pipecarver - Posted - 10/14/2008:  05:37:07

I would like to share a story with all the newbie (or potential newbie) reso players on resohangout. I got bit by the infamous “dobro bug” not long ago, after being invited to a bluegrass / gospel practice session. As I sat for hours watching all of the older gentlemen playing, it soon became apparent that the influence of the dobro was the primary reason I enjoyed the evening so much. I could not take my eyes of the instrument, and it’s almost hypnotic sound. As my wife and I made that hour and a half drive home late that evening, I looked at her and stated, “I believe I have finally figured out a new instrument to learn.”

Now being from Nashville, one might think finding a dobro would be a somewhat painless quest. Not so. There are two problems. First, everyone in this area has a multitude of opinions of what constitutes a “good instrument;” and most of these theories involve giving up your first-born child. Second, virtually every store I went into either did not have one on the shelves, or did not have anyone who spoke “dobro-ian” to help me with what was on display. This list includes some pretty well known retailers. After visiting virtually every music store in town, researching the net, and my wife “gently coaxing” me into how much I should spend on my first dobro, I finally narrowed my choices down to two: The Gold Tone PBSD and the Wechter / Scheerhorn. I would have loved to purchase a handmade one from a local luthier, but this dream will have to wait until my playing ability is deserving of such a fine instrument.

So did I special order from my local music store, trusting someone in a warehouse to pick just the right one with just the right sound that I wanted? Should I order from one of the dealers who have been recommended by others on this site? Purely by accident, I noticed that an Ebay dealer lived an hour away. After speaking with him for about an hour over the phone about what kind of tonal qualities I was looking for in my first dobro, this person was kind enough to allow me to come to visit and try out both brands I was considering. As luck would have it, he had just received a shipment of B-stock Wechter / Scheerhorns, in addition to the new, nicely-grained Gold Tone PBSD that was already advertised.

When I arrived, he led me to his shop behind his home, where we proceeded to listen to the dobros he had in stock. Now being new to this instrument creates a problem in itself. Let’s face it, the dobro is pretty difficult to play, and can be very intimidating for a beginner. Since I had very limited playing knowledge, how was I to know if I would grow tired of it early on, after I started learning a few songs? This was the beauty of my trip, and the reason for this posting. The man was kind enough to go through every dobro he had in stock, including playing them himself, all in an effort to help me understand what they would hopefully sound like one day after I had gained more skills. His pricing was very competitive, he understood the products he carried, and most importantly, he took the time to give me the service I needed as a beginner.

I would like to recommend two things to those on the resohangout who are beginners facing similar issues. First, if you are a newbie wanting to purchase your first dobro, try to find a knowledgeable, unbiased person to help guide you to the one that you are going to spend your hard earned money on. After all, starting off with the wrong dobro might cause you to give up a very fulfilling musical experience; one that might stay with you for the rest of your life. Second, if you are unable to find someone, then support the reso dealers mentioned on this website that cater to our hobby. They are the one’s who do deserve your business, much more so than the so-called “big box chains.” They are the one’s taking the time to specialize in our hobby, and they will be much more willing to help you to select the right dobro to fit your needs. Is price important? Yes, but in this hobby, it’s nowhere near as important as service, both before and after the sale.

In closing, I would like to add another person to the list of dealers who I feel deserve our business. His name is Tony Hatton, owner of Pick and Slide Music. He can be reached at 931-552-4648, tonysguitars@yahoo.com, or you can look his business up on Ebay. He is a certified dealer for both Gold Tone and Wechter / Scheerhorn. He not only sells resos, but is a player / performer. Tony did not ask me to write this posting. In fact, I asked his permission beforehand. As a former retailer, I have always believed in the importance of telling others when you receive good service. I realize there are several other dealers who cater to our needs, but I did not recall seeing anything about Tony, thus the reason for this posting. Support those who support us.


Scott

Edited by - pipecarver on 10/14/2008 05:41:02

Brad Bechtel - Posted - 10/14/2008:  09:30:23

So what did you end up buying?

I've seen Pick and Slide's offerings on eBay and he seems to be a reputable seller. He is very open about whatever issues his B-stock items might have.

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Brad''s Page of Steel:
well.com/user/wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to electric and acoustic lap steel guitars

bris48 - Posted - 10/14/2008:  16:14:22

Yes Yes please what did you end up with and was it a good price?
Congrats!!!!!!

RedLine Resohead

MitchC - Posted - 10/14/2008:  16:24:20

Just wanted to add my 2 cents and a big agreement that Tony is a very class act ! I've dealt with him on several transactions now and he's one of the best in my book.

YES... tell us what you ended up with !?

72Chevy - Posted - 10/14/2008:  17:38:53

You are luck to have had that experience. I only wish I could have A-B'd a few different squarenecks. I am curious as to what you ended up with too.