Acoustic Lap Steel/ Mini Dobro?

James Knox · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Trying to source an Acoustic Lap Steel or Mini Resonator. Beard made a Dobro type mini called a Beard E-minor, but they were very expensive and are rare as hens teeth.

I'm really loving my late 30's Ricky Model 59 but don't want to have to plug it in to jam with another guitar or bass player.

Can you point me in the right direction? Is it possible to find something around $1000!

Mark Eaton · Posted 5 Jun 2024 4:06 pm

Jim Lay in North Carolina has a squareneck acoustic flattop for sale on the Resohangout forum. The model was discontinued a number of years ago, it was designed by Paul Beard and is part of the Gold Tone product line.

I have played a couple of these in the past and I thought they were nice guitars for the money, but I just never got around to buying one.

The guitar needs some work, but it doesn’t appear to be anything that’s a huge deal and would make one regret buying it. If I didn’t already have too many instruments I would take it off Jim’s hands.

Here’s a link:

https://www.resohangout.com/classified/12730
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D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

An old-fashioned Grover nut extender on any round-neck acoustic guitar is a $10 option. String spacing at the nut is a little closer than a typical square neck.I have an old Oahu parlor guitar with a nut extender that sounds okay, a poor man's Weissenborn. With a Fishman Humbucker sound hole pickup, it sings.
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James Knox · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Thanks for the replies Friends....

Mark, I did see that one on the Reso Forum. I'm thinking something more like a Beard Road-o-phonic but without PUs and not $3700, lol.

DS, yes I have done the nut extender on a an inexpensive acoustic, but kinda looking for "smaller" and around 22" scale.

I've seen some pics of some amazing custom builder short scale reso's. Very beautiful and way out of my price range.

K Maul · From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL

There are lots of low cost small resonators on eBay if you do online buying. Like this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/176380297764
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James Knox · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Found a pic of a Beard E-minor (mini dobro) next to a regular size dobro...

Joe Burke · From: Toronto, Canada

Good topic! I sometime also wish I had something smaller.

I have one of the flattop Gold Tones that Mark Eaton provided the link to. It's great, but is the basically same size as a full body resonator.

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

You would need a nut riser for this Minnie Guitar available from Bigamart.....

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Mark Eaton · Posted 6 Jun 2024 4:18 pm

James, are you specifically looking for something with a squareneck so that you can play in a tuning with a lot of tension like GBDGBD and the neck won’t potentially self destruct like a roundneck guitar with a nut riser?

Or is a roundneck acceptable where you could put on a nut riser and use lighter strings with less tension?
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Mark

James Knox · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Mark, I'm looking for an acoustic lap steel, short scale, maybe 22-23". I will be tuning it in bOb's D/G tuning. Something like the Beard Mini E-minor Dobro or the Road-O-Phonic I posted pics of.

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

If you can find an older model Road-O-Phonic, 2006-2014.....that may suit your needs.....these are quite different from the latest ones.....they are hollow body which makes them much more acoustic and much, much less expensive.....they have a pup so you can plug in if you want to......

Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

I have 2 of these I gig with. With a nut extender, they work pretty well

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HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

here's an interesting parlor reso that I had custom made.....

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=186126&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=petite+benoit&start=0

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

James Knox · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

HowardR - thank you for the tip regarding an older model Road-O-Phonic. That Petite Benoit is spectacular!

That Donner Silent Guitar looks fun but is neither Lap Steel or Acoustic, lol.

Adam Tracksler · From: Maine, USA

I'd check out Jack Stepick: https://jackstepickluthier.blogspot.com

or look at the recording king parlor resonators and add a new nut/extender.

James Knox · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Hey Adam, thank you for the Jack Stepick nod. Looks great and prices are reasonable.

I did the extension nut for awhile with a Gretsch Jim Dandy. Scale length too long and fingerboard not wide enough; outer strings out past the edge.

Bill Sinclair · From: Waynesboro, PA, USA

The older Road-O-Phonic that Howard referenced is also a shorter scale (22.5 or 23", I can't remember) so that is also more in line with what you seem to be looking for.

James Knox · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Thanks Bill - I will be keeping a lookout for one of those!

James Knox · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

I think I have found what I'm looking for...

23" scale Hybrid Mini Travel Weissenborn by luthier Jack Stepick. Thanks Adam for the heads up!

Joe Burke · From: Toronto, Canada

Nice! I’m curious to hear what sounds like. Post us a clip!

Joseph Lazo · From: Wisconsin, USA

I was so intrigued by this baby Weissenborn I had to look up a demo.

https://youtu.be/gGGDGkw7Ios?si=YpH8c1w34_6SSd9p

Mark Evans · From: Colorado, USA

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