Showing posts with label slide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label slide. Show all posts

7/01/2012

Johnson Swamp Stomper Resonator Guitar with Pickup Review

Johnson Swamp Stomper Resonator Guitar with Pickup
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I've been shopping for a resonator for a long time, but I really wanted one that would plug in without alteration. For only 300 hundred bucks, this is a good quality and great sounding resonator. I plugged this in and it sounds great. It is not as brassy and twangy as the metal body models, but I like that. A great instrument which has already given me hours of pleasure and renewed my energy and interest in writing and performing traditional music. I haven't actually held and played the Jay Turser, the Oscar Schmidt, or Fender models. One thing is, those other models are hard to find in guitar stores, a limited market for resonators. I don't like the way the Jay Turser and Fender models look. The lines on the Turser are too hinky and the Fender looks too much like a cheap cigar box. This guitar is very understated and elegant, but will scream if you put a slide on it. I play with a 30 watt Line 6 spider 3 amp and there are some great warm or sleazy crunches you can get! Fun fun fun. I played one of these at an awesome guitar store in Ellensburg, Washington and I fell in love. Just didn't want to make the hour and a half drive back to Ellensburg to buy it. The quality and finish of this instrument are excellent.

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6/21/2012

Johnson Delta Blues Resonator Guitar, Roundneck Review

Johnson Delta Blues Resonator Guitar, Roundneck
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Very well built, its a delta blues, adjust the bridge, put grover tuning keys on it, mine sounds and plays FANTASTIC

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5/08/2012

Regal Duolian Resonator Polychrome Guitar RC-1 Review

Regal Duolian Resonator Polychrome Guitar RC-1
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I am a musician in E Texas with a 3piece string band. I have been playing resonators for about 15 years, mainly open tuned slide blues. I really can't afford a high end National or Beard, so I've made due with what I could afford. Out of respect for others I won't mention the names of the resos I've tried, but I will say that this one is, in my opinion, an exceptional value! Loud, sweet, clear and dirty when when you need it! I added an Allen tail piece and new strings, and I can tell you honestly.....this guitar is a HOSS! The sound is awsome and it looks stunning! I highly recommend this guitar! Don't see how anyone could go wrong at this price! Try one, you won't be disapointed!
Sincerely,
Nolan


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4/05/2012

Dobro DWHOUNDRN Hound Dog Round Neck, Brown Review

Dobro DWHOUNDRN Hound Dog Round Neck, Brown
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While I visited Nashville a few weeks ago I went to a few of the local guitar shops and played quite a few resonator guitars. Many were used (as early as 1927!!) and were classics in their own right and came with price tags of at least $650 and most much more. All had great tone as expected for the asking price. One of my stops, of course, was at Gibson's Showcase store there and I played more than one of these new Dobro Hound Dogs for quite a long while inside their soundproof booth so I would have no distractions. I was very impressed with it's overall physical and sonic quality, especially considering the asking price. I would have purchased one immediately if it had not been for the facts that I'd be traveling back home by airplane and I was also really wanting to try a resonator guitar with a pickup and one was not available, at least in the time I had left in Nashville (one day). The Gibson store told me I could always buy one from them and have it shipped for $35 so I didn't feel it necessary to buy one right away. I still haven't finished trying out other resonator guitars yet but this guitar is still a strong contender!!

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2/22/2012

Dean Resonator Cutaway/Electric Natural Mahogany Guitar Review

Dean Resonator Cutaway/Electric Natural Mahogany Guitar
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This is not a guitar, it's a case, so the title and description is incorrect. Nor is it a hard case, it's a tan "semi-hard case covered with a gig bag type material", so the image is incorrect as well.
So why is it listed on Amazon? Because Woodwind and Brasswind 'has no control over what's listed' or something like that.
In Amazon we trust. That's why we order through Amazon and not directly from the seller (at first, at least). This is one of those times where you should pay close attention to the feedback and not order from either one.
Don't order ANYTHING from "Woodwind and Brasswind". Buy from someone else.

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1/27/2012

Regal Duolian Resonator, Nickel-plated Style-0 Guitar RC-2 Review

Regal Duolian Resonator, Nickel-plated Style-0 Guitar RC-2
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I bought this when it was on sale for 350. I see now that it's even cheaper (321). Bought a hardshell case from a local pawn shop for $20 and I was good to go. But I had to do some work on it when I got it. I opened it up to check out the cone, as I have read you need to replace it with a national. The neck is very cheaply glued on, and braced with cheap wood. Very disappointing. And the bracing really dampened the body's vibration so that there was very little volume and sustain. So I took a fine saw and cut out the lower half of the bracing... so the neck is still braced, but not in the lower/bass half of the body where most of the vibration happens. (Google "mushroom mod" and you should find some instruction somewhere on it.) Then I took off about 1/16 to 1/8" of the saddle to lower the action so I could do some finger style (it was slide-only when I got it). Then I took a dremel with a cutting wheel and cut notches in the tailpiece so the strings would sit down lower in order to increase pressure on the cone, to increase volume and sustain. Then I put new Daddario 16/56 reso strings on it. NOW it sounds GREAT. But I don't know about the longevity because of the cheapo bracing. If the neck comes apart, I'm gonna bolt it on myself, I think. All in all, I really enjoy playing it. I don't want to drop two or three grand on a national. 350 with a little modding... and it sounds like a national (I know; I just played several) AND without having yet put in a national cone! Maybe when I put in the national cone it will actually sound better than a national! Hmmm. That might be hoping a little too much. Oh... and I don't think the nut is bone... it looks plastic to me. Need to replace that sometime soon, too.

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12/28/2011

Jay Turser Resonator Guitars jt-900res-cs Acoustic-electric Guitar, Cherry Sunburst Review

Jay Turser Resonator Guitars jt-900res-cs  Acoustic-electric Guitar, Cherry Sunburst
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Since Amazon doesn't give many details, here are a few:
Most importantly, this guitar has a spider cone (like a Dobro), not a biscuit cone (like a National). The wood is heavy plywood on the top, and feels heavy all around. The back and sides have a mahogany looking grain, altho they're probably one of those many tropical lookalikes. The back is arched! The tone is fairly mellow, as would be expected.
It's made in China, for what it's worth. Not necessarily a bad thing, in my experience. But don't expect National/Dobro/Taylor/Martin tone and quality, of course. It's an inexpensive (but not "cheap") guitar.
The two pickups have VERY different characters and relative volume, and the infinite blend control gives the player many options for sound. The other two controls are standard volume and tone, which affect both pickups. Sounds fine when not plugged in.
The finish is a very thick heavy plastic (urethane?) much more like an electric guitar than an acoustic. The cherry red sunburst is pretty good looking to my eyes. Not as garish as it appears on the computer-- more dark red, less orange.
The fretboard appears to be rosewood. It has nice (plastic?) binding, and the frets are well finished. The neck has an adjustable truss rod. The neck is 1 11/16", but for some reason they installed a 1 5/8" nut with very narrow string spacing. I've noticed a lot of Chinese guitars are coming with abnormally narrow string spacing these days. I immediately replaced mine with a Tusq nut. One other oddity is that it's a 14 fret neck, BUT the 14th fret is not at the juncture with the body but slightly overlapping. I guess that makes it a 13 7/8 fret neck! It's noticeable when you're playing up there.
The general fit and finish is excellent, altho mine was (and still is) missing one tiny chromed screw attaching the resonator cover to the body (there are 12). The cutouts for the f-holes are raw, unsanded and sloppily finished, and there are some shreds of wood visible on the inside of the holes. Not a big deal, but a noticeable detail. The holes, however, are precisely cut by computer, so they look fine unless you look at them closely. The tuning machines are decent.
The neck was straight and the action very low. It came with light or extra light nickel strings. Played fast. I installed medium/heavy nickel strings which brought up the action a little. Feels better for bottleneck now, but it was set up great for shredding right out of the box. The heavier strings put a slight bow into the neck, but it's ok for the way I play, and can be corrected with the truss rod.
All in all, I am tickled with this guitar, especially since Amazon sold it to me for only [...] with free shipping, and it was in stock. I see that the price has now increased to [...], so it's no longer as much of a steal, but still a good value. All in all it's a more than decent low end acoustic-electric resonator guitar.

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11/12/2011

Johnson Bottle Slide Triolian Resonator Guitar Review

Johnson Bottle Slide Triolian Resonator Guitar
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I read decent reviews of this guitar on other sites and decided to give it a try. I ordered the JR-550-FEN version - same guitar but (allegedly) has a Fishman pickup installed. (Another online sells this same guitar branded Rogue. They are made by Axl in China.) I know my way around resonator guitars - I own a couple of National Resophonics, and a Regal tri-cone and Duolian have been playing more than 30 years. I have owned many similar guitars including a '33 National Duolian. I play mainly fingerstyle and slide and was looking for a lighter, softer sounding resonator. Sadly, I'm still looking.
Out of the box it looked okay. A little minor QC oversights but finish was decent. Most guitars come with cheap strings installed (the manufacturer assumes players will change to their favorite strings) but those on this guitar set a new low. Tarnished in the box, I never could get them to play in tune. New strings helped a little. The mahogany body has a thick, shiny finish but they wisely gave the neck a lighter satin finish. I like the old-fashioned slotted headstock and that the neck joins the body at the 12th fret like the old guitars. So far, so good...
The first and worst thing wrong was the pickup. 60 cycle hum blasted from the amp the instant I cracked the volume knob above zero. The "Fishman" pickup is shorted right out of the box! It could not have been tested at the factory. I have genuine Fishman pickups on other guitars and have never had a problem so I question if it's a real Fishman pickup. But I'm not about to take a brand new guitar apart to find out!
I sent the seller a note about this and they replied that they would contact the QC department of the factory and let me know what they said. So much for standing by what you sell! Caveat emptor!!!
Tuned up to Open D (6th, 5th, and 1st strings a full step low) the action at the 5th fret was uncomfortably high and really bad at the 7th fret. Tuned to concert pitch it was unplayable at or above the 7th fret. The JR-550 uses a National-style cone and biscuit bridge but the bridge saddle is much taller than needed. If you are patient and know how it's not terribly difficult to sand it down but, because the strings pass through the cover plate, getting it right is a tedious process.
The neck is reasonably straight and the body-neck angle isn't bad so the terrible action out of the box is poor design and/or QC. Other Johnson owners tell me the best thing they did was replace the cone with one from National. The 9.5" National cone comes with a bridge that uses a thinner, stiffer biscuit which makes the action lower and the tone better. I wasn't expecting the quality of a National but the stock action was worse than expected.
The tone is okay but not as rich or as loud as you would expect from a resonator. It's also much less "woody" sounding than a Dobro but that may have more to do with the biscuit bridge instead of the spider bridge and inverted cone on wood body Dobro's.
If you want a light resonator, only play slide (i.e., never make a chord above the 3rd fret), and get a great deal this may not be a bad guitar for you. If you get one for next to nothing and are after a cool-looking "wall hanger" then go for it. But if you actually want to play the thing I strongly recommend you try one before ordering online. I have played metal body resonators (single- and tri-cone) made in the same factory and they were passable. This guitar leaves a lot to be desired.

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10/16/2011

Regal Traditional Series Studio Dobros Guitar with Power Reflex Sound Chamber (Vintage Sunburst) Review

Regal Traditional Series Studio Dobros Guitar with Power Reflex Sound Chamber (Vintage Sunburst)
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Great guitar! I compared this to the Paul Beard Signature model at my local shop and couldn't notice much of a difference. This is a great Reso for any level player. Good build quality and setup right out of the box.

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8/25/2011

Recording King Tricone Metal Body Resonator Guitar, Squareneck Review

Recording King Tricone Metal Body Resonator Guitar, Squareneck
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I'm really enjoying my new Tricone Resonator. It was delivered in excellent condition. The shipper had requested signature service, I had to arrange a delivery date that I would be available. No Problem, FEDEX arrainged to deliver when I was home. I took the guitar from the shipping container, to find it in perfect condition. I tuned it and played for awhile listening to the bluesy sounds it could create. Later that evening, I went to a jam session. Everyone was blown away! The price is right and a great value.for the money If you want a Metal tricone reso, this is IT!!

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8/24/2011

Regal RC-51 Metal-Body Tricone Guitar (Silver) Review

Regal RC-51 Metal-Body Tricone Guitar (Silver)
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I've played National Tri-Cones, both late 20's originals and I own the new National Resophonic Models so I was skeptical about the Regal RC-51 at first. I wouldn't say it's "just like" a vintage National or modern National Resophonic but if those instruments are out of your price range this might be a good entry-level alternative.
The RC-51 is a Chinese-made semi-replica of the National Style 1 Tricone first manufactured in 1926 and sold in 1927. Unlike the Style 1 it has a 14-fret neck and a flat (paddle) headstock. The body is nickel-plated bell brass. The sound comes from three roughly 6" resonator cones connected by a T-shaped bridge. The bridge is sand cast aluminum and the saddle is wood of some sort. Following the National model the coverplate has screens over the cones and the upper bout has "basket weave" openings. The Regal RC-51 is very similar to the Johnson JM-991 (I believe they are made in the same factory in China) but the Regal has a flashy "pearloid" overlay on the headstock.
The RC-51 has a flat fingerboard like the 1930's Nationals. Most modern steel string guitars have a radiused fingerboard which many people find easier to play. If you aren't used to it, the flat fingerboard can take some getting used to but they work well for slide guitar. A flat fingerboard makes it easier to use a slide or bottleneck to cleanly "fret" as many strings as needed.
My RC-51 arrived with ridiculously light strings. Do yourself a favor and install medium or heavy gauge strings right away. The improvement in tone and sustain is dramatic. Light strings have a tendency to cause buzzes on resonator guitars. Medium (0.12 high E) or heavy (0.13 high E) will be louder, minimize buzzing, and deliver more pleasant tone from both fingerstyle and slide playing.
CAUTION: when changing strings it is a bad idea to remove all six at once on any resonator guitar. The cone(s) and bridge are held in place by the tension of the strings. Remove the strings and the resonating parts can shift and unseat. This can result in annoying buzzes and rattles when you play. Remove, replace, and retune the strings one at a time and you'll spare yourself this problem.
The Regal RC-51 is a favorite of players that want that 1929 National Style 1 sound but can't spare the price of a decent used car for a cranky 70+ year old guitar. Out of the box the sound of an RC-51 is okay but these also favorites for modifications. It is common to see Regal tri-cones that have been modified with a bone nut, an ebony saddle, and replacement cones (Quarterman or Nationals). Another upgrade that some players swear by is the "mushroom mod" which involves changing the internal bracing of the neck. (These are all jobs best left to a luthier experienced with resonator guitars.) Since most of the sound of a resonator comes from the cones, relatively inexpensive upgrades can significantly improve the sound and playability. But change the strings and play a while before spending money on upgrades. You might like how it sounds stock.
Overall the RC-51 is a good value. It's not a Style 1 but it is 1/6 the price of a National. Spend a little time on setup and you will not be unhappy with the quality, playability, looks, or sound of the RC-51.

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