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PeterJ - Posted - 01/16/2009: 17:18:33
Hi, all - I am the lucky winner of the Red Line Rambler DeLuxe fromthe recent Reso Hangout Contest -- yes, I do feel incredibly fortunate. I received the guitar Wednesday and am totally blown away.
Here are some edited excepts from my e-mail to Steve Smith of Red Line giving him my initial impressions (subsequent playing confirms what I thought right off the bat):
******
After much anticipation and delayed gratification, I unzipped the gig bag ( a very nice one, by the way) and took my first look -- wow, everything about it says this is the real deal. The sunburst colors are subtle, not garish, the semi-gloss finish is tasteful, it just looks... right.
But, of course, it's all about the tone, right? I could tell when I was tuning it up that there was something big happening, especially on the bass string. A lot of instruments (if they are any good at all) have a strong fundamental tone but not much "air" around the notes, and that kind of fullness and liveliness is what I look for. I could hear it just from tuning up. Once I got everything up to pitch, I pulled out the bar (I used a Dunlop LapDawg, 'cause it was handy -- usually I use a Shubb SP-2 on lap steel) and put on my picks.
OK, big smile time. The sound is what you described -- round, full, but it still has a good "pop" to the notes. It's the way I like banjos to sound, too. The bass notes have heft and can still ring, the top string has the percussive attack that I love to hear. Tonally, the Rambler sounds like a much more expensive instrument. Strike that -- I've played resos that cost hundreds more but sounded pretty 2-dimensional. T
he Rambler sounds like an instrument any pro would be able to take on stage, right out of the case. I don't know if it's the vertical-grained bridge or the set-up or the components, but whatever you did, you did it right.
Fit and finish -- pretty darn good.The fret ends are nice and smooth (a nice touch). the nut is well shaped and the slots are neatly done. The inlay is precise. The neck to body joint is sharp, and overall, it looks like a serious player's instrument.
The import instruments that have bright sunbursts and high-gloss thick poly finishes always bugged me. I will have no hesitation playing this in any band situation... but I think I'm going to get to know it at home for a while first.
*****
Thanks again to Steve and Eric for this contest. I'm primarily a banjo and lap steel player, but I'm anxious to get this reso into the mix.
Peter
"cogito ergo slide"
splinterville.com
myspace.com/splinterville
dirko - Posted - 01/16/2009: 17:46:21
Peter,
Congratulations on a great win!
Dirk
"Roses''r red, violets''r purple--Sugar''s sweet, so''s MAPLE syrple".... Roger Miller
DrtyDon - Posted - 01/16/2009: 18:21:36
Congratulations Peter;
I am glad it is all you expected and more........Any chance you are tired of it yet????????????????
drubin - Posted - 01/16/2009: 18:36:22
Great review, Peter. I look forward to hopefully getting to test drive a Red Line one of these days. Congratulations on your new axe!
PeterJ - Posted - 01/17/2009: 06:37:25
Thanks, everyone -- sorry, Don, I think I'll hang it to it for a little while longer.
It's definitely worth your while to check out a Red Line -- it's pretty impressive that you can get this kind of sound for what Steve is charging.
Peter
"cogito ergo slide"
splinterville.com
myspace.com/splinterville
Kevin B - Posted - 01/17/2009: 07:06:43
Congratulations. Also, thanks for the thorough, thoughtful review. I think in all the giveaways I have seen come and go you are the first person to write a review (at least that I have paid attention to). Well done. Sounds like a great reso.
Kevin - "Possum, it''s what''s for dinner."
bris48 - Posted - 01/17/2009: 14:34:33
Hey Peter,
Welcome the RedLine Reso Family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I own #2, a Solid Mahogany Gold Hardware (A Certified HOT ROD)
and yes you are spot on when you said the Ramblers;
""""pretty impressive that you can get this kind of sound for what Steve is charging."""
I wish you could come to the factory and see all the resos
and Steve is making some really Great Hot Rods as far as Resos go
Again welcome to the family
RedLine Resohead
PeterJ - Posted - 01/17/2009: 20:25:51
Thanks, Kevn -- having won the Red Line, I really felt it was my obligation to write a well-considered review. I know I always appreciate hearing the details in other people's reviews.
Bobby -- glad to join the fold. I hope to make it down to TN to visit the shop some day. Steve definitely has the touch, and it sounds like he has some more good ideas on the way.
Peter
"cogito ergo slide"
splinterville.com
myspace.com/splinterville
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