no comparison between a Busker & a Johnson. Between MM Resonator Guitars, Busker and Republic, we have set a new standard for budget-priced resonator guitars. I obviously have my own preferences in that list, but I am biased Shine On Michael.
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Post by melp on Aug 15, 2009 11:32:51 GMT
Hi,
I cannot comment on the Johnson, never even seen one, but the build quality of my Busker Tricone is just fine with me. Don't know what its like inside, have not opened it, and don't intend to, it just worked right out of the box. But have opened another Busker, my Cannon, and of course my MM Blues. They, IMO, are very well put together.
They are a budget price but, once again IMO, they are far from budget in build quality and certainly in sound. From what I hear Republics are also good, I have played one once, in Denmark Street in London. It was fine, but it was, I think, about £650. So a bit more expensive than the Busker Deco and I did not see any great advantage, which given they are made in the same workshop is maybe not so surprising.
I would say that the advantage of the excellent after sales service with Busker is worth a lot. In my case I have had, and much appreciate, lot's of support from both Robin and Michael. Not that the instruments have needed lot's of support, I have not had any problems with mine. But I found it of great value to get good advice to get what I wanted from my instruments.
So my MM Blues now has a maple biscuit and my Cannon has a maple biscuit and a NRP hot rod cone. I made these changes not because the guitars were not good as delivered, all three were excellent "out of the box" but I wanted to experiment to see what tonal variations I could get. That's part of the fun for me.
Cheers
Mel
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Post by Niek on Aug 15, 2009 13:42:35 GMT
For the Republic's there are two dealers in Belgium. Unfortunately there aren't any dealers for Busker in the Netherlands. Got the price for the Repubic's. They will cost around 550 euro's. Nice price!
Will have a look at the Republic's soon.
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Post by Niek on Aug 15, 2009 14:58:04 GMT
IMO there is no comparison between a Busker & a Johnson. Between MM Resonator Guitars, Busker and Republic, we have set a new standard for budget-priced resonator guitars. I obviously have my own preferences in that list, but I am biased Shine On Michael. Hi Michael, So Busker and Republic are all the same except for the brandname? Could you send me some nice detail photo's of these Busker guitars? Found some pictures but not really detailed pictures. I wonder how well they are build.
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 15, 2009 16:40:37 GMT
Hi Spoednick,
All three brands come from the same workshop. MM guitars are built to my own design and are different to both other brands.
Republic & Busker are essentially the same, but there are some models that are unique to each company. Busker guitars are also individually set-up for each customer by the same guy that sets up all the MM guitars.
I do not sell Busker guitars and therefore cannot send you photos. You need to contact Robin at Busker Guitars for any further information.
You keep asking us how well are they built. I have already said that our guitars have have set a new standard in the budget-priced resonator guitar market. What else can I tell you?
Shine On Michael.
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Post by gouranga on Aug 15, 2009 17:17:30 GMT
MM/Busker Guitars---Nice! Can't speak for Republic or Johnson. But when a man's belly is full and he is satisfied, he does not go looking for something else to eat. I have had NRP Tiolian, Vintage and Ozart in the past. I aint not pro blues man, just a basher who has had many guitars in the last 60 years of life, but like what I have in the way of MM Blues and Busker Deco. I go Buskin regular (3 days a week at least) and these guitars do a great job and no fears in the heart about what's gonna happen to them, or the envy coming from others out there if it were NRP. Other buskers like the MM Blues a lot and a couple of them are playing Blues. They are affordable, reliable, back up service is good, nice forum that goes with it to discus all this, great sound, other owners who are happy as heaven (tricone heaven Mel). Well done Michael and Robin and all those involved in the MM?busker set up. I am no expert, but other on the forum know their stuff and have chosen MM?busker as their stuff to own and play. That speaks loud enough and well enough for Gouranga (me). From the guy with the big full belly.
Regards
Gouranga
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