epi_lon - Posted - 03/02/2009:  13:46:34

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Hi all,

I'm looking to buy my first resonator and I'm on a budget.
Does any one know anything about the Rogue Classic Brass Body Resonator Guitar?
I've read some reviews on Musicians' Friend, Harmony Central and other sites and they all seemed a little too good for this level of a guitar.
I've got the impression that most of these imports are coming out of the same few over seas factories. If that's the case then is there all that big of a difference between a Rogue, Regal, Johnson, etc...?
I realize that nothing but a National sounds like a National; however, if I switch out the cone and bridge will I have a half way decent guitar for the money?
Thanks for any and all advice.

meldooby - Posted - 03/02/2009:  13:59:23

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Goldtone has a metal bodied roundnecked Paul Beard Signature that has a Beard Cone and great setup already.
You can't beat it for the money.

Mel

Bradskey - Posted - 03/02/2009:  15:00:17

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My experience with the Rogue dobro (woody-body spider) tells me it will be made from rather cheap parts, cheaper than Johnsons and Regals, and swapping stuff would hardly be worth it, BUT it may come surprisingly reasonably well assembled and setup. Stuff like nickel plating will be really thin and tailpiece might wear out and snap -- stuff like that. The Johnsons and cheaper Regals are actually a step up in materials if that can be believed, but often as not will come assembled and setup like complete crap. Durability may be a problem with the Rogue but it might be okay to learn on a little -- however if you can save the money I would get the Gold Tone any day.

Barring that, I would probably go with a Regal, maybe a Johnson, from a reputable dealer possibly with a coneupgrade for something that will last longer. That's assuming you don't get one with a chipped/cracked headstock, stripped tuners, dented/jammed/oversized cone, off-center soundwell with gobs of glue inside -- the kind of rejects I got 3 times when I was trying to buy my first cheapo reso from places like MF. Then I said screw it and got the Gold Tone from a reputable dealer and have been happy since. Later bought a real National, got a sweetheart deal on one of the very last "new" Radiotone Bendaways, a wood body single cone -- awesome guitar.

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Edited by - Bradskey on 03/02/2009 15:01:51

Old Blue - Posted - 03/03/2009:  19:48:02

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I've had two of the rogue Metal Bodies, and found them excellent for the price (were $239.00 at the time). They were rather droll with the original strings, but, after a number of string swaps, found the Elixir Resonator sets best for that particular instrument. I play slide, with minimal fingering above the fifth fret. I have had Nationals and Dobros, and each had its own character. The brass bodies are best suited to blues and ragtime, in my opinion.
...and if you notice, I'm the only one who has actually owned one, and also the only one answering your question about Brass Bodied Rogues...

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Edited by - Old Blue on 03/04/2009 19:02:36

jmb3450 - Posted - 03/04/2009:  04:32:33

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I don't know about metal bodies, but a friend of mine had a Rogue wooden body and it was pretty poor. The tailpiece snapped on it and he had to replace it. Tone and volume left a lot to be desired also. I don't really know about how it was set up as that was before I began learning to play a resonator, but I do remember the nut and action was lower than normal on a squareneck and it was difficult to put a capo on it.

Jim

Bradskey - Posted - 03/04/2009:  08:52:08

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quote:

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Originally posted by jmb3450

I don't know about metal bodies, but a friend of mine had a Rogue wooden body and it was pretty poor. The tailpiece snapped on it and he had to replace it. Tone and volume left a lot to be desired also. I don't really know about how it was set up as that was before I began learning to play a resonator, but I do remember the nut and action was lower than normal on a squareneck and it was difficult to put a capo on it.

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That much is all true. I had one of these briefly if I didn't make that clear, and the action was low, I'd compare to a roundneck with a nut extender I've played before. My tailpiece never broke but I heard of it happening, while the nut developed a "hairline fracture", and the ultra-thin nickel plating on the coverplate wore away super quick where my palm rested. Also the sound well, whatever its made of, was cardboard-thin. Tone was so-so, not great, but volume was pretty low. In spite of all this, out of the box with the materials it was made of it was assembled almost flawlessly. Its just really cheap components and won't last any time at all. Compared to the Johnsons and Regals, which should have been better and indeed have much better materials, but were assembled like garbage and riddled with problems.

Mbradford6288 - Posted - 03/05/2009:  09:56:00

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Republic makes a pretty stunning metal body resonator for about $600. It's not a national, but it's the closest thing I've seen. They really sound amazingly good.

epi_lon - Posted - 03/05/2009:  11:29:23

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Thanks for all of the advice everyone. Based on what you've all said I probably won't get a Rogue. I found a place near were I live that stocks Republics. I think I may go check them out.
Cheers.