U2D2 - Posted - 12/08/2013:  15:37:30

Hi! My name is Rasmus and i am looking for a begginner resonator for around 2500 and i have found these two options that i cant choose between; the Gretsch G9200 Boxcar (roundneck) And the Dobro Hound Dog roundneck. Both seek all right, and the price is almost the same, but witch one is to prefer? I am quite a beginner on the guitar, so i guess that the low action of the gretsch is Nice, but in My opinion, the greatsch is quite ugly with the white thing on top. All help would be wonderful, i am tearing to shreds from The uncertainty! 

Brad Bechtel - Posted - 12/08/2013:  18:33:02

Rasmus, where are you from?  These instruments typically sell for around $400 USD, so when you say they are "around 2500" I don't know which currency you're using.

At this price range I'd go with the one that looks better to you.  Personally I think the Gretsch is a better sounding instrument for the money, but if you don't like the way it looks, don't buy it.

U2D2 - Posted - 12/09/2013:  05:30:05

Thanks for the response Brad, the look of the equipment isn't the most important quality for me as I prefer practical before beautiful, but I just fell in love with the plainness of the hound dog^^
I actually live in Sweden and I seemed to confuse things on two levels, the value of the guitars where 3400(sec) and 2699(sec(Swedish crowns)) and I forgot too convert into dollar.
So the gretsch is out of my price-range, and that leaves the hound dog; could it be something for a beginner? Are there any other good(well, not firewood-standard) guitars out there to prefer?
I am, as I mentioned, not an experienced guitarist and at this stage I am not that interested in the slide but more into picking. Would the hound dog deliver that nice brittle sound of a resonator when finger-picked? And what kind of strings should I use to get the maximum resonance? I read around and found that 13/54 is an option, but what is optimal?

Once again I am very thankful for any response, I value every word!

U2D2 - Posted - 12/09/2013:  05:44:20

Found these two regal guitars that I'm considering; the Regal RD 30V Roundneck and the Regal RD 30M Roundneck. They are a bit more expensive, but are they better? Are there any quality-difference connected to the brands?

Brad Bechtel - Posted - 12/09/2013:  07:58:06

Both the Regal RD30V and 30M are made of some sort of mahogany wood.   If the Gretsch is out of your price range, why are you considering even more expensive guitars?

All of the instruments you're considering are Asian made and are fine instruments for starting out.

You might want to ask other European guitarists for advice on the Michael Messer forum in the UK as well.  

Edited by - Brad Bechtel on 12/09/2013 08:05:05

U2D2 - Posted - 12/10/2013:  00:36:44

Thank you, I will try that site as well!
The regals are actually 60 euro less than the gretsch and only about 20euro more expensive than the dobro on the dealer-site that I look on, so they are just in my price range (I think).
But this thing with the bodies, do you think that the regals are better of any significant level? I learned from a lot of people that these things are quite the same quality compared too the price, a little bit like harmonicas are nowadays, but I still feel that there must be some difference between maple and mahogany. I think that I am just a bit nervous I guess, I'm always getting this near-death experience every time I spend over 30 bucks on anything that concern music ^^

Robin79 - Posted - 12/10/2013:  00:49:17

Just my two pence worth; I have a hound dog (square neck) and have been very pleased with it. It plays nicely and is built like an absolute tank. I've since upgraded but I'd say as a starter guitar (i.e, under £500) they're okay. Personally I wouldn't bother with the deluxe (with the pick-up) as it sounds awful plugged in. Generally though, it's a good budget guitar. That said, I've heard good things about the Gretsch as well.

Robin79 - Posted - 12/10/2013:  00:51:33

If you're in Europe, you might want to look up Busker Guitars as well, who sell Asian guitars that they set up themselves in the UK. Also Pete Woodman sells 'hot rodded' import resonators for around £500. You'd have no set up issues with these, so might be worth looking into.

U2D2 - Posted - 12/10/2013:  01:02:53

Thank you, I am leaning more and more to the hound dog, though I just found some cheap boxcars on eBay, and I am once again lost.
Is the greatsch better than the hounddog? I feel like I am just tramping water here, soon I'll just put some strings and tin-foil on a bowl and hit it with a pic, why is there so many options??? :s

Robin79 - Posted - 12/10/2013:  04:02:29

Personally, I think it's probably much of a muchness. You could go with either and you probably wouldn't notice a whole lot of difference. The only problem you might have with an import is the set up as this can be a lottery. Having said that, if you're going for a roundneck, most guitar shops should be able to set it up for you. I would just go with whichever guitar you like the look of / price of the most. If you can play one then go with that, otherwise take a punt.

kitkat - Posted - 12/12/2013:  12:37:48

Brad

The two Regal RD 40 square neck dobros I have, are made of mahogany wood and are very well made. The new RD 40s 

have good tone and are very loud. They also have a cone that is made in the USA by one of the admired makers that is loved on this forum. The Saga website has alot of  info on them. Saga maybe the largest builder of string instruments in the USA. They have many brands. 

Brad Bechtel - Posted - 12/12/2013:  15:42:40

I would say that Saga is the largest importer of string instruments in the USA.  As far as I know, none of their instruments are made in the USA (specifically not their resonator guitars).  I have found Regal guitars to be inconsistent in the past, but I agree that they have made an effort to import and provide higher quality instruments now than they have in the past.

The nice thing about having better quality lower end instruments such as the Gretsch on the market is that they raise the overall quality of all instruments.  The advances in computerized machinery is leading to more consistently good instrument production.

As I've said many times, this is a golden age for resonator guitar players.  You can get a better instrument at any price point than at any other time in history.