Inexpensive acoustic slide guitar for begginer

labcyclone · #1 August 10th, 2005

Hello everyone, Iam new to the forums and would like to learn to play the acoustic slide guitar.
Can everyone recommend an inexpensive acoustic guitar for slide?
Can everyone recommend DVD lessons which are geared for the beginner?
I thank everyone for your ideas, recommendations, and imput of any kind.
See everyone later. LABinOKC

labcyclone · #2 August 10th, 2005

I should have made it clear in the first portion of my topic that Iam interested in a wooden body resonator style(inexpensive) guitar that I can learn on.
After I learn to play I can always buy a better instrument.
Thanks again to everyone for your responses. LABinOKC

Toxer · #3 August 10th, 2005

)fender "resonaters" won't do) for sure

Johnny Guitar · #4 August 10th, 2005

I know you mentioned a wood body resonator, but I did play a pretty good metal body resonator at McCabes a couple of years ago. It was a Regal (I'd never heard of it before) and I think it was a knock off of a National Tricone (I can't remember though).

I played it for about an hour and liked it the more I played it. While I'm generally squeamish about "cheaper" guitars (I think they wanted $500 for it -- not too cheap when I think of it), the reality is setting in that I will never be able to afford a real National.

They might make a wood body, but I have to say that I think I'd rather have a metal body guitar for slide. It might be a brand worth looking at.

allthumbs · #5 August 10th, 2005

no such thing as a cheap reso. Regals and Johnsons start around 4-500 U.S. You can sometimes find deals on ebay. Agile has come out with a cheapy electric reso for around 300 or so.google for them. All kinds of them out there.

labcyclone · #6 August 11th, 2005

Thanks for the input. I think four to five hundred is not to bad for a resonator to learn on. I will definately check them out. I agree with the comments on the metal body sound.
Maybe after many years of practice and becomming a good slide player my wife will buy my a national. ha ha
Everyone have a super week.
Thanks again for the ideas.

LightninBoy · #7 August 11th, 2005

Hi Lab,
welcome to the forum.
My advice would be to find a real cheap, second hand ply-top acoustic guitar.
They sound great for slide, and some folks like em better for slide than expensive brands.
With the added advantage of being able to easily install a p/up.
If you want a wooden reso with a spider bridge, Regal (Dobro copy)are good value for money.(Country stuff usually)
Johnson make an OK metal body biscuit bridge, for a relatively cheap price.( Blues stuff usually)
Beware of other el-cheapo reso's though, you might get stuck with a lemon.

labcyclone · #8 August 12th, 2005

Thanks for the advise Lightninboy. I will check these out.
labcyclone

Johnny Guitar · #9 August 12th, 2005

I agree with Lighting Boy that there are a great many second hand guitars out there which sound great and might have a slightly bowed neck making them difficult to play for the beginer market for which they were intended. I have an old Yamaha (I mentioned on another thread) which has a slightly bowed neck (it can't be corrected with the truss rod). I think it sounds quite good but is not worth what it would cost to have the bow removed (I need to ask about this process in another thread, BTW).

I use this guitar for alternate tunnings and mainly slide. I like it enough that I didn't NEED to buy that Regal (even though I'd love a netal body reso guitar for slide). Look around in some pawn shops and music stores to see what you can find in the $100 to $200 range before you drop $500 on a Regal or similar.

John

Ricochet · #10 September 10th, 2005

My first reso was a Johnson JR200 "Chicago Blues" spider bridge. I paid about $185 for it new, as I recall. It was a good sounding, versatile instrument.

$500 will get you a Johnson Tricone, my current reso. Mine's an older one that needed some upgrades, but one I bought for my teacher last year was perfect out of the box. It's a mighty nice guitar!