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Topic: Melobro |
Tony Palmer
From:
St Augustine,FL
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Posted 25 May 2001 2:23 pm |
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This is an instrument to behold, from a company (Smith Family Music-Melobar)experiencing some setbacks, but deserving of our support.
The Melobro is a fiberglass body dobro with wood sounding board inserts and a wooden neck and absolute killer tone!
All black and shiny chrome, it stops people in their tracks when they see and hear it.
It takes a while to order one, but if you can stand the wait, it's worth it.
It seems this company is on the cutting edge of design and technology for our instruments and deserves much credit for its innovative products.[This message was edited by Tony Palmer on 25 May 2001 at 03:35 PM.] |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 26 May 2001 8:12 am
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Agreed. I have an 8 string and have mentioned on the Forum several times the quality of this instrument. Best bang for the buck.
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Andy Alford
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Posted 26 May 2001 8:16 am
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Tony,
I enjoyed reading your post.Valco made a fiberglass Res-O-Glas electric and the plastic Supro Folk Star resonator guitar between 1961-64.The fiberglass guitars came in all sorts of colors.I have wanted a Supro Folk Star dobro for years.Gruhn guitar has had some of the fiberglass dobros in the past but they are hard to find.I have played the fiberglass and plastic dobros and they do sound very good. |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 30 May 2001 6:51 am
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Tony, you join the ranks of many happy Melobro owners who've testified to their appreciation of Ted Smith's designs and ideas here on the Forum. Loads of happy customers. I hope I can join ya'll someday!
this is the first I've ever heard of Valco making fiberglass resos. interesting post, andy. in just about any circumstance, the best inovations are based on classic designs. |
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Mike D
From:
Phx, Az
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Posted 1 Jun 2001 10:27 am
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| The guitars Andy mentioned were biscuit coned. They were in two pieces, top and back, and joined in the middle with a white vinyl stripe. I've never seen any of them with a Dobro-style set up. |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 3 Jun 2001 7:26 am
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Mike,
We must be looking at the same picture on pg.311 in the same book.Fiberglass dobros with both types of setups have been made.I have played both kinds.Valco failed inspite of all there efforts.According to the book it was a fad.Fiberglass never caught on in the 1960s.Ovation guitars that has there own plastic type backing has proven that new ideas can and do work.Ovation is one of the largest guitar builders in the WORLD.I enjoy playing my plum burst Ovation with its back that is plastic.Lets hope that in the future alternatives will become norm.Anything can happen.I never thought I would see Regal Dobros for sale at Walmart but I did.I'll vote for Fiberglass or plastic any day.A new MELOBRO SOUNDS GREAT. |
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Ted Smith
From:
Idaho - shot of Jeff Peterson, Ted and Smith Curry "Nothing but the taillights tour"
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Posted 5 Jun 2001 5:29 am
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Andy, I hope people can see through you. This goes right along with your post of "Melobar is a great Acid Rock guitar" last year. Make it sound like you're supporting us when your agenda is to make people think it sounds like something none of us want... saying it sounds like a plastic guitar. If you liked those plastic Supros of the early 60's - it says enough about you. And you know I've posted here before saying I don't like the tone of Ovations. When are you going to get a life and lay off of us?
I'll let the model 17 with the Mahogany baffles say the rest.
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Andy Alford
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Posted 5 Jun 2001 9:17 am
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| Fiberglass and plastic have been used in guitar building.They both are very responsive in musical applications.Many people like my self enjoy the steel guitar in country, rock, blues and in all forms of music.Lets play the steel.When we are playing the crowd good care less about the materal the thing is made out of anyway.This is the United States buy and play what you want.I do like my Ovation.Ted we all know and have known that Melobars have never been built with plastic.I do love all three of my guitars that you built.Lets put the steel in the music all over the world. |
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Mike D
From:
Phx, Az
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Posted 5 Jun 2001 11:32 am
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Again, I've never seen (or heard of) a Supro or Valco or National Reso-Glas guitar with a Dobro-style spider cone. They may exist, but must be rare as hell.
I'm not sure what book you're talking about Andy. |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 5 Jun 2001 2:10 pm
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Mike,
You are correct.They are rare. |
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Ted Smith
From:
Idaho - shot of Jeff Peterson, Ted and Smith Curry "Nothing but the taillights tour"
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Posted 6 Jun 2001 5:50 am
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I'm not being petty about this. Tone is critical to me and Andy is way off base no matter how "flattering" he's trying to sound.
I spent 2 years with Bill Kammans people on the Enhancr project trying to improve the tone on Ovations, spent 4 months traveling from the Connecticut head quarters to everyone of their warehouses in Atlanta, Chicago, San Antonio and LA, we tested over 800 round backs. I have some idea what they sound like. And Melobar has built proto-type plastic electrics and acoustics as shown on our web site.
For you players out there that know what a good custom guitar sound like, Melobros do NOT sound like anything Andy is trying to link us to. I appreciate Tonys comment, and anyone out there that plays that guitar will testify that it has a rich wood tone along with volume and brightness, that I believe is better than any Resonator guitar I've ever heard. And I was raised with the first Melobars being built right in the Dobro shop, so yes I've heard a few.
I had a couple guys email saying don't pay attention to what this guy says, but this is my families very livelihood that we've dedicated our lives to, emotionally I have to.
Ted |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 6 Jun 2001 6:59 am
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Ted,
I have not said nor has anyone said that you are building plastic Melobros for sale to the public.I do feel that plastic or fiberglass will become more in use as time goes by.Your Fiberglass Melobro sounds like a neat dobro.I hope to get one to put in my collection of other Smith Family Guitars.It would be great to see someone bring back the bakelite lap steels again that would sound like the old Rickenbachers.I and millions of others do love the sound of the Ovations.We do have the right to express our thoughts and ideas in the USA.I disagree with you but respect your right to disagree with me.I hope God blesses you and your work as you seek to love God and others.Ted have a nice day. |
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Geoff Brown
From:
Nashvegas
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Posted 6 Jun 2001 11:23 am
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| Those of us who have read Mr. Alford's posts in the past know exactly what Ted Smith is talking about. The day Mr. Alford has a full jar of cookies will be the day Melobars are on display at WalMart. |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 6 Jun 2001 12:59 pm
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Mr.Brown,
It would be grand to see any lap steel for sale in a Walmart or any other big chain store.One of the reasons that so many lap steels are around today is because they were sold to the masses in the stores back in the 40s and on into the early 60s.I hope that many more people will get the steel guitar bug.Thanks for your post.Have a nice day |
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Geoff Brown
From:
Nashvegas
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Posted 6 Jun 2001 2:50 pm
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I refer readers to my previous post, and those of Ted Smith  [This message was edited by Geoff Brown on 06 June 2001 at 04:27 PM.] |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 6 Jun 2001 4:03 pm
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| I refer others to their post also. |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 6 Jun 2001 4:37 pm
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Please feel free to read my posts.I have been on the forum for a good while.I do love the steel guitar and do try to be kind to other members.I want to learn from friends all over the world who love the steel.I listen to others with respect but like other forum members I have my views also. Please pray for me for I am praying for all the members on the FORUM.
May God bless you where ever you live.
Andy Alford |
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Jeff Peterson
From:
Nashville, TN USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2001 7:31 pm
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| The Melobro, as well as most other designs of Smith Family guitars I have played and endorsed through the years do not even come close to the instruments Mr. Alford refers to...in any post. The Melobro is probably the most innovative and exciting instrument I've laid my hands on in years....light years ahead in tone and responsiveness compared to ANY other resonator on the market today. AND, I'm actually basing this opinion on the PROTOTYPE that I've been playing for the last 2 years. I cannot wait for Ted to send me the new design model....but, I will. |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 7 Jun 2001 5:27 am
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Jeff,
Its great to see you posting on the forum.I love your playing and try to learn from your cds.I have two questions that I would be honored if you would answer them for me.I have been looking at several pedal steels tring to decide which one to buy.I like the sounds on your cds which one do you endorse?Also what brand,and gauge of strings should we put on our dobros?Thanks Andy Alford |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 7 Jun 2001 9:44 am
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Jeff,
What type of amp do you use on stage?I need one that is not very heavy because I am severely handicapped unable to do much since birth.I also need one with large knobs to turn on.I only have one good arm and hand and a part of arm and 4 fingers with a special slide put on my hand that lets me play the steel.If you know of any amp that would work please let me know.There is a group that will buy it for me. |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 9 Jun 2001 6:49 am
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This topic is drifting away from its original thread, so I'm closing it. Go play nicely elsewhere.
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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