Vintage Resonator AMG1

alan.da...@marconi.com

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Apr 12, 2013, 1:04:38 PM4/12/13

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Hi Everyone,
I have recently fallen over a Vintage AMG1 resonator in a local cash converter shop while checking out holiday currency rates. I have toyed with the idea of dabbling with a resonator in the past and wonder if anyone has any experience of this model. It was difficult to judge in the shop as the strings were totally shagged and there was nowhere to sit - it is a little on the heavy side.

The shop has it for £190 which seems a little heavy but has indicated it would be flexible. I have seen favourable reviews bearing in mind it's near the bottom of the resonator pile. I think with a price nearer £150 and new strings and a bit of a polish it might be worth a stab.

I would welcome any comments.

TIA

Alan

Tony Done

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Apr 12, 2013, 2:41:34 PM4/12/13

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On 13/04/2013 3:04 AM, alan.da...@marconi.com wrote:
> Hi Everyone,

> I would welcome any comments.
>
> TIA
>
> Alan
>

Is it wood or metal? Are you a fixer?

Cheap wood body resos stand more chance of being dogs than metal bodies,
because of the nature of the materials, but even wood bodies can be
improved with a few internal mods.

Also, a good cone will often do a lot for the tone of a cheap reso, just
as swapping pickups can do a lot for the tone of an electric.

--
Tony Done

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

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

PeterM

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Apr 14, 2013, 7:33:32 AM4/14/13

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On Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:04:38 -0700 (PDT), alan.da...@marconi.com
wrote:

Isn't the AMG1 the brass-bodied one?

--
Peter

George Weston

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Apr 14, 2013, 8:02:32 AM4/14/13

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It is indeed. RRP = �499, but there's a new one on eBay for �375.

http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageresonators.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-AMG1-Acoustic-Resonator-Guitar-Bell-Brass-/150503606615?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item230ab6c957

George

alan.da...@marconi.com

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Apr 14, 2013, 9:45:01 AM4/14/13

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Thanks for the comments and interest so far. Yes it is brass - you might need a truss to play it. I have seen the £375 one, but as it's a bit of a whim/dabble I thought a second-hand one might be the answer. I suppose it depends on how much I could get it for.
It seems in decent nick with plenty of dust on it so a decent clean and new strings could make all the difference. I have also seen articles on upgrading cones etc. I'd have to see about that later. On another tack, are the slide or blues techniques relatively easy to pick up as compared to a normal guitar? Also, would I get a moderately decent sound from a guitar at this level?

Tony Done

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Apr 14, 2013, 4:27:02 PM4/14/13

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On another tack, are the slide or blues techniques relatively easy to
pick up as compared to a normal guitar? Also, would I get a moderately
decent sound from a guitar at this level?
>

I've been playing folkie type stuff for over 50 years now, the latter
half including slide. I think it is easier to get started on than
conventional playing, and more difficult to get interesting. IMO it
depends enormously on the energy and confidence you can get into it -
which takes a fair amount of experience. Listen to players like Fred
McDowell (my hero), Roy Rogers, Derek Trucks and Johnny Winter (RIP) to
see what I mean. Most slide playing from non-specialists sounds
limp-wristed and waffly to me.

I started off on single cone reso, but mostly play electric, flattop or
tricone these days, all of which have more versatility than a single
cone in their own different ways.

You can hear what interests me on my Soundclick link below.

2pods

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Apr 15, 2013, 6:58:41 AM4/15/13

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"Tony Done" <tony...@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:kkf3ei$1ov$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

> On another tack, are the slide or blues techniques relatively easy to
> pick up as compared to a normal guitar? Also, would I get a moderately
> decent sound from a guitar at this level?
>>
>
> I've been playing folkie type stuff for over 50 years now, the latter half
> including slide. I think it is easier to get started on than conventional
> playing, and more difficult to get interesting. IMO it depends enormously
> on the energy and confidence you can get into it - which takes a fair
> amount of experience. Listen to players like Fred McDowell (my hero), Roy
> Rogers, Derek Trucks and Johnny Winter (RIP) to

I'm not quite sure Mr Winter is dead yet Tony. :-)

I'd include Lowell George and Dave Kelly too.

Tony Done

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Apr 15, 2013, 2:46:19 PM4/15/13

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There was a notice on AGA, but I didn't follow it up to check. - Could
have been wrong.

alan.da...@marconi.com

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Apr 17, 2013, 3:47:52 PM4/17/13

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On Friday, 12 April 2013 18:04:38 UTC+1, alan.da...@marconi.com wrote:

Thanks to everyone especially Tony for the links.

Cheers,

Alan