TGM 7/6
REVIEW: RESONATORS
NATIONAL RESO-PHONIC® DELPHI
DOBRO® STEEL 90
BELTONA SINGLE RESONATOR
The resonator guitar is by today’s standards a
peculiar beast with its own specific construction methods,
playing styles and folklore. TGM asked UK resonator artist
Michael Messer to give his impressions of three resonators
readily available in the UK. Dave Burrluck reports...
National Reso-Phonic® and Dobro® (both American companies) are
still the main players when it comes to metal bodied resonators.
Around the world however are smaller makers - like the UK’s
Beltona company - who supply a small number of generally high
quality instruments for the discerning player. Dobro have by far
the largest catalogue which currently includes both wooden and
metal-bodied single resonators and even a couple of basses.
National Reso-phonic is relatively new (ex-Original Musical
Instrument Co. - the owners of the Dobro brand - employees Don
Young and F. McGregor Gaines started in ‘88) whereas
Dobro’s post-war activities began in the late ‘60s and
were brought to mainstream attention when Gibson purchased the
company in ‘93. Beltona was formed in ‘91 by luthier
Steve Evans and engineer Bill Johnson. Currently their small
range of a triple, single and electro resonator also includes a
mandolin and ukulele.
NATIONAL RESO-PHONIC® DELPHI
Based on the original National Duolian (National’s
bottom-of-the line steel bodied resonator), the current version
is a steel-bodied, 12-fret single resonator. The immediate
difference here between both the 14-fret Beltona and Dobro is the
longer body length and the sloped shoulder shape. Clearly, not
only the increased body area, plus the shorter and theoretically
stiffer neck, are factors that many resonator aficionados believe
contributes to a superior tone over the 14-fret design. The front
is slightly curved, the back dead flat and the two ‘f’
holes - as on all three models reviewed here - have rounded edges
giving the impression that the metal is much thicker than it
really is. The resonator-cone’s coverplate has the
traditional nine diamond ‘colander’ cut outs with four
‘ribs’ originally included to strengthen the coverplate
though now, as the metal used is thicker than the originals are
now as much for cosmetics as structural integrity.
‘Overall the guitar does feel really quite heavy,’
noted Michael land at 9lbs this resonator is more akin to a
heavier solid-body electric and around twice the weight of an
average acoustic.
The neck is mahogany and is noticeably thicker in depth than the
Dobro but without the ‘V’ profile of the Beltona. The
single bound rosewood board is flat - favoured by slide players -
with simple opaque cream plastic dots. This simplistic style is
echoed by the slotted headstock - fitted with three-on-a-strip
Irving Sloane tuners - which has a simple transfer National logo.
The trapeze string anchor echoes the original design though the
body has a newer bronze-coloured finish called ‘aged
brass’.
SOUNDS
‘Firstly the neck feels quite like an old one,’
reckoned Michael Messer; ‘and being primarily a slide player
I like the flat fingerboard. Mind you, they use what I feel is an
odd neck finish; it’s satin and I’m sure it’s very
durable but I prefer either a modern gloss finish or an older,
thinner matt finish.’
‘Tonally, evaluating a brand new guitar is difficult because
they always, to my ears at least, sound on the bright side though
I’m sure with use this one will “warm-up” and
sound better. For example, the low-end response is a little weak
but I think that’ll improve. Basically we have the same
tonal character as my old National Duolian but the body is
thicker and heavier, it doesn’t move as much and I
can’t feel the body vibrating as it does on my own Duolian.
However, this is a good choice, as it stands, for rawer
Mississippi-style blues slide.’
‘In terms of overall construction and detail it’s
clearly not up to the same standard as the hand-made Beltona but
the small production standard is nonetheless very high and I like
this aged brass finish. I really think this guitar will last you
and your grandchildren all their lives, it’s very ruggedly
built - you could gig it for 100 years, seven nights a week.
However, the down-side of that it is that it’s heavy to hold
and the action is too low for clean slide.’
DOBRO® STEEL
90
This is a 14-fret, single resonator. It uses a steel body with a
stamped arched back and lightly curved front with two
‘f’ holes. The circular, chromed coverplate features
star and crescent cut-outs, inspired from an early Dobro mandolin
design. The neck is maple with a brown sunburst gloss finish
echoing the ‘darkburst’ finish of the body. The 19-fret
rosewood board is again flat and dot inlaid; the fretting from a
pretty small and low gauge wire is tidy except for some slightly
sharp edges. The headstock is typically back angled but unslotted
so the small body, kidney-buttoned Grover heads mount from the
back not the side. Decoration here is typically austere with a
‘Duolian by Dobro’ transfer - which shows where the
inspiration comes from - and raised Dobro motif on the
contrasting white plastic truss rod cover - unlike the original
guitars, modern resonators use adjustable truss rods. As with the
National, a trapeze-type tailpiece anchors the strings and both
use a biscuit-type bridge with 9.5” diameter resonator cone.
SOUNDS
‘This sample is 100% improvement over what I’ve seen of
the Dobro brand over the last 20-30 years,’ enthused Michael
Messer, ‘they’ve really pulled themselves together. I
like the look of the guitar especially the coverplate and of the
three the weight is the lightest, the balance is good and again I
like the flat fingerboard. The neck here is slim in depth and
perfectly comfortable.’
‘Tonally, however, this one sounds a little muted. The
bottom end is good but we have a weak high end, the notes really
don’t seem to project as well as they should which could be
down to an over-thick resonator cone. The guitar doesn’t
ring and resonate quite as fully as it should.’
‘On a practical level the handrest is too high and rather
sharp-edged which is actually pretty uncomfortable. Also,
it’s riveted not welded to the coverplate so after a couple
of years hard gigging you may well start getting rust between the
handrest and the coverplate.’
‘There’s not the same constructional detail here as
compared to the similarly priced National and, for me,
there’s not enough of the original National character in its
sound.’
Certainly Michael’s concern about the cone quality was
confirmed by The Acoustic Centre’s Seamus Brady who replaced
it with a thinner, new National replacement cone which he felt
restored some of the high end ‘life’ to the guitar.
As far as pricing, visa-vie constructional quality is concerned,
it should also be pointed out that National guitars, like an
increasing number of brands available in the UK, are subject to a
just single mark-up - The Acoustic Centre import them and sell
them exclusively. Dobro, on the other hand, are imported by OMEC
(a nation-wide distributor) who place them through their dealer
chain meaning, as with most mainstream product, they’re
simply more expensive incurring both distributor and dealer
mark-up - the dealer can’t live on fresh air!
BELTONA SINGLE
RESONATOR
This guitar differs from the others on review with its brass
construction and superb nickel-plated finish. ‘It really
reminds me of the now classic 14-fret Style O National, as of
course made famous by Mark Knopfler,’ states Michael Messer.
This 14-fret, single-cone design (with 9.5” cone and biscuit
bridge) has, like the National, the nine diamond shaped
multi-hole colander cut-outs on the ribbed coverplate. The front
is flat with a stamped, raised back.
The neck is mahogany with a finely bound, slightly cambered ebony
board and has a distinct ‘V’ shape that feels really
comfortable. The small gauge frets and mother-of-pearl
fingerboard dots are immaculately installed while the slotted
headstock, with its simple but beautiful tapered design, sports
what looks like a ‘mother-of-toilet-seat’ plastic
facing. Note also that distinctive, extended and pointed
truss-rod cover. Individual Kluson-type tuners are side mounted
and the string anchor seems like a standard National trapeze.
Beltona stamp their serial number of the lower treble-side bout,
Dobro stamp theirs on the top edge of the headstock while
National have the model and serial number on a label inside the
body.
SOUNDS
Every time Michael and myself picked up this resonator we
couldn’t help but be impressed by the build-quality;
‘workmanship is superb, as is the body finish,’
reiterated Michael. ‘The neck is extremely playable, it
feels hand-carved and is a beautiful shape.’
‘The tone, for me, because of the brass construction
produces a more high-quality sound that’s less
“tin-can” than the steel body. But while it’s
slightly smoother and less harsh than the National, the general
character is similar but I’d say whereas the National is
more of a blues thrasher this Beltona is more of a pickers
guitar, one for more controlled playing.’
‘It’s got slightly less volume than the National and
while it’s a similar weight, the feel of this guitar is
vastly superior. It’s interesting because the National feels
much more like an old one - more mass-produced if you like -
whereas the Beltona’s attention to detail creates a very
different feel.’
THE VERDICT:
It really may sound very obvious but the golden rule here is that
if you’re buying, certainly a metal-bodied resonator,
you’d be well advised to spend a long time trying the
various brands and styles available. While being far from an
expert on this style of instrument I couldn’t agree more
with Michael Messer just how different the sounds - even on
comparable constructions and styles - proved to be.
The UK-made Beltona is an outstanding piece. The build quality
and finishing of both the wood and metal work is far superior to
either the National or the Dobro but that is reflected in the
higher price. Of the steel-bodied pair, it was the National which
impressed us both the most. Primarily, not only is the
construction a little tidier but the sound is definitely more
open and resonant with a quite stingy high-end. With it’s
original cone the Dobro, by comparison, sounded a little lifeless
though the change to the National cone definitely improved that
aspect. Still, played side-by-side we both reckoned the National
had the edge. Mind you I was a little surprised by the weight,
especially as a newcomer to this style. These really aren’t
lightweight instruments though Michael’s comments about the
solidity and gig-worthiness of the National are food for thought
compared to the delicate feel of many all-wood modern acoustics!
Interestingly too, the debate over ‘old versus new’
certainly arouse during this evaluation. All three new models
definitely sounded less sweet - despite the overall quite
abrasive character of this style of guitar - compared to our
older reference models. ‘I do find it a little strange
though,’ concluded Michael, ‘how newer makers
don’t always follow the “golden rules” of the old
models. For example, the neck to body joint on the - ??? new -
guitars is just past the 12th fret whereas on the old ones the
joint was almost at the 11-and-a-half fret position. I believe
it’s all these small details that are really important; if
the old ones are so great why don’t the new ones follow
every detail?’
A word of warning though: resonators are extremely addictive.
Once you begin investigating this often incredibly beautiful
breed, I guarantee you’d be lured into a strange,
time-warped world before volume meant electrics, piezos and PAs.
And believe me, the sound of a resonator and slide is as haunting
today as it must have been in the pre-war years. I’m going
back to school...
Dave Burrluck
and Michael Messer
FACTFILE
NATIONAL RESO-PHONIC® DELPHI
USA-made steel-body, single-cone resonator. 12 fret neck-to-body
join. Mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and slotted headstock
with Irving Sloane tuners.
Options: National’s current range starts with the
maple-bodied Radio-Tone (1199). The Delphi is the cheapest
steel-body; the Style O, a brass bodied reproduction of the 1929
version has etched Hawaiian motif body at 1899. The Style N is
the same price and spec but without the etching. The Tri-cone
models start with the Polychrome (1750) with similar ‘baked
appliance’ finish as the Delphi while the plated versions in
styles 1 to 4 cost between 2450 and 5350.
NB: At press time we learned that a small price rise is iminant
on the National range, to be announced.
Colour Options: Aged brass (as reviewed), blue, and taupe (a
greyish hue)
RRP: 1450 (inc. hard case)
Contact: The Acoustic Centre, 131 Wapping High St., London E1
9NQ. Tel: 0171-265-1366
DOBRO® STEEL 90
USA-made steel-body, single-cone resonator. 14 fret neck-to-body
join. Maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and unslotted headstock
with Grover tuners.
Options: As part of Dobro’s Bottleneck Series, the Model 90
is available with a wooden body - the Model 90 Wood (1275) and
Model 90 Wood Deluxe (1650) - and with a single cutaway outline
as the Model 90S (1445). The Bottleneck 90 Deluxe is a metal
bodied version with bound ebony fingerboard and sandblasted
palm-tree design (1825), the standard Chrome Bottleneck 90 is
1650. The Hula Blues is a wooden version with painted Hula
Girl-under-palm tree designs (1099). All the Bottleneck Series
have 9.5” cones with biscuit bridges and 14-frets clear of
the body. There are numerous older-style Dobros in the current
range in both wood and metal.
Colour Options: Darkburst (as reviewed), Amberburst.
RRP: 1475 (inc. case)
Contact: OMEC Distribution, 21 Denmark St., London WC2H 8NE. Tel:
0171-240-8292
BELTONA SINGLE RESONATOR
UK-made, nickel-plated brass-body, single-cone resonator. 14-fret
neck-to-body join. Mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard
and-slotted headstock with Kluson-style tuners.
Options: Though Beltona only make this one single resonator
guitar, you have a choice of scale length - 25” (as
reviewed) or 25.75” - and whether you want either 12 or 14
frets clear of body. Then there’s the Triple Resonator
(1900) and single-cutaway Les Paul-looking Electro Resonator
(1800). Individual quotes are given for specific
ornamentation/engraving and custom neck shapes.
Colour Options: Nickel plating.
RRP: 1700 (inc. case)
Contact: Beltona Guitars.
Old Parua Bay Road,
Whangarei, New Zealand.
Tel: 0064 9 438 3313
Fax:0064 9 438 3361
E-mail sm21691@ihug.co.nz
Dimensions
(In mm unless stated)
National Dobro Beltona
Scale Length 632(24.9”) 622(24.5”) 635(25”)
Width of neck
...at nut 46.2 44.7 46
...at 12th fret 58.2 53 57.7
Depth of neck
...at 1st fret 24.1 19.8 23.6
...at 10th fret 27.7(9th fret) 24.6 29.5
String spacing
...at nut 40 39 39
...at bridge 58 51 56
Body Length 500 460 465
Body Width 360 358 360
Max Side Depth 80 85 82
Weight (approx.) 9lbs 8.75lbs 9lbs
CHECKOUT...
Below the big names of National and Dobro, the choice is mainly a
smattering of wooden-bodied single resonators. Certainly the best
known UK brand here is REGAL (their original involvement in the
resonator story came in 1934 when, to cope with production
problems, Dobro licensed Regal to build guitars under their
name). Regal’s Korean-made resonators follow the Dobro-style
with the RD45 - in both roundneck and a square neck versions,
both at 399 - that has a 10.5” concave cone and spider
bridge. Specs include mahogany neck with 14-fret rosewood board,
mahogany back and sides, spruce or mahogany top - all body
timbers are laminates. Colour options are sunburst, black,
natural, cherry and mahogany. There is a Japanese-made Regal, the
RD3 (499), a version of the National Triolian. Again wooden
bodied it has the National-style biscuit bridge, slotted
headstock and 9.5” cone. This superior quality model is
noted for its authentic blues sound again available in a variety
of colours, contact Summerfield 0191-276-0448.
EPIPHONE announced to new single resonators which will hit the UK
shortly. The Spider (319) has Dobro-like mesh soundholes and is a
12-fret square neck with inverted tuners specifically designed
for lap-style playing. The Biscuit (299) is a 14-fret with twin
f-holes and roundneck, contact: Rosetti 01376-550033
TANGLEWOOD’s Korean-made single resonator costs 369 with
spruce laminate top, and mahogany back and sides with 14-frets
clear of the body and two mesh soundholes, available in natural
only, contact EMC 01959-571600. Likewise HOHNER’s R12 (325)
is single resonator, all wood with 14-frets clear of body and
twin mesh-covered soundholes, contact Hohner 01222-887333.
ENCORE have the cheapest metal-body resonator available in the
UK, the 699 (inc. case) AMG-1. A combined manufacturing
enterprise from China and Japan, the AMG-1 has a single 9.5”
cone with 14-frets clear of the body. It’s actually a nickel
plated brass body and certainly for the price gives you a good
taste of the resonator tone, contact JHS 01132-865381
TGM would like to thank The Acoustic Centre’s Seamus Brady
for his time and assitance in puttting together this entire
Resonator feature.