Resophonic...

My lovely and thoughtful wife got me an early birthday present, when she saw me bitching about electric resonators. From the depths of the Chinese Musical Equipment Manufacturing Cabal comes the Hohner Electric Resonator. At a CH under $300, this is actually quite a bit of guitar for the money. It sounds great, if you like the resonator sound (which I do.) It’s no National Resolectric, of course, but it’s no slouch, either. Surprisingly good for a Chinese guitar.

The trick to resonator is playing it, I’ve just discovered. Electric resonators are, for all intents and purposes, acoustic guitars with pickups, so you have those big ol’ squeeky phosphors on there, chewing away at your fingers. On top of that, I’m left-handed but play righty, so my fingerpicking style is, ummmm, not so stylish. But it is fun to have one of these. When I get $1600 that isn’t earmarked for, like, rent and stuff, I’m gonna pick up one of the National electrics.