MitchC - Posted - 08/31/2008:  12:23:23

Would love to hear what it is you love aobut your Rayco, Meredith or Fishook !

Edited by - MitchC on 09/04/2008 10:50:27

phil dean - Posted - 08/31/2008:  13:10:33

Not that there is any thing wrong with that!!!!! Phil

masteresoguitars.com

MitchC - Posted - 08/31/2008:  13:25:08

...oh yeah, anyone have 1 (or more) of Phil's guitars ? Whatcha think of it ? From his pics, looks like he's doing some great stuff as well ! I've never owned or played any of the brands I've mentioned... so am curious to hear what you guys think who may own any of them.

Edited by - MitchC on 08/31/2008 16:50:18

DougB - Posted - 09/04/2008:  10:37:53

Hey Mitch, I have a Meredith quilted maple #45. It is a killer axe according to me as well as others who have heard it. Matt Leadbetter first introduced me to Tooters guitars and I also talked to Uncle Phil about them. They both speak highly of them. Tooter is a good honest luthier to deal with as most of them are. Matt played mine on stage two years ago at Bean Blossom which was a big thrill for me and I dont believe he would have played a sub par instrument. I have done nothing to it other than new strings since I picked it up a few years ago. Tooter is worth a phone call in your quest for a great reso. What I love best? Hmmm, just the clear, clean notes at every string at every fret all the way up the neck. The only defect I've found in that guitar is ME. I cant ever see getting rid of this guitar as it has as good sound as any I've been around, but I would buy another hopefully someday. You can see mine on resonation under DougB. I have no ties to Tooter other than when I purchased mine but I did a lot of research before spending my hard earned dollars and can highly reccomend him to anyone. Goodluck in your search, Pickngrin,D.

DaveInAL - Posted - 09/04/2008:  13:06:06

I have a maple Clinesmith that I got new about 6 years ago. I like it as well as just about anything else I've played. It has everything I was looking for in a guitar, tone, volume, looks, etc. Tooter Meridith's guitars are top notch as well. I've played quite a few of his as he is a local here.

Dave

MitchC - Posted - 09/05/2008:  16:24:19

I just picked up a beautiful Meredith Koa / Cedar reso ... WOW ! Gorgeous guitar and sounds awesome ! Never played a Clinesmith.. would love to someday. Rayco looks like they are making some great stuff as well !

Now I'm on the prowl for an old National Style 2 metal body ... anybody got one they wanna sell ?

biznork - Posted - 09/05/2008:  16:49:35

You can play mine when I get it. Glad you like the guitar.

MitchC - Posted - 09/05/2008:  20:34:27

You have a National S2 coming ? ;-) -- Indeed, I want to play the Clinesmith when it arrives ! Thanks. Hey, I want that pic in your Avatar ?

biznork - Posted - 09/05/2008:  22:05:57

My avatar should be an empty guitar case right now.

sitnslide - Posted - 09/10/2008:  14:09:00

I have a Cliney flame maple and a Meredith quilted maple. Fine resos, both. Meredith very bright, clear. Cliney more mellow, but still typical maple. Just got a new B&B quilted maple, though. Blows both the Todd and the Toot out of the water, IMHO. YMMV.

And I have a vintage National style 1. Pure mojo. Doubt I want to sell it, though.

Chris in Pair-O-Dice

MitchC - Posted - 09/10/2008:  19:15:32

That's quite an endorsement for the B&B sitnslide ! Love it that much eh ? Post a few pics for us to see ?

sitnslide - Posted - 09/11/2008:  00:16:20

Yah, Mitch. I was pleasantly surprised when I got it. Dan Brooks really did all right by me. I ordered the reso on the basis of the looks of a piece of figured maple he had, and he put it together into a gorgeous instrument that begs to be played. Big, open, modern sound. By far the loudest of my stable - well the DeNeve D body is loud, too, but the B&B is...I don't know how I want to say this. Prettier? Sweeter? Definitely different overtones and harmonics which my ear interprets as what I want a reso to sound like.

I'm in Kaua'i on vacation. I'll see about pics (for here and ResoNation) when I get home.

Don't get me wrong. The Toot, the Cliney, as well as my other "good 'uns" are great resos. Keepers. This B&B just grabbed the gold ring. I know Preston had one and sold it to get his Gresham. And I heard him play it at ResoSummit last year. It's a great sounding axe. But I think this one just might give him a run for the money.

And speaking of money, the B&B costs hundreds less than a Toot or Cliney.

Chris in Pair-O-Dice

drubin - Posted - 09/12/2008:  18:21:38

Hey MitchC, how would you compare your new Meredith Cedar/Koa with your Wechter Scheerhorn Elite L-body or any of the other resos you own or have owned? I have read great things about Tooter's guitars for some time now, have heard several live, but have yet to actually test drive one myself?

MitchC - Posted - 09/12/2008:  20:31:06

Not sure I want get into a comparison between the two .... I like em both for "who" they each are. The Elite was a very pleasant surprise. I took a gamble on it and it ended up a winner, for me at least. It's as close to a 'Horn as I'll ever get. Tim's L-Body Horn specs, set up by him, with his baffling, ebonex inserts, his new cone etc.

The Meredith is just as sweet, with a voice of its own. Mellower, but with the same "hornlike" midrange that I like. Baffling is similar in the two, so that may be part of the similarity .... dunno. I like the Meredith so much, I may order another .... mahogany I think ? But sitnslide's got me pondering a B&B also so .... who knows.

sitnslide - Posted - 09/14/2008:  15:08:03

The B&B will be at ResoSummit if folks want to hear it. The B&B was built for me, and I just told Dan Brooks to make it look and sound as good as he knew how. I had heard good things from a few folks with 'em, so it wasn't a shot in the dark. Although I got it sight unseen, and unplayed, I was very lucky.

I've got a bunch of previously owned resos, and hadn't played any of 'em before buying. Which is bad advice for anyone. I just got 'em from folks I trusted. Which helps.

Speaking of which, that sure is a pretty Meredith you are parting with, Mitch. Sorry I'm not in the market right now. But if you wind up in the Chico area, lemme know. I'll let you test drive the B&B.


Chris in Pair-O-Dice