Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.resohangout.com/archive/7646
buddafinga - Posted - 02/25/2009: 05:30:29
i am looking to buy a republic miniolian reso. but i am stuck on one question?
a wood body or the steel body? since i am new to reso guitars this might be an age old debate? i love the sound of both. my question is... is there an advantage to either one? or is it simply a matter of taste. also republic is apealing to me beacuse of the price range..$349.00 with case ( for the mahogany body) $649 for the steel body. . comments?
thanks for your time to all who reply. 
Edited by - buddafinga on 02/25/2009 05:55:38
jaykellogg - Posted - 02/25/2009: 05:44:42
What kind of music do you intend to play on it?
W. Jay Kellogg
Edited by - jaykellogg on 02/25/2009 05:45:09
buddafinga - Posted - 02/25/2009: 05:55:04
blues.. open tuning usually G and D with a slide.
Slideman1939 - Posted - 02/25/2009: 07:23:07
A lot of folks who play slide blues in d tuning favor metal body..The same sounds and tunings and licks can also be done by wood body (blues in D) so it is simply a tradition or preference going back to the 1930's. people would purchase a metal body round neck, hold it in standard (non-lap) position up against their body and play with a circular slide over the 4th finger that also permitted some fretting with the first 3 fingers---usually a metal body tri-cone or style "o".There are MANY exceptions to this, including folks who will buy a wood body square neck and put it in their lap and play blues. You decide the type of music you want to play or which tradition you want to follow BEFORE you make decisions on metal or wood & round neck vs. square neck. In addition to Republic (made in So. Korea) there are many foreign competitiors doing metal body style"0".You would check out Paul Beard Co., Johnson Co. and Recording King. So lowest price should not be the sole factor on your prospective purchase. What doth it profit a man to save $50 and have a pile of tinny rattles ???
buddafinga - Posted - 02/25/2009: 09:24:12
slideman thank you. maybe i should be more specific in details.. i plan to use the round neck and a bottle neck slide as i do on my acoustic now. thank you for pointing me to the other makers i will check them out for sure...
you are sooo right... " what doth in profit a man to save $50 for a pile of tin"
exactly! 
Mbradford6288 - Posted - 02/25/2009: 17:12:48
I'll tell you this, I have a republic square neck, one of my coworkers got a roundneck parlor, I'll tell you what, these things look killer, sound killer, and are some of the best values around.
I work at a shop that sells regal, gold tone, and republic blows them away.
YMMV
Matt
Brad Bechtel - Posted - 02/26/2009: 12:14:07
I think the metal body guitar would be a better fit, given your preference for blues slide guitar.
=================
Brad''s Page of Steel:
well.com/user/wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to electric and acoustic lap steel guitars
Old Blue - Posted - 02/26/2009: 20:31:20
I play Blues Slide, usually in Open D, and had the opportunity to play a Republic Minoloian at a jam for a few songs. I've had a couple metal bodied resos, and a handful of Dobros. I also have played electric slide for years...so I have a feel for what I like.
I found the wood bodied Minolian a beautiful little unit (I wish they made that finish a few shades darker), the binding, inlays, etc. are very nice. because of its size, its no bar room brawler like a good metal reso, but has a fair sound. I actually prefer my old 1945 Stella's slide sound way more...but I may buy one, anyway, just because its a little cutie. I also have a couple First Act little toy guitars that each sound better on slide than the Mino...
