Joe ~ [Good thread by the way] ~ TRY as many different resonator instruments as you can. As with choosing your acoustic(s). Take a friend--better yet a slide player--and do the blind test if there are several from which to choose. I had the pleasure of stringing up a National for a friend who had NO idea what a treasure it is. It was a painted one, in that funky greenish-yellow or yellowish green, with the original little warranty slip and some stings in glassine envelopes wound to about about an inch and a quarter diameter coil. Seems Bob's daughter was after a guitar, and Grandpa said "Doesn't Bob have that old tin guitar in the attic?" Seems it had been given to Dr. Jim by the widow of its owner in the 40s and it had been in the attic since the 50s. Using the Dobro Bible at the music store, I traced the rendering of the logo to '30 or '31.

Sure was sweet. I wiped all the drool off before I gave it back :)

Dennis

http://www.mts.net/~oakacorn