ToddinTX - Posted - 03/31/2023:  10:46:58

I am an absolute beginner with square neck playing. I recently bought a lap steel and now I want to add a resonator to go with it. There are two available used nearby. A Gretsch square neck, I think Boxcar (the one without a pickup) for $300 or a Gold Tone Beard square neck for $700. For a newby, is it worth getting the more expensive Gold Tone? I realize they are generally rated above the Gretsch, though Gretsch also gets positive reviews.



As a side, I do not intend to play bluegrass. My music style is folk and Americana (think John Prine or Gordon Lightfoot).



Should I pay the extra $400 for the GT Beard or just get the cheaper Gretsch?

Edited by - ToddinTX on 03/31/2023 10:48:27

Iceman6937 - Posted - 03/31/2023:  11:06:38

Welcome to the weird world of resophonic guitars!

I have owned both and without hesitation, I would spend the extra $$ for the Goldtone. The Gretsch is not bad and certainly playable but cannot compare with the volume, tone and playability of the Goldtone.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 03/31/2023:  11:20:44

Get the Gold Tone. It's no contest - the Gold Tone is much better. I like to use a flattop guitar analogy. Say you're looking for a new budget flattop, and you visit a store that carries Yamaha guitars that are from the Chinese  factory. You play one  that sells for a few hundred bucks vs. one that sells for say $400-$500 more. The difference is  night and day.  Your  guitar buying dollar goes a lot farther with the more expensive model in these imports, whereas with an American guitar like a Martin or Taylor that sells for a lot more to begin with, the $400 jump to the next level isn't obvious.

Nothing wrong with the Gretsch as a starter resonator, it gets you in the door. But the Gold Tone PBS is a guitar where you are at the entry level of a professional reso guitar. 

I have played plenty of both. I retired a few years ago from a job as an outside sales rep so I traveled a lot. I would usually have a bar and picks with me so I would visit music stores in different cities, mostly here on the west coast. I was looking for dobros. But while I was at it, I would play a lot of imports in different stores: Gretsch, Regal, Recording  King, Morgan Monroe, etc.  The better shops would be the ones where you might find a Gold Tone/Beard. 

Not easy to put into words but to me the Gretsch Boxcar and Bobtail play kind of "soft." They lack something - they don't have the "snap" of a better quality guitar. 

Gold Tone for the win! 

ToddinTX - Posted - 03/31/2023:  15:19:28

Thanks everyone! I decided to buy the Gold Tone. I don't really know what model it is. They said it's a Gold Tone PBS square neck and it sounds great. Just not sure anything else about it. I didn't see a SN stamp anywhere. I was able to get it for $600, so I'm pretty happy overall. Are there different versions of these?

Edited by - ToddinTX on 03/31/2023 15:20:07

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 03/31/2023:  16:34:30

There are three different Gold Tone/Beard models. The PBS is the lowest price of the three, but inflation has driven the price up for a new one to around $1000. Provided it is in good shape you got a very good price.

Obviously I have  no clue about the seller, but over the years we have seen a lot of people get into dobro (the lap style version), but for whatever reason after awhile it doesn't "take." It's usually the entry level and somewhat above tier of instruments. 

A lot of new players came on board when Alison Krauss & Union Station were active with Jerry Douglas on dobro. I'm guessing there were folks who thought it was a good idea at the time but then they lose interest and the guitars go up for sale, and sometimes they're a bargain. Google Gold Tone, they describe the different models. The PBS is made of laminate/veneer mahogany. Look at the sticker in the guitar underneath the bass side screen ring. If it reads something like "genuine setup by Beard guitars" then you got one of small a percentage that after shipping from China went through the shop at Beard in Maryland for final setup and assembly - the same shop where they build guitars from scratch for Jerry Douglas. 

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 03/31/2023 16:35:58

FrederickPatterson - Posted - 03/31/2023:  18:59:03

Pictures or it didn’t happen!

ToddinTX - Posted - 03/31/2023:  21:29:43

Okay, I checked and it appears to be a basic Gold Tone Beard PBS. Nothing too special. It does sound good though! I will have to figure out how to post pictures.

sapbush - Posted - 04/02/2023:  06:51:47

I have both and strongly agree that the goldtone is by far the best for your main dobro. I have my gretsch set up in c6 and it sounds and plays just fine for western swing

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 04/02/2023:  21:33:08

quote:

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Originally posted by ToddinTX

I will have to figure out how to post pictures.

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For myself, I don't need to see photos of a Gold Tone/PBS, I have  seen plenty of them. But Frederick would like to see it, so here's the spiel on posting photos. 

Scroll below the area in the post where you compose your text - you can upload photos, up to three per post. Easy to do from a phone photo app or computer. If you're having trouble we can help you.

It's better to do it in the area below rather than uploading the photos to your home page, it makes it easier for everyone to have a look at them here in the thread/topic rather than having to go to your home page to examine them.