Inexpensive square neck resonator?

Lawrence Daversa · From: Detroit

Hey everybody,

First time poster here..

I picked up an old Airline six string lap steel to incorporate into one or two songs that we play. I got the bug really bad, I can't put it down. I now play the steel exclusively in a duo act as well.
I am in contact with Georgeboards about building a D8 style double neck console.

So now I'm in the market for an resonator of some sort. I don't want to break the bank just yet though. I see all kinds of resonators at low prices but I'm wondering which ones are worth buying. Are there any models that are favorites of forum members?

Thanks

Michael Brebes · From: Northridge CA

For something inexpensive that sounds good, I would recommend the Goldtone Beard resonators. There are three models depending on how much you want to spend.
_________________
Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso

Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100

Dave Thier · From: Fairhope, Alabama, USA

Two that I feel comfortable recommending are the Gold Tone Beard and Wechter-Scheerhorn models. These two are of consistently good quality and sound very good. Many of the inexpensive imports suffer from poor quality components, poor build quality and poor setups. There are some newer additions to the market that I have no direct experience with that sound promising. I'll leave those for others to comment on. Of course, YMMV.

Dave

Mark Eaton · Posted 26 Jun 2013 8:22 am

Lawrence, it always helps in these types of threads if you state your ballpark budget, and what you mean by "inexpensive."

What could be inexpensive to one person might be an extravagance to someone else.

If you bought the Eastwood Airline lap steel new it likely cost ballpark $325-$350, and it's a pretty safe theory that acoustic guitars generally sell for more at a certain level of quality than their electric counterparts.

I agree with Michael and Dave, the Goldtone Beard guitars are outstanding for the money, as are the Wechter/Scheerhorn. There are different models available, and the lowest price versions start new at ballpark $750. These can be found used once in awhile for $500 plus.

There's a big drop off after that. A whole bunch of different brands out there in the $350 range that don't really stand out and once you get around better players with nicer instruments you're going to want to upgrade, or modify your $350 guitar with improved components, the most obvious thing being a high end cone which will run you $55-$75.

Some folks like the Regal Black Lightning which you can find for a little under $500, but of the handful I've played I didn't care for them. They have come with the good Quarterman cone installed, and it's hard to put into words, but for me the tone sounds kind of "muffled."

One of the low end price range at $350 is the Gretsch Boxcar. Of all the resonators I've played in that category in the past few years, this one seems to be a cut above the others. They don't sound nearly as good to my ear as the Goldtone or Wechter, but then why should they? I've seen other folks writing comparisons between the $350 Gretsch and the Goldtones and Wechters. but they aren't really competing with those guitars in the retail price scheme of things. You wouldn't expect a flattop acoustic from a company like Yamaha that costs $350 to sound as good as the model that goes for $750.

A good bang-for-the-buck guitar is the Gretsch Bobtail, which is essentially the Boxcar but with the best dobro pickup currently on the market already installed, the Fishman Nashville. This model can be had for $450-$500. This way you're gig ready and can plug in, but it really enhances the sound if you add the Fishman Aura Jerry Douglas pedal with 16 microphone "images." This setup will sound best coming out of an acoustic guitar amp or going direct to the board - it won't sound nearly as good coming out of an electric guitar or steel amp.
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Mark

Paul Honeycutt · From: Colorado, USA

I've heard good things about the Gretsch Bobtail. Every place I've tried to check them out has been out of stock. They don't seem to last long in the stores.

Wechter is going out of business, so you should be able to find some blowout pricing if you act quick. Sweetwater had some, but I think they're mostly gone now. Do a web search for "Wechter Squareneck."

Lawrence Daversa · From: Detroit

You're right Mark it does help to state a budget. I'm really open to all suggestions, and like what I've heard/seen so far.

I was initially thinking that I would keep it under $400, but now I think that I will postpone the purchase until I find something a bit nicer.

Thanks guys, keep the suggestions coming

Paul Arntson · From: Washington, USA

A little more money, but sometimes good sound. I've been super impressed by some of the Regal Black Lightning squareneck I've tried. Not every single one, but some of them sound exceptional. It's worth trying a few to see if you find one you like.

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

Brad it is true.

There are no new W/S guitars being made.

h

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

Why insist on a square-neck resonator?
I have many resonator guitars in my collection, both round-necked and square-necked, and I have to honestly say that I cannot tell the difference. I've been building acoustic instruments for nearly 50 years, and it has always seemed to me that the only reason square-necked guitars were ever built is because, without the need to fret the strings with the fingers, square necks are a whole lot cheaper to build than round neck.
If you want a cheap resonator you can't do much better than the current foreign-built Dobros. When I pick up a resonator to play, I have the choice of quite a few, but it's one of the recent Dobros that I play most.

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

Square necks are also wider then there round neck brethren. That's because the trend in modern guitars is a wider string spacing. You can check on the Beard site for specs.

When the Beard shop sets up an OMI or older square neck Dobro the spacing is such that strings 1 & 6 overhang the neck a bit. It only takes minutes to get used to it. The issue is much more prominent on the skinnier round neck guitars. The nut has to be severely tapered. I personally think the overhang on the round neck is too distracting.

There is no issue of course if the player chooses not to go to the wider spacing.

And there you have it.

h

Mark Eaton · Posted 30 Jun 2013 6:28 am

Sweetwater in Indiana has been a big dealer of Wechter guitars, they are located very close to each other.

I was calling them about something else a few months back and since I had been hearing rumblings about Wecther/Scheerhorn resonator guitars ceasing production i asked the sales agent what he knew and he told me it was true. He said it wasn't for poor sales, but due to quality control issues with the resonator guitars that were coming from China. Apparently too many "lemons" in the shipments.
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Mark

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

My sense is that Sweetwater no longer wants to be a manufacturer/importer. The issue was not with resonators in particular. They had many models coming from the Pac Rim.

Abe Wechter is no longer with the company.

Have to hand it to Gold Tone. I'm familiar with a bit of their process and they do a good job of rejecting product BEFORE it gets packed into a shipping container. That means they have an agent/employee at the factory doing QC. He has access to the building process and can institute changes if problems are identified.

h

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