Beard Goldtone Squareneck Resophonics

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 24 Jun 2008 10:26 am

I'm sure this has been discussed before in the "Steel Without Pedals" area -- admittedly, I don't come in here very often. I am getting increasing calls to double on Dobro. I have an inexpensive Regal that has done the job until now. I'm now thinking about getting a new instrument that sounds a bit fuller but I don't want to spend a fortune. I had read some good things about Paul Beard's Goldtone series.

I would appreciate some opinions on comparative tone. Also, do any of the Goldtone models sound better than others? Are there any other suggestions for mid-priced resophonic guitars?

Thanks in advance. Boo

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 24 Jun 2008 11:10 am

I had a GoldTone/Beard in solid mahogany,- very warm and full sound and well made. From what I understand the only real competition in that pricerange is the Wechter/Scheerhorn models.

Steinar

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 24 Jun 2008 11:28 am

Thanks for your input, Steinar.

I'll have to get out to play a few of these. Any other input is welcome too! Thanks again, Boo

Jim Sallis · Post by **Jim Sallis** » 24 Jun 2008 11:38 am

Both the Goldtone and Wechter/S are good guitars; you can't go wrong with either. Goldtone to me generally has a bit more "traditional" Dobro sound, strong fundamentals; W/S a bit punchier, with maybe a tad more complexity to it.

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 24 Jun 2008 12:00 pm

Thanks, Jim. When you say "complexity," are you referring to harmonic content?

I'll look into both. Appreciate your help, Boo

Jim Sallis · Post by **Jim Sallis** » 24 Jun 2008 12:16 pm

Yes. Seems just a tiny bit richer in overtones, a tiny bit less fundamental. Nothing you could hear in a loud/live setting, but it shows alone or on recordings. But again: both are fine guitars.

Ulf Edlund · Post by **Ulf Edlund** » 24 Jun 2008 1:20 pm

I'm very happy with my GT mahogany standard.
I've played a W/S and it's an equally fine instrument.
For the money i think its very hard to beat a GT. I really like how it records.

You can hear it in the song "Tapas Bar" at: http://www.swingingdoors.se/

Michael Hardee · Post by **Michael Hardee** » 24 Jun 2008 1:41 pm

If you check the Resophonic Outfitters section of the Beard guitars website they have listings for blemished Goldtone squarenecks, set up at the Beard shop, every three months or so. The guitars they list don't last long, I picked up a Goldtone PBS for $428 a few months ago. Never could find the blemish and it sounds fine. To my ears I'd have to spend over $2000 to replace it with a guitar that sounds significantly better.

Lynn Oliver · Post by **Lynn Oliver** » 24 Jun 2008 7:54 pm

Depending on what you have now, another option may be to have a pro set up done on your Regal. You can have Paul Beard do a set up and replace the cone, spider and bridge, which should make a big difference in the sound.

Tobie Schalkwyk · Post by **Tobie Schalkwyk** » 24 Jun 2008 9:26 pm

If you do decide to buy a new GT, it might be worthwhile looking at Jimmy Heffernan's 'Starter Package' (click on 'Country Store' at http://www.jimmyheffernan.com)

The Package: "PBS" Gold Tone Mahogany Squareneck guitar (set up at Paul Beard's shop),TKL Hard case, EG Smith Bar, getting started DVD "Resophonic Guitar From Scratch", includes shipping.

FWIW: I've got the Rob Ickes signature W/S. A GT owner once played it and his comment was that the W/S was very similar but a bit louder, specially on the bass side.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 25 Jun 2008 12:04 pm

Boo:

Go to www.robanderlik.com

Rob has a lot of sound samples from Goldtone Beards and Wechter Scheerhorns. They are both fine guitars for the money.

A very reasonably priced, hand-built American made reso can be had from Gregg McKenna. This will be a major jump from these built-in-Asia, finished in America guitars. Gregg's website appears to be down, but he has a "blogspot" you can visit and see some photos of his beautiful instruments:

http://tinyurl.com/5dl8uf

Another option is to purchase a Goldtone Beard directly from Beard Guitars, and I think he still has this offer: You play the Goldtone for awhile, and down the line you can trade it in toward the purchase of a "real" Beard - and they are wonderful!

Boo - I really enjoyed your playing on the "Brokeback Mountain" soundtrack - just outstanding.

But this is one of the things I'm curious about (and this is just a general comment, not necessarily directed toward Boo) - a number of talented pro pedal steel players are getting more call for dobro work these days (it seems the dobro as an instrument is "on a roll" right now - thanks to players like Jerry Douglas, Mike Auldridge, Rob Ickes, Randy Kohrs, Andy Hall, etc.) and I find it interesting that steel players will pour a lot of money into their rigs, but are always trying to get away with the cheapest dobro possible!

David Kurrasch · Post by **David Kurrasch** » 25 Jun 2008 1:00 pm

I am a pro pedal steel player who has recently been getting a lot of calls to play dobro on sessions and gigs. I had heard a lot of good things about the Gold-Tone Beard model, so I ordered one. I am very happy with the sound, it is exactly what I was looking for. For my purposes, I see no need to spend thousands on a reso, when the Gold-Tone sounds as good as it does. I've gotten lots of compliments on the sound from musicans, and studio engineers. Mine is the standard mahogany model, by the way.

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 25 Jun 2008 1:08 pm

Wow -- thanks to you all for such great help and insight! That's why this Forum is so cool.

Mark -- Thank you so much for the kinds words. Recording "Brokeback" was a wonderful experience. I just did some more recording for Gustavo Santaolalla who composed "Brokeback" -- I'm on a track on the newest album by Latin pop superstar Juanes (and the steel is pretty prominent) and I played my resonator on a score for an Ed Harris movie.

Actually, Mark you make a great point about the inexpensive Dobros. I can't speak for anyone else --but I'll be completely honest about myself: I think of myself as a pedal steel player who happens to play Dobro. I started getting more requests to double at sessions on resonator and I realized this would make me more valuable -- so I just went out and bought something inexpensive that would do the job. As I've begun to play more, the true beauty of the tone of a really good resonator is becoming more obvious. Still, if I was going to spend many thousands of dollars on an instrument, I would tend to go buy another pedal steel! Guess that's just my preferred obsession

Again, thanks to everyone for your help. I'm going to try to make it over to McCabe's here in Santa Monica, CA, this week to try out some of your suggestions.

Boo

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 25 Jun 2008 4:43 pm

I think you hit it right on the head, Boo.

When you begin to play more, the beauty of a really fine resonator guitar begins to come out. Just like playing a really nice flattop guitar when you get to the higher end.

David - you're a smart man. Gold Tone Beards are truly a very good value, keep telling yourself that it's exactly the sound you're looking for. Don't play any high end hand-built resos, because you could end up becoming obsessed with these things along with all the investment in your steel rigs, and it can get awfully expensive.

Greg Gefell · Post by **Greg Gefell** » 26 Jun 2008 7:03 am

Boo, I have the PB Goldtone standard issue model and have been very happy with it as well. I recorded a few tracks on our latest CD with it and have used it live at gigs. You can here a sample of it here:

http://www.myspace.com/bluejimmy

click on Madeline or Homestead Blues

These two tunes are in E so it will probably sound a little different if you're used to the G tuning sound.

Also - Gregg McKenna's current web links are these:

http://mckennaguitars.com
http://mckennaguitars.blogspot.com/

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 26 Jun 2008 7:54 am

I must be missing something - that McKenna website link isn't working for me.

Greg Gefell · Post by **Greg Gefell** » 26 Jun 2008 9:47 am

That's strange. I was just there the other day. The blogspot link works though. You can get a sneak peak at the new reso Gregg is building me.

I'll send Gregg an email about his site.

Gregg McKenna · Post by **Gregg McKenna** » 26 Jun 2008 7:15 pm

Site should be back up now, sorry for the downtime.

Gregg

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 28 Jun 2008 1:33 pm

I've had my Beard Goldtone Mahogany for about a year and a half, and I'm very pleased with it. I changed from a lapdawg to a Shubb SP 2 bar, which is heavier and a little longer, and it improved my tone (IMO) so
little things like changing bars/slides can make a good sounding dobro sound even better. JMO.

Terry

Billy Gilbert · Post by **Billy Gilbert** » 29 Jun 2008 10:02 am

A couple years ago I bought a reject Gold Tone round-neck that had a bad fret-board. I sawed off the neck and replaced it with an home-made 8 string neck. I put an adjustable brace in the body and made a tail-piece out of 1/8" aluminum flat bar. I put in a Beard cone, nut, and bridge inserts, and Dom Franco made a 24.5" scale fret-board for it. It sounds great, with loads of sustain.

Billy

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 29 Jun 2008 11:32 am

obviously you loved doing it, but sounds like alot of work and expense to me.

Billy Gilbert · Post by **Billy Gilbert** » 29 Jun 2008 12:49 pm

It probably cost between 5 and 6 hundred altogether, but tuned to G6 it makes a "portable" lap steel substitute. You can't buy a comparible reso for twice that.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 29 Jun 2008 4:06 pm

Or you can use a 6 string G6 tuning, and still a lot of the good 6th tuning stuff.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 1 Jul 2008 5:46 am

Boo
I have a Gold Tone mahogany "standard," and a maple "deluxe." I didn't want to take my vintage pre-war guitars out on the road, did a lot of research a few years back, and settled on the Gold Tones. Paul B. installed Fishman pickups, but there are better pickups available now.

The guitars are excellent, and well worth the $$ if under 1K is your price range. One of the best choices out there. The solid wood models are slightly over 1K... more dough, but they sound exceptional.

I did the Michael Murphey Christmas tour last year with my GT Deluxe and it filled the bill wonderfully.

Here's a shot of my friend Rocky Marvel, drummer on the tour, explaining why the resonator guitar is the instrument of the past, present, and the future... and why I should buy real estate in central Tennessee.

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 1 Jul 2008 12:00 pm

Hey, Herb -- How the heck are you? Thanks for the input -- great photo! Do you have preference between the two Gold Tones?

Thanks again -- hope all is well with you! Boo

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