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The resonator guitar reviews database is here to help educate people before they purchase an instrument. Of course, this is not meant to be a substitute for playing the instrument yourself!
265 reviews in the archive.
Troy's lessons offer a step-by-step method to get up and running and learn the instrument the right way. He breaks things down in simple bite-size pieces. Every lesson is complete, relevant, and very useful. The camera angles showcase the proper technique up close. I can't say enough good things about his lessons. Even his Weisenborn and lap steel lessons are amazing. He makes the dobro easy and fun to learn
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Guitar Center
Year Purchased: 2015
Price Paid: (Dollars)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
This guitar is beautiful with the brushed metal. Has the unique steel tone. Has a banjo like sound. I play with it dry acoustically for blues, and bluegrass mainly.
It's definitely loud and clear on the top.
Sound Rating: 8
It's pretty decent. The strings that came with it were really light, but that's normal from stock.
So I put new strings DAddario EJ42 PB Resophonic String 16-56 very thick and they ring lou.
Setup Rating: 7
This was a blowout special at GC as blemished but I could not find one blemish.
The instrument is a beautiful brushed metal vintage look and always catches attention.
Appearance Rating: 10
The body is Built like a tank, the neck and fingerboard looks a bit cheap (Made in China) but that's just purely looks. The frets are a bit edgy (not a perfect round smooth texture but for square necks you never touch the frets, neck, or fretboard so it's just purely cosmetic.
Reliability Rating: 6
Gretsch has a strong name and warranties everything.
And this instrument is a great quality practice and entry level instrument.
Customer Service: not rated
The included pickup is obviously crap, out of the box it sounds like plastic. But I prefer mic' up anyway. I bought the guitar because I needed that steel blues/ trash can sound to play delta.
Components Rating: 5
The instrument shines as a stand alone acoustic. The included pickup should just be ignored.
Strong body, great tone, and as a square neck, it does the job. I'm very happy about the price too!
Overall Rating: 8
Where Purchased: Second Hand
Year Purchased:
Price Paid: 1500 ($US)
Love this instrument. The quality is amazing. I use it for blues, Hawaiian, blue grass.
It's beautiful bright, clean and loud but not too loud.
Sound Rating: not rated
No it was set up for low action regular finger style. I had this modified for slide playing. Currently experimenting with Open G and open D tunings. I also like to play this lapstyle too because it's so comfortable!
Setup Rating: 10
Beautiful color has the tricone steel sound. Very unique sound of the polychrome model. As you can hear on YouTube. Everything is perfect on this guitar as far as the build. It's smooth all around. The details of National workmanship is absolutely amazing. This guitar makes all my other guitars seem like a toy.
Appearance Rating: 9
This guitar looks and feels bulletproof. It's stands up to the National brand.
Reliability Rating: 10
N/a
Customer Service: not rated
The cones ring for days. The neck is so comfortable. Feels like silk.the body is like a race car.
Components Rating: not rated
All American high quality instrument that sounds brilliant and loud. My first national, and this makes me feel like I only want nationals.
Overall Rating: 10
Where Purchased: Guitar Center
Year Purchased: 2015
Price Paid: 229 ($US)
Works great with blues/rock type. I got this for practicing lap style and dobro. I've been playing Spanish style standard tuning for over 25 years. So this is my first lap style guitar.
It's fun but dull sounding . I'm using it plugged directly clean through my channel mixer going into my DAW.
Sound Rating: 4
Came in G Tuning. These units are mass produced in China. I wasn't expecting it to be perfect. There are buzzes and the bridge and but are definitely not set up properly.
I'd like to modify this if there are any mods available please let me know.
Basically you get what you pay for.
Setup Rating: 2
The finger board is a little distracting. Almost like a shiny plastic rain boot material.
It's definitely a cheap unit.
Appearance Rating: 4
It feels pretty strong, but the neck is somewhat toy like.
Reliability Rating: not rated
The strap broke right split down the middle of the sewed on button.
Glad I was sitting down when this happened. Obviously QC can't make them perfect at this price.
Customer Service: 5
Strings are very thin and dinky. I'll have to upgrade them. Hopefully it won't destroy the guitar.
Components Rating: not rated
Good for practice use or to jam and record some quick parts in your song.
Overall Rating: 4
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