Which budget priced dobro to buy?

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Out of all the imported budget priced dobros out there (of which there are quite a few), which brands have you guys bought and have been satified with the sound.

Thanks for the info.

Jay Fagerlie · From: Lotus, California, USA

I have a galveston and it's not bad at all.

Jay

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Two words: Gold Tone.

I have four beautiful pre-war Dobros that I don't want to take out on gigs or put a transducer in, so I went shopping for a new guitar to amplify and do the occasional reso gig.

To that end I recently purchased a Gold Tone Paul Beard mahogany ($750 list, $525 street). For the $$ spent, it's an EXCELLENT guitar and WAY better than the rest of the pack, IMHO. Unlike the Regals, et. al., it has better quality tuning machines, a Beard cone and a Beard #14 spider with maple/ebony bridge saddles and a real bone nut. I'll be putting a Fishman spider transducer in it when Paul comes to the TX Jamboree.

FWIW, I've shopped all the inexpensive dobros for students of mine (Regal RD45, RD75, Black Lightning, Johnson, Galveston, Flinthill, etc. etc.). The Gold Tone is the hands-down winner. The Black Lightning looks good and sounds good too, but they've had problems with glue joints coming loose, so that disqualified them for my purposes.

For the under $400 guitar, the Regal 45 and 75 are also quite acceptable, especially when amplified. Danny Hawk has a 45 with a Lace Dobro pickup that sounds great and very dobrolic when played through a Match-Bro. The tuning machines are not as good quality as the Gold Tone, and the resonator and spider should be upgraded to Quarterman/Beard components, IMHO.

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[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 24 January 2005 at 09:54 AM.]

Paul Arntson · From: Washington, USA

An additional point to the good info Herb has provided:
I got a Regal 1994 equivalent model to the 45 square neck(I don't think it was called that back then) off of Ebay for $200 a couple years ago. The sound is a little duller than a high-zoot fancy guitar, but I can always put a fancy cone in it if I want. The reason I wanted a '94 was mostly I had seen them in the store when they came out but couldn't buy one back then. Also I think the spiders were a little more sturdy than the newest ones (maybe). The main way to tell is the first two digits of the serial number and also the old ones had pearlescent tuning knobs where the newer ones are more ivoroid. I did have to take it apart and scrape off some glue drips and high spots where the resonator sits on the ring.
Exterior fit and finish is great, but inside mine is pretty haphazard. Solid though.

Best of luck. -Paul

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Thanks for the info Herb.

How about the Gibson "Hound Dog" with the Fishman PU built in. I see these in the $5-600 range used.

Jeff Suhr · From: Jupiter, Florida, USA

I bought a regal about 5 years ago and shipped it to Paul beard to finish. Total cost was around $600. I'd probably go for the Gold Tone also. I wanted to play a roundneck at the Titusville shop and called in advance to set up a demo but they didn't have one in stock!!?? I sprung for a bit more and found a National Estralita on Ebay. Remember the resale value of a cheap guitar is about 30-40% of what you pay. Good luck-JS

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

To add to what Paul said, Regals can be upgraded by cleaning off the soundwell rim to get a better fit, installing a Quarterman or Beard cone, a #14 spider, maple/ebony saddles, a bone nut, and better tuning machines. The most important things are the fit of the cone, quality of cone and spider/saddle assembly, and the bone nut.

One Gold Tone feature not found on the Regals, except for the Black Lightning, is a solid peghead. This type of peghead is preferable to the slotted variety.

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Geoff Brown · From: Nashvegas

The Mahogany Gold Tone is a great looking, great playing and great sounding reso. I played one at Gruhn's a few months back and was all smiles. It was perfectly set up, smoked the Hound Dogs they had (I played several), and held it's own with pricier models, including Beard's. Outstanding value, IMHO.

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

I wonder how much difference in sound quality there is between the Gold Tone mahog model and the fancy maple model.

Michael Witcher · From: Granada Hills, California, USA

Well,

I have played two of each model. Right next to eachother. I was very surprised to find the the cheaper model (mohagany) actually sounded better. It has a richer sweet tone. The maple sounds very hallow. Almost like there is no substance to the tone.

Another resonator guitar for under $1000 to think about are the Scheerhorn/Wechter guitars. They are being made in china. You may end up paying a little more for one than the gold tones but I think they are a bit better. At least the few that I played. They run through Abe Wechters shop in Michagin (sp?) to get set up. He has 2 Mohagany models, a Mapel and an Indian Rose wood. The Indian Rosewood and the Maple are the most expensive listing around$1,100 but street value will be around $800 or $900.

It sure is nice to know you dont have to buy a Regal or a Johnson and up grade it to get a playable in expensive resonator guitar.

And the Goldtone and Wechters sound so much better.

Mike

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Here's a link to Wechter Guitars which shows the various Scheerhorn-designed reso's. Interesting and attractive looking guitars, too... not as traditional looking as the Gold Tones. Also about $200 higher on the list prices.

I just found a like new Gold Tone maple model for a good price on eBay. If UPS doesn't turn it into firewood/toothpicks, I'll make a report on a comparison between the two instruments.

There's one more instrument no one's mentioned, the fiberglass reso that was made by the Melobar folks. I don't know if they qualify as a "budget" dobro, but Jeff with Clint Black got a really good sound out of a "non traditional" reso.

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[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 25 January 2005 at 05:17 PM.]

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

That will be a comparison review worth waiting on Herb.

Gregg McKenna · From: South Windsor, Connecticut, USA

My first choice for a guitar in the $1000 range would be a used OMI Dobro from the 70's-80's. These guitars are built well with good sturdy necks and strong tops and can be made great guitars with a simple addition of a new cone and bone nut/bridge insert (if not upgraded already). Even some of the round neck models can be bought reasonably (around $650.00) and be made good steel players with a raised nut. I've worked on quite a few of these guitars and owned some myself (including prewar models) and feel they are a proven guitar at a still reasonable price.

[This message was edited by Gregg McKenna on 25 January 2005 at 06:24 PM.]

[This message was edited by Gregg McKenna on 25 January 2005 at 06:26 PM.]

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

You can find a used Regal out there usually for $200 to $300 bucks and they're acutually pretty decent guitars. I had an Epiphone resonator square neck that I bought at Marr's Music about 5 years ago that was one hot little guitar. It was only $249.00 and sounded very nice. The Epi was a little smaller that the others I've had though. I currently have a Gibson Hound Dog which I like very much. It has a built in Fishman pickup that works well in live situations. I didn't like it at first as the pickup seemed weak with my old Fishman PreAmp but I tried it with one of the new ones and the volume went way up there. I've used it on a couple of gigs and it does the job. I got the hound dog used for $700 with a hardshell case. When I have to play in a loud band I have a Regal round neck with the nut raised which has a Barcus-Berry pickup by the neck which doesn't require a pre-amp and has a pretty decent sound. With this one I just A/B switch it with my Telecaster. I only paid $200 for it with a hard case. I do need to raise the strings at the bridge as they're too close to the fretboard and it's hard to get a capo on the thing. Both of these guitars have solid pegheads and I agree with Herb about them being better. I have a Vantage jumbo acoustic guitar with a Martin Thinline pickup in the bridge which I'm going to raise the nut on a use for some things. I saw an Alan Jackson concert where his steel player played some things on a acoustic electric guitar with no resonator and it had a different sound. Mercury Blues was one tune he used it on. I think he probably had it in an open D tuning for that.....JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 26 January 2005 at 04:42 AM.]

Bob Storti · From: Matthews, North Carolina, USA

I agree with Gregg on this. I bought a 1984 OMI Dobro D60 off Ebay for a reasonable price and had it upgraded with a new cone, nut, and bridges. What a nice guitar and what a wonderful piece of resonator guitar history. To me, it's not only a good guitar but a good investment. Of course, YMMV.

Bob

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

I have an old Mosrite DObro, and have played it for 35 years.
I played a Goldtone Beard 8 string at ISGC in Sept,
and totally loved it.

And was totally flabergasted at the asking price.
basically $2,000 UNDER what I would have said.

Geoff Brown · From: Nashvegas

"There's one more instrument no one's mentioned, the fiberglass reso that was made by the Melobar folks. I don't know if they qualify as a "budget" dobro, but Jeff with Clint Black got a really good sound out of a "non traditional" reso."

I was lucky enough to get one of the last roundnecks (maybe the last one) Ted Smith made before he closed up shop. I wouldn't say it's in the "budget" catagory. I paid considerably more for that guitar than what we're talking here. I have no idea what a used one would go for. There aren't a whole lot of them out there, and I think most guys who have them are keeping 'em. They are amazing resos with a huge, sweet sound. Ted was only making 10 or so a year, IIRC. Only one I've ever seen available used was a squareneck at Gruhn's, the same day I was playing the Gold Tone.
I see Melobar is back in business. Has anyone played a new one, or have any info? http://www.melobar.com/home.htm

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Just a point of correction to David Donald's last post: the 7-string and 8-string budget reso's at the Paul Beard booth in St. Louis last year were Flinthills, not Gold Tones.

I do agree with Gregg on the used OMI's, if upgraded as noted. I based my opinions of the Gold Tones, et.al., on what's out there in the new instrument market, that you can just go into a music store and buy off the rack.

Not to leg hump

, but I wouldn't mind having one of Gregg's guitars. They don't fall into the "budget" category, though, which is the topic of this thread. McKenna Guitars

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[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 26 January 2005 at 07:45 AM.]

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

BEARD/GOLD TONE!!!

$525

I have the squareneck mahogony. Strung with phosphor bronze strings CEGACE.

Sounds and plays like resos three times the price.

Here's a tune I recorded last weekend with the guitar. Please forgive my recording skills (I'm just learning) and my Dobro skills(I should know better).

Nalani

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Herb, thanks for the correction.

I was drooling over them, but I didn't catch the name except that they weren't full Beards.
I went to the Beard site later and only saw Goldtones and Beards.

In ANY CASE great dobros, worth much more than the asking price.
Played great, sounded great, and a great price.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 27 January 2005 at 02:20 AM.]

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