schellter - Posted - 02/10/2009:  17:39:52

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I have ordered a Beard Gold Tone PSBM (solid mahogany) from Beard in Maryland. It is on back order, Chet says a couple of weeks but that could be more.

Beard has the PBS model the plywood mahogany in stock. But, I have not found a dealer that has the PBSM in stock. Today I went into my local music store and they have the non-Beard Gold Tone PSBM; they just got it yesterday. And, it sounds pretty good to me.

Now I am conflicted. I am impatient, this is my first resonator and I am anxious to get going. I originally went with the Beard based on reviews here and elsewhere on the web. If I decided not to wait my currently available choices would be the Gold Tone at my local store, the PBS from Beard or I could go with the Rob Ickes Wechter/Sheerhorn.

Is it worth waiting for the Beard PBSM? What would you do?

Thanks

exdmd - Posted - 02/10/2009:  18:40:40

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Wait for the PBSM from Beard. The Gold Tone at the store most likely has not been setup at Beard; there is a sticker inside the left soundhole on the inside back of the guitar stating if it has been set up at Beard. Set up is everything for resos, hang on for a few weeks and get the one from Beard, trust me, you won't regret the wait. Also, when you buy from Beard, you can trade the PBSM, full purchase price, in towards another more expensive Beard reso in the future.

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Edited by - exdmd on 02/10/2009 18:41:53

saltfork2 - Posted - 02/10/2009:  18:40:45

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I also had to wait patiently for my PBSM. Ugh. I think it was worth the wait though! There is no doubt you'll get a better set up through the Beard shop than your local music store. I'm also assuming the non-Beard Gold Tone won't have the Beard cone. It seems like they'd have to be very different instruments in the end. That's just my hunch without knowing much about the non-Beard Gold Tone.

Rachel

schellter - Posted - 02/10/2009:  19:55:51

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quote:

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Originally posted by exdmd

Wait for the PBSM from Beard. The Gold Tone at the store most likely has not been setup at Beard; there is a sticker inside the left soundhole on the inside back of the guitar stating if it has been set up at Beard. Set up is everything for resos, hang on for a few weeks and get the one from Beard, trust me, you won't regret the wait. Also, when you buy from Beard, you can trade the PBSM, full purchase price, in towards another more expensive Beard reso in the future.

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It did not have the Beard signature on the peg head, I would assume all Beard set-up guitars get the Beard signature. The funny thing is that it was actually a bit more expensive than the one I ordered from Beard, that seems strange to me.

Larry

joeyd - Posted - 02/11/2009:  06:03:05

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Hang on! I've had the pleasure of visiting the Beard shop and the whole team is first rate. These guys do it right. Also have a bud that plays a PSBM so I've heard one up close and personal - IMHO it's well worth the wait.

jaykellogg - Posted - 02/11/2009:  06:43:37

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The Gold Tone facility in Florida does about 80% of the Beard Gold Tones. As I understand it all luthiers have been trained by Paul Beard and all have Beard Cones. Still, most players recommend that you get them from Beard. The sellers on eBay are Gold Tone dealers. These dealers in California are Beard dealers (not Gold Tone) Buffalo Brothers Guitars
4901 El Camino Real Carlsbad, CA 92008, 760-434-4567

Gryphon Stringed Instruments
211 Lambert Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306, 650-493-2131

McCabes Guitar Shop
3101 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310)-828-4497 (310)-453-4962

Nicholson Music Co
626 E Bidwell St Folsom, CA 95630
(916)-983-0763 (916)-983-0783

Tall Toad Music
43 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA 94952,
707-765-6807, Toll Free 800-559-8623


W. Jay Kellogg

schellter - Posted - 02/11/2009:  08:36:30

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quote:

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Originally posted by jaykellogg

The Gold Tone facility in Florida does about 80% of the Beard Gold Tones. As I understand it all luthiers have been trained by Paul Beard and all have Beard Cones. Still, most players recommend that you get them from Beard. The sellers on eBay are Gold Tone dealers. These dealers in California are Beard dealers (not Gold Tone) Buffalo Brothers Guitars
4901 El Camino Real Carlsbad, CA 92008, 760-434-4567

Gryphon Stringed Instruments
211 Lambert Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306, 650-493-2131

McCabes Guitar Shop
3101 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310)-828-4497 (310)-453-4962

Nicholson Music Co
626 E Bidwell St Folsom, CA 95630
(916)-983-0763 (916)-983-0783

Tall Toad Music
43 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA 94952,
707-765-6807, Toll Free 800-559-8623


W. Jay Kellogg

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Chet Hogue told me that all of their dealers are also out of PBSMs. And most of the dealers above are out of my normal grazing area. But, it was at McCabes that I saw the non-Beard PBSM Gold Tone, they also had a Beard PBSD (maple) and a round neck and a solid cherry Beard signature squareneck.

BTW, McCabes is also a 200 seat performance venue and on valentine's day I am taking my wife there to see David Lindley.

jmb3450 - Posted - 02/11/2009:  09:23:22

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I'm a little confused - does Gold Tone make non-Beard PBSM's? Doesn't PBSM stand for Paul Beard Signature Mahoghany, or Paul Beard Solid Mahoghany? Makes me wonder if there's misprint on the headstock, or maybe the one w/o the signature isn't really a PBSM.

Jim

jaykellogg - Posted - 02/11/2009:  09:56:27

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I believe that Gold Tone imports the guitar bodies from China and they are either set up by them or by Paul Beard. The PBSM is available also from Gold Tone goldtone.com/products/w/c/45/R...r-Guitars . I called a Beard dealer locally and all they have in stock is the PBS and PBR. They said the lead time is very long.

I was a bit surprised that McCabe's is both a Beard dealer and a Gold Tone dealer.

Janet Davis shows them available, they are both a Beard and Gold Tone dealer, so you would have to ask where they were made

W. Jay Kellogg

Beard Guitars - Posted - 02/11/2009:  12:19:05

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McCabes and Janet Davis do buy Gold Tones that we set up.

Howard Parker
Beard Guitars, LLC
howard@beardguitars.com
301-733-8271

schellter - Posted - 02/11/2009:  13:41:45

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quote:

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Originally posted by Beard Guitars

McCabes and Janet Davis do buy Gold Tones that we set up.

Howard Parker
Beard Guitars, LLC
howard@beardguitars.com
301-733-8271

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Howard,

It appears to me that McCabes has both the standard Gold Tone and the Beard Gold Tone. What is the difference between the two instruments? Do you actually swap out the cone on the standard PBSM?

Thanks,
Larry

Beard Guitars - Posted - 02/11/2009:  14:07:07

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Let me give you the lowdown.

There is no "standard" Gold Tone vs "Beard" Gold Tone.
They are all Gold Tone "Paul Beard Signature...". designed by Paul and built by Gold Tone's asian manufacturing contacts.

Some of the bodies are set up by Gold Tone using Beard internals. The rest are set up by Beard Guitars. Paul may set up one of Jerry's or Mike's guitars and grab a PBSM for a customer.

Ways to identify:

1. Gold Tone set up guitars are serialized. Beard set up guitars are not.
2. Beard Guitars have a "genuine Beard set up" sticker under the bass side screen.

That's it...

That may be a Beard set up guitar missing the "signature" logo. I've seen some odd errors. We have a guitar here with the name "GODTONE".

We're saving that one.

Hope this clears up any confusion.

Howard Parker
Beard Guitars, LLC
howard@beardguitars.com
301-733-8271

schellter - Posted - 02/11/2009:  14:29:28

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quote:

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Originally posted by Beard Guitars

Let me give you the lowdown.

There is no "standard" Gold Tone vs "Beard" Gold Tone.
They are all Gold Tone "Paul Beard Signature...". designed by Paul and built by Gold Tone's asian manufacturing contacts.

Some of the bodies are set up by Gold Tone using Beard internals. The rest are set up by Beard Guitars. Paul may set up one of Jerry's or Mike's guitars and grab a PBSM for a customer.

Ways to identify:

1. Gold Tone set up guitars are serialized. Beard set up guitars are not.
2. Beard Guitars have a "genuine Beard set up" sticker under the bass side screen.

That's it...

That may be a Beard set up guitar missing the "signature" logo. I've seen some odd errors. We have a guitar here with the name "GODTONE".

We're saving that one.

Hope this clears up any confusion.

Howard Parker
Beard Guitars, LLC
howard@beardguitars.com
301-733-8271

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Thank you very much, just two more questions where is the serial number on the Gold Tone set-up models; and, can the Beard set-up sticker be seen without removing the screen?

Beard Guitars - Posted - 02/12/2009:  05:49:17

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You can shine a flashlight thru the screen and see our sticker. I'm guessing that Gold Tone places their sticker in a similar place.

GeoBar - Posted - 02/12/2009:  10:10:49

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quote:

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I'm guessing that Gold Tone places their sticker in a similar place.

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Goltone sticker is under the other screen, treble side.

And now I feel disapointed 'cause my PBSD (bought in France) has not been set up by Paul Beard. I was so glad.

Thank you, Howard!

I'm just kidding: I love my PBSD and his terrific sound. Could he sound better? ...unimaginable!

Please, type slowly and articulate ... I''m French.

Bradskey - Posted - 02/12/2009:  15:24:00

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quote:

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Originally posted by Beard Guitars

That may be a Beard set up guitar missing the "signature" logo. I've seen some odd errors. We have a guitar here with the name "GODTONE".

We're saving that one.

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Whoah! Not worthy to play that one!

Thanks for the info. Got my PBS Maple from JD a couple years ago, no Beard setup sticker inside, but I also can't remember any serial number in it either. Then again I had them install a Fishman pickup so I guess that would render the Beard setup moot? I dunno, it sounds good anyway.

schellter - Posted - 02/15/2009:  21:42:26

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Thanks to everyone for their responses, Beard Guitars was especially helpful. The PBSM at McCabes was definitely set-up by Gold Tone, not Beard. I bought a nut extender for my 6 string and I will try to make do with that until Beard gets their next shipment in.

Thanks again for the help

Larry

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Edited by - schellter on 02/24/2009 10:23:25

Dobro Don - Posted - 02/24/2009:  14:36:02

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quote:

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Originally posted by schellter

I have ordered a Beard Gold Tone PSBM (solid mahogany) from Beard in Maryland. It is on back order, Chet says a couple of weeks but that could be more.

Beard has the PBS model the plywood mahogany in stock. But, I have not found a dealer that has the PBSM in stock. Today I went into my local music store and they have the non-Beard Gold Tone PSBM; they just got it yesterday. And, it sounds pretty good to me.

Now I am conflicted. I am impatient, this is my first resonator and I am anxious to get going. I originally went with the Beard based on reviews here and elsewhere on the web. If I decided not to wait my currently available choices would be the Gold Tone at my local store, the PBS from Beard or I could go with the Rob Ickes Wechter/Sheerhorn.

Is it worth waiting for the Beard PBSM? What would you do?

Thanks

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Wait for the Beard GoldTone - there is a significant difference in sound from my own experience.



Don
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Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
-- Red Auerbach

schellter - Posted - 02/24/2009:  16:03:49

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quote:

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Originally posted by Dobro Don

[quote][i]

Wait for the Beard GoldTone - there is a significant difference in sound from my own experience.



Don
---
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
-- Red Auerbach

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Thanks for the advice, yesterday I got a little excited when I thought I had found a Beard set-up PBSM at stores.ebay.com/Pick-And-Slide-Music, but upon further investigation it appears to be a Gold Tone PBSM.

It has been a couple of weeks since I ordered it, hope they get some soon.

Thanks again,
Larry

crh1 - Posted - 02/26/2009:  08:50:55

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I have a PBSM mohogany guitar. Owed it for over a year now.
It is a great instrument, no problems.
I would definitely wait for the Beard or do like I did, get the Auldridge.

schellter - Posted - 02/27/2009:  09:46:16

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I dropped by McCabes yesterday to ogle square necks and while I was chatting with one of the sales people she pointed out the PBSM without the Beard signature and said Howard from Beard had actually called to ask about that one. Then she told me the GodTone story. Funny.

But the really good news is Chet sent me an e-mail yesterday that my PBSM has arrived and should be shipped today or Monday.

RW - Posted - 03/10/2009:  11:34:03

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Like Geobar, I'm somewhat disappointed. I just checked my new PBSM and there is no Beard sticker under the bass soundscreen, but there is a GoldTone sticker under the treble screen. I thought as long as they had the Beard signature on the headstock that they were the same. Oh well, win some lose some, it's still a great sounding reso and I'm really enjoying it so I guess that's all that matters. But let me get this straight, they all have Beard cones, spiders, etc. right?

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14

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Edited by - RW on 03/10/2009 12:19:09

schellter - Posted - 03/10/2009:  12:57:39

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Yes, according to Jay and Howard in above posts all PBSMs have the same internals.
And, my ear cannot tell any difference in the sound between the one in my den setup by Beard in Maryland and the GoldTone at the local guitar shop that was setup somewhere else. If any thing the one at McCabes sounds better because it is in a room full of guitars.

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Edited by - schellter on 03/10/2009 13:00:39

jaykellogg - Posted - 03/11/2009:  14:08:17

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Schellter, congratulations on the new guitar. My last instructor says they'll get better sounding as the cone gets broken in. She even said to set it in front of a stereo speaker so it will get stimulated.

W. Jay Kellogg

schellter - Posted - 03/12/2009:  16:18:37

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Thanks, Jay - maybe that is why the one in McCabes sounded so good, it is subjected to people playing instruments all day long and on weekends it listens to the concerts they hold there.

RW - you should be able to look through the coverplate and see to Beard logo on your cone.

Larry

RW - Posted - 03/12/2009:  18:00:09

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Thanks schellter, I looked but couldn't find it. Where exactly on the cone is the logo located? I hope I didn't get ripped...

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14

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Edited by - RW on 03/12/2009 18:01:54

schellter - Posted - 03/12/2009:  19:03:07

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With the guitar sitting on my lap in the playing position, I pick it up about 4 inches and tilt the side close to me upward. I can then look through the holes in the cover plate toward the center of the cone and the name Beard is there in their logo script. I guess it is possible that the logo could be rotated to another position on other guitars.

RW - Posted - 03/13/2009:  11:59:02

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Looked from all angles and still no luck, I'll keep looking though...

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14

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Edited by - RW on 03/13/2009 11:59:46

Arrowsmit - Posted - 03/13/2009:  17:46:20

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I believe some of the Beard cones have the logo on the underside...like the ones they sell to StewMac for instance?

Vic




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

dwood1611 - Posted - 03/20/2009:  13:33:33

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I just bought a Gold Tone PBSDM from musicians friend. I should have read this first. They gave me a platinum account with no interest and no payments for a year. It was hard to turn down. Did I mess up? They even discounted it to match the cheapest price online.

schellter - Posted - 03/20/2009:  15:00:07

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Musician's Friend is a Gold Tone dealer but not a Beard dealer so it was not setup by the Beard store in Maryland. However, in a reply on the first page of this thread Howard Parker from Beard said that the only difference between the PBS resos set up by Beard's shop in Maryland and the others was the sticker inside and of course the person who did the setup.

If your instrument sounds good, no rattles or buzzes, then you did fine with your purchase. Don't worry about it just play and enjoy.

Larry

RW - Posted - 03/20/2009:  15:38:16

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Yep, and didn't they say that the even the Gold Tone "setter uppers" (if you will) were trained by Beard? That made me feel better...

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14

Arrowsmit - Posted - 03/20/2009:  16:06:14

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I can't imagine the Beard name being associated w/anything of less than expected quality.

Vic




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

dwood1611 - Posted - 03/20/2009:  19:53:48

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You all are making me feel better. I actually considered the GT because of all the positive reviews on Resohangout. I really enjoy this site.

dwood1611 - Posted - 03/25/2009:  20:12:11

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Fellow Reso-heads, I just received my Gold Tone PBS deluxe maple from musicians friend and may I say that it sounds great. It is better than I anticipated. I played it for the first time at a revival tonite with my son.

schellter - Posted - 03/26/2009:  19:58:24

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quote:

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Originally posted by RW

Looked from all angles and still no luck, I'll keep looking though...

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14

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You can see the location of the Beard logo in these pictures[ url]resohangout.com/forum/topic.as...C_ID=8131[/url] it is visible in the pictures with the cover plate removed.

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Edited by - schellter on 03/26/2009 19:59:55