rhinestonesandvespas - Posted - 01/18/2013:  13:22:56

First time poster, hello to all!

I've been playing lap steel for 10 years and I'm looking to buy my first square neck resonator. I know I'm not going to be happy with a beginner guitar so I'm trying to find something in my budget of about $500,  I tried a new Regal RD 40 and 52, wasn't impressed at all, and a new Gretsch Boxcar and Bobtail which were a little better but I want something I'll be happy with so I think my money will go farther if I buy used. I had my eye on a GT PBS that just sold for $500. I did some searching in this forum about these guitars and am convinced of their quality, but I also noticed some comments that brought up some questions. I understand that Gold Tone manufactures the body and that some are finished at the Beard shop, what about the others, How can I be sure that I would be getting one that was finished with quality? Are they all outfitted with the same hardware - cone, spider tuners etc? What would be the main difference is could encounter if I buy one that doesn't have the "Genuine Beard Setup" sticker? Anything else I should be aware of?

I am also open to possibilities of other guitar makes that would be comparable in price and quality.

Thanks for any input.

Mike

hlpdobro - Posted - 01/18/2013:  14:27:41

Yes,

Same cone and spider. Different bridge insert, nut and strings.

Approx 15% of the guitars are set up by the Beard shop. IMO the Beard folks just have a level of expertise and nuance that the Goldtone folks (trained by Paul) do not have.

That being said I have heard no complaints about the Goldtone setup. Personally, I've seen and played both and admit to a bias for Paul's work. Full disclosure, I worked there for 8 years or so.

Jake Foster - Posted - 01/19/2013:  03:32:50

I did a ton of research before getting my first reso and decided on a PBSM (set-up at Beard) because it seemed to be hands-down the best value at the time. From everything I read, I think a caring and professional set-up, especially on resos, is really important.
If you've been playing steel for 10 years and don't want a 'beginners' guitar, hate to say it but I would double your budget. Just my 2 cents though.
Another route would be researching how to do a good set-up yourself. There's a lot of stories out there of people taking real lemons, replacing the cone, spider, bridge and nut with quality parts and getting a great instrument out of it.

jmb3450 - Posted - 01/19/2013:  07:30:20

From time to time Beard has a special deal on gold tones, I think they're probably trade ins or blems. My PBSM was sold as a blem from Beard to the original owner, he got a good price on it and I also benefited in what I paid. You can watch Beard's website for those deals or call to ask, they come and go and don't last long. You might need to up your budget some.

Webb - Posted - 01/19/2013:  09:26:53

I had a non Beard and took it to Paul to have the set up and it was well worth it. I thought it sounded great out of the box, and would have been satisfied with it. But, since I was having the Fishman installed, I figuered I'd have them do the setup while I was at it and it made a very good guitar even better. Mike Auldridge said that the Gold Tones were better sounding guitars than what he spent most of his career playing until he and Paul collaborated on the Mike signature model. I believe it. I've had nothing but compliments on the tone of mine.

New Gold Tones are hard to come by right now because the technology boon in China has blessed the region where the Gold Tones were made with better wages, better than what Gold Tone can profitably produce the bodies for. Paul says they're opening a plant in a more rural area where the wages they can afford to pay will actually be beneficial to that local economy, but it will be a couple of months before we start to see those guitars in US stores. I can't help but to thing there isn't someway to profitably manufacture these bodies here in the US in some region that needs jobs, but be that as it may, they are the best bang for the buck in a reso that is out there. Hey, you can always put a custom paint job on it, all Beard parts and no one would ever believe it was anything but a fine handmade guitar.

SteveIndy - Posted - 09/26/2013:  18:47:12

I recently started playing dobro. I have no background with this instrument prior to June of this year. I first bought the Gretsch round neck at Guitar Center for about $350. I had never played one so the sales guy at the store had to demonstrate it for me. I soon discovered not too long after that I really wanted a square neck. Everything thing I read about kept referring to the Beard Gold Tone as the standard for $1,000 or less. Long and short, I found a Gold Tone PBSM slightly used on the Guitarcenter.com website for less than half of what they retail for new. I couldn't believe it so I rang up the store, talked to their sales guy there and finally had it shipped to me here in Indy. (It's pictured with me here). I was totally blown away with quality of this instrument. The workmanship is superb and the sound exceeds my expectations. They aren't that easy to come by used and are not available in every state, including here in Indiana. But man I can tell you that if you can get one, I don't think you'll be a bit disappointed.

Preston Thompson - Posted - 09/27/2013:  04:28:58

To most of the players I know, the Gold Tone is considered a "lead in" dobro. But to me, the GT set up is really a fine sounding instrument. I think you will have a little difficulty finding one for $500 new. You can find a GT for around that much, but not set up by the Beard shop. But like Howard said, nothing that comes out of Paul's shop will be anything but top notch. If I were to buy a new one, I would look between the MA 6 and Odyssey. That MA-6 is just so sweet.

SteveIndy - Posted - 09/27/2013:  15:23:37

Mine was actually set up at the Beard shop. It has the sticker inside. The only way I found that out was when I called Gold Tone to try and locate the serial #, which I still haven't done. They had me look in thru the screen and you can see the sticker. In which case I'm going to have to call Beard and find out how to locate the S#. The thing too is that It stays in extremely good tune for long periods of time.

hlpdobro - Posted - 09/27/2013:  18:38:13

Beard setup GT's will not have a serial number.

H

Guitarelic - Posted - 10/04/2013:  11:40:27

What's the diff. between the PBSM &PBSD GT models? I've seen somewhere that the PBSD is the preferred unit and I'm wondering why?

hlpdobro - Posted - 10/04/2013:  11:46:44

PBSD = Maple Laminate

PBSM = Solid Mahogany

Some are maple players. Some prefer mahogany.

Fords vs. Chevy's

h