Arrowsmit - Posted - 01/18/2009:  07:44:20

Considering the price points of imports like Wechter/Scheerhorn, Beard Sig Models, etc vs the high-end resos (that can easily cost 3-4X as much), what are the biggest differences in these guitars?

thnx,

Vic







The more I learn about playing this crazy thing the more I realize how very little I know about it...

DocMarc - Posted - 01/18/2009:  08:31:11

The sound. Craftsmanship. Beauty. Playability. Value retention. Pride of ownership and having an instrument that exceeds your abilities...

Even non-playing audience members can tell the difference between the sound of a Scheerhorn / Clinesmith / Beard / Meredith (and several others) vs the imports. The guitars mentioned respond faster, have better note separation, more volume, and more accurate 'noting'... further, several of them rely almost exclusively on soundpost construction vs. soundwells -- an undeniable difference in tone (I didn't say better or worse - just different)...many of the highest end guitars are crafted from solid woods rather than laminates and that accounts for a good bit of pricing difference...finally, the high end guitars come to their owner properly set up... few of the PacRim guitars have the luxury of setup by professionals before they're sold...a Yugo and a Ferrari both have four wheels - but which would be more fun to drive...

Doc Marc

meldooby - Posted - 01/19/2009:  06:29:41

I pretty much agree with DocMarc except the part about nonplayers. Having said that, the Chinese are comiing on just as the Japanese did after the war. They're getting better and better.

Mel

Arrowsmit - Posted - 01/20/2009:  16:46:50

Thanks guys. I'm playing a D-60 now & it's ok but I've got this terrible yearning for a new Clinesmith & can't seem to find a way talk myself out of it...

Vic







The more I learn about playing this crazy thing the more I realize how very little I know about it...

drubin - Posted - 01/20/2009:  18:08:01

The two Clinesmiths I've test driven were both spectacular. One, in particular, was one of the best sounding resos I've ever heard or played. I don't think you can go wrong with one of Todd's pieces, Vic.

Arrowsmit - Posted - 01/21/2009:  15:16:37

drubin, do you remember the woods etc used in the ones you tried?

Vic







The more I learn about playing this crazy thing the more I realize how very little I know about it...

drubin - Posted - 01/21/2009:  20:53:28

The one that still haunts me had Indian rosewood back and sides with a spruce top (Adirondack, I think). The other was koa. I liked it a lot too, but that rosewood/spruce had some kind of magic in it!

bris48 - Posted - 01/24/2009:  11:16:24

VIC,
Don't forget to test drive a Red Line Reso
ot the Rambler line
Or if you see me with my RedLine Solid Mahogany #2 ask to play it I don't mind
You can get a really great Rambler for under $1,000

RedLine Resohead

Arrowsmit - Posted - 01/24/2009:  18:54:32

Thanks for the good advice bris48. Gruhns guitars website shows a decent selection of resos w/several Ramblers in stock so I'll be making a trip to Nashville ASAP. I plan to try as many as I can get my hands on before I buy anything.

thnx,

Vic







The more I learn about playing this crazy thing the more I realize how very little I know about it...

Arrowsmit - Posted - 01/29/2009:  05:49:38

With no experience w/the high end resos, I wonder how my stock '96 Dobro F-60 would stack up in the sound/playability dept?

Vic






The more I learn about playing this crazy thing the more I realize how very little I know about it...

jaykellogg - Posted - 01/29/2009:  09:14:26

Look here. resoguit.com/roundup.htm


W. Jay Kellogg

Steevarino - Posted - 01/29/2009:  09:14:56

Hey Vic,

If you are planning a trip to Nashville, after seeing what they have at Gruhn, why don't you stop by the Red Line shop here in Hendersonville? It's only about 20 minutes from downtown Nashville, and if I know you are coming, I can have plenty of reso's for you to play. You can even bring your F-60 along and we can A-B it against a few of my axes.

Steevarino
RedLIneResophonics.com
CumberlandAcoustic.com

Brad Bechtel - Posted - 01/29/2009:  10:17:10

If and when I ever get back to Nashville, I'm definitely going to try to check out the Red Line guitars.

To get back to the original question, the main differences I hear between my Wechter Scheerhorn (6510F) and the Beard, Clinesmith, and Meredith guitars I've been lucky enough to play are significant. You get a deeper and snappier bass response and just an overall better sound. I say this as a very satisfied owner of the W/S; I got a great deal and think it's a great guitar. I have a great time playing it and have no problems being heard in a band situation. However, I do notice a tonal difference.

=================
Brad''s Page of Steel:
well.com/user/wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to electric and acoustic lap steel guitars

Arrowsmit - Posted - 01/29/2009:  10:18:36

I'd seen that before but nice article there Jay, thanks!

Steevarino, I greatly appreciate the invitation & will be giving you a call soon after the weather breaks.

thanks,

Vic






The more I learn about playing this crazy thing the more I realize how very little I know about it...

Arrowsmit - Posted - 02/07/2009:  08:17:31

Here's link to another site that has good audio comparisons between several model resos, click on 'audio samples' on the left side menu:

dobro-wolfgang-reimer.de/Seite_9_1.htm

Vic






The more I learn about playing this crazy thing the more I realize how very little I know about it...

Edited by - Arrowsmit on 02/07/2009 08:19:55

Arrowsmit - Posted - 02/07/2009:  15:48:48

BTW, I just ordered a (used) Beard E from Janet Davis...so hopefully my 'search' is over.

Vic





The more I learn about playing this crazy thing the more I realize how very little I know about it...

piknleft - Posted - 02/08/2009:  05:19:58

Scary how RAS can come on as strong as a tsunami. I have have suffered for years from GAS, MAS and now RAS. Congrats on the Beard. It had also caught my eye in the last week as I was on the JD site to order a coupla items. Please return just to let us know how ya like it. Thanks.

"He who dies with the most toys wins"

Arrowsmit - Posted - 02/08/2009:  07:05:39

Hopefully this gtr will cure my 'itch' (RAS/GAS?) for a long time to come. I will certainly report my opinion of the E after it arrives.

Vic




The more I learn about playing this crazy thing the more I realize how very little I know about it...

piknleft - Posted - 02/13/2009:  11:43:22

Just wondering???? Has it arrived? Your first impressions? Inquiring minds and all ya know. Thanks, Mike

Arrowsmit - Posted - 02/13/2009:  15:30:46

Naaa, not here yet danggit. JDavis just shipped it yesterday (Thursday) for some reason & ETA is next Tuesday according to Fedex tracking. Strangely, the original ETA was tomorrow, but it somehow wound up in Kansas City (loaded on wrong truck??) & the ETA changed. Oh well, at least they haven't lost it...

Vic




The more I learn about playing this crazy thing the more I realize how very little I know about it...

Philsweep - Posted - 02/13/2009:  22:06:20

I think docmark is off the mark saying non playing audience can tell the difference. In my area there are only 2 dobro players who are even playing in a band. Most people I talk to I tell them I play the dobro and they say what? So don't give me that crap about the audience knowing anything. They are there to be entertained and either you entertain them or not. They don't care about quality of instrument, note separation etc./ they are there to be entertained period.
Phil

Arrowsmit - Posted - 02/14/2009:  07:07:44

Interesting turn this thread has taken. Given good presentation/delivery from both, I wonder if the average audience member can't tell the difference between a great sounding band vs mediocre...most likely w/out even wondering why the difference is there; they just 'liked' one over the other. If so, isn't the overall sound simply a sum of all the seperate notes/tones of each instrument?

Incidentally, Fedex has changed delivery time for my 'E' again. It's supposed to be here today!

Vic




The more I learn about playing this crazy thing the more I realize how very little I know about it...

Edited by - Arrowsmit on 02/14/2009 08:07:44

Trapper - Posted - 02/19/2009:  16:37:40

Anyone out there ever played a Harry James or Floyd Jasper reso? Pretty spectcular:)

"Life is tough, but it''s tougher if you''re stupid!"
John Wayne, American

jaykellogg - Posted - 02/19/2009:  19:38:59

A while back I went to hear a group that included an old guy that had studied under Josh Graves. This man played a 1928 Dobro. He played one number witha dobro custom made in SC (I cannot remember who made it). In my opiniomn he should hang up the antique and get a modern instrument. Don't get me wrong, this fellow was good, but he was better with a modern instrument.

W. Jay Kellogg

Joey - Posted - 02/20/2009:  05:42:06

" I just ordered a (used) Beard E from Janet Davis...so hopefully my 'search' is over." - Vic

You'll love your Beard, but somehow our "search" is never over.
We don't realize we have to look within ourselves.

I believe we purchase high quality instruments for ourselves, not for our audience.
... and we deserve it.

(I'm a Clinesmith / MAS / Fluger Hollowneck / Crafters Virginian Owner.)
All that firepower, and when I gig , it's on Pedal Steel (PSG), not Reso!


Shameless plug:
A recent 5 song demo I play PSG on is streaming BlueRodeoTribute.com




Joey
JoeyAce.com