|
Post by davey on Jun 14, 2007 18:59:55 GMT
Hi Michael,
Where do Continental resonators fit into the the hierarchy of modern resonators, in terms of quality, playability, and sound?
Pricewise they seem to slot between the cheapos and the National Resophonic stuff.
This on (ebay item No. 230142666513) seems to be based on a Don rather than a Style 0 which is interesting.
All the modern metal guitars seem to weigh a ton which I hate.
Cheers
Davey
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Jun 15, 2007 0:03:07 GMT
I think that your in strange territory there. From what I've read there have been all sorts of changes in where they are made and who they are made by.
|
|
|
Post by tark on Jun 15, 2007 1:52:57 GMT
The story as I heard it was that Continental resonators (now defunct) bought their bodies in from Amistar and assembled them with their own necks, in Germany. I have also heard that at least until recently Saga Music was getting their resonator guitars made by Amistar and selling them under the Regal brand, which they own. Although Saga are apparently now sourcing from China. Yes metal bodied guitars, perhaps not surprisingly are heavy. I believe some lighter aluminium bodied guitars were made under the Dobro brand, but they sounded terrible. Gadgie guitars make aluminium body resonators.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2007 7:33:45 GMT
The last information about Continental I heard, which I think came from the IGS forum and I don’t know how accurate it is, was that they are now owned by the same company that markets Johnson guitars (Johnsons now come with a Continental branded cone). The bodies are soured from the far east, presumably from the same factory as Johnson guitars, as are the necks. I’m not sure where they are finished and assembled.
Personally I don’t think I would buy a Continental without seeing and playing it first. I’ve got a basic Johnson Style O copy, which is a good guitar for the money but I wouldn’t be happy paying £800 plus for a similar guitar with fancier appointments. That may be unfair to Continental, they may be much better than a Johnson but I’d want to try one first. If you want a German silver guitar I don’t think there are many options other than buying from a custom maker.
|
|
|
Post by davey on Jun 15, 2007 11:14:28 GMT
Generally speaking, original National guitars are light in weight and resonant.
I never played an acoustic guitar of any variety that was heavy and sounded good.
I was wondering if any of the new metal resos are also light and resonant.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2007 12:26:18 GMT
The only negative comments about NRP guitars I’ve read on the IGS forum are to do with their weight compared to original Nationals. Apparently they’re made from a thicker gauge material. I asked why and was told that Don Young thinks it sounds better. Apparently when he worked at OMI Dobro he asked John Dopyera if he’d change any part of his original National design and he said he’d use heavier gauge metal. How credible this story is I don’t know.
Other people have suggested that the heavier material is to reduce potential warranty work or perhaps a thinner gauge wasn’t available when NRP ordered their tooling. Maybe the thicker material is easier to solder, I don’t know but it does seem strange that NRP hasn’t tried to get the weight closer to the originals.
I’ve heard that the relatively new NRP 14 fret Style O reproduction uses thinner gauge brass and is therefore lighter. It also has the arched back which is much nicer than the flat back and of course adds stiffness. Perhaps that’s the reason for the heavier material, most of NRP’s guitars don’t have the arched back and without it a light gauge material may be too flexible.
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Jun 15, 2007 12:45:29 GMT
Hi Davey,
Most of your question has been answered, thanks to Blisters, Tark & Alan. They are correct in that the history of Continentals is basically a mess. From a player's point of view they are very close to Amistar, possibly with better quality necks. It's a while since I have seen one. The late Sam Mitchell had a Tricone & so does Homesick Mac. I realy don't think there is much between a Continental & an Amistar. I will have a look at the eBay item and let you know my thoughts.
Shine On, Michael.
|
|
|
Post by davey on Jun 15, 2007 13:44:42 GMT
I once had an engineer talk to me about 'The Engineers' Compromise' (which may be known as something else, but he wasn't a native English speaker)
'The Engineers' Compromise' is:
To make an item JUST strong enough / heavy enough to do the job.
i.e. you could make a car from cast iron which would last forever but be too slow and expensive to run.
The result should be a product that's efficient and elegant, which I believe applies to guitars too.
I've been talking to a violin maker about this, he carves the tops thinner and thinner until he can see light through them. He's going to have a go at a super resonant fingerpicking guitar for me later this year.
|
|
|
Post by mirrormist on Jun 15, 2007 14:30:40 GMT
|
|
|
Post by robn on Jun 15, 2007 15:18:52 GMT
They are quoting the continental tri-cone bodies as being "nickel plated Germen silver". If that's right then £790 for the Style 1 including a case looks good value? Anyone know where they are built now?
Perhaps the best value on your link Mirrormist is the Johnson JW995 at £155. Drop an NRP cone and bridge into that (£65) and a bone nut (£8) plus some MM Newtones (£7) and you'll have a half decent pub jaming come busking guitar - as long as the neck set is OK on the one you get.
Robn
|
|
|
Post by mirrormist on Jun 15, 2007 17:21:30 GMT
Hello Robn…yes that is the one I have my eye on…slightly wider neck at the nut and I would have ordered one by now…still might…and it has a green light which means they have them in stock…speaking of green lights…if you fancy a Contenental and it hasn’t got a green light (in stock) next to it…then it may never be. Thomann had a Bossa-Nova style guitar that was after for ages and as far as I know the grey light (out of stock) never changed to green. I agree…on face value the Continentals do look good value for guitars in that particular price range. oh yeah...looks like free delivery on most guitars As for my project guitar I intend to customise a few other areas also. Regards
|
|
|
Post by tark on Jul 16, 2007 12:13:53 GMT
Thomann seem to be the only current source for new Continentals, there's no sign of a Continental website. This makes me wonder if these guitars are either just a batch of old Continental stock that Thomann have bought up, or a special run for Thomann made by the remains of the Continental company, or even something which has no connection with Continental other than having the name slapped on them.
I'd also be very wary of descriptions like 'German silver body'. The descriptions in the Thomann catalogue are probably written by Thomann website sales people and may not be absolutely accurate as far as the actual spec of the guitar is concerned. As far as I know no one in the world is currently making resonator guitars in German silver in any volume. As a material it's probably quite hard to get in suitable sheet form (there's not much call for it you know, not since that American guitar company went out of business because of the war).
As for weight, my NRP baritone steel body weighs a ton (not quite literally) as do all my other steel body guitars. The brass bodies are lighter, my new Amistar and a single cone brass body I built, are lighter, about the same as a medium to heavy weight wooden acoustic.
|
|
|
Post by Bob on Jul 16, 2007 15:39:11 GMT
Homesick Mac was an agent for Continental about 2 years ago, he had details on his website. ;D
|
|
|
Post by mesnier on Jul 16, 2007 20:23:06 GMT
yes, Homesick 007.
|
|
|
Post by tark on Jul 19, 2007 1:33:52 GMT
Homesick Mac was an agent for Continental about 2 years ago, he had details on his website. ;D This may have been true two years ago but it doesn't appear to be true now. ;D I think the site you mean is www.homesickmac.com. I've had a pretty good look round it and although Mac says he plays a Continental as his main reso guitar he doesn't say anything about selling them.
|
|