Tuffy - Posted - 10/26/2023:  13:15:02

I have played guitar for decades and play slide as well and am wanting to get a resonator to use in my country band. If possible, I'd like one that I can fret without too much difficulty. My fingers are not as strong as they once were and I don't want to fight super high action if this is possible with a round neck.
I can play slide on a guitar with low action and light guage strings so that is not a concern.
Secondly, I'd prefer one with 14 frets clear of the body. I'd prefer an electric so I can plug in and play. I'm open to wood or metal but I do like the fact that wood resonators are lighter. I play country and will use this in a live setting.
I am hoping to keep the cost below $1,500 but if something special pops up I could go higher.
Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.

FrederickPatterson - Posted - 10/26/2023:  17:40:15

That's quite a wish list. Here is an interesting guitar - hits all the bases. However I have no first hand experience with Eastwood Airline. Maybe someone else can weigh in.

chicagomusicexchange.com/produ...kQAvD_BwE

Dobrojan - Posted - 10/27/2023:  09:11:35

There is a demo video on the Eastwood guitar website.

FrederickPatterson - Posted - 10/30/2023:  04:29:24

youtube.com/watch?v=SbF9xJVOpo0

Biggfoot44 - Posted - 10/31/2023:  03:04:59

That's pretty unique set of criteria . Be aware that as a class , extra thin Reso - Electric hybrids will be weaker on volume and tone played unplugged , than a conventional full body Reso .

( Going from specs & reviews ) the Eastwood seems to have been reading over your shoulder to check of your boxes . Plus has both pizeo and magnetic pick ups and blend knob to fine tune , ir vary tones inbetween songs .

Sorta close is Recording King Minnie Bucker . Styling is closer to a conventional wood body acoustic guitar . Slightly deeper body would imply slightly more unplugged volume . Only the one mini humbucker pick up , so fewer onboard tonal options . But since. You're an experienced electric player , presumably you are fluent in pedals to work out some suitable tones .

The Eastwood is within your budget at $1,179 MSRP , direct . The Recording King is significantly less expensive , around half- ish , from all the usual suspect distributors , internet sellers , and I've seen them in the wild at stores .

kevinam - Posted - 10/31/2023:  10:35:38

quote:

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Originally posted by Tuffy

I have played guitar for decades and play slide as well and am wanting to get a resonator to use in my country band. If possible, I'd like one that I can fret without too much difficulty. My fingers are not as strong as they once were and I don't want to fight super high action if this is possible with a round neck.

I can play slide on a guitar with low action and light guage strings so that is not a concern.

Secondly, I'd prefer one with 14 frets clear of the body. I'd prefer an electric so I can plug in and play. I'm open to wood or metal but I do like the fact that wood resonators are lighter. I play country and will use this in a live setting.

I am hoping to keep the cost below $1,500 but if something special pops up I could go higher.

Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.

---

I am v interested to replies to this question, @tuffy I hope you don't mind me jumping in here, I am also looking for first dobro, budget of £500 GBP

Tuffy - Posted - 10/31/2023:  11:01:18

Thanks everyone for the input and welcome Kevinam. I have been looking at the Eastwood Delta 6 as it did seem to check all the boxes. Eastwood has been around for a while now but I have never played any of their guitars so I had reservations. My other concern with the Delta 6 was whether or not it is considered a genuine resonator because of the thin body and to a lesser degree, the low action. After listening to the demos it sure sounds like a resonator to me and offers everything I want. I'll mostly play it plugged in so the lack of volume won't be a concern. The price is good too for what I consider an entry level instrument.
I'm thinking I 'll pull the trigger. Again, thank you for replying!

FrederickPatterson - Posted - 10/31/2023:  11:12:01

The Delta 6 looks to be a versatile instrument. Good luck with your choice 

Edited by - FrederickPatterson on 10/31/2023 11:12:25

FrederickPatterson - Posted - 10/31/2023:  12:30:05

The used Airline Folkstar from Chicago Music Exchange would be a great deal for the right person.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 10/31/2023:  13:12:59

Not to be a fly in the ointment but I guess I will anyway, if I were listening to the recording of the link Frederick posted but unable to see the video, in the first part of the demo I wouldn't have had any idea that he was playing an electric resonator. Or maybe I didn't really "get it" because there was some distortion/overdrive going on. It sounded more reso-like to me when the player switched to bottleneck slide.

I have played some National Resolectrics in shops over the years and they still sound pretty resophonic to me when plugged in and fretted rather than played with a slide. Obviously a National is a lot more dough.

Maybe I'll get on YouTube later to see if there is an Eastwood electric reso played clean to see how it compares to the demo posted here. 

FrederickPatterson - Posted - 11/03/2023:  06:10:26

Lance Keltner’s Eastwood demo video better highlights its versatility when plugged in, still focusing more on electric Delta blues though. I’m yet to find any material with it unplugged though. Might be a story behind that….