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Author
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Topic: Liberty model LO 100????
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John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 20 August 2003 11:58 AM
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I found a used one, perfect condition, for $450. I'm wondering if this is a good deal or not. It sure looks a lot better than the Johnsen Tri-cone that I looked at. I've been looking for a good resophonic for some time, and just can't afford a National Style 1 now.To be used for bottle-neck, with fingerpicks.
Any comments on the quality and cost of this instrument will be greatly appreciated,
JB |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 21 August 2003 04:30 PM
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Wow! No takers. A first for me. Perhaps I should say that this guitar is a copy of a Style O. Maybe the LO 100 is confusing people. I'm supposed to take another look tomorrow. They're going to put a decent set of strings on it. The reviews at Harmony Central are all pretty good, but it seems that most of the people doing the reviews know very little about reso's. The comments that I found by searching the archives here were bad, but they were about a very different model. |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 21 August 2003 05:44 PM
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John:You may want to drop by the Guitar Forum and the Big Road Blues. Use the Search feature and I think you'll find a lot of people familiar with Liberty resonators at both ... |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 21 August 2003 06:13 PM
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Thanks for the tips Russ. Not much there though. |
Mike D
Member From: Phx, Az
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posted 21 August 2003 06:35 PM
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The only Liberty I've ever seen in person was essentially a Regal 'Dobro' RN with a piece of brass on the top and some aluminum flashing as 'binding'. It was, to be blunt, a TPOS.
That was a couple years ago though and the guy's still selling guitars so my guess is that it was not a representative sample. I believe Brad B. has a Liberty and has been pleased with his, as have others.
I believe his all-metal bodied guitars are likely the same thing that Johnson, Dean etc sell.
Harmony Central's reviews are always suspect to me, since they are aynonomous and seem to run to the teenage/wanker crowd.[This message was edited by Mike D on 21 August 2003 at 06:36 PM.] |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 21 August 2003 07:38 PM
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Mike, I sure agree with you about the Harmony Central reviews. That's why I put the topic up here. This guitar was definately better than the Johnson that I looked at. The Johnson was a Tricone. The seams were really shoddy. Not well done. Kinda pitted and poorly filled. The Liberty certainly looked like it was put together much more carefully. But the strings were so cruddy, and they felt like 10's, which just ain't gonna sound good on a reso. Seems to me that $450 might be a bit high for the guitar, but I haven't been able to get the cost of these guitars. Time for more web searchs I guess.
JB |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 21 August 2003 07:46 PM
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John,- here's an email I received from Liberty in May, quoting some of the prices;"FB100 $375. AF100. $375.
Copperhead... $375. LIBSP$499. SCT100 $499. LO100 $599. FA100 $699.
LIB100 "Curly Oak" $350. Black Widow $350. Options Hardshell Cases Black
w/ gold hardware $69. (WAY BETTER TO SHIP IN CASE!!) We also offer more
guitars that are not on our web site ....PLEASE CALL!! Pickups
Liberty$49.-Fishman $99." Hope this helps. |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 21 August 2003 09:59 PM
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SG, that helps a lot! Thanks,
JB |
Chris Walke
Member From: St Charles, IL
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posted 22 August 2003 06:57 AM
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I had a Liberty Reso for awhile. It was NOT a good guitar, however, I've heard many people say that they like theirs. Maybe there is inconsistency in quality between guitars. You may find a gem of sorts, but I sure didn't. |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 22 August 2003 07:23 AM
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Chris, was yours a woode body or a metal body? The wooden bodied ones seem to get very bad reviews. They're evidently re-topped korean guitars. The metal bodies are supposedly made in florida, and a Korean neck is used. |
Chris Walke
Member From: St Charles, IL
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posted 22 August 2003 07:26 AM
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Yep, wood body, metal top. Looked pretty cool, but the sound was very thin and the pickup was poor quality. |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 22 August 2003 03:41 PM
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I used to have a wood-bodied Liberty Triolian (all wood -- no metal top). I think it was essentially the same guitar that Regal sells as the RD-3.The fit and (matte) finish were very good. Liberty's Swampthang cone was okay; but "awful" would be the best description for the Liberty pickup. Overall, it was a pretty good buy for about $300. |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 22 August 2003 08:58 PM
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Well,,,, I made the mistake of stopping at another store and playing a new National Style 1. There's no way the Liberty will cut it now. The high strings just didn't sound good. The Liberty was definately much better than the Johnson that i played, but, compared to a National, no cigar! The National was, well,,, a National. Guess I'm gonna have to sell some stuff. |
James Quackenbush
Member From: Pomona, New York, USA
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posted 23 August 2003 06:15 AM
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John,
You can always mod a Regal RD-45 that has nice string spacing, and your choice of colors
You can spend somewhere around $500 + or - for the guitar, hard case, and Quarterman cone, and an Ebony tipped maple bridge, and have yourself a very nice sounding Dobro with plenty of volume....Or you could spend about $1,000 or so , and get a used Tut Taylor model Dobro and not look back at ANY of the Dobro's you mention !!...They are VERY high quality, and sound superb...I haven't heard anybody complain about their Tut Taylors !!..They all come in a very nice Aligator hard case also..
Can't beat em for the $$$ if you're looking for a keeper....I have a Virginian which I paid a bit more for, but the wood is GORGEOUS and it plays very well...I am also going to get another Regal for a beater guitar and one that I will bring to certain gigs...You know the ones that if need be you can use it for protection !!!....Ya never know when you're gonna run into a roudy crowd !!.....Jim |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 23 August 2003 12:58 PM
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Ah, James, you are right! Except, this time I'm looking for a metal-bodied roundneck guitar for bottleneckin'. |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 23 August 2003 01:16 PM
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John,- from what I've read the Czech made "Amistar" guitars are very good, and not as expensive as the Nationals.
You'll find them here; http://www.amistar.cz/
and I believe it is Saga Musical Instrument who imports them to the US.
Might be worth looking into. |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 23 August 2003 08:21 PM
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The regal guitar looks pretty good. And, it's a grand less than the National at $1400. But,,,,, where am I gonna find one to try. They're in California, I'm in Ohio. I just cannot spend that kinda money for a guitar without playing it. I didn't see any other dealers. Going back to the web now to see if i can find someone in ohio or Pennsylvannia. |
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