jazzman35 - Posted - 02/23/2014:  07:08:12

Hey folks, 

I'm new to resonators and like them a lot. Especially the fact that they're much louder than an acoustic guitar made of wood. Does there exist a version of the dobro witthout an extension nut so you can play chords and stuff like that? If so what is it called? What is the best budget resonator guitar, gretsch, fender etc.? 

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 02/23/2014:  07:42:33

I'm not real clear what you are looking for here. If a guitar has an extension nut on it, that means it's a "roundneck" guitar and you can play it like a standard guitar which is its original intention, but it's been modified to raise the string action so one can play lap-style. You just take the extension nut off. You say you want to play chords - is this like a standard flattop guitar?

What many members play here is dobro-style, a resonator guitar with the strings high off the fretboard with a thick squareneck and you play it on your lap with a steel bar. 

Which one are you looking for?There are also different styles of resonator systems and how the guitars are constructed. But let's figure out how you want to play the thing first, and what style of music you might be interested in the majority of the time. Are there professional players you admire and you want to play in the style for which they are known? We need more information.

And everyone has a different interpretation of "budget." What are you willing to spend? I think the newer wood-bodied Gretsch  Boxcar in round or squareneck are about the lowest-priced guitars I find acceptable with a street price new of around $360 without a pickup. I think they're pretty good guitars for the money. It usually gets better as you go up in price, no surprise there. Obviously one can find guitars used cheaper.

On any instrument forum it's always good to put out there the comfort zone as far as what you're willing to spend otherwise you can end up with a zillion choices. At the bottom end of the resonator world, as with flattop acoustics, there is a lot of junk out there. You're not going to find anything for around $250 new that's any good unless you do component upgrades, so it's better to spend more up front so that you don't have to dink around with it. 

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 02/23/2014 07:44:35

wlgiii - Posted - 02/23/2014:  11:56:43

I also vote Gretsch as the overall best sounding budget resophonic. Not long ago I picked up a used Rogue Triolian (biscuit, wood body) for camping. It sounds nice and dirty for Delta blues type stuff, but the cheapness comes through on anything else.

deuce - Posted - 02/24/2014:  02:37:38

Hi there.

Avoid the fenders. The bodies are really flimsy and the neck is too narrow. Gretsch wood bodies are good.

Let us know if by 'dobro' / 'resonator' you mean a 'national' type (biscuit) or 'dobro' type (spider) guitar.

If you are not sure, do some research on how they are different - which you should be OK with as you like them a lot.

TT

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 03/09/2014:  01:18:55

Jazzman35 -  everything okay out there? Are you still with us?