Overall Comments

Just visited Frank Harlow's shop in Ohio and found the last of the master craftsmen. What a skilled and dedicated perfectionist! His best practices and artistic philosophy incorporate a formula that results in one of the finest instruments in the world.

Overall Rating

10

Sound

The main reason for getting a 7 string was to be able to play in a G6 tuning without sacrificing either the D or G strings at the bottom. This reso was perfect for the music I intended to play on it, Hawaiian and Western swing styles. I know it seems I'm in the wrong forum for these styles, but it's still reso music to me. The McKenna has a rich, even sound. Not as bright compared to my 6 string. But that's what I wanted.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

It has a great lacquer finish. The finish he put on this guitar is immaculate and is better than any I have seen in this price range.

Appearance Rating

10

Customer Service

Gregg was a pleasure to work with. Very friendly indeed. I believe he will service it as long as he is around. I never had to call him. He answered all my emails promptly.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

If you have a need for a really great traditional sounding reso at a fair price Gregg McKenna can make it for you. There are some really great makers out there today and I'm not saying I'm going to stop here. But I'm really glad I have this fine guitar made by a great luthier.

Overall Rating

10

Sound

With the type of wood used i was expecting a higher based sound but i am delightfully surprised by a mid range to slightly lower sound. Assuming that as with all instruments age will do nothing but add to the richness that it already has. When compared to my Dobro, the notes from one end of the fret board to the other seem a bit easier to find and there is less final adjust to get the wavelength that pleases the ear best.

Sound Rating

9

Appearance

Top: Curly Maple, Back & Sides: Palo Escrito, Neck: African Mahogany, Fret Board: Peruvian Walnut, saddles are Ebony capped maple.

I'm a hard critic in some ways, but a realist in all areas. Fact is you can hand me any guitar (martin,you name it) ever made and i can find something that could have been done better. When building guitars of any kind the up front investment is in your grill, you cant take it apart and start over, you cant throw it away... lumber is at a premium, so is cost. That being said the two things i noticed about this guitar are minor and will never effect the sound or the life expectancy in any way. Nor are they one of those things that is noticed easy. There is a few slight lacquer blemishes, perhaps a flake of dust or something along that line easy to fix if your in the mind set of perfection, i am not unless your referring to sound, and on the inside side of the saddle there is a slight blemish where the ebony cap and the palo escrito meet. If you aren't looking for it, one would pass it without catching it as part of the palo grain, its not until you hold it back and really take a long look that you find it. There is nothing poor about this guitar and absolutely nothing that would stop me from buying a another one from Harry for any reason. Little imperfections give character and life to an instrument and a builders style... Harry James is both a artist and a character, and that's just what you want in a musical instrument investment.

Appearance Rating

9

Customer Service

Harry and the Missus,.
If everyone in the world was as efficient, kind and reliable, the TV court shows would fade into history. You couldn't ask for a smoother transaction and support team. Sent funds express on Friday, received Guitar on Thursday following. Trust is NOT an issue here.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

The experience and pleasure is all mine. I got more than I paid for, and may well have started a lasting friendship that i hold and will continue to hold very near. People like Harry and his wife are hard to come by these days and i cant say enough about the fact that if you want a really nice Reso Guitar, you can find one with your name on it fom Harry. Thanks Harry and Margaret !

This guitar is J093 not J095 as the review states in the heading...

Overall Rating

10

Sound

Deep modern sounding like a post and baffle should be. Even tone up the neck, with good volume. Sounds great played soft to get that smooth tone. Can be played bright and loud, it responds well to right hand movement.

Sound Rating

not rated

Appearance

I custom ordered the finish, olive green opaque with black sunburst over it. It looks almost black in dark room, but outside it looks green. Birch is a great overall tonewood. All the other parts came from Beard, so high quality and finish.

Appearance Rating

not rated

Customer Service

Tom did everything I wanted at a great price, if there was ever a problem he would make it right.

Customer Service

not rated

Overall Comments

Why spend more than you have to get a quality custom American made reso. Call or email Tom and let him build a great instrument.

Overall Rating

10

Sound

Rich and Full Biggest sound!

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

Splendid wood is used.
I was worried about only one point, but it was not a so big problem. If the detailed fixtures become perfect, Dobro which he makes will become best of the best!

Appearance Rating

9

Customer Service

He thinks about a problem seriously and copes.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

The sound is splendid first of all. In various Dobro which I played until now, it is the best sound.
It is the reasonable price that it can hardly compare with the other makers. I play it my main Dobro now.
I think that I want one another him to make it in the near future.
I played,Dobro,MGK,Roger Cain,R.Q Jones,Liberty,Rayco,Clinesmith,Meredith...........

Overall Rating

10

Sound

Great sound! Very loud and full. Even with the light dead strings in the store I could tell this was a good one. The nice folks at Melodee put on some medium EXP17s and Bam! A lot more sound.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

Beautiful wood and very tasteful even in the basic model. I was trying to decide between this and the deluxe appoinments and I found that I liked the simple fretboard better. As with many imports, too much glossy finish, especially on the neck. I would have preferred a satin neck.
A few places on the fretboard where the stain was uneven but no big deal.

Appearance Rating

8

Customer Service

Nothing yet

Customer Service

not rated

Overall Comments

No doubt in my mind that this guitar is a best bang for the buck in low cost resos. Highly recommended.

Overall Rating

10

Sound

Delta Blues, Slide...The guitar is rich and has good volume. I like this guitar.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

Mahogany round neck ,Mahogany body,Bound Rosewood fretboard,
Beautiful Copper top and truss rod cover ,Maple spider bridge

Appearance Rating

9

Customer Service

No I have'nt dealt with Bill Blue of "Liberty Guitars' ,but before I bought the guitar I did my homework & read other players reveiws that had personaly called him. It was all good!

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

I recommend this guitar.

Overall Rating

10

Sound

Very Rich , , all the way up and down the neck .Up high it is clear as a bell , it will get your attention, On the lower end it is like the thunder claps before a summer rain storm, It will get as soft and pretty as you want and as loud and forceful as you need

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

BEST EYE CANDY I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Highly figured Maple
Rosewood finger board and peghead
Curly maple flush fret markers
Laminated neck Maple Walnut and ebony
Natural curly Maple binding with W/B backing
Fit, Finish are Exceptional

Appearance Rating

10

Customer Service

Steve and his RL Crew are probably the best to work with I have ever seen.... They even go the EXTRA miles to help and assist........................
Don't worry about a warranty, Steve stands behind his work! ! ! ! ! !

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

I believe Steve and the folks at RL are making a reso to contend with....... These new Peabody Resos , I believe are right up there with Clinessmith, Merrideth, Scheerhorn, and the other top end Resos

Overall Rating

10

Sound

It's beautiful. Fantastic sustain, clear notes, and very reactive. Very loud for a reso and has that cool retro sound.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

Stunning, absolutely stunning.

Appearance Rating

10

Customer Service

Being a dealer, how much support we get from the manufacturer means alot to our business. The guys at the Music Link have been, and continue to be top notch.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

Overall Rating

10

Sound

This resonator suits my style very well, I play bluegrass, blue's, and rock on it, and it plays all very nicely. I don't use any effects. It has a very rich, bright sound to it.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

Ah man it is beautiful, I love the tobacco sunburst, I started to buy the black voodoo resonator, but decided I liked the tobacco better. The whole guitar looks awesome.

Appearance Rating

10

Customer Service

I just got this guitar 05/10/10, so I have not had to deal with the company yet. It comes with a lifetime warranty, which is pretty awesome.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

I love this resonator, I am very happy with it and glad I bought this particular brand, as I also have a Morgan Monroe banjo that is excellent as well.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

Another great year for wintergrass. 2009 and previous was held in Tacoma, WA. 2010 was at a new venue in Bellevue, WA. I was a bit skeptical going in, but the new town and venue really wanted us and were great hosts. The highlight was sitting at the Rayco Guitar booth listening to Mark, Chad, Orville and all jamming for hours. Great bands, great workshops and great people.

Overall Rating

8

Overall Comments

Best festival I've ever been to. The festival starts on Thursday but the jamming starts the Sunday before and continues throughout the festival. I will definitely be back.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

Great pick for 4 months, it broke two days ago. Lots of hours of playing and hardly any noticable wear to be seen.

Overall Rating

7

Sound

I play the lapsteel like a reso. That suits this guitar well. I also like to bend the 2nd string to get a pedal steel effect; very easy on this guitar. I just use a cheap & nasty amp (Casino 15B). There is a very small buzz coming out of the amp, but you have to be trying to listen to hear it. Its not loud enough to worry about unless you were doing professional recordings. The guitar has a single volume & tone knob, but the sound still seems to be "tender" & rich.

Sound Rating

8

Appearance

Its very black !. The only dislike is there are no fret markers. Very frustrating. I had to put stickers on the fretboard, but what do you expect for this price ?. Other than that, it looks quite slick.

Appearance Rating

7

Customer Service

This was shipped the same day, and received 2 days later. Ya can't argue with that !.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

A great buy. Feels great, sounds great. Looks great despite no markers on the fret board. Recommend especially for reso players who want to tinker with this great instrument (like I did. Now I am hooked, and an absolute fan). The ridiculously low price attracted me. I am very glad about that. Good value for money.

Overall Rating

8

Sound

This is a 1968 Guyatone. Its a Japanese "sausage factory" make, however, it is an outstnading instrument. It suits country/hillbilly or Hawaiin styles. I play it like a reso and it sounds fine. The sound is rich & full.

Sound Rating

9

Appearance

Its easy on the eyes, however, its perhaps a little heavier than todays lapsteels.

Appearance Rating

8

Customer Service

Neutral rating given that this was a gift.

Customer Service

5

Overall Comments

This 1968 Guyatone lapseel has stood the test of time. Its a shame they are out of production. It goes to show that production line instruments can still be high quality. It is a copy of the old Fender Stringmaster; and a good copy at that !. A great sound and nice to play.

Overall Rating

9

Sound

This guitar sounds great.It came with light gauge bronze,but I prefer mediums on it.I play mostly blues and it handles great.Full loud tone.

Sound Rating

7

Appearance

The finish and looks really got me. I love the nostalgic look to it.It didn't have any flaws at all.Still looks sharp after three years.

Appearance Rating

8

Customer Service

Customer Service

not rated

Overall Comments

I really love this guitar! I would recomend it to anybody who is starting out.

Overall Rating

8

Sound

I could hardly believe how good it sounded and looked.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

Wonderful for the money. Looks better than my Goldtone PBSD.

Appearance Rating

10

Customer Service

Haven't had to call anyone yet. Don't think I will.

Customer Service

9

Overall Comments

Would highly reccomend this guitar to anyone wanting the most guitar all around for the entree level player.

Overall Rating

10

Sound

This guitar is full of tone and volume. It has a powerful bass range, with a warm mid-range, and crystal clear highs. The tone reminds me of a rosewood guitar, but with the "bite" of maple. Very modern, contemporary tone. You can use this guitar for any style and it will hold its own.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

The tonewoods used for this guitar were gorgeous. The difference in wood and finish colors used made for an outstanding looking guitar. It is not as cleanly built as some of the other builders out there today might do it, but not too bad. The only complaints are some flaws in the finish in some spots - hence the lower rating.

Appearance Rating

7

Customer Service

A better man than Harry James you will not find. He was extremely friendly and more than helpful with any questions and comments I had throughout the building process. Harry's guitars come with a lifetime warranty to the original owner and he stands by it. I would definitely deal with Harry again in the future if the opportunity presents itself.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

I don't think you can beat the guitars from Harry James in terms of value, quality, and workmanship. Harry is a gem to deal with and I couldn't be more pleased with how my guitar turned out. I highly recommend Harry and his instruments to anyone.

Overall Rating

9

Sound

This guitar has a true clean sound. The upper two strings sing like a bell, the middle two are crisp and loud, and the bass roars. I have never played a reso with such sustain as this guitar has. It can hold it's own in a jam session. It is picked up well over a microphone also.

Sound Rating

10

Appearance

A beautiful piece of work! The curly mahogany has a high deep gloss finish which enhances the grain of the wood. The "snowflake" fret markers and the maple frets add to the appearance of the fretboard. The tuners and other metal parts shine. The poinsettia cover plate adds a lot to the overall look.

Appearance Rating

10

Customer Service

Phil is a great guy to work with during the building process. He kept me informed throughout and asked my opinion on several aspects during construction. He made sure I was getting exactly what I wanted. Any question I had, he answered with no problem.

Customer Service

10

Overall Comments

I could not have designed a better reso for my style of playing. It has met and exceeded my expectations. I would recommend Mastereso Guitars to any player either new or seasoned. Great job Phil!

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

Picks are fairly comfortable. I have trouble with getting string between pick and finger. (probably something I am doing wrong). They need to be heavier gauge material. I would prefer .025. Don't seem like I can dig in as hard.

Overall Rating

8