A Resonator Guitar Crash Course (AT63)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ต.ค. 2024
- ★ Request your invite to Tony's Acoustic Challenge today: tonypolecastro...
➜All show notes and links: acousticlife.t...
➜Get the show: tonypolecastro...
➜iTunes Audio Podcast: itunes.apple.c...
➜Facebook: / acousticlife.tv
Featured in This Episode...
#4 Your Quick Start Guide To Resonator Guitars
Resonator guitars are some of the most distinctive sounding stringed instruments, and they are a blast to play, but they can be intimidating. Well, be intimidated no more because I show you the ins and outs of all types of resonator guitars in this quick start guide.
#3 What's On the Turntable This Week?
This week's featured acoustic artist is Toby Walker, who is an acoustic blues juggernaut you need to know. He's an incredible blues player and more impressive than his technical chops are his tone and feel...
#2 Beard Guitars Belle Beard Review
Right at the beginning of 2018, I was lucky enough to find this guitar and add it to my guitarsenal. I had lusted after a guitar just like this for years and finally, the stars aligned. This resonator by Paul Beard looks slick and sexy, sounds slick and sexy, and even has a very special surprise hidden within it. Check out the full review to find out what secret this resophonic beauty is keeping.
#1 Mule Resophonic Guitars Tri-Cone Review
This guitar's looks don't tell its full story. Beneath the hood of this hot rod lies a tri-cone resonator system that sounds gorgeous. From headstock to tailpiece, this Mule Resonator has loads of mojo to offer; handmade in Saginaw, Michigan by Matt Eich and his talented team this guitar carries with it a story so be sure to check out the entire review to hear about its origins and how it sounds.
How has this wonderful channel flown under my radar? I am new here, but I will be deep diving into this channel starting tonight! Thank you Noah and Tony, and whoever else I might meet on this new and exciting journey.
I've got some catching up to do!
I can already tell that you young folks with your positive attitudes and senses of humor are going to teach this old dog many new tricks!
Thank you - Ray 🤘☝️
I think the Acoustic Tuesday show is a great addition to all striving to play music with love as Love is the harmony among strings. Keep up the good work, I love watching you all too. Thank you. My Mom and a dear friend complemented me that my playing was a lot better than when I first pick up the Acoustic guitar in the 90s
Awesome!! I had no idea how much I was waiting for this video.
I have an old harmony that was trashed when I bought it. I cut out the hole and put a metal dog bowl in it for a cone (it’s a work in progress) and used a fender belt buckle for the trapeze tail. It’s not loud due to the bowls thickness but it does have a cool sound. Maybe a pickup is in its future. It was my first attempt at any kind of build but I love it 😍.
Larrie Cook from Roberts Creek, Sunshine Coast BC, Canada. Just rebuilt a resonator guitar. Turned out just like I wanted. Love your show and am glad to find you. Keep up the great work!
I'm not even in to dobros and I enjoyed the show. Please continue with this format!
This was my first episode of acoustic Tuesday. Great show watching from India.
I am beginner player in his 30s better late than never. Am I right..
Yes I started last year at 56. It's never too late to learn friend.
Right there with you. I am 42 and enjoying the experience of learning something new.
I started at 36, playing and building guitars are the most satisfying hobbies I’ve ever had! Play a little every day !! And get the best guitar you can, a single note from s fine instrument is inspiring!
LOL, you're a KID. I started at 62 as a newbie, LOL. 😀
It's never too late for having fun and create art. NEVER TOO LATE.
This was so helpful to learn about resonators!! It answered all of my questions! Thank you Tony!
Thanks for all the acoustic goodness, which is called "dobro" in this corner of the world!
It’s that time again... Acoustic Tuesday is here to make sure your day doesn’t suck. Best part is, I’m Pacific time, so it’s always the start to my day! Hello from Creswell Oregon! Noah, I’ve got close to 100 pairs of cool socks, keep your feet weird Noah. It’s the best way to express yourself secretly. Covert bad ass.
Loving AT on Wednesday in Baghdad, Thanks guys
Hi! Rick in San Francisco here. Well, this episode really did it for me. I've been wanting a 12-string for over 50 years, but have never scratchet the itch because I would play about three songs on it to channel my inner McGuinn. But, about six months ago, I started learning some acoustic blues, and courtesy of Toby Walker and another pretty well known bluesman, Ernie Hawkins (an old friend from high school) I started to warm to the sound of resonators. I've been dithering over 12-string vs. Resonator for a couple of months now. Well, I think this episode has helped make my decision. Thanks, Guys!
I've been dithering over the same decision - 12-string vs Resonator - tried a few different resos in the last couple of months, reckon I'm leaning the same way as you. They are pretty special, excited about getting one!
@@melaniewoods Yeah, I decided that I just wouldn't play a 12 enough to justify even a so-so instrument. I really don't need to play "Bells of Rhymney" or "Tambourine Man" that often. I'm going to try a "Nashville" set of strings on one of my 6-strings -- they are supposed to give a pretty close approximation of the 12-string sound -- I guess we'll see. I haven't had a chance to play a resonator yet -- I'm not quite ready to buy and don't like to waste anyone's time. Good luck in your acoustic journey.
@@richardgreen1703 Ooh, good tip about the strings, I'll check them out. Cheers
#smallwin Thanks to Tony and all the great videos on Acoustic Life, I am beginning to understand the fretboard AND I played my first barre chord yesterday with ZERO buzzing!! Thank y’all for your promotion of everything acoustic guitar!
Thanks for the show guys! Tuning in from Uppsala, Sweden, and this show is a must every week.
Watching from Cartersville Georgia. Just begun the fretboard wizard course and I'm loving it. I've had several light bulb moments already
Very timely episode. I just pulled my '86 square neck Dobro out of the closet two days ago. Haven't played it in probably 15-20 years and decided to start back.
I dig the themed shows I was actually wanting to buy one before this episode came out! So thank you for helping me narrow it down
love the theme. keep em coming. checking in from Arlington TX
Did not think I would like this as much as I did. That first resonated sounded really fun.
I absolutely loved your intro. To resonator guitar styles and construction differences. Well done!
This is to say thank God for you guys! The rains are given way to morning sunshine and I get to have my Acoustic Tuesday guitar geekness before going to vote and do my civic thing. The concept show with blues and resonators is spot on!! Thank you. Have been considering one but was confused. Loving the great show! Enjoying magic elixir(coffee) from Columbia,SC area.
Just stumbled on your channel a few days ago. I lived in Calgary most of my life but moved to Maple Ridge BC a few years ago. A favourite player from my Calgary days was Tim Williams. Calgary has a great acoustic scene. Keep up the preaching to your very receptive congregation!
I bought a round necked Gretsch Alligator Resonator thinking I was going to learn slide.
So far I still can't wrap my brain around slide but I found that I love playing classical fingerstyle music on it.
The extra volume is great when you're trying to play fingerstyle without long fingernails.
I absolutely love the sound of the guitar. It has a bright rich tone with a natural reverb effect.
Hello Noah and Tony, from Alder, MT. Love the Blues / Resonator themed show! Have been intrigued by resonators for a while....Really enjoy the resonator playing of Mike Dowling. Keep the good shows coming. Cheryl G.
thanks so much for your hard work . I look forward to your show each week . and I can't wait for the next one . yours truly
the Alburgh VT singing lumber jack .
Another amazing performance ! And the guitar info the best too. ........JT in Fl
Hi guys , I'm a new subscriber to your channel , watching from Manchester in England and loving your banter and features. Keep up the good work ! All the best , Karl. 😁.
I’ve wanted one for about twenty years but never really knew much about them so thank you for all the information
Like that blue hoodie! Also enjoying learning a bit about resonator guitar . . .
Thanks for your information.I look forward for your videos.I learn more from your videis than when I took formal lessons at the age of 11.Acoustic Life 👍
Just starting the video, and hoping you will include a discussion of Bob Brozman and hopefully clips of him, because he is so advanced that nobody can touch him, and he dedicated his entire career to the National Steel resonator instruments. Anyone who doesn't know him needs to go and watch as many of the videos of him playing as you have time for. The only problem is he will spoil you for everyone else.
Loving the resonator content, love the s ound and history behind it
My reso story, for Tony and fellow Geeks.
I got interested in playing resonator slide about 35 years ago after hearing Bukka White. Back then they weren't so common, but I was keen in getting one same a Bukka's National.
Suddenly when I wasn't searching, I saw someone playing one at the back of a stand at a guitar show in England. It was a shiny, nickel plate National Style 'O'.
It had no 'National' written on the slotted headstock but I could see it was very old. It also had.. and wait for it... a 10mm bullet hole passing through the upper bout where a bullet had once passed through the top, bounced off the side and out through the back, opening it up like a can opener! The sharp metal had been hammered back down long since, crude, but good enough for playing. As for why, and when, I don't know, but wish I knew the story!
Back to the Guitar Show.
I asked the guy running the stand, 'was the guitar for sale?".
He said yes.
Then he handed it over and let me keep it. Yes, literally that.
"But you don't know me!" I said, astonished.
He said if I liked the guitar, I would buy it, and then simply gave me his phone number! This is true.
I said I was staying at a hotel that night and would call him the next day, but by then I already knew I was going to buy it, what's more even my wife had given her blessing! So this amazing man was duly paid.
Over the years we've fallen in and out of love a few times (the guitar), some have tried buying it, so we've nearly parted a few times, but I still have it. I guess we're inseparable, it's a Delta Blues story through and through, and it's going to be gigged again this week. So thanks to you for the feature Tony!
Amazing video and so much information! Happy I found your channel
Didn't know much about resonator guitars, but know I do. Thanks for an interesting show. Liked the theme show format.
From Boston Massachusetts as usual.
I really enjoyed last nights pre acoustic tuesday show last night, it was awsome.
Hi Tony and Noah. My name is Miki (pronounced "Mickey"), and I live in eastern Los Angeles County. I found your show after searching for resonator guitars on TH-cam. I'd just listened to Johnny Winter's song "Dallas," and wanted to learn more about these cool-sounding instruments. I am 60, and this "mature" woman, really a kid at heart, has decided to learn to play the guitar. I have played the piano since 1966. Loved your show. It was very informative and fun, and heard about Toby Walker, a new artist to me. You have a new viewer.
Toby Walker is amazing, has amazing rhythm. I had your podcast playing in the background and my ears perked up when you said his name. He also has been performing online during this pandemic, so find his show, throw him some dough, if youre feeling it. True musician.
Great show guys, my first complete episode. I was hoping you could include a segment on budget reso guitars though, what to get (and not get) for those of us on a budget, how to evaluate a cheap reso etc. Regards from England.
This was awesome. Learned a lot. Nice playing Tony. One thing you forgot to mention, on square neck, what do you use as slide, especially in the piece musical piece you did.
Good call for that piece I used a stainless Steel Scheerhorn slide bar :-)
I would like to know if that hoodie tony is wearing will ever be available for purchase? I would like a TAC shirt, a fretboard wizard shirt to go with a guitarsenal shirt. That way i would only need to worry about what to wear 4 days a week lol
Acoustic Tuesday thank you.
Greetings from Missoula, love the show, again this week. Thank you so much for the Reso/blues show. I'm a long time blues fan stuck in a bluegrass town. I really have to say that Beard is making some of the most beautiful guitars being made today, but I thought that before I saw the cover plate on your DDG (Drop Dead Gorgeous) dobro. Keep up the great work, and thanks for Toby Walker video.
Thanks for a great show and stuff resonator . I've had a no namer [ 000 Antares ] a little over two years - all solid mahogany with the spider type assembly . I'm learning all the time - it's a great sounding/playing guitar , it and the dread - electric - 000 nylon & soprano really trick out my quiver . I'll be watching more or your shows for certain . My resonator sat in a closet over 10 years when it came out so's to speak - and I was gifted it :)
Thanks for mentioning Lost Dog Street Band. I never liked Blue grass until seeing them because of your comments. Now I'm digging both. Guess I'm evolving.
Great job! I may have missed it but what strings do you recommend using say on a Minnie Bucker? Thank you
A really nice review: you might have added a part showing the way the resonator(s) change the sound. As a physics teacher, I worked extensively, 25 yrs ago, with my students (for a national, french physics contest), in order to analyse that specificity; after building two similar models (with and without the resonator) and intensive spectra analysis, we discovered that that major role of the cone was a considerable mechanical amplification for medium frequencies (500-3000 Hz); that frequency range, being the zone of maximum human ear sensibility (and human voice emission), produces a much higher volume than ordinary wood guitars.
That's the main reason why these guitars (tricones or single cones, easier and cheaper to build) fit so well to call-and-response blues verses, extensively used by many giants (Bukka White, Tampa Red...) before the electric guitar come in the market. These guitars also create way way more harmonics, for each note, than ordinary models. (the upper harmonics, between 10th and 20th, are not negligible at all).
These guitars high volume was, also, very interesting to compete with the horns in jazz bands (and still sounding like a guitar, not like the banjo did)
Hey Noah, great episode with you and Tony. Up here in eastern Canada ie New Brunswick, we call it Movember (pronounced Moe vember) when everyone grows their stache to raise funds for cancer research.
You all are awesome.
Lloyd Taylor proud owner of a Seagull S6 original tobacco burst and a Martin HD28 built from a Martin kit in 2000.
love the show guys....have both types. a square neck withe a spider, and a round neck with a biscuit. both are gathering dust due to my new Duesenberg Fairytale lap steel which is my newest addition to my collection..Would like to see you do a segment on this guitar. i understand it is not an acoustic, but people need to know about this wonderful instrument.
Gordon, I have been eyeing those Duesenberg Steels for quite a while now... you may hav e helped push me over the edge :-)
@@tacguitar oh man, you really need to play one, its an orgasmic experience. i took it to an open jam last night at a local resto-bar and the resident steel player just went nuts about it. he calls it my monster!!..i have the Fairytale model, it is gorgeous...see the youtube video of it being played, titled ''Harvest Moon''...that video alone convinced me to get one. You will want one too!!
Thanks, Tony and Noah, for inspiring me every week to continue on this journey of learning guitar. Acoustic Tuesday is my weekday guitar church service. But I would love to see an episode where you two switch places: Tony is the amusing sidekick and Noah is the engaging expert host. That would be more than a #smallwin!
Thank you Tony,This is my first time watch the show.Keep up the good work ,love to see more. I am a beginner guitarist and want to learn more on being a great guitarist electric and acoustic. I am watching fro Henderson, N.C.
Finally! an explination on resonators.
Excited to watch this whole thing and learn about resonators.. Meanwhile im going to pick up my om-21 sunburst on monday! Man I can't wait.
Great show! I really like to emphasis on one topic, and am particularly interested in resonators. Keep it up!
I am watching from Washington, LA - 45minutes south of Lafayette, LA
Been playing my Gold tone Paul Beard square neck 10 years , started with the Cindy Cash Dollar video , The Mel Bay teach yourself Dobro book. Good to start with.
Tony, from a Maryland boy you pronounced Hagerstown perfectly this time. you make me want to run out there from Baltimore and pick one up! Peter M
Just found this channel. Great content. Acoustic Geeks unite! I recently ventured into the local GC. I was lookin for the Dobro I had been secretly admiring for a few years. It was gone but they dis have a Gretsch Resonator. So I bought it. I have it tuned to open D and am having so much fun with it. My question is one about strings. I want a thick heavy blues tone. Which strings would be the best bet for this? Thanks in advance.
I would try a set of Medium 80/20 strings, or if you are strictly sticking to a tuning lower then a heavy gauge set would suffice, but if you get heavy strings make certain to stick to an open D tuning or something lower than standard :-)
#youknowyoureaguitargeekwhen Your spouse is held in awe for allowing an exceptional guitarsenal to grow in the house. Friends of mine qualify since she let him buy a Martin D28, a Gibson ES-175, a Gibson ES-335, a Gibson Les Paul, an Ovation 12 string, and a Rickenbacker 326-12. Truly a spouse to envy.
Just getting into resonator guitar, great episode. Lots of good info! Rick, Griffith, IN.
Thanks for the resonator guitar info!
Great show guys!
I subscribed and I am glad I did. So we live in Dishon Israel, the Upper Galilee and I am a guitar geek!
Great show - love the concept show. You know I am a huge resonator fan. You sure do play it well....Also, laughed right out loud at the mental image I got of Whitney when you asked her about the concert. #tonyneverwantstoseethatagain
great show guys
Hi guys. Bought a used Recording King banjo last weekend - now I need a resonator. Watching from Florida and happy to have something to take my mind off the election stuff. 😎
Great show today, a subject close to my heart. I think you should have mentioned the new vs vintage subject, since you can buy a vintager National often for as much or less than a new one, particularly if the cosmetic condition either doesn't matter to you or if you like the mojo. Second, I wish you had mentioned fellow Vermonter Scott Ainslie, a master of the blues on a type O national. He tours and teaches all over the country and is a master player and a great performer IMHO. Finally, my advice regarding the show is less talk more rock (and I say that with fondness and respect).
Scott Ainsley awesome dobro guitar player.
The cold is now gone haha thanks guys :)
how do wood vs all metal resonators affect feedback when plugged in with distortion? In fact do you have any advice on resonators with distortion pedals?
Toby Walker also has a lot of instructional DVDs out, good stuff all.
oops i jumped the gun with my comment
omg, the "middle aged man talking about his nails" joke. How true.... XD
Hey, Tony called me a "guitar geek"! Ya know, I LIKE him better already! 👌
Good stuff, guys. Now I want a resonator guitar.
Me too!
Noah & Tony, first I want to compliment you on your first themed AT. I think future AT's should take us on a musical journey based upon genre and the tools/guitars of musicians in the genre (Blues, Americana, Folk, Bluegrass, Country.........you get the idea). Including a quick review/play of guitars from the chosen genre is a perfect touch because, as you know, each guitar has a unique tonal quality that musicians of this or that style of music is really looking for. You sorta hit on this idea in earlier AT's with strings, capos, the model number of Martin guitars, etc... Maybe include a quick tour of some of your favorite guitar stores that carry that style guitar (unabashed promotion of my Chicago Music Exchange vlog visit this past spring - LOL).
Second, #sageadvicewithNoah - It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.
Finally, #youknowyoureaguitargeekwhen you don't have time at work to watch AT, but found that your smartphone fits just right in front of your speedometer behind the steering wheel, you pair your car's Bluetooth with the phone, and listen to the sage advice from Noah and the addictive cackle of Tony on your commute home. Pure guitar geek-nirvana! Yes, it's a real thing!
Once again, the highlight of my week. Happy November, guys! And hey, give Levi a little vignette showing what he's been crazy busy doing these days in support of TAC/AT, ok?
Wow! When pondering all things blues (and bluegrass), Hagerstown (Hay-gers-town) isn't where I think of.
As for where I view "Acoustic Tuesday" from, that depends on where the 18-wheeler is parked. Perhaps the A,C,&T truck stop at x5 on I-81 in Hagerstown, MD. (Awesome food there, by the way.)
Today, however, I'm watching from Hopkinsville, KY. Sadly, neither location is anywhere near my home in the foothills of the Ozarks at Melbourne, AR.
Tony, nice lead into the Mule. Noah, perhaps you and Tony should armwrestle (or some other manly form of contest), for the honor of opening the mail next episode. Just a suggestion, man. Much enjoyed A.T. as always.
Thank you for this piece on resonator guitars. This old music teacher learned a lot today. I was waiting to hear however about the tunings. I picked up that the open tuning is tuned to the "E" chord. Am I right? .....Russell D. in Olympia, WA.
Russell, Close on the tuning the yellow Supro is tuned to open D (DADF#AD) :-)
@@tacguitar which is also called Vestapol tuning, as you may know. This is my first episode; glad youll exist. I have a Gretsch Honey Dipper, all metal, i love it, but after two years, thinking of switching back to wood/spider cone as i play slower/slide. I didnt know the diference between cones, so thanks for the detail. Much Love from Portland, OR. (use to live on Summit Lake Olympia, WA, Russell D. and use to live in Big Sky for a season near Bozeman, Acoustic Life.)
Pretty informative video. I still have to decide between a wood or metal body biscuit cone without having a chance to play them but I'll figure it out. Anyone have opinions on the Gretsch Alligator or Honey Dipper for someone who would like to play both slide and non-slide blues and Dixieland rhythm guitar?
Johnny Flynn plays a resonator, usually in standard tuning. Always makes me want to get one for myself
Tony, are you going to read the books on the desk? If not the library fees are mounting up!
Bill, Fair point, these are a part of the TAC library so no late fees :-)
The explanation fo the reso systems is nice but you do not talk about body material....wood body versus metal body ( which metal body style) which is important to tone production too of course. BTW my avatar is a sepia pic of my wood bodied spider Regal from the mid 1990s. a quick mention of the most popular tunings might add something to this as well. Just E( D) and A ( G)...keeping my resos in different tunings is part of how I tell myself I deserve to own the fleet I do own. be well gentleman
Great show, more blues please.
New to the channel,like this info. Thank you
I know I am super late but can y’all do a small section on bluegrass but anyways thank you for inspiring me to by a resonator.
Hey it's 1:48 pm here in Dover, Pa. I just got back from voting! Cheers!
#smallwin. Heard Mary Flower do an impromptu concert with a resonator at a luthier festival. Awesome.
#newguitarday for my 50th birthday I spoiled myself with a 2018 D-35, always a small body guy I played it without looking,... presence and a big personality ! My first made in Nazareth Martin (I have a Dread jr and I built a copy of an early 20th century 12 Fret 000 ) the thinner bracing is beautiful for finger style and strumming . And such a sharp looking guitar. Going with some friends to Nazareth to meet the makers some time soon !
New Colter Wall album is so good.
I finger-pick, but I don't use picks. I played slide on my strat with a brass slide and a flat pick. Should I learn to play with picks? My dad had a 1940's Oahu Hawaiian guitar. It had high strings and he played it with picks, but it wasn't a resonator guitar. wasup?
No need for picks James :-) Some of those older Oahu guitars were simply lap style Hawaiian guitars :-)
@@tacguitar Thanks for the reply! Cheers! I love the show!
Tony are you trying to slyly get the news out to us that Colton Wall is pretty good at whatever it is he does? ;) That’s the vibe I’m picking up from you.
Hea guys, poormans guitarsenal] from Fla. been shut down for a month.WIFI burt up in my trailer park. More problems in Fla. Another great show thanks.
Like the theme show. How about a show on Western Swing?
You got the pronunciation right Tony, it IS Hey-gurs-town.....named after founder Johnathon Hager (like the Hager slacks of yesteryear)….Jeff W
Please do more of these videos, quality recordings of reso guitars are limited in the grand scheme of things. Even Andertons, who have had a channel for over a decade, have not done a single resonator video. RJ Ronquillo has some good recordings that I would consider a nice little resource for reso samples. It's pretty sparse out there otherwise! - Thanks
Tony, I was wondering if you have any advice for me. I am 14 and I am probably a bad singer, ( I think), but I want to get better. I have zero confidence and when I get some lyrics and chords together I can't even hear my voice cause I'm barely singing. Please help.
Blake, First and foremost sing :-) I know it sounds like funny advice, but the more you sing the better you will get and the more confidence you will build. Another thing that will help is recording yourself singing to first get used to hearing your voice and second find areas for improvement.
Big thumbs up! Like the idea of a concept show. Maybe focus on other folk instruments (vintage parlor guitars, 12 strings, Weissenborn style?) Blues/resonators are deeply American in origin, but are enjoyed internationally. Check out "Bottleneck John" from Sweden! (Also plays a 12-string resonator)! Look for to every Tuesday, Steve from Brazoria, TX
the english word “dobro” is in fact very similar to the russian word for good/kind (Добре, pronounced dobrey). i just thought that was an intersting fact that i wanted to share!
Do you put regular acoustic strings on a resonator or specially made strings?
David, I choose standard acoustic strings, some players will favor a semi-round wound, but overall I would say the majority play with standard strings :-)
#smallwin I bought a set of those Santa Cruz strings from the link in your show. Now I'm a "full on convert" also. They need to make some 12 string strings!
Very succinct breakdown of resonator differences, thanks. Finally, please feed the bird, he/she doesn't look well!