DBrooks - Posted - 04/03/2019:  13:44:03

Does anyone here on the forum have detailed information on the serial number system used by Rudy Jones on his guitars? Please post if you do. Thanks very much.

docslyd - Posted - 04/03/2019:  20:29:49

DB:
Interesting question in that, I would be surprised if a significant number of players here are very familiar with Rudy’s guitars. Mine is from 1981 and has no serial number. I have played several, if not many, including a very famous one and have never noticed any serial numbers. Some of the Jones guitars are beautiful,expressive and warm sounding instruments. However, at times known for inconsistent construction and questionable quality control, I would suspect the tracking of serial numbers to be equally unpredictable. On the other hand, I have appreciated every one I played and consider them to be under-rated, particularly in view of a couple listed recently at very fair prices.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 04/04/2019:  09:48:33

Apparently some have serial numbers while others don't. I've used the phrase over the years "the convoluted history of the Dobro guitar," but it might apply to R.Q. Jones as well. 

I have never owned one, but I recall seeing one for the first time in the early '80s at a festival here in Northern California - and it was quite a revelation because prior to that every squareneck resonator I'd ever come across in person was either a prewar Dobro or an O.M.I. Dobro. 

I also wonder when Rudy stopped making them and Bob Reed took over?

Of the several Jones guitars with which I've been up close and personal, it's been about fifty-fifty on thumbs up  up vs. thumbs down.  Several years ago after ResoSummit in Nashville, I stayed at a buddy's house in Franklin for a couple days. He gave me the tour around the area and of course one place I had to visit was Gruhn Guitars. I had my bar and picks with me and hanging on the wall in the resonator section, along with several Dobro brand guitars were a couple Beards (an MAS and I think an E model) and a RedLine. 

It was a fancy Jones with elaborate neck inlays. I was kind of excited to try it. After I did I was disappointed. Maybe it was in need of a fresh setup - but the Beards and the RedLine blew it out of the water.   

Speaking of Bob Reed, I was at the big annual guitar show in Marin County in January and a dealer had a Reed for sale. The dealer had a ton of flattops and some electrics so he probably lacked knowledge in the resonator department, and again, to give the guitar the benefit of the doubt, it could probably use a fresh setup - but it was another one that did nothing for me. I think the guy was asking around $2000. 

The Reso-Nation forum site is going away at some point this year, but I found an old post on there from 2005 where Chris Hart from Virginia discussed his Jones, and has questions about the serial number. The links in blue take you to some photos - very nice looking guitar at the time:

"I just recently picked up an used R.Q. Jones. I've always wanted one since i first met Josh in the early 80's. The store i bought it from said they thought it was a 1978. I'm having some set-up work being done right now on it (whoever had it before had the cone glued & nailed in, also the bridges were bad). The guy reparing it says every piece of wood in that guitar is mahogany(even the baffles & post). Everything i've read says Jones only used walnut until 1980. If that is true it can't be a 1978. The serial number is 4678. I've e-mailed R.Q. Jones & haven't heard anything back yet. I was wondering if anyone here has a Jones with a serial number close to this one or knows anything about Jones serial numbers. Thanks"

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 04/04/2019 09:52:03

Lounge Primate - Posted - 04/04/2019:  11:17:43

Tab Tabscott, who years ago frequented the Reso-Nation site, and once in a blue moon pops up on Steel Guitar forum, has owned a number of RQ's over the years, and knew Rudy, and he'd be a good one to track down. He lives in Seattle area, and spends a lot of time in B.C. too.
You can google him and see some of the youtube and recording stuff that he's done.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 04/04/2019:  11:55:04

I was going to mention Tab in a separate post but Brooks beat me to it. 

Dan, I don't recall if you "do Facebook," but Tab posts on either the Dobroholics or Lap Steel Lunatics page there from time-to-time. 

So you can track him down FB - he is an adamant "keeper of the flame" when it comes to R.Q. Jones.

And before I submitted this post I went over to The Steel Guitar Forum to see if Tab has been on there lately and it turns out he has. You likely have to be a member there to send a PM to another member. It's worth it - $5 for a lifetime membership. 

Also, there is a member here named Tom Middleton who worked for Rudy in Oklahoma in the late '70s. Tom was a regular on the Jerry Douglas forum in "the olden days." I don't recall his screen name here. I did a search with his name but came up empty. Tom has also posted on The Steel Guitar Forum in the past. Maybe he will see this thread and chime in. 

DBrooks - Posted - 04/04/2019:  13:42:33

Thanks guys for all your replies! The reason I'm asking is that I just acquired a walnut model I'm guessing is from 1977. The serial number is U2677. I had Rudy build me a mahogany model in 1981. I played and recorded with it for years but it was the most cantankerous, inconsistent reso I've ever owned. Seemed to sound different every day....never did understand why. Ended up trading it to Paul Beard when he built me a mahogany in 1993. This walnut needs a bunch of TLC....apparently sat around for the last 10 or 15 years. It's all original and I already discovered one odd thing. The cone is glued in. Rudy must have stopped doing that by '81. Not a wise idea. That said, when I strummed over it right out of the box and in poor setup it sounded pretty cool. I'll try contacting Tab and Tom Middleton. Again thanks, and if you have any epiphanies or learn new info on these SN's drop a line. THANKS!

TKearns - Posted - 04/04/2019:  19:55:12

I would bet that Bobby Wolfe has a good idea on the Serial Numbers question.... just a guess. I would suggest giving him a call:

Bobby Wolfe
(704)892-5485