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Author
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Topic: Matchbro vs BoBro vs ShoBro
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Darryl Hattenhauer
Member From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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posted 06 November 2006 10:49 AM
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Forumites,Please let me know what to your ear sounds closest to a Dobro: a Matchbro, a BoBro, or a ShoBro made after Shot took over from Gretsch in 73? ------------------
"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 06 November 2006 10:54 AM
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Well, without having heard any of them, I would guess that the Sho-Bro would have the closest sound to a resonator guitar since that's what it is. The other two are resophonic guitar simulators; that's the real thing.What's your goal here? Are you trying to decide which one to purchase? Do you need to play electric or amplified resonator guitar? More information, please. ------------------
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A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
Mark Eaton
Member From: Windsor, Sonoma County, CA
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posted 06 November 2006 11:56 AM
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I'm with Brad, Darryl-it's kind of a confusing question. |
John Sluszny
Member From: Brussels, Belgium
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posted 06 November 2006 12:17 PM
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I'm a Fo' Bro'  |
Darryl Hattenhauer
Member From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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posted 06 November 2006 12:42 PM
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Sorry, guys. Since I can't afford an excellent reso (pro bro) and since I'm a Sho Bud fan, I've thought about trying a Sho Bro, but a lot of the SGF posts about Sho Bros say that they don't sound like a dobro. There's also a lot of disagreement on the forum about whether or not it's a MatchBro or BoBro that sounds more like a Dobro. This doesn't have to be for a professional who plays out or records. I'm an old bluegrasser and folkie who came to steel late in life. So it doesn't need to be electrocuted or amplified--just home use. ------------------
"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman[This message was edited by Darryl Hattenhauer on 06 November 2006 at 12:44 PM.] |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 06 November 2006 02:05 PM
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Well, after listening to (and playing) about a dozen different resophonic guitars this weekend, I'd still say the best value for the money is the Gold Tone Beard resophonic guitar. (On that page you have to scroll down a bit to see the wood body models.)
If you're looking for a "Dobro®" sound then buy a real Dobro®, but I think there are many different resophonic makers out there who are doing a far better job at a better price than Gibson.
I'm not knocking the sound of the Sho-Bro. I've only had the opportunity to play one, and it was a fine sounding guitar as I remember.
I would not consider the other instruments if you're looking to play an acoustic guitar. They are designed to mimic or emulate an acoustic resonator guitar. No matter how well they do that, it's still an imitation.
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 06 November 2006 at 02:24 PM.]
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Darryl Hattenhauer
Member From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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posted 06 November 2006 02:38 PM
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Brad,We're like minded about Gibson and Gold Tone. But it's only Gold Tone's banjos that I'm familiar with. On a new Gold Tone reso, would dealers give a 24 hour approval period? ------------------
"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 06 November 2006 02:52 PM
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I'm not a Gold Tone dealer, so I couldn't possibly answer that. I'm sure the dealer nearest you would be happy to answer that question, though.------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
Mark Eaton
Member From: Windsor, Sonoma County, CA
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posted 06 November 2006 02:58 PM
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Sho-Buds are of course ultra cool, so if you are looking for a resonator guitar, I can understand the desire to investigate Sho-Bros, but they seemed to be all over the map as far as quality and sound.Don't know anything myself about 24 hour approval-but the place I would investigate first would be: www.Beardguitars.com Getting one set up at the Beard facility in Maryland is a good "insurance policy" for quality control. For a another great value-for-the-dollar ratio, I really like the Wechter/Scheerhorn guitars, also known as the "frugalhorn." ------------------
Mark
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Darryl Hattenhauer
Member From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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posted 06 November 2006 03:24 PM
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John,
Robert Randolph is a Fro Bro. I'm a Mo Fo.Brad,
Elderly has the Gold Tones from $570 to
$895. Looks like a lot of bang for the buck. (Or as Cher would say, a lot of buck for the bang.) Mark, Yes, part of the interest in the Sho Bro is the high CGF. Cool Guy Factor. Anybody who uses the name "frugalhorn" has a high CGF. I googled around, and apparently there are two versions of the frugalhorn, one domestic, and a little higher end Asian one. Some body said that one of these is sold at Elderly as a "Hybrid." Is this the one you mean?
Cached link to Wechter Scheerhorn 6524F that was on Elderly Instruments' web site. ------------------
"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 06 November 2006 at 04:13 PM.] |
Darryl Hattenhauer
Member From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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posted 06 November 2006 03:52 PM
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The Gold Tone Beard that Elderly has for $750 is also here in Phoenix for the same price. The Beard site doesn't post their prices, so I'll have to call. But it would make sense to have them set it up. And shipping from Beard would be about the same as the sales tax here in the Aridzone. As somebody who started buying instruments in the 50s, I'm just amazed at how much ax you can get for the $ these days. It must be awfully danged competitive. ------------------
"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman[This message was edited by Darryl Hattenhauer on 06 November 2006 at 03:53 PM.] |
Darryl Hattenhauer
Member From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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posted 06 November 2006 04:19 PM
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Does anybody know of any cassettes or CDs or DVDs with Sho Bro sounds on it?------------------
"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman[This message was edited by Darryl Hattenhauer on 06 November 2006 at 04:49 PM.] |
Mark Eaton
Member From: Windsor, Sonoma County, CA
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posted 06 November 2006 04:37 PM
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I think if you call Beard, you will find the Goldtone/Beard for about the same price as at Elderly.On that Elderly site, they are also selling the newest frugalhorn, the Rob Ickes model-this is the one I'm partial to, but the one you linked is what I'm talking about as well. The W/S seems to have a bit more of the contemporary Jerry Douglas (or Rob Ickes-duh!)-like sound, and the Goldtone Beards are a more toward the "traditional" sound. They're both fine values, but the "starter" Goldtone @ ballpark $570 is by far the best value in the reso guitar market. A film or a DVD of a Sho-Bro: never seen one-like Brad, I've only seen the guitars in real life. ------------------
Mark
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Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 06 November 2006 04:48 PM
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Rob Anderlik has audio comparisons of several different resonator guitars (including the Wechter-Scheerhorn and the Gold Tone Beard models).------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
Darryl Hattenhauer
Member From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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posted 06 November 2006 06:18 PM
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It's hard for me to imagine a better deal than those Gold Tones.Did the Sho Bros made after 1973 still say Gretsch on the peghead? ------------------
"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman |
Darryl Hattenhauer
Member From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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posted 06 November 2006 07:45 PM
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I just found some pics of Sho Bros without "Gretsch" on them, so I guess those are the ones after '73.I also found some Sho Bro CDs by Carroll Parham at texasmusicroundup.com. Unfortunately, that site isn't working right now. ------------------
"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman |
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