mgreenwell - Posted - 06/16/2009:  14:03:30

I am looking for resources, online, books, etc on how to build a squareneck resonator guitar. I have checked out the Beard kit, along with the available hardware for sale. What I am looking for is a book or source that would explain construction techniques, key differnces between standard steel stringed flat-tops vs resonators (as far as materials best suited and design strength)

Should I start with a standard guitar build as a platform, then add the reso components? Where does the reso design differ from standard build concepts?
Biscuit vs. Spider? Best materials to work with? Best sources for hardware & materials? I am looking for a resources that best answers these questions.

or...
Should I start with available resource on guitar building then try to apply these concepts to resonators?

Any info would be helpful, Thanks

SlimPickins - Posted - 06/16/2009:  15:26:54

Hey Michael,

That's an interesting question you've got there. I'm not sure if I can give you a good answer, but I'll try. Based on conversations I've had with different luthiers when I'm having them build a new reso for me, I think that would be a good place to start. I'm almost certain that no luthier will divulge their own building secrets to you. After all, that's what seems to set builders apart from each other, otherwise all custom resos would probably sound and look alike . However, I'm sure that they would be more than willing to share what they think are the best materials, most useful techniques, etc. Hopefully, you'll gather enough info to get a good start on things. One builder I might suggest is Dan Brooks of B & B Resophonic Guitars. Dan enjoys talking reso and is pretty open to questions on building. He is a member here under the name - Dan Brooks. JD Myers is another good one to talk to. He builds the Fishook "brand" guitars and is also a member here under the name - fishook. Perhaps the easiest one to get a hold of is Phil Dean of Mastereso Guitars. Phil goes by "Phil Dean" on this board, and is also very open to questions about building. These three builders are just the ones I'm most familiar with, but there are plenty of others out there that I'm sure would help. Other than talking to pro builders, I would just suggest going on with what you're doing. Beard's reso blueprints are probably a great starting point, as they show you the basic structure and parts of a reso. I'd go off of that.

Sorry to ramble, but hopefully there is something helpful in there. Good luck in your endeavor, and keep us posted on what you find.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life''s too short - sit back, relax, and enjoy the music!

-Brent

Slideman1939 - Posted - 06/19/2009:  22:42:00

The Slideman Suggests that accurate, concise precise great details already exist on Resonatorguitarist.com. Builder Gary Duscina has shared with the resonator community step by step detailed.. It may cost you some $$$$ aqt staples for some HewettPackard Cardtrides in color & B & w--but he has shared with all--the steps "his way". Download & print.It's alreadt there.I was sooooohappy with his 23 pages of color photos and specific concise instructions. It's a task to buy wood and buy hardware and attempt a "first ever" home builder instrument.This 8 lesson flow just requires you dig for it / have a good printer/ download it into a booklet., for your homeshop/workshop.HE did it/ WHY can't you ??? Thank you for Gary and great sharing and effort spent by photos and involvement in SHARING his skills to the "experimental" who want to try it. Nice job, Gary D. Let M.Greenwell make the next step.( to read and download). Gary D.'s way of doing it is public record from "02-03-04" He is a god at resonatorguitarist.com because of his brilliance and knowledge sharing. IT'S ALREADY THERE waiting for you.

davidmaulik - Posted - 06/21/2009:  15:26:07

Another resource for certain types of building questions is the Stewmac downloads they used to sell a kit and they still have all of their instructional materials available. You also may have some luck at the Musical Instrument Makers Forum. (mimf.com) if you look in the archives I think there are a couple of walk throughs there.

mgreenwell - Posted - 06/22/2009:  08:27:06

Thanks for the info sources, I will check them out.

davidmaulik - Posted - 07/07/2009:  05:48:15

I was doing some searching and I was not able to find the Gary Dusina article on ResonatorGuitarist.com the site seems to be down. I found a copy of the article at Reso-Nation though. Here is the link:
reso-nation.org/forum/2005/01/...n-article
You have to be logged in to view and download the files.

alaya - Posted - 07/07/2009:  13:07:27

I noticed not long ago that Schoonover has a very good slide show of how he builds resos. It's not a "how to", but it certainly can give you some ideas.
schoonoverresophonicguitars.co...itars.htm

davidmaulik - Posted - 07/16/2009:  21:43:39

I just found a link to another site that has some photos from their reso build. Don't know how much help it would be but it might give you some ideas.
strumhollow.com/building_a_res...uitar.htm

Edited by - davidmaulik on 07/16/2009 21:44:10