Resonator guitars

[tot_Ou_tard]

Thanks for the input!

How loud are resonators? Will the neighbors want to call the cops?

 

[wingsdad]

Thanks for the input!

How loud are resonators? Will the neighbors want to call the cops?

Louder than a regular dreadnaught or smaller body acoustic, because that's why and what they were originally designed to accomplish, preceding the electric guitar. But mine's a squareneck (dobro) Johnson JR-200, 'Chicago Blues'....made in China, mahogany body, spruce top, spider bridge, big European spun aluminum cone.

This model has been disco'd since, but they kept their Delta Blues model -- similar, only with a lam maple body (will be brighter, twangier)...
Here's the link to Johnson's site on it...It also comes in a roundneck Like the JR-200 does/did) Nice guitar, and can be had for around $350 new (mine was mcuh less....about $250 on a NAMM exhibit special price deal my dealer scored for me 2 years ago.
Johnson Delta Blues
Guardian makes an excellent resonator case, around 80 bucks new (list $130)which is what I got for mine.

 

[tjcurtin1]

Here's a couple clips of the Johnson 200 - sounds pretty good to me!
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page324.htm
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page325.htm


Go hear for a list of clips of a whole lot of different resonators:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page2520.htm

 

[Jipes]

Here's a couple clips of the Johnson 200 - sounds pretty good to me!
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page324.htm
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page325.htm


Go hear for a list of clips of a whole lot of different resonators:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page2520.htm

Thanks for the Link TJ it's also very informative :AOK:

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Claims to be Jim Fogarty, probably is;




A Beard resonator

 

[Jipes]

Thanks Tot

The second vidéo is really great the Beard sounds much better, he is playing Big Mama's door from Alvin Youngblood Hart if you don't know this song just rush it's an amazing artist !

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Thanks Tot

The second vidéo is really great the Beard sounds much better, he is playing Big Mama's door from Alvin Youngblood Hart if you don't know this song just rush it's an amazing artist !

I agree the second video with the Beard is very sweet.

I just checked out Alvin Youngblood Hart.

http://www.mojomusic.com/alvin/main.htm

Wow! Merci Jipes!

 

[tjcurtin1]

Resonator strings?

So, Jipes, what about resonator strings? I see that 16's are often recommended, but is that for square neck dobro style playing?

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

So, Jipes, what about resonator strings? I see that 16's are often recommended, but is that for square neck dobro style playing?

Good question Ted.

Nickel or phosphor-bronze?

 

[piebaldpython]

Resos

Good question re the STRINGS........It all depends on WHAT tuning you will be playing in as to how much stress it will put on the neck. I have 13's, phosphor bronze on my roundneck. That's what the builder recommended I use.
You can get away with heavier gauge if you're going to TUNE DOWN as there isn't as much stress on the neck. So, tune down to Open D or Open Low G. If you want to play in Open E, you better go NO higher than 13's and then loosen the strings when you are done.
If you are playing bluegrass and plan to tune to Open High G (GBDGBD, low to high), well you better have a squareneck for that.
I want to try nickel plated strings at some point too!

 

[Jipes]

I agree the second video with the Beard is very sweet.

I just checked out Alvin Youngblood Hart.

http://www.mojomusic.com/alvin/main.htm

Wow! Merci Jipes!

You're welcome be sure to check the Big Mama's door CD it's a wonderful Delta rendition :AOK:

 

[Jipes]

So, Jipes, what about resonator strings? I see that 16's are often recommended, but is that for square neck dobro style playing?

hello TJ all depends if you fret or not, I use 13/56 for all my Resonators but the people which are using them to play flat on the knees use higher gauge: Of course it also depends of the open that you use C or C6 tunings needs bigger strings in order of not sounding too muddy


I use Martin strings or Elixir polyweb

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

hello TJ all depends if you fret or not, I use 13/56 for all my Resonators but the people which are using them to play flat on the knees use higher gauge: Of course it also depends of the open that you use C or C6 tunings needs bigger strings in order of not sounding too muddy


I use Martin strings or Elixir polyweb

So just standard acoustic strings, Jipes?

Some good info:

http://www.acousticfingerstyle.com/ResonatorsExplained.htm

There is this statement:

Also, the cones used in many of the imports vary quite a bit in quality and many who buy these often will eventually purchase a replacement cone/s from places like Paul Beard's Resophonic Outfitters. Because so much of the tone generated by resonators comes from the cone, the improvement can be quite dramatic. It's beyond the scope of this article to delve into this process, but you should at least note that if you do buy an import, there is at least one relatively simple thing you can do to them to improve their sound when you're ready to take that step.




Oh, no! Let the resonator modding begin. :thwap:
​

 

[Jipes]

Yes regular acoustic strings 13/56, if you use a magnetic pickup some strings respond better but I can remember which type :thwap:

 

[tjcurtin1]

Oh, no! Let the resonator modding begin. :thwap:
[/LEFT]

Oooof! "I'll see you and raise you!", eh? WHEN will it end!!!

Thanks Piebald and Jipes for the info.

 

[piebaldpython]

Resos

Many people who play a lot of slide on their roundneck resos go up to 15's on their strings and tune down to Open G, Open D or even Open C. Both BEARD and PEARSE have these string sets available. Of course, the heavier gauge means MORE sustain. It all depends on what you want.

C6 tuning is usually associated with lap steel and playing Hawaiian or Western Swing. The tuning is C-E-G-A-C-E (low to high) and entails a special lighter gauge set with the Bottom string coming in the low to mid 40's in gauge.

As to reso mods, replacing cones.........dude, you have NO idea....it makes speaker swapping look like child's play......I read some of the things these dudes do with their cones and oh man, it scares the beejeezus out of me.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

As to reso mods, replacing cones.........dude, you have NO idea....it makes speaker swapping look like child's play......I read some of the things these dudes do with their cones and oh man, it scares the beejeezus out of me.

Do you have any links to bejeezus-scaring cone surgery or just to discussions of resonator mods in general?

 

[Jipes]

Do you have any links to bejeezus-scaring cone surgery or just to discussions of resonator mods in general?

Well if you really want to read specialist talking on resonators you can join the IGS forum

http://www.guitarseminars.com/cgi-bin//Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&BypassCookie=true

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Well if you really want to read specialist talking on resonators you can join the IGS forum

http://www.guitarseminars.com/cgi-bin//Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&BypassCookie=true

I tried:

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[Jipes]

I tried:

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We are not accepting new registrations at this time. [/FONT]
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Try here
http://www.guitarseminars.com/gs/index.php

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Try here
http://www.guitarseminars.com/gs/index.php

Thanks Jipes, I had just found my way there.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

I checked around & Ted & my soon to be new Johnson Chicago Blues spider resonators come with spun Continental cones. These have a decent reputation, so I see no need to upgrade to a Beard or Quaterman.

If you've never seen a cone being spun looky here:

http://tweedsblues.net/trader/spin.html

The home page might be interesting as well.

http://tweedsblues.net/

 

[Jipes]

I checked around & Ted & my soon to be new Johnson Chicago Blues spider resonators come with spun Continental cones. These have a decent reputation, so I see no need to upgrade to a Beard or Quaterman.

I havn't change mine neither the Continental's are good enough

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

I havn't change mine neither the Continental's are good enough

It's great to have confirmation Jipes. :AOK:

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Some basic info:



biscuit, spider, open D, frailing, & even a banjo.

 

[Jipes]

At the last NAMM show Aël one of our members from the Slide et Resonateurs forums (french slide forum) had the great chance to review the new resonator guitars at the National Resophonic stand with no one else than the famous Bob Brozmann

Check that out it's a dream come true, specially the Tricone in German silver and the new Triolian model
http://www.laguitare.com/guitare-ma...tiques_electros_resonateurs-video-5696-0.html

I'm just gettin' another GAS crisis :rotflmao:

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

C'est incroyable, merci Jipes.

 

[piebaldpython]

Resos

Thanks for NOTHING Jipes. Some friend you are. When there's already a fire burning, you don't throw GASoline on it. That just makes it worse. Geez, have mercy.

That Triolian made my knees buckle; I'm woozy. I already am doubled over in agony with the chance of getting a custom made lap steel; then the new DVM OD-2 pedal; then the Vox AC4TV and Little Lanilei tube amps.

Don't light a match near me because I'll go up in flames.

 

[tjcurtin1]

That was great, Tot, thanks - how do you find this stuff? That wood body is the Johnson flying under a different flag I think - sounds great, can't wait (mine's due tomorrow)!

 

[wingsdad]

...That wood body is the Johnson flying under a different flag I think - sounds great, can't wait (mine's due tomorrow)!

Congrats to both of you on scoring the JR200's, especially at that killer close-out price. :AOK:

I hope y'all will enjoy playing with your Johnsons :thwap: ...as much as I do with mine :rotflmao:

My squareneck JR200 has given me an excellent starter 'dobro'. I'd found some reviews and discussion about it and the suprisingly good quality of the cone at ResoNation.com, and that tipped me in its direction vs. a Gold Tone Beard for almost twice the price.

[BTW: I string my reso with D'addario EFT13 Flat Tops (.016-.056); they're specifically 'Resophonic' strings, for less slide/bar/finger noise]

As for 'flying under a different flag', I can't imagine there's that many Chinese factories making decent resos, just like certain Chinese or Korean factories make guitars OEM for various manufacturers.

For instance, here on the left is the Johnson JR-520-CEBM 'Swamp Stomper', a pretty cool biscuit bridge roundneck with a single coil pickup onboard, and the apparently identical Oscar Schmidt OR6CE:

What's the difference?

The Johnson lists for $440. The OS lists for $600.

My dealer carries both brands, and had one of each at the same time he got my JR200. He's actually carried the OS version for several years; it's been pretty popular. Other than the different headstock shapes and logos, they ARE the same guitar. So now, if a customer wants one of these, he doesn't get the OS, he gets the Johnson.