Chinese Dobro/Resonator Guitars?

[Hootad Binky]

The pricing of the acoustic market has been changed forever by Chinese imports (you can get a solid top for $200) and well as the electric (I just bought a rosewood Squier Strat for $150 new: great intonation, harmonics, action) but where are the steel guitars? Because I'm looking for an all-metal guitar, preferably a tri-cone resonator, and I think the domestic manufacturers are too expensive.

Does anyone know of a decent new dobro that's reasonably priced?

[nmiller]

There are a few imported brands (not sure which country, but probably Korean-made) that offer great bang for the buck. Regal makes a great tricone, as does Republic, for less than $600 - mabe even a lot less, I'm not sure.

[straightblues]

I have a Johnson. It is pretty good. I have the Style "O" single cone. I replaced the cone and biscuit with a National cone and biscuit. It sounds and plays well. I am happy with it. The only thing about it is the fretboard is virtually flat. It always takes a few minutes to adjust when I begin playing it.

[Groovey Records]

National Guitars are fine musical instruments

Big Difference here in results
No comparison Save a little more doe re mi
and buy second hand at about 1 k

[DrumBob]

I've played several of those Chinese National steel bodied knockoffs and hated every one of them. None of them had any life or tone. I have played real Nationals from the '30's, and there was no comparison. I suppose you could buy a knockoff and have it worked on and improved.

[CocoTone]

I got a chinese dobro mahogany body, clone to this one, Labeled Montana, that is a blast to play, sounds great, very good workmanship for the price of 340 Cdn.

http://guitarsearcher.stores.yahoo.net/johjr200chic.html


For the amount of slide I play, it fits the bill.

CT.

[jackthecat37]

The Nationals are a great value used. If you don't like it and have to sell it, you'll get at least most of your money back. The Chinese onesyou'll lose more on the sale. And you will sell it when you want to trade up to a National. Resonators are addicting.

[Hootad Binky]

Well I played a National in a guitar shop and it was wonderful! Really heavy. And loud. Great tone, and about $2,500! Thanks for the tips; I'll keep looking for something cheaper, wherever it comes from ;)

[bluesmeanie]

I have a Johnson tricone that I'm happy with. Mind you, I've never had the opportunity to play a National so can't compare with "the real thing".

A few upgrades improved the Johnson mightily, too. I put a set of Quarterman cones in there: much nicer sounding. There's a sparkle now to the sound that wasn't there before. Initially I found it too sparkly and used only two of the Quartermans, with one of the original cones. For a while now though it's had all three Q's in there. The other upgrade was an ebony-capped maple bridge (the original bridge was a piece of junk, frankly).

Even so, this guitar wasn't cheap, it was $900. Maybe I paid too much, I don't know. It's the engraved version (lily of the valley) which upped the price, of course.

One thing, don't buy a Fender reso. I tried one of those (it was around $500 I think) and it stunk. I'm a Fender guy when it comes to electrics but that reso was terrible.

[movingpictures]

Buy Mine http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110283988077&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=001
For the $$ its a solid guitar with nice tone.

[9fingers]

I have played the regular Fender spider bridge reso & found it heavy & dead sounding. I got a Fender FR50CE, with the cutaway & pickups and it is a totally different beast - lightweight & plays & sounds great. ($300 NOS) I have 2 real Dobros and prefer the Fender FR50CE in a spider bridge guitar. Great value! I have actually had a few National players comment on how sweet that Fender sounds. I wouldn't lump all the Fenders together.
In biscuit bridge guitars I have been through several. The Johnson 14 fret chrome plated brass body with Quarterman cone & ebony cap sadddle upgrades is pretty decent. Having said that, there is NOTHING in a biscuit bridge reso like a National. My National Radiotone Bendaway is a magical thing!! I hear lots of Nationals at Blues Week (Augusta Series in WV) each year. Every one sounds amazing. In a room full of guitars people turn around when a National plays to see what is making "that sound"!

[bluesjuke]

I very highly recommend the Republic!
I don't think more money makes a resonater any better than Franks's.

http://www.republicguitars.com/home.html

[skydog]

i have a johnson. It is pretty good.

lol

[Hootad Binky]

The new low-cost Fenders Resonators have arrived! Yay!

FR48 Steel Resonator Guitar (street $600)

http://www.fender.com/products/prod_images/acoustics/0954800021_xl.jpg


FR50 Resonator Guitar (street $350)

http://www.fender.com/products/prod_images/acoustics/0955000006_xl.jpg


FR50 Square Neck Resonator Guitar (street:$350)

http://www.fender.com/products/prod_images/acoustics/0955002032_xl.jpg


FR50CE Resonator Guitar ($660)

http://www.fender.com/products/prod_images/acoustics/0955005032_xl.jpg

http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?section=acoustics&cat=folkmusicinternational&subcat=fenderresonator

Anybody seen these anywhere?

[Kingbeegtrs]

I saw a Gibson houndog that was about $500 and it didn't sound half bad. I played a few Fender's and they were alright I guess.

[Hootad Binky]

The F-holes look silly, imo.