MM blues..some questions

[eholst]

Hello

First, thumps up for your informative and well structured homepage....

I have with much interest browsed your website, and especially studied your MM blues and MM lightening….

Here in Denmark it seems to be quite difficult to find a store that has these reso guitars, so it’s difficult to try them out and get the feeling…I have never played a reso guitar, but find that these are the best for acoustic delta blues….I play blues and rock (not professional), but especially the blues (electric and slide) has my biggest interest.

I have studied a lot of brands (National, Dobro, Regal, Ozark, Amistar, Beltona, Fine resophonic, Republic, Fender, Tanglewood and so on), and all the lower priced brands seem to have something negative in reviews, which always seem to give me the impression that only National and Beltona
seem interesting….

But from what I see on reviews about MM guitars, this could be interesting….specifically the 14 fret MM blues…

I therefore have some questions which I hope you can find a little time to answer…..please don’t spent much time on the answers….

1. Is it difficult compared to an electric guitar to play a reso guitar, due to the heavy strings (I now play an electric Hamer Eclipse with a little higher action than normal for an electric,
tuned to open D, with 13-18-24-32-42-52 strings), will it be much different in fretting the strings, as well as using fingerpicking and flatpicking ?

2. The MM blues 14 fret seem to have a smaller body compared to the 12 fret model, is this compensated for with a deeper body ?

3. Does the MM blues 14 fret have a different sound compared to the 12 fret because of the smaller body…?

4. Can the MM blues 14 fret be used with an open D tuning, with the strings you normally mount (13-56) and get the right action and blues sound, with regards to your experience
and opinion ?

Best regards and again - thumps up

eholst

[Michael Messer]

Hello eholst,

Welcome to our forum and thank you for your enquiry.

Answers to your questions:

1. Is it difficult compared to an electric guitar to play a reso guitar, due to the heavy strings (I now play an electric Hamer Eclipse with a little higher action than normal for an electric,
tuned to open D, with 13-18-24-32-42-52 strings), will it be much different in fretting the strings, as well as using fingerpicking and flatpicking ?
>>> A resonator guitar can be set up and strung to your own taste. We send our guitars out with 13/56 and a set up that is good for both slide & fingerpicking. Most people are happy with that set up. You will not find it difficult, the guitars are easy to play. Either fingerpicking or flatpicking....no problem

2. The MM blues 14 fret seem to have a smaller body compared to the 12 fret model, is this compensated for with a deeper body ?
>>>The body depth is very slightly deeper at the bottom end. These guitars are based on original Nationals from the 1930s.

3. Does the MM blues 14 fret have a different sound compared to the 12 fret because of the smaller body…?
>>>Yes it does. It has slightly less bass but more brightness in the treble

4. Can the MM blues 14 fret be used with an open D tuning, with the strings you normally mount (13-56) and get the right action and blues sound, with regards to your experience
and opinion ?
>>>The MM BLUES 14 fret is a 'Classic' blues guitar - in D/E tuning, G/A tuning and regular EADGBE tuning, it will sound like the classic National Duolians from the 1930s

If you buy a MM guitar from us and you are not happy with it, you can return it and get a full refund, as long as the guitar is in perfect condition and that you pay the shipping. I hope that helps?

If you have any more questions I will be happy to answer them for you.

Shine On
Michael.

[eholst]

Hi Michael

You surely are quick to answer...thanks for that and for your fine answers...

I have tried through the link to Busker guitars to click on the "14 fret mm Blues sound clip"...and I get a pop-up window with this address

www.garageband.com/mp3player?|pe1|WdjZPXLrvP2rYVW-ZmFhAA

where I can click "play", but nothing happens, I also tried the "next", and it says "fetching song data", but nothing happens...I have tried from different PC's to see if it was a local problem...

I have listenend to the 12 fret mm blues, but If you have a sound clip on the 14 fret mm blues I can try out and listen to, I would appreciate it...

Thanks and best regards

Eholst

[Deleted]

hmmm the link works for me.

[Michael Messer]

Hi eholst,

I have not recorded a 14 fret sound sample yet. I will do one when the next shipment arrives as currently we have none in stock.

If you want to hear a 14 fret MM BLUES, perhaps one of the forum members who has one could point you at a recording of one?

If the link on Busker's site is not working, go to my website to the MM Resonator Guitars page and click on those samples.

Let me know how you get on

Shine On
Michael.

[honeyboy]

Eholst,

If you have problems with the garageband player, check out their FAQ here

www.ilike.com/faq/garageband/answers/252

Since the garageband player depends on the flash plugin to render audio, you must have a problem in that area..

You can check the version of your flash player here

kb2.adobe.com/cps/155/tn_15507.html

It reports my flash version as WIN 10,0,32,18 and I have no problems playing the link in your post.

[eholst]

Hi Michale and honeyboy

Thanks for your help and advices...I tried the link again yesterday, and then it worked...Strange.....but nice to hear it....it seems "thinner" than the 12 fret MM Blues, but perhaps it's the tuning.....and the key the music is played in....

Best regards

eholst

[Michael Messer]

Hi eholst,

There are many factors that can affect a recording of an instrument.

I don't think the 14 fret MM Blues sounds thin at all. It sounds different to a 12 fret MM Blues, there is a brightness that you only get in a 14 fret MM Blues and there is a depth and bass that you only get in a 12 fret MM Blues.

I am very happy that both the MM Blues models are darn close in character to their ancestors, 12 and 14 fret 1930s National Duolians & Triolians.

If you want an MM guitar but are not sure, you can return the guitar to us and we will refund you all your money as long as the guitar is in 'new' condition.

Shine On
Michael.

[RichardK]

After lurking here for some time, I thought I should finally register and offer some thoughts on this. The sound clip on the Busker website is of me playing the 14 fret MM Blues that I ended up buying when I visited Busker Guitars back in June. Basically I was auditioning a couple of guitars in his living room when Robin turned his recorder on - it was some way from being a studio quality performance or recording! The guitar is in standard tuning, key of C.

I think Michael said in another post that, in his opinion, the 14 fret works well for fingerstyle playing in standard tuning, while the 12 fret is more suited for open tunings and slide. That seems right to me - I can't quite explain why, but the 14 fret feels more like a regular guitar than the 12 fret, and since I wanted to play quite a lot with a capo I liked having the extra room as well. I'm only just getting into tunings other than standard, but the guitar sounds just fine to me in open G and D.

Never having played a 1930s National I can't make the comparison, but I do think these guitars stand out at the price, and you couldn't find better service than you'll get from Robin at Busker.


Richard

[subtoxin]

I really enjoyed your playing on that Richard. You make that 14 fretter sound awesome, I'd like to get one at some point. Tone-wise I lean more towards 12 fretters for the extra bass, but those 14 fretters are full of surprises. Anyway, I hope to hear more on that guitar!

[gouranga]

Could we have more input from 14 fret owners please. This is very nice to hear about them.
Thank you.
All the best.

Gouranga

[RichardK]

Thanks subtoxin. Having played regular guitar from a long time, it's fun finding out how non-slide tunes can take on a different feel on the resonator. Seems to me as if 12 and 14 fret resos have more differences between them than do 12 and 14 fret flat tops, which sounds like a pretty good excuse to own both (if you needed one.....)

;D

Richard

[eholst]

Hi all

Many thanks to you all for giving useful input to describe the characteristics of the MM guitars in general and also the 12/14 fret Blues model....

Richard especially writes that the service from Michael and Busker are superb, this is also the impression I got from the website I have visited several times.....

One thing I specifically like is that they show dedication and concern to the products.....

Michael has also here on this website written several helpful reviews on other budget guitars, and also other reviews has shown something that could question the quality on those budget guitars....there's always a "but...."....

The Blues model really are nice and very interesting, as well as the simplicity of the look and design....clean and classic.....I will really consider this guitar....

Best regards

eholst