Kanotex - Posted - 07/07/2024:  04:47:53

Hello,
I have a chance to buy a Wolfe ported resophonic for a good price, all rosewood, and I'm wondering if anybody has had an experience with an all-rosewood Wolfe ported. I've played plenty of rosewood and spruce guitars but never an all-rosewood instrument.
Thanks in advance.

docslyd - Posted - 07/07/2024:  06:27:57

Bobby Wolfe made quality guitars. I have played several and liked some very much, and others not as much. Generally, I would say they are held in fairly high esteem, however, like any instrument it would be best to play it and judge for yourself whether the sound is what you’re looking for. Nobody can describe it accurately enough to represent it and I don’t think you can make any generalization based upon the woods that are used in the construction.

Edited by - docslyd on 07/07/2024 06:29:57

Dobrojan - Posted - 07/07/2024:  11:44:29

I have a walnut ported Wolfe and it is a great guitar and held its own in a group with several other reso’s, guitars & fiddle’s. I recently saw a non ported 1991 Wolfe listed at Sweetwater for $3,500, starting asking price was $4,000. I couldn’t tell what the wood was and it wasn’t listed.

Kanotex - Posted - 07/07/2024:  11:48:33

The rosewood Wolfe I'm looking at is priced at $1900.

docslyd - Posted - 07/07/2024:  13:01:55

...give me the number. I'll take it...!  For reference, the Wolfe that Jan mentions, in my opinion, is too high. That guitar appears to be mahogany.  I think (in my opinion again) $2500.00 is probably a fair value on most walnut Wolfes (wolves?).  I have seen them listed in that range, though they don't often appear.

Edited by - docslyd on 07/07/2024 13:07:14

docslyd - Posted - 07/07/2024:  13:09:38

For reference again...see if this link works. It was three years ago.
reverb.com/item/40487675-1984-...uare-neck

Dobrojan - Posted - 07/07/2024:  13:37:46

If I didn’t already own a Wolfe, I would grab it, hopefully before Eric.  Bobby is selling a couple finished bodies for $1,000.  I believe there are myrtle wood.  You could  finish it yourself or have a luthier finish it.  You would have to buy all the parts, cone, spider, coverplate, bridge and tuners which would probably  cost more than the one you are looking at.  

Edited by - Dobrojan on 07/07/2024 13:45:27

Kanotex - Posted - 07/07/2024:  13:47:49

I thought that sounded like a pretty good deal; if I don't go for it, I could share the seller's info. with interested buyers here. I know the Wolfes have a good reputation, I just haven't played an all-rosewood reso.

Wolfe related (while you're here): I've also been looking for a copy of Bobby Wolfe's book and when one pops up on ebay, etc., it's always for crazy money. Is there a way to get a copy even if it's only a PDF a person could print out? I found a PDF copy of Jerry Reed's "Heavy Neckin'" online like that and was able to print it out and put it in a ring binder.

docslyd - Posted - 07/07/2024:  16:53:00

I have seen the guitar you're looking at. Easy search will find it. If you don't pull the trigger someone certainly will. I have purchased 3 reso's in the last 6 months...otherwise I wouldn't hesitate. It's not like I'm searching but sometimes deals come up that you just can't pass up on. Funny how that happened several times in a row...then this. It's an opportunity to own a nice guitar and if you don't fall in love with it, you can certainly sell it at some profit (if you have a little patience and know where to list it), having owned it for free for a time.

FrederickPatterson - Posted - 07/07/2024:  17:32:48

quote:

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Originally posted by docslyd

I have seen the guitar you're looking at. Easy search will find it. If you don't pull the trigger someone certainly will. I have purchased 3 reso's in the last 6 months...otherwise I wouldn't hesitate. It's not like I'm searching but sometimes deals come up that you just can't pass up on. Funny how that happened several times in a row...then this. It's an opportunity to own a nice guitar and if you don't fall in love with it, you can certainly sell it at some profit (if you have a little patience and know where to list it), having owned it for free for a time.

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That happens to me sometimes too but it's usually on Squier Stratocasters that are in the $75 - $150 range!

Edited by - FrederickPatterson on 07/07/2024 17:33:10

SamCy - Posted - 07/08/2024:  10:24:09

I have two ported Wolfe resos and like them both very much. The two different woods have a subtle  influence on the tone.  They are loud everywhere on the fret board. As Bobby describes the tone, the trebles are firm as opposed to stringy, and the basses have some edge as opposed to being boomy. He favors plain hard maple inserts, so the trebles are strong but not as edgy as some.

Kanotex - Posted - 07/08/2024:  14:13:07

Excellent, that's the kind of info. I was wondering about. Thank you!

sovio - Posted - 07/09/2024:  04:08:52

I'm the person who bought the unfinished Wolfe that was listed here a couple of months ago. As Jan said the top and back are Myrtle. Bobby thinks the sides may be Butternut and the neck appears to be Douglas Fir. I used a Scheerhorn cone, Beard Spider and Hipshot roller nut. I have to say, it is beautifully even across and up the neck

with no unpleasant shrillness anywhere. In truth, I haven't taken my Blackbeard out of the case since I strung up the Wolfe. BTW , I had several chances to chat and consult with Bobby during the project and that was also a pleasure.

Edited by - sovio on 07/09/2024 04:13:11

sovio - Posted - 07/09/2024:  04:18:09

quote:

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Originally posted by sovio

I'm the person who bought the unfinished Wolfe that was listed here a couple of months ago. As Jan said the top and back are Myrtle. Bobby thinks the sides may be Butternut and the neck appears to be Douglas Fir. I used a Scheerhorn cone, Beard Spider and Hipshot roller nut. I have to say, it is beautifully even across and up the neck

with no unpleasant shrillness anywhere. In truth, I haven't taken my Blackbeard out of the case since I strung up the Wolfe. BTW , I had several chances to chat and consult with Bobby during the project and that was also a pleasure.

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Kanotex - Posted - 07/09/2024:  06:32:38

That is a really cool looking reso; thanks for sharing the photos and the details.
So is Bobby Wolfe still active in the reso community?

sovio - Posted - 07/09/2024:  07:43:16

Bobby is still around. I believe he told me he is 93, but hasn't made a reso since 2012. I think he said mine was his last , using up some material he had. He was both, knowledgeable and a pleasure to chat with.

Dobrojan - Posted - 07/09/2024:  07:56:37

The last time I saw Bobby at ResoGat he was carrying around a reso built like the one Harry has with his hand in the upper bout cut out as if it were a suitcase. I thought it was a great way to carry your reso rather than by the neck of the guitar. I hope to see Bobby at ResoGat in a few days.
I am curious Harry what kind of finish you did to the wood. You have a beautiful guitar!

resoranger - Posted - 07/09/2024:  08:01:03

There is another ported Wolfe on Facebook Marketplace in Kentucky for $2200.

chuck hall - Posted - 07/09/2024:  09:25:25

Like his guitars a lot. Had a chance to talk to him a couple times years ago at Resogat, quite an education.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 07/09/2024:  09:57:57

quote:

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Originally posted by sovio

I'm the person who bought the unfinished Wolfe that was listed here a couple of months ago. As Jan said the top and back are Myrtle. Bobby thinks the sides may be Butternut and the neck appears to be Douglas Fir. 

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A neck made of Douglas fir? That's a first for me - never heard of a neck made from that timber.  I would think it's too soft - especially for a squareneck. 

sovio - Posted - 07/09/2024:  14:32:26

Mark, The fir is perfectly quarter sawn and by weight Doug Fir is stronger than steel.  Jan,  the finish I put on is Tru-Oil. It's sold as a gun stock finish, but is beautiful as an instrument finish when you want  your wood to look and feel like wood and not like wood under glass. 

daver - Posted - 07/09/2024:  14:58:19

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkinSonoma

A neck made of Douglas fir? That's a first for me - never heard of a neck made from that timber.  I would think it's too soft - especially for a squareneck. 

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First for me too.  Compared to black walnut (a common Wolfe choice), Douglas fir is about 60% softer, but comparable modulus of rupture, elastic modulus, and crushing strength, and dimensional stability per wood-database.com/.  So it otter work, even if it dents easier.

SamCy - Posted - 07/10/2024:  09:25:54

As Dave points out, strength to weight ratio for Douglas fir is very high. Spanish cedar has been used for classical guitar necks and even some Martin guitars with the description  "select hardwood".

The idea for a reso is to provide a neck that is very stiff, but also light for players who complain about the weight hanging around their neck.

Edited by - SamCy on 07/10/2024 09:40:39

badger - Posted - 07/10/2024:  11:52:52

Keep in mind that the softwood/hardwood designation addresses only whether the species is evergreen or deciduous. Spanish cedar, despite the name, is a hardwood, closely related to the mahogany family. Well-aged old-growth Douglas fir, a softwood, can be surprisingly hard in addition to its stiffness and dimensional stability.

CaseyHunter - Posted - 07/10/2024:  13:04:48

I purchased one of Bobby's last fully built resoport's with the cat-eye sound port in 2012.  It looks identical to yours Sovio,  but it is made from solid cherry wood (body and neck).   The construction is great, the ports make great carrying handles, and it has a poly finish that I thought Bobby said was from the automotive industry. It is not the most ornate or fancy dobro's out there, and I don't think I would have ever considered using cherry wood, but I really like it.

The price was right at the time and I liked the idea of buying it directly from Bobby.  Lots of phone conversations with him and info about his designs and sound character he aims for.  He provided a white paper on the reso-port history and also one of his last copies of the "Resphonic Guitar" book he wrote and published a long time back.  Great guy, and was an awesome experience talking with a guy with that much dobro history. 

Bobby's "boxes" have a distinct tone and physical playing feel...I think SamCy did a great job describing the tone.  I find that its tone may not be as nuanced or as complex as some of the modern resos, but it holds it own and shines when you dig into it.  I did end up wearing out the maple bridge, and replaced it with the Beard "Shockwave", but it didn't really change the tone...maybe gave it a little more edge at best.  I think its tone is a pretty great bridge between the classic dobro sound and the new modern sound.  It has worked well on bluegrass, blues, folk, rock, and even on a celtic hip hop track. 

I have played three other Wolfe's, two of which sounded and played liked mine.  The third was one of his most elaborately decorated "special models" owned by another player. It definitely needed some work/setup as it was pretty muddy and quiet comparatively.  Construction look good, so my assumption was setup was the culprit. 

Casey

quote:

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Originally posted by sovio

quote:

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Originally posted by sovio

I'm the person who bought the unfinished Wolfe that was listed here a couple of months ago. As Jan said the top and back are Myrtle. Bobby thinks the sides may be Butternut and the neck appears to be Douglas Fir. I used a Scheerhorn cone, Beard Spider and Hipshot roller nut. I have to say, it is beautifully even across and up the neck

with no unpleasant shrillness anywhere. In truth, I haven't taken my Blackbeard out of the case since I strung up the Wolfe. BTW , I had several chances to chat and consult with Bobby during the project and that was also a pleasure.

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SamCy - Posted - 07/13/2024:  11:27:02

Bobby experimented at length with the size of his baffle openings, even designing a reso that enabled him to adjust the openings from outside the box with no disassembly. He found that if the openings were too large, the basses were "boomy" and the trebles thin and "stringy". If the openings were too small, the trebles were firm but there was no power in the bass. So, a balance was achieved that provided firm trebles and powerful basses. The result is the evenness you hear. His new soundhole shape had a different total area and required an adjustment in the size of the baffle openings to restore the balance.

Edited by - SamCy on 07/13/2024 11:30:26