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Author
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Topic: Upgrade from a Goldtone Beard Dobro ?
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Kevin Ruddell
Member From: Toledo Ohio USA
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posted 02 August 2006 07:58 AM
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I bought a Beard Gold tone Mahogany Laminate Dobro this year and I feel it's a good value for the costof $540 . The fit and finish is WAY better than the Regal I started on and it sounds pretty good, although not great .
What would be a smart choice for a step up to a little better instrument that is in the vicinity of $1000 and has a bit more tone and volume. I tried several new dobros at Elderly a while back before the Gold tone Beards were out but it's sometimes hard to tell in the showroom there with new strings on the guitar , instrument not played in yet etc.. how they are. Like the National Squareneck dobro I tried , it sounded a bit dull although I'm sure it's probably a fine guitar. I'm not sure of the differnces between the 2 higher grades of the GT Maple and solid Mahogany models or between the Gold tone and Wechter/Scheerrhorn dobro hybrids. Any opinions ?[This message was edited by Kevin Ruddell on 02 August 2006 at 11:35 AM.] |
Don Barnhardt
Member From: North Carolina, USA
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posted 02 August 2006 07:01 PM
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Kevin...Unless you want to pay $2500.00 or more for a good custom made you're are probably just as well off with your Gold Tone. I'm speaking of new instruments. If you shop around for used ones you might find the deal of a lifetime. |
Mark Eaton
Member From: Windsor, Sonoma County, CA
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posted 02 August 2006 07:53 PM
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Good point Don. The Goldtone Beard is undoubtedly the biggest bang for the buck out there. To go up a bit on price, the Wechter/Scheerhorn would be an option, but only if you prefer the sound. The new Rob Ickes model can be had for a bit under a thousand, and it would be worth looking into-they are getting great reviews. Reso guitar builder Jim Adams has a couple of built-here-in-America economy models that I believe run between $600 to $850, but I don't know how you would get to play one. I don't remember the web address, but I know you can Google it. Never played one myself, but I'm intrigued. Unlike 6-string acoustics, which have different tiers of pricing that go up every couple hundred dollars for the next quality level, squareneck resos have this big jump from relatively inexpensive to pretty expensive. There is a (real) Beard model for around 2K, and some Czech built Lebedas for less, but your best bet, as pointed out by Don, is to start saving money toward your dream dobro, have it made-to-order, and play the heck out of your Goldtone in the meantime. Oh one more to check out that can still be had for around two grand: Dick Deneve in upstate New York. He builds some nice guitars-but doesn't have a website. You can get his info at Brad's Pages of Steel, and he can send you a price list w/a couple of photos.
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Mark
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Ron Bednar
Member From: Rancho Cordova, California, USA
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posted 02 August 2006 08:26 PM
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I agree with the guys above...Save your money and look to spend $2400 or so for a good instrument. My personal recommendation for a great guitar would be a National model D open chamber...wonderful sounding guitar.Cheers, Ron |
Drew Howard
Member From: Mason, MI, U.S.A.
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posted 03 August 2006 08:26 AM
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Or find a decent used guitar. ------------------
Drew Howard - website - Fessenden, Derby and Fender guitars, 70's Fender Twin, etc. |
Mark Eaton
Member From: Windsor, Sonoma County, CA
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posted 03 August 2006 08:43 AM
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Decent Dobro brand (OMI) pre-Gibson owned guitars from the 80's to early 90's can be had for under a thousand. Well built, but I don't think it is an appreciable jump up from a Goldtone Beard.------------------
Mark
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Mark van Allen
Member From: loganville, Ga. USA
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posted 03 August 2006 09:31 AM
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HI, Kevin... I agree that the next step up in tone is probably to a $2500-$5000 axe, but tone is pretty subjective. I've played a lot of expensive resos that didn't sound any better than your guitar probably does.I had both a Beard Custom R and a Crafter's of Tenn. Tennessean, and finally sold the Beard in favor of the much cheaper Crafter's. They (Crafter's) run around $2500 and up new, but I found mine used for $1300. To me it sounds much better than the Beard (that particular Beard!).
while there are lots of variations in guitars of the same model, etc., I have played several Gold Tones around here, and all of them came very close to the tone and volume of my Crafter's, and possibly better!
Hopefully you'll have the time and access to various guitars to hunt, and play, until you find one that just knocks you out.
Good luck in the search! ------------------
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
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Lee Gillespie
Member From: Colorado, USA
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posted 03 August 2006 11:43 AM
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You might look at a Jasper. Built by Floyd Jasper in Lousiana. I've played 2 of them and they are loud and killer tone. Check his web site. Lee |
Billy Gilbert
Member From: Texas, USA
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posted 03 August 2006 05:14 PM
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Kevin.
Why don't you experiment a little more with what you have. Put on a new set of strings, one or two at a time and bring them to pitch before you loosen the next two. When you get the new ones on and up to pitch, loosen the center screw a quarter turn at a time and strum across the strings. Repeat until the strings start to rattle. The tighten the screw an eighth-turn and strum. Repeat until the rattle goes away, then tighten another eighth and play it for a while. If the rattle comes back repeat above. Your Gold Tone has the potential to sound as good as most of the others when everything is working properly. Billy |
Ed Altrichter
Member From: Schroeder, Minnesota, USA
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posted 04 August 2006 06:39 PM
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Play it through a Bobro ! |
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