 | Revuaf says:
1/6/2013 5:42:32 PM
Thank you, Like I mentioned stumbled into the Weissenborn. I had a Taylor 110 and had to give it up... due carpal tunnel surgery. left hand just does have what it once did for making cords... So came the idea of sides..
Ok, back to what this reply is about, as far a Weissenborn's ..
I want to ask the total newbe question... on getting Weissenborn. BUT I'm not going to do that (note I did that with my banjo years ago... it left my head spinning...)
I will just ask this...
Price ranges low to high end...
wood?
how makes them? dealers and private shops
who are who in players...
bluegrass
folk
and any other geners...
To me the Weissenborn has more of the sounds of a guitar then a Dobro does. I like that... I know the Dobro too... for that matter I like my Dulcimer...
So what ever you can offer...
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 | Liz Williams says:
1/6/2013 6:06:51 PM
Oh, Jeff, you are gonna get an earful! I'll get you started:
Low-end, non-Weissenborn: An old Oahu squareneck from the '30s which appear regularly on ebay. The jumbo mahogany models go for 300-500 (I have a beater I got for less).; the student birch models can be had for 100. these are even more guitar-like that hollownecks.
Gold Tone SM is next. Had one and sold it. Solid mahogany, too much finish, but not bad, maybe $700 or so these days. I think Rob has one and he can make it sound really good. I had one and sold it.
Anderwood is making Weissenborn copies. There's a guy on youtube who likes his - he plays Ed Gerhard covers on his youtube channel. Some Anderwood's are solid wood, some are solid top.
Superior makes a hawaiian guitar (they import them from a Paracho, Mexico luthier). The quality varies hugely. I posted about one on ebay right now. They are solid wood, with spruce or cedar tops and mahogany or palo cedro backs and sides.
After that, it's either a luthier-made copy or an original Weissenborn The prices really jump with them, and wood choices abound. Koa is traditional, although not the only wood Hermann Weissenborn used.
I have a Celtic Cross Kona made of Tasmanian blackwood that I like, and a Bear Creek Kona and a hollow neck both made of koa. The Celtic Cross is an exact copy and has a sweet,delicate voice. Both Bear Creek guitars are cannons, with beautiful tone.
Luthiers use koa and blackwood as well as more traditional guitar woods - spruce or cedar tops and mahogany or walnut back and sides. All mahogany is another option if you like a darker tone.
Luthiers to check out for starters: Lazy River guitars, ($1600.) Celtic Cross, Bear Creek ($2500), Tony Francis, Paddy Burgin. At the higher end are Asher Weissenborn copies and in the middle is Rayco. There is a used Rayco on ebay right now. And that's only a partial list. A very partial list.
A great way to go is buying a used luthier-made instrument. I bought both of my Konas that way for about half of what they go for new.
I've yapped enough about makers. I'll leave the players to others. An obvious place to start is with the players in this group. We've got quite a range of music being played by out own very accomplished musicians.
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