Good guitar like everything Beard makes. 

Have you ever played a Beard R Solid Mahogany (now known as the Legacy R) for comparison? To me it's no contest - the solid R IMO has a lot more going on.

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Originally posted by MarkinSonoma

Good guitar like everything Beard makes. 

Have you ever played a Beard R Solid Mahogany (now known as the Legacy R) for comparison? To me it's no contest - the solid R IMO has a lot more going on.

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I have not played a Legacy-R.  It has been on my wish-list, and I drove to Elderly a few months ago to test drive one, only to find out it was sold the same day.  (Not a total loss...I was going there anyhow to list some consignment guitars).  Looks like they'd go for at least $1500 more than the Vintage-R (used), so not surprising it has the edge I suppose.  Yeah, the open bodies seem to be more "complex" sounding in general, and that's my experience with my MA-6, granted that's an "E" body.  

Last week I wanted to compare the Vintage-R to a Deco 27 they have at Gryphon as a soundwell vs. open body comparison in the "vintage" tone category.  (Looks like decent deal, at $1700 _with pickup_).  Lost track of days and realized on Sunday Gryphon was closed.  Won't be in the area again for a few months.  Oops.

Funny thing about that Vintage-R soundwell model I played.  You could drive the BC-1 cone as hard as you could, and it seemed the only limiter on volume was how hard you could pick it.  With my open body resonators (esp the Vesper), they seem to "compress" and hit a limit at some point.

YMMV.

Prior to Beard making some serious  price increases in recent years, I always thought the Mahogany R was the best bang for the buck in the lineup. 

I have a couple of friends here in California who own this model, and I have played several in stores (Gryphon included) or at jams. 

For many years Paul had it priced at $2700. I think the Vintage R was $1900-$2000, and an E model, whether the popular solid maple or the MAS in Finnish birch veneer went for ballpark $3400. 
 

Sort of a sweet spot price-wise being a few hundred dollars below the $3K mark. Except now it goes for over $4K. 

Other times I've been at Gryphon where they had an E or what used to be the Rob Ickes rosewood/spruce Nati-horn and I compared them to the Vintage R. 

Completely different animals of course, body size has a lot to do with it and what a picker is going for - they blew away the Vintage R.  But the R Solid Mahogany would hang in there just fine against those L body guitars. 

Sidebar:  of the three  production Nati-horn models, the only ones I have ever gotten a sudden GAS attack from have been a few of the rosewood/spruce version. There's just something else going on with that model compared to the maple and mahogany models. 

The thing about these discussions is that the player approach to the guitar is often undiscussed.

I'm lucky enough  to own one of the 2 V-R prototypes. I've spent a LOT of years with the guitar and learned how to approach it to get the characteristics my ears wanted to hear at the time.

I just happened to check my media/audio files here and much to my surprise, all were recorded with that guitar. I've included an example here for review. I don't recall releasing this tune. I think it's actually a scratch mix.

Trust me. Most of the guitar's sound depends on the player. The balance on fit/finish and design.

When my ears wanted to hear something different I moved on to another guitar but, I'll still record the V-R when I think it's the tool for the job.

Meanwhile, from 200X The Virginia Woodpickers. 

Sounds great Howard! Pardon my ignorance, is that a soundwell style V-R? Excellent playing and tone.

To your point, I agree it mostly depends on the player.

I was attempting a somewhat one-dimensional test of the V-R, using very aggressive bluegrass picking (“those” G licks…). My commentary on the punch, aggressiveness, etc. was based on that style of picking, with my unique hands. It responded well to that approach, and I’m guessing perhaps the soundwell helped focus the sound.

Regardless, your points are good ones.

Net/net, I think this is very good guitar in the sub $2k space, used.

And also on my list is a Legacy-R test drive at some point.

Yessir,

A stock, first gen Vintage R. Soundwell, BC-1 and all :-)

Although the BC-1 is long gone. Currently with a Beard Legend cone.

h

That’s really sensitive playing Howard, a beautiful tone that’s just right for that song. Very nicely done.

I am very fortunate to have two Beard resonator guitars and to have spent some time with them together with Paul. First is a 2018 VR that Paul slightly customized for me with top and back binding and a finish like an old 37. This guitar has a sound well, although it differs from an old Dobro in that the sound well has a larger opening facing the neck joint. Paul installed a new Legend cone and spider in 2020. It has a pronounced punchy mid range honk but as Howard said the tone can vary a lot depending on how you approach it.

Second is a 2022 Josh Swift signature guitar that I bought from Paul at Grey Fox. I hadn’t planned to buy a new guitar but it sure spoke to me. The next year there Paul installed a Vesper cone and spider. That guitar has an open E body design (sound posts in lieu of a sound well, and a plastic baffle). It offers a wider range of tonal options than the VR, which puts it more in what most would consider the modern camp. As with the VR, its tone varies depending on how you approach it. When Paul played it for me after the Vesper upgrade, it was moving a lot of sound. I guess I tend to be a little mellower.

Both guitars have excellent volume and fit and finish and together they offer me a lot of sonic options. Both play effortlessly and are very satisfying instruments to make music with.

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Originally posted by Andy B

That’s really sensitive playing Howard, a beautiful tone that’s just right for that song. Very nicely done.

Both guitars have excellent volume and fit and finish and together they offer me a lot of sonic options. Both play effortlessly and are very satisfying instruments to make music with.

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Thanks Andy,

We pretty much have a similar approach.

Options are good. It's like choosing the right tool for a task.

cheers,

hp

 

That’s right Howard. I often find myself in single mic situations where subtlety is not possible and I need volume and cut. In those cases, I pick close to the bridge and the VR is usually my choice because its midrange honk cuts a mic especially well. When I have my own mic and can be a little more expressive, either works well and I can choose based on the sound I am looking for. That’s true for recording as well.

Yes,

We belong to the same cult. LOL!
h

quote:

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Originally posted by Andy B

That’s right Howard. I often find myself in single mic situations where subtlety is not possible and I need volume and cut. In those cases, I pick close to the bridge and the VR is usually my choice because its midrange honk cuts a mic especially well. When I have my own mic and can be a little more expressive, either works well and I can choose based on the sound I am looking for. That’s true for recording as well.

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My usual picking position is also close to the bridge.  This cutting midrange honk on the VR is precisely what got me excited and prompted the original post.  I've owned (and played) other soundwell resonators, and none of them delivered the same combination of honk and cut as the VR.  Perhaps I just haven't played enough of them.

I have loud, open body modern guitars (Byrl deep body and Beard MA-6), but it's a different type of volume and projection, rich and more complex, with bass undertones.

Turns out I have nearly the same two instruments as Andy, a 2013 Vintage R and a brand new Josh Swift Standard.
The JS definitely has a richer, deeper tone and is more nuanced than the VR, but for sheer volume and punch the VR is a beast.
They cover both ends of the sonic spectrum. You have to admire the quality of Beard guitars and Beard guys like Howard and Denny M. for their ever helpful advice. Happy to be a member of the cult.

hlpdobro Thanks for posting that track! Really nice treatment of a great old tune. Sweet playing and tone, too!!

Cheers,
Joe