reso question

[don hindenach]

I find myself jonesing for a resonater guitar, having gotten into a bit of slide and having heard resos played well (not necessarily by me) in many styles.

I found a Republic minolian for a very good price, and it has me on the edge. I have injuries that preclude me using anything large or horribly heavy, so this size and shape appeal.

Are they a one-trick pony, or is it something that can cover some ground?

I'd like something that can do more than jump in yer face. If I pick one up I'd like have something that can I can use to play more than one or two specific tunes.

The same seller has metal-bodied resos for a couple hundred dollars (and 2-2.5 pounds) more, in both single and tri-cone models. The youtube clips of the tricones sound like a lot of fun.

I am primarily a folk/folk-rock guy that leans towards blues and country. Plectrum and bare-finger playing, with my slide plaing coming up on actually useful.

Opinions?

--
-donh-
donh at audiosys dot com

[Gerry]

On 2012-12-20 01:34:10 +0000, don hindenach said:

> I find myself jonesing for a resonater guitar, having gotten into a bit
> of slide and having heard resos played well (not necessarily by me) in
> many styles.

After having watched the whole video posted here recently I too was
excited about the instrument; the potential novelty and a new sound
lodged in an instrument I can already play.

> Are they a one-trick pony, or is it something that can cover some ground?

Are YOU a one-trick pony? I played a few in local stores and found
myself--no great surprise--doing what I would do on an archtop, or an
electric or a nylon string. I play a lot of different style, and as
you'd guess it facilitates some and is useless in others.

I decided to pass on it.

> I'd like something that can do more than jump in yer face. If I pick
> one up I'd like have something that can I can use to play more than one
> or two specific tunes.

Play one or two in a music store for an hour or so. It can do wonders
at telling what it is and what it isn't.
--
Music is the best means we have of digesting time. -- W. H. Auden

[don hindenach]

On Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:17:36 -0800
Gerry <add...@domain.com> wrote:
>
> Play one or two in a music store for an hour or so. It can do wonders
> at telling what it is and what it isn't.
> --

Dear lovely Gerry: if playing a few in music store was a reasonable option I wouldn't have had to post here asking about them.

I'm guessing you are a bit new to this group . . . .

[Tony Done]

I have a Republic Miniolian. Excellent sound, as good as the National
Estralita in its own way. Set up OK, but fit and finish a bit rough. I
leveled and crowned the frets, chiefly because I didn't like how they
looked (file marks), and lowered the action - I could get it lower
than the Estralita. IMO very good value for money overall, at the
price and tonal quality I treated it as a worthwhile fixer-upper.

Re types of National-style resos, it depends what you want. I think
wood is more versatile than metal in single cones. In tricones, my
Beltona is much smoother sounding than an equivalent National
Resophonic, so comfortably moves into flattop, and even archtop, kinds
of applications. I don't know how the Republic tricone would go, but
generally speaking I think tricones are more versatile for slide than
single cones, as they are passable for applications where you might
prefer a dobro-type sound.

This is a shot of mine after I polished the top, installed a pickguard
(see explanation on pic) and electrified it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/done_family/5662511320/in/photostream

Tony D

[don hindenach]

If I go with a metal body, it would be a "HotRod Steel" from Lenny at nationalguitar.com

I'm guessing that his offereings are a tad above the Republic ones at a similar price point.

Your Minolian sure cleaned up good!

[Tony Done]

Remember that you can improve many inexpensive resos, particularly
metal bodies, simply by changing the cones - just like pickup swapping
in electrics. And almost any guitar will benefit from a careful set
up.

Tony D

[don hindenach]

So assuming a decent setup, is a minolian (cheap wooden parlour reso) or a relatively inexpensive steel tricone the more versatile instrument?

I am attracted to the minolian for it's light weight and lovely size, but I suspect the tricone has a larger range of useful tones. Can't play either before plunking down the payment . . . .

[Tony Done]

On Dec 20, 2:53 pm, don hindenach <d...@audiosys.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:34:25 -0800 (PST)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Hard to guess. I would put the odds in favour of the minolian, because
steel is a bit harsh, but not with much confidence. FWIW, the
Continental cones they use are pretty good.

Tony D

[Gerry]

On 2012-12-20 03:38:49 +0000, don hindenach said:

> On Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:17:36 -0800
> Gerry <add...@domain.com> wrote:
>>
>> Play one or two in a music store for an hour or so. It can do wonders
>> at telling what it is and what it isn't.
>

> if playing a few in music store was a reasonable option I wouldn't have
> had to post here asking about them.

I see: Yes, they are they a one-trick pony.

> I'm guessing you are a bit new to this group . . . .

No, nor usenet, nor guitar.

[JimLowther]

I have a Republic Minolian and I like it a lot. I have seen and
played some of the metal bodied reso guitars this fellow has imported
as well. I am really at to to says how they are different as far as
soud goes. I would say that unless it is nickle plated brass that I
really do not like the finish on some of the metal bodies I have
seen.

For me the Minolian was the right ound, right size, and right price.
If you have not actually seen the Minolian, the finish is the same
flat UV cured polyurethane you find on so many East Asian guitars.
Mine has white plastic binding with "abolone" purfling around the top
that isn't fooling anybody, but it is not at all bad looking. Weight
is good, and it is fun to play.

Best wishes,

Dr. Jim Lowther

[Tom from Texas]

> Dr. Jim Lowther- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Jim, please, pay yer keyboard rental. Yer starting to lose letters.

Tom (who notices these things) from Texas

[don hindenach]

Thanks, Tony!

I ordered the minolian. Should be fine . . . . .

[Mike Brown]

In article <20121219235321...@audiosys.com>,

Most metal tricones are pretty heavy. I've just sold a "Nashville"
Chinese metal bodied tricone, it was good value and well finished, but I
wasn't getting enough playing time with it.
Me, not the guitar.

MJRB

[don hindenach]

On Thu, 20 Dec 2012 07:45:59 -0800
Gerry <add...@domain.com> wrote:
>
> I see: Yes, they are they a one-trick pony.
>

Please tell this to Mike Dowling. I'm sure he'll be thrilled.

[Gerry]

On 2012-12-24 10:06:23 +0000, don hindenach said:

> On Thu, 20 Dec 2012 07:45:59 -0800
> Gerry <add...@domain.com> wrote:

>>> if playing a few in music store was a reasonable option I wouldn't have
>>> had to post here asking about them.
>>

>> I see: Yes, they are they a one-trick pony.
>
> Please tell this to Mike Dowling. I'm sure he'll be thrilled.

Seemingly sarcasm is your basic modality. That must make you a lot of friends.

If Mike, or others, publically ask for generic advice but are irked at
being advised to play similar instruments in a store, I'll be glad to
provide additional counsel. If they're whiny about it, then my advice
will likely be less exacting.

[don hindenach]

whoo-hooo! Send me your address and I'll send you a mirror - hours of fun!

[Gerry]

On 2012-12-24 20:30:12 +0000, don hindenach said:

> Send me your address and I'll send you a mirror - hours of fun!

Touch�!

[hank alrich]

Gerry <add...@domain.com> wrote:

> On 2012-12-20 03:38:49 +0000, don hindenach said:
>
> > On Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:17:36 -0800
> > Gerry <add...@domain.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Play one or two in a music store for an hour or so. It can do wonders
> >> at telling what it is and what it isn't.
> >
> > if playing a few in music store was a reasonable option I wouldn't have
> > had to post here asking about them.
>
> I see: Yes, they are they a one-trick pony.

Yeah, Jerry Douglas can only play a couple of things.

At Weiser jams you'll see people playing all kinds of swing, and
outright jazz on resonators, with slide, in addition to the regular
styles often associated with resos.

--
shut up and play your guitar * http://hankalrich.com/
http://hankandshaidrimusic.com/
http://www.youtube.com/walkinaymusic

[hank alrich]

don hindenach <do...@audiosys.com> wrote:

> On Thu, 20 Dec 2012 07:45:59 -0800
> Gerry <add...@domain.com> wrote:
> >
> > I see: Yes, they are they a one-trick pony.
> >
>
> Please tell this to Mike Dowling. I'm sure he'll be thrilled.

The remark is way off the mark. I know reso players who will throw
anything at you, playing with a slide. Ever heard Charlie Parker bebop
from a dobro? Fun, I tell ya.

[Gerry]

On 2012-12-24 22:51:35 +0000, hank alrich said:

>> I see: Yes, they are they a one-trick pony.
>
> Yeah, Jerry Douglas can only play a couple of things.
>
> At Weiser jams you'll see people playing all kinds of swing, and
> outright jazz on resonators, with slide, in addition to the regular
> styles often associated with resos.

Jesus Fucking Christ, I take it back! Which among all the many stripes
of guitar is, in fact, a one-trick pony? If you can play anything well
on a guitar you can play it well on another guitar; that was the
substance of the first post that was rejected with a prissy rejoinder.
Only a thoroughly half-witted moron could seriously ask if it was a
one-trick pony.

Can we move on with our lives now?

[don hindenach]

On Mon, 24 Dec 2012 15:30:18 -0800
Gerry <add...@domain.com> wrote:

> On 2012-12-24 22:51:35 +0000, hank alrich said:
>
> >> I see: Yes, they are they a one-trick pony.
> >
> > Yeah, Jerry Douglas can only play a couple of things.
> >
> > At Weiser jams you'll see people playing all kinds of swing, and
> > outright jazz on resonators, with slide, in addition to the regular
> > styles often associated with resos.
>
> Jesus Fucking Christ, I take it back! Which among all the many stripes
> of guitar is, in fact, a one-trick pony? If you can play anything well
> on a guitar you can play it well on another guitar; that was the
> substance of the first post that was rejected with a prissy rejoinder.
> Only a thoroughly half-witted moron could seriously ask if it was a
> one-trick pony.
>

Oh. Nevermind. I see you have the mirror already.

I was at a jam-party once and playing one of my things I do where I strum the crap out of the guitar and holler to beat the band. One pretty thing with a vintage Gibson archtop asked how one strums like I do. I grabbed her guitar to show her and ... nothing ... nada. I had discovered why I couldn't hear her play, over and above her admitted lack of chops. That Gibson only knew how to play dead. I have met plywood chinese trash that had more going for it than that thing. If I owned it I'd send it to Luke or somebody like him with a big question mark and a Franklin attached to it, and see which one came back. I gave it gently back to her with some non-commital remark and went and got a beer.

My friend Ken said to me once: "Sometimes I get to be part of my own conversations"

[Steve Daniels]

On Mon, 24 Dec 2012 19:34:16 -0500, against all advice, something
compelled don hindenach <do...@audiosys.com>, to say:

>On Mon, 24 Dec 2012 15:30:18 -0800
>Gerry <add...@domain.com> wrote:
>
>> On 2012-12-24 22:51:35 +0000, hank alrich said:
>>
>> >> I see: Yes, they are they a one-trick pony.
>> >
>> > Yeah, Jerry Douglas can only play a couple of things.
>> >
>> > At Weiser jams you'll see people playing all kinds of swing, and
>> > outright jazz on resonators, with slide, in addition to the regular
>> > styles often associated with resos.
>>
>> Jesus Fucking Christ, I take it back! Which among all the many stripes
>> of guitar is, in fact, a one-trick pony? If you can play anything well
>> on a guitar you can play it well on another guitar; that was the
>> substance of the first post that was rejected with a prissy rejoinder.
>> Only a thoroughly half-witted moron could seriously ask if it was a
>> one-trick pony.
>>
>
>Oh. Nevermind. I see you have the mirror already.

JHFC, let the guy up already.

This is Christmas Eve, isn't it? (checks calendar) Why yes. Yes
it is.

We're not doing Christmas this year. My Other broke her kneecap
a couple of weeks ago, badly enough that she needed surgery the
next day. We've been negotiating life with injury since then,
and have not had the time, energy, or aloneness to purchase
gifts. On the other hand, we've spent much more time together
then we would have normally, found other ways to be helpful, and
apparently are very supportive of each other. As we make our way
into the latter half of our fifties, I think these things are
better than anything we could have found at the store.

So, Merry Fucking Christmas, and may Santa place a reso under
your tree. If you don't like playing it, you can gaze at your
reflection in the metal parts.

[Wilbur]

On Mon, 24 Dec 2012 19:34:16 -0500, don hindenach <do...@audiosys.com>
wrote:

>I was at a jam-party once and playing one of my things I do where I strum
>the crap out of the guitar and holler to beat the band.
>One pretty thing with a vintage Gibson archtop asked how one strums like I do.
> I grabbed her guitar to show her and ... nothing ... nada. I had discovered why
>I couldn't hear her play, over and above her admitted lack of chops. That
>Gibson only knew how to play dead. I have met plywood chinese trash that had
>more going for it than that thing. If I owned it I'd send it to Luke or somebody
>like him with a big question mark and a Franklin attached to it, and see which
>one came back. I gave it gently back to her with some non-commital remark
> and went and got a beer.

Terrible missed opportunity. You should have handed her your guitar
and showed her the difference between a good one and a bad one. Teach
your children well.

[don hindenach]

You are right, of course, in general. If you'd been there you'd have done the fade as well. Sometimes the teaching thing won't be taken as intended, and this was one of those.

[don hindenach]

On Mon, 24 Dec 2012 16:52:57 -0800
Steve Daniels <sdan...@gorge.net> wrote:
>
> We're not doing Christmas this year. My Other broke her kneecap
> a couple of weeks ago, badly enough that she needed surgery the
> next day. We've been negotiating life with injury since then,
> and have not had the time, energy, or aloneness to purchase
> gifts. On the other hand, we've spent much more time together
> then we would have normally, found other ways to be helpful, and
> apparently are very supportive of each other. As we make our way
> into the latter half of our fifties, I think these things are
> better than anything we could have found at the store.

That was us a few years back when Pat took a tumble and wiped out a foot and her back sometime in November (she remembers dates, I just remember moves). Spent the non-working time in December building ramps and putting up grab-bars and all that stuff. Times like that hit, and something goes click and there you are doing the needful. We didn't worry much about presents, but we got throught it intact and still manage to inhabit the same space successfully. I think that was present enough.

[Gerry]

On 2012-12-25 00:34:16 +0000, don hindenach said:

> Oh. Nevermind. I see you have the mirror already.

Touch�!

[don hindenach]

On Mon, 24 Dec 2012 20:13:41 -0800
Gerry <add...@domain.com> wrote:

> On 2012-12-25 00:34:16 +0000, don hindenach said:
>
> > Oh. Nevermind. I see you have the mirror already.
>

> Touché!

> --
> Music is the best means we have of digesting time. -- W. H. Auden
>

And so it ends . . . .

Happy Solstice Celebration-Times to you!

--
-donh-
donh at audiosys dot com

*Everything* is a tone control

[Geezer]

"Gerry" <add...@domain.com> wrote in message
news:2012122415301857479-address@domaincom...

Nope, sorry this is RMMGA...you can never take it back.
I can tell you that ,after owning both a tricone and a duolian (both Regals
and set up well by my local shop),
I preferred the Duolian and am sorry that I sold the tricone. Both great for
lots of styles, and both pidgeon holed by past styles.

In short, the sky's the limit if you have enough talent.

Now, quit yer bitchin' and play yer guitar!

Merry Christmas,
Geezer

[hank alrich]

Steve Daniels <sdan...@gorge.net> wrote:

> My Other broke her kneecap a couple of weeks ago, badly enough that she
> needed surgery the next day.

As a kid in grade school I fractured my kneecap, far less severe injury,
but a very painful experience, ten weeks in a leg cast. I wish your
Other a swift and complete recovery.

I no longer own a resonator guitar. The last one I had was a National #4
Tri-Cone with square neck.

[hank alrich]

Geezer <Gee...@Geezer.com> wrote:

> In short, the sky's the limit if you have enough talent.

I was afraid you'd say that.

> Now, quit yer bitchin' and play yer guitar!

I promise.

[Tony Done]

On 25 Dec, 15:01, "Geezer" <Gee...@Geezer.com> wrote:
> "Gerry" <addr...@domain.com> wrote in message

Seasons greeting to all.

I play everything on everything, and me playing overdriven electric
sounds pretty much the same as me playing a brass single cone in terms
of composition. I play a lot of different guitars because I like to
hear variety in my sounds, almost nada mas, as they might say here in
Colombia. - But I still have opinions on the degree of versatility of
different guitars, and what sounds better on what.

My single cone resos are set up for heavy-handed slide (a neck reset
would be required for anything else), so in practice I can't play high-
fret fingerstyle on them. The converse isn't true - I can play slide
cleanly and without hammering the frets on a low set up and/or with
light strings, but it has taken a lot of practice and the tone might
not be much to my liking. IOW, it is a simple truism to say that you
could play anything on anything, but there are set up limits as to how
versatile an instrument is at any point in time, and differences in
what you like and don't like in terms of tone.

End of blog, back to playing my long-lost requinto, sold (?) to my
brother-in-law over 20 years ago.

Tony D

Tony D

[Mike Brown]

In article
<18a6aaf9-2210-4d51...@s14g2000yqg.googlegroups.com>,

I'm afraid that I've played fingerstyle for so long now that I've got to
the stage that my music is all played that way. The rhythms and keys
change, and I manage a few different picking patterns, but even the
ability to strum with any decent effect seems to have deserted me. I do
manage a few presentable single note run as "fills" occasionally, but
that's about it.
Thank goodness the festivities are over, now I can get back to playing
some guitar.
MJRB

[Tony Done]

On 26 Dec, 09:38, Mike Brown <rocko...@chariot.net.au> wrote:
> In article
> <18a6aaf9-2210-4d51-9797-423231627...@s14g2000yqg.googlegroups.com>,

I've never used a flatpick, even from the very first. I can do a few
things that wander in to flatpick territory, but not much. I get
envious of other's skills that I don't have, including good
flatpicking, but I can't do everything. I think I'm spead a bit thin
as it is.

The big festivities here are Christmas eve, but I was too tired and
jet-lagged to appreciate it - we didn't arrive in Pereira until about
4 pm on Christmas Eve. Christmas day is very quiet, I just read, ate
and played my long-lost requinto, whose tone is at least as good as I
remember it.

Tony D

[Mike Brown]

In article
<e357d7c2-0a16-4e1a...@r3g2000vbn.googlegroups.com>,

I don't use a flatpick any more, just my thumb nail for single note
stuff. I used to use the little brown teardrop Fender picks, but they
seem to have disappeared from the market. I've probably got quite a few
hiding in some corner, I used to buy them six at a time. As I said I
wouldn't use them anyway.
MJRB

[hank alrich]

don hindenach <do...@audiosys.com> wrote:

> I find myself jonesing for a resonater guitar, having gotten into a bit of
> slide and having heard resos played well (not necessarily by me) in many
> styles.
>
> I found a Republic minolian for a very good price, and it has me on the
> edge. I have injuries that preclude me using anything large or horribly
> heavy, so this size and shape appeal.
>
> Are they a one-trick pony, or is it something that can cover some ground?
>
> I'd like something that can do more than jump in yer face. If I pick one
> up I'd like have something that can I can use to play more than one or two
> specific tunes.
>
> The same seller has metal-bodied resos for a couple hundred dollars (and
> 2-2.5 pounds) more, in both single and tri-cone models. The youtube clips
> of the tricones sound like a lot of fun.
>
> I am primarily a folk/folk-rock guy that leans towards blues and country.
> Plectrum and bare-finger playing, with my slide plaing coming up on
> actually useful.
>
> Opinions?

You sure got a lot of help with this one!

I haven't played one but they appear to get decent reviews from folks
who aren't obviously shills.

Did you go for it? If so, what do you think of it?

[Tony Done]

You've replied to a couple of 5-month old threads, I feel like I'm stuck
in a time warp. Still, I would be interested in the outcome. My original
replies have expired, but I have a Miniolian, which I think overall
sounds better than the expensive National Estralita. I did a bit of
cleanup work on it though - frets and saddle.

--
Tony Done

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=784456

http://www.flickr.com/photos/done_family/

[hank alrich]

Yep, some threads I don't have time to chase when they first arrive. I
set 'em for later and later I get to 'em.

Thanks for the info.

[Tony Done]

<g> You reminded me of the German shepherd I had 20 years ago. He would
go out and kill a wallaby, then go back a couple of weeks later and roll
in it and eat it when it was well and truly ripe.