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Post by bellyshere on Feb 22, 2018 20:47:32 GMT
After hearing that Johnny Flynn bloke playing the dectectorists theme i’m in the mood for a resonator. Any good ones?
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stringdriventhing
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Post by stringdriventhing on Feb 22, 2018 21:50:47 GMT
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Post by jclondonuk on Feb 23, 2018 12:11:04 GMT
I've got a Michael Messer 'Lightning' and it's excellent - their reputation is well justified, Michael Messer is super to deal with, and all their guitars are now set up by Dave King, who knows his stuff. Among the cheaper resonators, it's worth looking out for a second-hand Busker guitar - they're not easy to get, though.
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Post by PistolPete on Feb 23, 2018 14:07:32 GMT
I've got an Ozark 3515N that I bought new around 2002/3. It's been a very decent bit of kit for me & I have gigged it extensively after fitting a Schatten resonator pickup to the saddle. New they are about #450 these days, but you seem to be able to snap one up second hand for a lot less.
A friend gigs extensively with two Michael Messer resos, which I've played. He swears by them, & in fact sold a National to get the second one. I wasn't sure on the feel of the necks when I played them, but that's very much a matter of personal preference.
I've heard good things about the Gretschs, but have no personal experience.
If money isn't an object then Mule, or of course National, seem to be the go to these days.
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Post by bellyshere on Feb 23, 2018 14:56:56 GMT
I had a go on a Gretsch and hated it. The Measer ones look nice.
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Feb 28, 2018 11:36:51 GMT
I was having an idle kind of mooch around GuitarGuitar on Monday and had a look at some resonators, which I've often had half a mind to take up. They were all roundnecks in the £400-£500 bracket. I tried three wooden bodied models as I'm looking for a warmer sound than you get with all steel: Gretsch G9200 Boxcar, Ozark 3515DD "Distressed" and Epiphone Dobro Hound Dog Deluxe. I was really surprised how utterly awful the Gretsch sounded, completely lacking in tone and resonance, especially when I've read reviews comparing it favourably with the similarly-priced Regal RD-40 (more on that later). The Ozark was better, though I generally have a bit of a downer on the brand due to an unpleasant experience with one of their mandolas. When I'd finished playing it, I thought for one heart-stopping moment I was going to cop the blame for a couple of scratches, but I realised that they were deliberate "enhancements", hence the "distressed" tag. Bloody stupid if you ask me. The Dobro was far and away the best of the three. For me it had that classic Dobro tone. Reviews on this one are generally that it's pretty good but you may have to attend to some poor finishing. Comparing online reviews and my own experience of the instruments just goes to once again confirm for me that including other people's opinions in your decision-making process is quite pointless. In fact it may be counter-productive, leading you in the direction of taking the wrong option. The consensus online seems to be that if you can afford to go up to the £900-£1000 area, the Gold Tone Paul Beard models are significantly superior. Going back to the Regal RD-40, andrewjw has used one with great effect on some of his recordings in the Plucky Duck. He will tell you that he acquired it from gavdav , who had carried out some modifications, including a Paul Beard cone and ebony-tipped bridge. It sounds really good. I might add that were my piggybank not currently running on empty, and with a banjo not next on the list when it's in funds again, I would probably take the plunge with a square-neck Dobro and consider similar upgrades. Let us know how you get on.
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Post by delb0y on Feb 28, 2018 14:08:28 GMT
I've been thinking about a resonator recently, too. I recall almost pulling the trigger on a Busker a few years ago - now discover they're no longer! I'm more of a country guy, than a blues guy, so it would probably not be a metal bodied one for me, either. All that said, at the moment I need to practice some slide before thinking about such investments.
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Post by cottonopolis on Feb 28, 2018 14:35:10 GMT
Busker used to be Michael Messers distrution point. This is now done by Michael himself. All his guitars are set up by Dave King before delivery as well, his guitars are the best budget range in my opinion.
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Post by jclondonuk on Feb 28, 2018 18:20:14 GMT
I had a go on a Gretsch and hated it. The Measer ones look nice. There's a very active and friendly MM forum that I roamed about belore I got mine. It might be worth checking out if there's someone in your area that'd let you try theirs out? (I'd offer, but I see you're in Leeds and I'm in London.) Some of the members there have one of each of his guitars! I confess I've also got a wood-bodied National tricone, and if I'd got the MM Lightning first I probably would not have felt the need for a tricone. The Lightning can play very sweetly with a loooooooooong and beautiful sustain (the sound I was looking for in the tricone) as well as give you a rougher, rumbly Blues sound. It's a lovely guitar!
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Post by curmudgeon on Mar 5, 2018 22:57:54 GMT
Or you could go crazy and get a ....... National!
I bought a Style '0'deluxe via ebay - the seller even delivered it tome by hand bless him. Fantastic instrument, one of the nicest necks (rock maple) but "too loud man!" and soooo heavy!
Once I decides that I wasn't going to be just a Bloooz man, and it wasn't being used much, I exchanged it at Guitar Village for a used Estralita (wood body) which has plain old hogamomany neck but with the same dimensions.
I don't play it that much but I love the feel and sound of it.
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Post by cottonopolis on Mar 6, 2018 11:27:59 GMT
Or you could go crazy and get a ....... National! I bought a Style '0'deluxe via ebay - the seller even delivered it tome by hand bless him. Fantastic instrument, one of the nicest necks (rock maple) but "too loud man!" and soooo heavy! Once I decides that I wasn't going to be just a Bloooz man, and it wasn't being used much, I exchanged it at Guitar Village for a used Estralita (wood body) which has plain old hogamomany neck but with the same dimensions. I don't play it that much but I love the feel and sound of it. I also sold a Style 0 for the same reason, great sound but to heavy for me. Now, this Estralita you don`t play much
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Post by curmudgeon on Mar 6, 2018 14:26:21 GMT
Nahh - it's not going anywhere! Sorry! I got mine from guitar Village used but failed to notice it needed a reset, but then my cancer year started and couldn't be doing with such things. My local man "Eternal Guitars" did the job really well.
There are a couple of potentially good Nationals on Ebay right now plus a "Duolian" which isn't a National for about £545.
Peach guitars have a lovely looking Estralita in Koa for about £2.2 and Frailers have one like mine for £2.6.
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Post by cottonopolis on Mar 6, 2018 14:42:31 GMT
Haha! It was worth a try! Thanks for the heads up about the Nationals for sale, the Koa one is a beauty. Hope your health is good. Cheers Steve.
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Post by bellyshere on Mar 19, 2018 14:56:19 GMT
Gonna get one of the Messer Blues 28. Sounds nice. Anyone got one for sale?
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