Bobtail G9230

I just snapped up a Bobtail.  First resonator ever owned. 

What I like about it:

* the sound is authentic

* the technology is 21st century... Fishman....  tuners - good quality. Resonator - sounds full and not like tin.  However the Nut seems a little narrow.  Its stout but I would like to see it about 1/4 inch or even 5/16.  Bridge - much of the bridge is hidden underneath the mechanics of the resonator.  From what I could see and feel just playing it - its solid. That is probably why id doesnt sound like tin which is what I heard on other resonators (regal, and others) - its a matter of personal taste but didnt sound authentic. Easy to restring. 

* sound is amp dependant BUT... I have it run through a kustom (believe it or not) practice amp with 10 inch speaker and single tone knob. sounds  more authetic than my tube amp when I listen to older recordings.  Sounds crispy.

Run it through  my savage macht 12 and it sound rich and creamy, with a twing of vibrato on its really sweet.   Almost too sweet!

 Thats alright though - It seems reasonable that  sound degradation was encountered due to recording methods and reproduction methods so the "authentic sound" is much an artifact of the music production method, coloring our perception of the original sound.  

I can only imagine sitting next to Johnson and hearing the authentic grooves played live.  Tube amp plus reso equals real deal.

* Recording :   I also want to try it through a DI box into a neve preamp. I know its going to sound great. A single mic placed correctly allows a mx of the resonator with the DI.  I will update with results. 

* Resonator - well designed strcuturally from what I see. Solid constructions. 

* Service counts -  I bought it out of Lavonnes music in Savage MN. Excellent customer service from the guys there. And they can hook me up for service should it be necessary.

* Strings: Need to experiment with different strings - I was looking at getting some pedal steel strings. Round wound vs flat. 

The future:  I wonder if one could get a B Bender  or similar installed.  A friend of mine told me he uses his right thumb to push down on the string so its a cheap alternative.   But it would be a new frontier for the resonator if it had b bend capability.  Anyone ever try this out there shoot me a holler please..