Any resonator guitar players around?

I don't partake at all, not yet anyway. But if you want some good info. try www.bobbrozman.com . Bob's a thoroughly involved character. There's a lot of detail on his site. It wouldn't load for me just now - may be down - I don't know, but it's been a good source of info for all things reso, over the years. Newer resos are better apparently - tech has brought them forward, fresher cones etc. - and while he's a National dealer these days, he's still a man of high integrity and loves to share his wisdom. Worth a visit if you're exploring all the options. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

 

Sadly, Bob Brozman's no longer with us. That's a real blow. I'm stunned. He was such a bubbly, lively figure.

This is the page - National Guitars: American Tradition - that came to mind for you, where he lays it all out.

 

Not a player, but almost. There was a four string reso on CL a while back and i really wanted to check it out, but i've got other more pressing needs ATM. I've decided its past time to try a double bass on for size so i'm not taking on anything else until i find me a good upright and give it a fair get to know you period.

My brother plays guitar and he's got an old national metal body set up just for slide. I became a big John Campbell fan after hearing my brother play it when he first got it.

 

I taught myself to play dobro (reso) a couple years back. I lucked into a great instrument right away - a squareneck Beard Vintage R. Now every other reso I play sounds like crap. I really wanted the Epiphone with the Fishman Nashville pickup in it so I could play live in a band setting without getting feedback. But the Epiphone feels like a toy compared to the Beard. I couldn't see cutting into the Beard to install a pickup so I'm still on the hunt.

Apparently the Gold Tone Paul Beard Signature reso is quite good. Lots of good reviews from the reso crowd.

 

I play resonator but unfortunately not a National. I have a JHS Vintage (model number escapes me) that supposedly has a National cone in it but it sounds nothing like any National I have heard.

My favourite to play however is a half scale Spanish that I saved from being broken up for firewood. It has a solid spruce (?) top, carbon fibre reinforced neck and piezo bridge. It of course sounds nothing like a National but has a hint of old Gibson about it and is great fun to play and sounds way bigger than it's size suggests.

When I first got into playing slide I only had the Vintage and ended up getting tennis elbow from playing it incessantly. The half sized doesn't affect me so I almost always play that, especially at the blues night I attend because it is far easier to plug it in than to try and mic my Vintage (and is lighter and quite a talking point being so small).

 

I saw Jeff Lang at the Opera House with one of these fellas.

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Here's Jeff Lang, and John Butler, pulling out the stops in the Concert Hall, so you get a better idea of what can be achieved. I think that may be a Dobro he's playing and there's more goodies under the hood, maybe a Shure SM-11 but I really don't know. Don't quote me on that He's no doubt blending the two sources, outboard.

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Love me some John Butler Trio​

 

My first was a Regal. I love the sound of a resonator for slide, and other fingerstyle playing. I usually play in open G or D, but there are a few in DADGAD that I like to play.