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Message 85
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| Subject: | Re: [RESOGUIT-L] Wechter/Scheerhorn question | | Date: | Thursday, September 22, 2005 10:53:04 (-0700) | | From: | Brad Bechtel <wellvis @....com>
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I don't have a sound clip either, but I got to play a Wechter/
Scheerhorn side by side with the Beard Gold Tone and the Regal RD-52
Black Lightning at a recent visit to Gryphon Stringed Instruments in
Palo Alto, California (http://www.gryphonstrings.com).
All three instruments were tuned to standard open G tuning (bass to
treble G B D G B D), making it easier to do an aural comparison. I
played each instrument solo; I cannot say how the instruments would
fare when matched up with others (although I have an opinion).
I'd be very happy if someone gave me any one of these three
instruments, but I'd like it best if I got the Beard Gold Tone.
The Wechter/Scheerhorn is the most visually impressive instrument of
the three. Everything about it screams "QUALITY!" The tone has a
pronounced midrange "honk" to it. I found that it sounded best on
the middle strings; the top D string was a bit thinner than the
others. The bass strings were especially good sounding, with no sign
of mushiness in the lowest notes. I loved the neck - it's slightly
rounded on the sides rather than being completely square. String
spacing was good, as was string height. This instrument has modified
F holes rather than sound holes with screens.
The Beard Gold Tone was the best sounding of the three instruments,
even though it was drab compared to the Wechter and Regal. (Drab is a
relative term - I think it's a great looking instrument, but the
Wechter blows it away visually.) I found that tonally it was the most
even within the range of strings, and it sang out the best when
played above the 12th fret. This guitar didn't have the tight sound
in the bass strings that the Wechter did. String spacing was a tiny
bit closer than on the Wechter, but still quite acceptable. This
instrument has sound holes with screens.
The Regal RD-52 is a beautiful instrument in its own way, with that
good DobroŽ sound. I found the overall tone to be mushy when compared
to the other two instruments; it didn't respond as quickly when
picked, and the note attack seemed somewhat hesitant. I couldn't
really dig into the notes like I could on the Wechter or Gold Tone.
I felt the string spacing was somewhat wider, which was surprising
since the head of the instrument was definitely narrower than the
other two instruments. String height was also the lowest of the three
instruments - not a problem unless you like to use a capo. This
instrument has sound holes with screens, and beautiful inlay across
the head. Everything about this instrument was as good as the other
two, but the sound wasn't quite as good.
Short of spending some time at Gryphon recording these instruments,
this is about as good as you're going to get from me.
____________
Brad's Page of Steel:
http://www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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