Resonator guitar anyone? looking for recommendations.

[Vallhagen]

Hey folks.

Earlier this summer i got - for the first time in my life - my hands on one of those shiny metal resonator guitars. We (me, two more guitarrists and one on flute) sat down the whole evening and just jammed and played standards. It was so fun, i found "that" inspiration that i actually not often get these days. So... now i got to buy one.

I have made my google job, and i found that there is really "one" brand above them all, and that is National (right?), but the pricing on the National ones are over my head; i dont pay 3-4000 USD for a guitar. Then there are a bunch of midprice brands that seems ok too. China-korean-made (sometimes handmade) instruments which seems decent. I have looked up Dean (the brand of Dave Mustaines guitars, i can live with that!) and Republic guitars, and they both seems pretty ok...

As i live in sweden, the market is so small that i can hardly walk to the stores myself to try out different instruments (they simply dont have a collection), so i pretty much have to order one on the web.

So, any experience among you forumites? Recommendations?

A few facts: I want a:
All-metal shiny guitar (not a Dobro-style wood guitar with resonator)
Single-cone.
Round-neck (i will play fingerstyle)
i am willing to pay - say - 6-800 USD

Cheers

[dan.schumaker]

I've heard (never played) good things about Republic Resonators

http://republicguitars.com/shop/copy-of-highway-61-style-7105-14-fret

[Vallhagen]

Thanx Dan. I notice one more + for Republic then!

...funny, the first picture in your link shows a guitar with ... a broken D-string??? Its not my eyes fooling me, huh?? Never seen that in an ad before! 

Cheers

[slimtriggers]

Gretsch makes one called the Honey Dipper. (Can't post a link on my phone)  I played their lower end Boxcar reso at Guitar Center, and it seemed like a decent guitar for the price.  I don't have any experience with resonators, but it sounded good to me FWIW.

[dan.schumaker]

Thanx Dan. I notice one more + for Republic then!

...funny, the first picture in your link shows a guitar with ... a broken D-string??? Its not my eyes fooling me, huh?? Never seen that in an ad before! 

Cheers

Its either a broken D string, or an invisible hand doing a bend 

[cooder]

Hi Bengt,
I happen to have that Republic Highway 61, full scale length modell (I do think they make a shorter scale one too) and I really think it's a great guitar for the money.
Only difference to the photo on link is mine got a different coverplate (diamond hole pattern).
I fitted two pickups to it, a Schatten NR-2 passive and a Lace Sensor ultraslim humbucker (they do those specifically for Reso guitars) and that works fab. I can switch with a LesPaul toggle between those PUs and both combined. Combined is my favourite and luckily those two harmonize fantastic (phew...).

I have not tried many other resonators (and indeed just bought the Republic without having a chance to try it as they are very rarely in the meager shops here...), did try a Gretsch later and I still prefer the Republic. But I may be partial because I'm used to it and dig it.
Hope that helps!
Smoerrebroed smoerrebroed roempoempoem... (where did you say the Scandinavian umlauts where again on keyboard shortcuts...? ; )

[Vallhagen]

Thanx cooder and slimtriggers for input!

Great to read about your experience w mics too cooder. I do think i aim for an all-acoustic thing, but opinions are great, i might change My mind:).


Ill come back with The ömlaut shortcuts, cant shortcut on tapatalk;)... Smörrebrööd!

[cooder]

Let me add the following: I found the build quality reasonably good for the money and I have seen more expensive guitars that need also a little bit of attention once you call them yours. The Republic benefited from a little bit of grease (I do use a food grade white teflon based or something like that) to lubricate the open gear tuners, made them go a lot smoother. The fretboard on mine is ok, again acceptable or exceeding similar price range guitars.
Action is on mine slightly higher for slide playing, but can also be fretted for normal playing. They do offer different guitars where the playability and setup is mentioned, so you might want to consider that. I do play mainly slide, so for me it works.
The body on the Highway 61 is fairly small, which I like, it has about the size of a LesPaul (and it actually fits in a LesPaul case I have!). I do like the cutaway to play slide high up.
They do also have bigger body modells like the delta rocket; as well as small body shorter scale versions.

[alanp]

I have a metal body tricone. You have to remember one thing if you play with other, more normal acoustic guitars.

They are LOOOUUUUDDDD. They will drown out most traditional acoustic guitars easily. Especially if you strum 'em with a thick pick.

[Vallhagen]

Let me add the following: I found the build quality reasonably good for the money and I have seen more expensive guitars that need also a little bit of attention once you call them yours. The Republic benefited from a little bit of grease (I do use a food grade white teflon based or something like that) to lubricate the open gear tuners, made them go a lot smoother. The fretboard on mine is ok, again acceptable or exceeding similar price range guitars.
Action is on mine slightly higher for slide playing, but can also be fretted for normal playing. They do offer different guitars where the playability and setup is mentioned, so you might want to consider that. I do play mainly slide, so for me it works.
The body on the Highway 61 is fairly small, which I like, it has about the size of a LesPaul (and it actually fits in a LesPaul case I have!). I do like the cutaway to play slide high up.
They do also have bigger body modells like the delta rocket; as well as small body shorter scale versions.

Yea, i browsed their website, and it seems as i can order with the string action i ask for; which in my case will be low/fingerplayin. The model i think i look for is the 14-fret "duolian style"; this one: http://republicguitars.com/single-cone-guitars/duolian-style-502
Dean has a similar resonator, 100 USD lower in price: http://www.deanguitars.com/query?upc=819998003265

...thanx for helping me making up my mind:)

Hey:
<Alt> + 0228
<Alt> + 0229
<Alt> + 0246

and always: <Alt> + 0252



*******

Hey alan; yep they are LOUD! ... the marshalls of the 1920-s... true Metal! 

[cooder]

Hi Bengt,
yep that's sure a nice modell...
What I also would recommend highly, whatever Reso you get, try these strings: http://www.michaelmesser.co.uk/stringpa.htm
I found them superior to standard acoustic strings on the Reso and really like them. Don't be fooled by their heavy string gauge, the tension you need to get in tune is due to their round core construction indeed lower and they feel great to play.
I do play their heavy set on reso 16.18.27w.39.49.59. (!)
whereas I'm usually on normal acoustic on 11 to 52 or so.

Smørrebrød Smørrebrød rømpømpøm...

To AlanP:

I have a metal body tricone. You have to remember one thing if you play with other, more normal acoustic guitars.

They are LOOOUUUUDDDD. They will drown out most traditional acoustic guitars easily. Especially if you strum 'em with a thick pick.

I think your guitar is apparently made in the same factory as the Republics because the dude (Paul, I think 'perfectpizzas' is his TM name, nice dude) who imported Republics to NZ went on cut the middleman and got guitars made to his specs, but ultimately similar to Republics from China direct. So you have a 'Toa' which is an undercover 'Republic', kind of... I wouldn't mind a TriCone as well...

[Vallhagen]

I do play their heavy set on reso 16.18.27w.39.49.59. (!)
whereas I'm usually on normal acoustic on 11 to 52 or so.

Smørrebrød Smørrebrød rømpømpøm...

Hehe, actually Smörrebröd (or rather Smørrebrød) is a danish tradition... Smörgåsbord on the other hand, THAT is swedish;)

Funny, i never paid much attention to acoustic strings (i'm very well aware on what i play on my electrics...), so its good that you mention that.

and argh, just to make the decicion easier I just found Amistar, a semi-small manufacturer of resonators, made in europe. Priced somewhere between National and Republic (at least for me as a european...taxes and stuff when buying from the US) ... might be an option, they look great too.

Cheerio

[Vallhagen]

Hey again thread.

Now, after some days reflecting back and forth, i decided to go the "handmade european way"... i did order a resonator from Amistar http://www.amistar.cz/.

Thank you guys for good input! I will come back with a NGD thread on the subject 

Cheeeeeeers