Slinky - Posted - 04/05/2021:  05:59:02

Hi all,

I'm looking for a little advice on my second reso. First I'd like to give my background a bit then I'll share what I think I want. Feel free to skip to the list of guitars if you think I wrote too much.



I got into blues/slide about 6 months ago on a complete whim. I actually didn't grow up with this style of music very much, but have played guitar for over 10 years. I'm 28 but in my teens and early 20s I got heavily into punk and metal and then got very sick of those styles and really stopped playing guitar altogether for almost a year. After listening quite a bit to captain beefheart and especially the stuff with ry cooder, I ended up listening to more delta blues stuff and before I knew it I was on the guitar center used section and bought a dobro hound dog deluxe that was accidentally listed as the cheaper regular hound dog.



I actually like this guitar a lot and I think it plays and sounds better than any guitar that cost 300 dollars ought to. I also found I just really like the sound of a reso which surprised me as in the past I've never really enjoyed playing regular acoustic guitars and I'd never played a reso. I'm back to playing guitar a lot and I really love the feeling that I'm relearning since I'm playing tunings I didn't know before and slide is a whole new animal.





Still, I get the feeling that the sound of the dobro is somewhat "tame" and whenever I listen to a recording or watch a youtube video of playing I like it's almost always a metal one. I really like raw sounding tone from a guitar in general whether electric or acoustic. I'm thinking of selling my hound dog for a little more than I purchased it and then buying an "intermediate" priced metal body for maybe under 800. Here are some options I've found shopping around online.



1. Used regal rc-2. Looks to be in good shape but I've seen on here people saying very mixed things about build quality. Seems I could get one for about 600 used.



2. Gretsch honey dipper: I don't see these used often at all but 650 retail isn't bad. I'm wondering if this will be more of a side step but I have seen people say good things. I'm wondering also if brass bodies like this and the above might be a little less rae and bright sounding than a steel body.



3. Used michael messer- I found a used one that would ship to the states for 780. This interests me the most but is incredibly close to retail price, but none seem to ship to the states. I'd happily buy this if it's as good as people say but wanted to hear some advice here first or if anyone knew where I could just get a new one imported for more or less the same price.





Other than these, I'm totally open to suggestions and would love to hear some more alternatives to consider.

Edited by - Slinky on 04/05/2021 06:00:08

wlgiii - Posted - 04/05/2021:  11:27:27

I have an RC-2; a National cone upgrade really improved it. One issue on this and other lesser round necks I've encountered is that you can only go so low on the action until string break (from saddle to tailpiece) becomes an issue. But the 14 fret joint gives some extra room if you capo up high.

Meanwhile, I've never seen/heard a Michael Messer guitar but have read good comments, and he personally responded to emails. No US dealers, but 12 Fret in Toronto carries them. I've bought from 12 Fret and they were quite nice. One note- savings through the currency conversion was eaten up by the cross-border shipping fees.

As for other suggestions- I've read some good comments on Republics.

tomkatb - Posted - 04/05/2021:  13:40:36

I own the honey dipper square neck. This is what it sounds like. youtube.com/watch?v=47eYVWFesF...eelplayer It has a Quarterman cone and better nut and biscuit.

If you are aimed at delta blues.

I also own the recording king 991 square neck. youtube.com/watch?v=47eYVWFesF...eelplayer

A little more middle of the road sound.

My main practice guitar is a regal 52 Black Lightning, hot rodded by one of the best. Got to love the old Dobro sound.

KennyBanks - Posted - 04/11/2021:  13:17:47

Recording King Phil Leadbetter. I love mine and it's definitely mid-price. I ran a lot of reviews before I bought mine

KennyBanks - Posted - 04/11/2021:  13:20:40

I also have my hound dog that I truly like it was my first one. Different sound for sure from my Phil Leadbetter but it's nice having 2 different sounds to pick from