Help: Resonator Guitars in UK

Subject: Resonator Guitars in UK
From: Green Man
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 07:18 AM

Hi Everyone,

I would like to acquire a resonator guitar. Must have a symetrical body as I am a left hooker and would have to swap it over unless it's already that way.

I don't want to pay a lot. I know these beasts can be very expensive but there are some Eastern improrts that are very good. Your experience and opinions would probably save me time and money.

Cheers for now. GM

Subject: RE: Help: Resonator Guitars in UK
From: Grab
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 08:22 AM

Guitar Village in Farnham, Surrey - that's their listing of resonators available.

The London Resonator Centre specialises in resonator instruments (one of these days I've got to go window-shopping in here! :-)

I've got a Regal RD-2 (metal-body National copy) which is nice for the price (at the same price when I bought it there were the Johnson and Dean versions, but the Regal sounded better). Bought it in the States though, so I don't know how much it is over here. Be warned that the balance is a bit off though - it's very tail-heavy and tends to slip off your knee, and the metal-body is a heavy beast anyway.

I tried the Fender wood-body (Dobro copy) when I was looking round for mine, and again just recently. I wasn't very impressed - in the lower price range the Regal wood-bodies seem to sound better (anyone else found this?).

Graham.

Subject: RE: Help: Resonator Guitars in UK
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 06:43 PM

If you're up north try Frailers music in Runcorn. He usually has some and will give knowledgable advice.

Subject: RE: Help: Resonator Guitars in UK
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 07:54 PM

Like, Graham, I've got A Regal steel also and love it. It plays great. And I gotta agree with him about the Fenders. They are terrible playing, at any price. I bought my Regal on ebay and it was less than $400 including the shipping. Not to sure what it takes to convert the danged things to be played by southpawsm however, but maybe just the nut from looking at it...

Subject: RE: Help: Resonator Guitars in UK
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 07:40 AM

Charles Carter from Manchester makes em. PM me and I will arrange a contact address or number.

Spot

Subject: RE: Help: Resonator Guitars in UK
From: GUEST,truckerdave
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:01 AM

I agree with everyone else. The Regal wood and steel bodys sound good for the price. Fender and Epiphone resonators i've tried out sounded not good at all. To convert to lefty all you should have to do is change the nut and wooden bridge. Probably have to buy blanks and re-slot them. Pretty easy with a set of needle files. Not hard since you will have the originals to go by as far as spacing, etc. If you are lucky you can just turn the bridge around if the string notches are straight cut. They should be on a cheaper instrument.

Subject: RE: Help: Resonator Guitars in UK
From: Raggytash
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 12:52 PM

Try the Music Room in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, I know they have some resonators in stock which seemed quite reasonable

Subject: RE: Help: Resonator Guitars in UK
From: GUEST,CraigS
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 05:26 PM

The Regal seems to be the best of the cheapies, but if you can stretch to it a second-hand Dobro from the US offers better value. There are two or three places in London that usually have resonator guitars, especially Hobgoblin and Ivor Mairants - both in Rathbone Place. Music Ground in Doncaster used to have a few.There are some people in Leeds that make the best in the world, called Beltona, but they're very expensive (4k upwards)

Subject: RE: Help: Resonator Guitars in UK
From: Grab
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 11:54 AM

A quick PS: The more expensive Nationals and Dobros _do_ sound better. Whether they sound $1500-2000 better (and that's for a second-hand instrument) will rather depend on your view of what else you can do with the money! :-)

Graham.

Subject: RE: Help: Resonator Guitars in UK
From: wildlone
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 06:25 PM

I have just got a tanglewood TBS 600 electric, the action is good and it sounds great. Now all I have to do is to learn slide.
dave