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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2012 14:49:08 GMT
Hi Forum Folks I'm a newcomer to resonator guitars - so new I don't have one yet but the pending sale of my Strat will give me some funds and I'm keen to try one. Question is of course, which one? I currently play some slide on my acoustic guitar in standard tuning which is OK if you've got someone to carry the rhythm. Now I want to try slide/picking in open tunings - mostly blues and country but definitely not bluegrass. Michael's great introduction to resonators suggests National for blues and Dobro for country, so which way do I go? I'll have a budget of £500-£600 so what are the makes/models to look out for or avoid?
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Post by DaveRed on Mar 6, 2012 15:01:52 GMT
Blues sound great on a National type reso but can also sound good on a Dobro, after all Clapton uses a Dobro. A lot of the members of this forum will probably give you the same response as to choice of guitar. Get an MM Blues or Lightning. You'll be getting something as close to a National as is possible but at a fraction of the price. You can't go wrong they really are fantastic guitars.
Dave
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Mar 6, 2012 15:38:30 GMT
hi
i second daves advice blues or lightning ......they are outstanding guitars
al
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2012 16:27:57 GMT
Thanks guys. The MMs certainly look the business and they've had very good reviews, but..I've never bought a guitar without playing it first and that seems to be the only way to get hold of these short of a little trip to Snowdonia. So, 2 questions: Is mail order a safe bet? What's the difference (apart from looks and price) between the Blues and the Lightning?
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 6, 2012 17:35:33 GMT
Hi Jonthemonster,
Welcome to our forum.
Thanks Dave and Al, your comments are very much appreciated.
As soon as I get involved with a discussion about MM guitars, I move the thread into the Main Street area of the forum so as not to clutter up non commercial discussions with MM pr stuff.
As a newbie there may be many questions you need to ask, feel free to ask away as it is the only way to find out.
Regarding your questions; There is no need to venture into the hills of Snowdonia as buying a guitar by mail order from us is a very safe way of doing it. Firstly because a conversation with my business partner, Robin, will establish what type of instrument and set-up will be right for you. Then, if you are not 100% satisfied with your guitar when it arrives, return it to us in mint condition and you will receive a full refund (apart from the return shipping).
Now the question about differences; an MM BLUES has a steel body painted with a greyburst finish, and an MM LIGHTNING has a nickel-plated sand-blasted brass body. The difference in tone is a personal taste thing as both sound wonderful and are suitable for all styles of music. The steel is brighter and sounds like a 1930s National Duolian or Triolian, and the brass is richer and warmer and sounds like a 1930s National Style 0.
As a newbie to all of this, I would recommend you to go with the one you like the look of. Both guitars sound great and both guitars have a great tone for blues, folk, jazz, country...etc.
Jon, ask as many questions as you want, if I can answer them I will. Also, have a trawl through the various threads in Main Street about my guitars and you will get a good feel for what they are about.
We currently have both models in stock as we have recently received a shipment, and this is not a sales pitch, but if you want one, they go very quickly. This is due to orders and shipments taking longer to be completed and shipped to us. We are very strict with our workshop in China about quality control and that can slow things up. Every shipment we get sells quite fast.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by blackjack on Mar 6, 2012 21:47:26 GMT
I would strongly agree with all the sentiments expressed.Having played guitar for years,like you I had no experience of resonators and after looking at different models went for a MM Lightning last year - it was a good call ! Robin at Busker could not have been more helpful and set the guitar up perfectly for both fingerpicking and slide. I can really recommend these instruments for sound quality and playability. It is personal thing,but I don't think you can go wrong with either a MM Blues or MM Lightning, Cheers, Jack.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2012 21:48:23 GMT
Michael, thanks very much for your input. I've listened to the sound samples and while the Lightning looks stunning, I definitely prefer the tone of the Blues so I think I'll order one first thing tomorrow. How much difference does the slide itself make to the tone? My current favourite is a Diamond Blue but I have ceramics and brass as well.
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Post by Matt on Mar 6, 2012 21:54:58 GMT
Sounds like you've already made your (great) choice, but just to throw my two penneth in, the are awesome and Robin will sort you out well. Sounds like you've got slides covered, they do affect the tone in ways better payers than I can probably articulate better, but just use whatever sounds right to you, back in the day that was knives/broken bottle necks/bits of pipe, today we;re just spoiled! I've heard that the Blue Diamond is one of the best around, though
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Post by DaveRed on Mar 6, 2012 22:19:26 GMT
re Blue Diamond: I've got one and it is Dave
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Mar 6, 2012 23:34:32 GMT
Hi
yes order away .....you will not go wrong....robin is so very cool
enjoy your new guitar
al
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Post by Stevie on Mar 6, 2012 23:36:04 GMT
Hi JTM, like you , I decided (with assistance from some of the Forum members) that a steel box was the way for me. I was lucky to be able to purchase one second hand. I later discovered that I had an odd one that was actually made from brass under the paint. I can honestly say that I have never regretted not getting a steely, but of course I may yet get one! The moral of this story is that you simply wont be disappointed with either type. They are an absolute no brainer purchase, go for it! You can open up a second window in your browser and load one of the audio samples into each one. They will both play at the same time making a right old din! You can then temporarily pause each one whilst listening to the other. It's the best way that I know of doing an A:B Also, I've got a nice little selection of slides, most have come from Ian at Diamond Bottlenecks, but I 'll also plump for the Blue Diamond as the go to glass for me.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2012 9:56:19 GMT
Once again, huge thanks to everyone who has responded. If I hadn't chanced upon this site and forum I know I'd be in the dark and probably buying something totally unsuitable (or just not very good). One more question for anyone with a view: Michael said the Blues is brighter and the Lightning richer and warmer but listening to the sound samples I thought the opposite was true - I listened to the Blues first and loved the tone and compared to it the Lightning seemed much brighter and louder. Any other opinions?
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 7, 2012 10:06:56 GMT
Hi Jonthemonster,
They both sound great and you will not be disappointed with either model. Whether my description of the sound is accurate is debatable, and everyone's opinion will be subjective. If I were you I would go with what instinctively feels right. If the MM BLUES is the one you are leaning towards, you won't be making a mistake!
Thanks Jon,
Shine On Michael
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2012 10:52:25 GMT
Thanks Michael. Waiting for a call back from Robin - fingers crossed!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2012 14:34:46 GMT
Well, following Michael's comments and a brief chat with Robin, I've decided to go for a Lightning. My first resonator and the first guitar I've bought since my Lowden in 2001, so v excited!
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