Topic: Galveston Resonators

[rsmeadows]

I have been playing guitar for many years now. Just recently, I became interested in country blues type of music and want to get a resonator. Unfortunately, I am not the richest man so I can't afford a nice National.

What are your opinions about Galveston brand of resonators. I found a few on ebay for cheap.

[Stuart]

I played a couple one day at The Trading Musician here in Seattle. They're OK, but they are not a National (or a Phillips, etc.). Do you really need a metal guitar at this moment? Why not just defer until you have saved enough to get what you really want?

[Slack]

What Stuart said -- but I know resonators are hard to resist.   

Never played a Galveston or a Johnson for that matter -- but the conventional wisdom on Johnson's (if you can ignore the name) is that they are decent guitars especially if you replace the cone with a national or quarterman cone.

[Parlor Picker]

I've never heard of Galveston, but I once had a Johnson Tricone which had a remarkably respectable sound (without changing the cones).  A friend now owns it and is delighted with the instrument.

In terms of value-for-money, the Far East models win hands down.

[Roscoe]

IMHO after being in the guitar selling bizz for a long time the best import resonator guitar is Regal. they have a tri cone, single cone and a spider. you can also upgrade to a quarterman or national cone.
good luck
roscoe

[dave stott]

I have to tell ya....

I tried all of the imports and finally decided on the Gold Tone Paul Beard Special.

I paid around $650- 700 for my wood bodied resonator and have loved it since...


Dave