Someone explain Resonators to me
- Thread starter moog1000
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Someone explain Resonators to me
I LOVE resonator guitars. I have a couple of Nationals...one a '30 Style O just like the one on the cover of Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits and the other a newer National Delphi. They are loud, have a very percussive plucky tone and sustain like crazy when I play slide. Somewhat of the tone of an electric guitar but in a non-electric acoustic guitar. Lew
I LOVE resonator guitars. I have a couple of Nationals...one a '30 Style O just like the one on the cover of Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits and the other a newer National Delphi. They are loud, have a very percussive plucky tone and sustain like crazy when I play slide. Somewhat of the tone of an electric guitar but in a non-electric acoustic guitar. Lew
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Someone explain Resonators to me
They're alot of fun. Kind of metallic and clanky sometimes...but still very cool to have.
I'd like to get a National Tri-Cone someday. Those have three small cones rather than one large one and have the best tone IMO. Lew
They're alot of fun. Kind of metallic and clanky sometimes...but still very cool to have.
I'd like to get a National Tri-Cone someday. Those have three small cones rather than one large one and have the best tone IMO. Lew
Bludave
New member
Re: Someone explain Resonators to me
There are two distinct type of resonators. Biscuit style, and spider bridge style. The biscuit style has a wooden biscuit that sits on top of the resonator. The strings ride over the biscuit and puts the strings in direct contact with the resonator. The spider resonator has a bracket that rides around the edge of the resonator and the bridge sits in the middle. In my experience the spider resonators tend to be a little more mellow sounding than the biscuit style. Nationals typically use the biscuit style (depending on the model). I have a regal Dobro which has a spider resonator style. This guitar does not have as much volume as my Dobro which has a biscuit, but I think it sounds a little mellower, and for certain applicatioons I prefer it. This is also a wood body, so it is definatley a mellow sound. The Dobro I have which is a model 33 which is a nickel body has considerably more volume, but is more metallic in tone and does not have the sustain the Regal does. The best way to investigate which will be best for you is to go to a store that has both, play a few and see which will work best for you!
There are two distinct type of resonators. Biscuit style, and spider bridge style. The biscuit style has a wooden biscuit that sits on top of the resonator. The strings ride over the biscuit and puts the strings in direct contact with the resonator. The spider resonator has a bracket that rides around the edge of the resonator and the bridge sits in the middle. In my experience the spider resonators tend to be a little more mellow sounding than the biscuit style. Nationals typically use the biscuit style (depending on the model). I have a regal Dobro which has a spider resonator style. This guitar does not have as much volume as my Dobro which has a biscuit, but I think it sounds a little mellower, and for certain applicatioons I prefer it. This is also a wood body, so it is definatley a mellow sound. The Dobro I have which is a model 33 which is a nickel body has considerably more volume, but is more metallic in tone and does not have the sustain the Regal does. The best way to investigate which will be best for you is to go to a store that has both, play a few and see which will work best for you!
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Someone explain Resonators to me
Bludave is right on the money. The Dobros are usually wood bodied instruments but they made some metal bodied guitars as well. The Regal is still a Dopera Brothers guitar...it's just that they made them under a few differant names. I believe the wooden bodied instruments were made in Chicago by Kay and in California too.
The spider resonator in the Dobro is favored by bluegrass players. The bisquit resonator in the National is favored by blues players.
But the Dopera Brothers invented both...I think.
Lew
Bludave is right on the money. The Dobros are usually wood bodied instruments but they made some metal bodied guitars as well. The Regal is still a Dopera Brothers guitar...it's just that they made them under a few differant names. I believe the wooden bodied instruments were made in Chicago by Kay and in California too.
The spider resonator in the Dobro is favored by bluegrass players. The bisquit resonator in the National is favored by blues players.
But the Dopera Brothers invented both...I think.
Lew
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Someone explain Resonators to me
This is a great link for info on vintage guitars:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/
This is a great link for info on vintage guitars:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Someone explain Resonators to me
Good info guys. Also keep in mind that some have a neck that's like a lapsteel with high action, made for sitting, and most have a regular guitar neck, good for fretting and slide.
If you're on a budget, and can't afford a Dobro, National, or Regal, the best for the cheapest would be Johnson and Washburn. Johnson's acoustics are junk, but their resonator guitars are made by someone else and are excellent quality chromed bell brass. I've had two of those rosevine engraved Johnsons, and both sounded and played about as good as their $2000 counterparts. Great bang for buck!
Most other budget resonators aren't as good, like Fender or Dean.
Good info guys. Also keep in mind that some have a neck that's like a lapsteel with high action, made for sitting, and most have a regular guitar neck, good for fretting and slide.
If you're on a budget, and can't afford a Dobro, National, or Regal, the best for the cheapest would be Johnson and Washburn. Johnson's acoustics are junk, but their resonator guitars are made by someone else and are excellent quality chromed bell brass. I've had two of those rosevine engraved Johnsons, and both sounded and played about as good as their $2000 counterparts. Great bang for buck!
Most other budget resonators aren't as good, like Fender or Dean.
Re: Someone explain Resonators to me
The Johnsons, Regals, and other budget resos are all made overseas, (just like everything else these daze). Quality is all over the place, so you really have to play before you pay. Assume the guitar will need a proper setup. These things are never setup well, and I've played a number of them. Best bang for the buck? Paul Beard sells a reso (dobro-style, spider bridge) under the Gold Tone brand. Paul designed it, it's built overseas and shipped back where Paul installs all the hardware and does the setups. Paul spins his own cones, and they are excellent. He has maple and mahogany models.
I recently was recruited by the wife of a good friend to find a reso for her hubby's birthday. Budget: $800.00. I called Paul Beard and talked with him about these Gold Tone resos and he really likes them, moreso than than the Regal D45 guitars that he upgrades with Quarterman cone, bone nut and ebony tipped bridge. He's sold tons of those, and really likes the Gold Tone better. It's a fairly new guitar on the market. Anyway, Gruhn's had a mahogany model, so I went down and played it. It was really nice. I compared it with some of Beard's handmade (and very pricey) guitars, and while the finish and detail wasn't as good (expected) the tone really held it's own. Not as good, but certainly impressive. Much, much better than the Gibson Hound Dog that sells for around $800. The fit and finish was very nice...pretty guitar, and the setup was perfect. I went with the Gold Tone for $625.00 w/case. Easily the nicest reso I've played for under a grand...in a different league from a stock Regal or Johnson, for not a whole lot more coin.
The Johnsons, Regals, and other budget resos are all made overseas, (just like everything else these daze). Quality is all over the place, so you really have to play before you pay. Assume the guitar will need a proper setup. These things are never setup well, and I've played a number of them. Best bang for the buck? Paul Beard sells a reso (dobro-style, spider bridge) under the Gold Tone brand. Paul designed it, it's built overseas and shipped back where Paul installs all the hardware and does the setups. Paul spins his own cones, and they are excellent. He has maple and mahogany models.
I recently was recruited by the wife of a good friend to find a reso for her hubby's birthday. Budget: $800.00. I called Paul Beard and talked with him about these Gold Tone resos and he really likes them, moreso than than the Regal D45 guitars that he upgrades with Quarterman cone, bone nut and ebony tipped bridge. He's sold tons of those, and really likes the Gold Tone better. It's a fairly new guitar on the market. Anyway, Gruhn's had a mahogany model, so I went down and played it. It was really nice. I compared it with some of Beard's handmade (and very pricey) guitars, and while the finish and detail wasn't as good (expected) the tone really held it's own. Not as good, but certainly impressive. Much, much better than the Gibson Hound Dog that sells for around $800. The fit and finish was very nice...pretty guitar, and the setup was perfect. I went with the Gold Tone for $625.00 w/case. Easily the nicest reso I've played for under a grand...in a different league from a stock Regal or Johnson, for not a whole lot more coin.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Someone explain Resonators to me
My post was about new NATIONAL brand resonators and vintage resonators from the 30's...not about new Chinese made knock-offs.
In the 30's, National and Dobro guitar bodies were made in both California and Chicago. Some were made by Gibson in Kalamazoo!
But the Regal brand (with some parts made by Kay in Chicago) was still 100% a Dopera Brothers guitar.
The modern Regal is made oversaes...I wasn't refering to it.
See, the Dopera brothers invented the resonator guitar and sold it under the National name. Then one of the brothers quit and started his own company called Dobro (DOera BROther) and created the spider style resonator used in Dobros.
So for a while in the 30's we had both National guitars and Dobro...plus Regal and a few other names....all made by one or both the Dopera Brothers. Because later they made up and got back together again!
Lew
My post was about new NATIONAL brand resonators and vintage resonators from the 30's...not about new Chinese made knock-offs.
In the 30's, National and Dobro guitar bodies were made in both California and Chicago. Some were made by Gibson in Kalamazoo!
But the Regal brand (with some parts made by Kay in Chicago) was still 100% a Dopera Brothers guitar.
The modern Regal is made oversaes...I wasn't refering to it.
See, the Dopera brothers invented the resonator guitar and sold it under the National name. Then one of the brothers quit and started his own company called Dobro (DOera BROther) and created the spider style resonator used in Dobros.
So for a while in the 30's we had both National guitars and Dobro...plus Regal and a few other names....all made by one or both the Dopera Brothers. Because later they made up and got back together again!
Lew
