Hello everyone -
This is my first post, but I have been reading here for a while to help me with resonator guitar issues.
I play some tenor guitar, and for the last year or so trying to learn fingerpicking and slide on a 6-string resonator in open tunings. The tenor guitar is my most versatile instrument, and I recently realized it sounded great in an open tuning with a slide. That led me to look for a tenor resonator.
I found some available at Royall guitars, their long scale Triolian '29 tenor guitars. But a concern is the scale length, nut width, and string spacing dimensions. They have a 25" scale, 1-11/16 nut width, and 1/2 -inch string spacing! Basically a 6-string with only four strings. I'm a little worried about the ease of strumming at the right hand end due to the huge spacing between the four strings, and the stretching to make chords at the left hand end due to the full-length scale. It seems like some of the ease of play of a tenor guitar are lost with this set up, but maybe I am missing something.
Any advice or experience with a similar tenor setup would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
echo chamber
P.S. I picked this username because if I sneeze or talk loud around my resonator on the desk, the sound always bounces back at me. My wife thinks this is hilarious.
Just to be explicit , I'm understanding that you play Roundneck , vertical style , and wish to play both fretted and Bottleneck Slide ?
25 inch is typical scale length for 6 string Resonators , and in the middle of the range for 6 string acoustic guitar .
The string spacing would seem porportional to Squareneck Resonator , or classical ( nylon string) guitar .
I play lap style with tonebar , so I have no input on fretting , other than a general knowledge than millions of players play Classical guitar .
However , with a bridge insert blank , and a nut blank ( you if skilled , or a basic guitar tech ) could set string spacing to whatever spec you prefer .
That scale length would be much more commonly associated with plectrum than tenor tuning. Which might also be bottleneck friendly!
Thank you for the replies, I bought one and am very happy with it. Will post a review!
Yes, the 25" scale is very bottleneck friendly, makes for great slide playing in open tunings.
echo
"P.S. I picked this username because if I sneeze or talk loud around my resonator on the desk, the sound always bounces back at me. My wife thinks this is hilarious."- Our dog's bark is just the right frequency to make the open E tricone "sing" along with her.
In the log run- Regal made a tenor resonator in the 30s with a typical small tenor neck; those show up from time to time online at a more economical price than the vintage Nationals. I happen to have one and happen to have toyed with bottleneck & open tunings, but found that it lost the low end versus a 6 string. Spending more practice time could probably adjust for that. Besides tenor thing (CGAE), it's been fun to play with in that DDAD tuning fiddles use for Bonaparte's Retreat.
