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Author
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Topic: Amistar Tricones?????
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John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 05 June 2003 02:49 PM
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Anybody know anything about these guitars? I was offered a round-neck tricone, Lily of the Valley today for $1100. I'm wondering if it's just a Johnson. It's not bad looking, engraving is pretty nice. Body seams not particularly smooth. I couldn't really tell much about the sound cuz it had an old set of 10's on it. Nice case. I wouldn't buy it without trying it with a set of heavy strings. Or should I just sell more stuff and get a Style 1 National? |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 05 June 2003 04:37 PM
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The London Resonator Centre describes them as the "finest in their price range." They're made in Czechoslovakia, as are Lebeda resonators.Since they start new at around US$1,500, they fit between Johnsons and Nationals on the price scale ... and you may be getting a good deal. [This message was edited by Russ Young on 05 June 2003 at 04:37 PM.]
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John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 05 June 2003 04:47 PM
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I found one site in England that sells that model, Style 3, for 1385 pounds, which translates to about $2300. Thing is, I really don't care about the engraving. I care about the sound and the quality. Style 1 is fine for me. I had been thinking about getting a National Style 1, which can be had for about 2 grand. I don't want to be stuck with something that has poor resale value should I decide to step up. Then again, $1100 is less than half price. And I don't really know what the list price is on this guitar. Duh! I don't know what to do! |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 05 June 2003 04:49 PM
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Also, I found one site that said that Amistar company makes the Continental, Johnson, and the Regal metal-bodied guitars. Much confusion! |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 05 June 2003 05:04 PM
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I have seen references to some of the Johnson and Regal tricones being made in Czechoslovakia, so it's likely that Amistar and/or Lebeda is involved. Maybe both. Many of the less-expensive resonators (including Johnsons and Regals) come out of the same factories in Korea and China .That's not particular new to the guitar world -- if you look at the history of National, you find manufacturing connections with Dobro, Rickenbacher, Regal, Kay, Supro and Valco ... and undoubtedly others. |
Max Laine
Member From: Pori, Finland
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posted 05 June 2003 06:54 PM
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Here's Amistar website: http://www.amistar.cz/ |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 05 June 2003 07:48 PM
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Thanks, Max. I've been to about 100 websites today. The deal is only good till Friday noon, when the guy is leaving, so I have to decide right away. |
Mike D
Member From: Phx, Az
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posted 06 June 2003 07:44 AM
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That's not particular new to the guitar world -- if you look at the history of National, you find manufacturing connections with Dobro, Rickenbacher, Regal, Kay, Supro and Valco ... and undoubtedly others. Don't forget the National flattops and archtops that used Gibson Jumbo and L-5 bodies with National-made bolt-on necks! John inexpensive resonators can vary so much that each one, regardless of make has to be looked at individually. If it has a good neck and the set up is OK (action where you like it with the saddle @ 1/8") then it's likely a decent guitar. With a 100 dollars set of National cones and a little tweaking they can sound very, very good.
As to price check out some past eBay sales. |
John Billings
Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA
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posted 06 June 2003 10:07 AM
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Thanks for all the help. I decided against it. The engraving adds so much to the price of these guitars. If you look at the differences in prices between a Style 1 and a Style 2, there's a difference of hundreds of dollars. I decided that I'd rather put the money into sound as opposed to engraving. So.., I'll get the National Style 1.
Thanks again,
JB |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 06 June 2003 10:10 AM
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As the owner of a Style 1 1/2, I can agree with you about engraving. (Well, almost.  )It's pretty hard to find anyone out there who has regretted buying a National -- have fun. |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 06 June 2003 10:24 AM
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Too bad neither National nor Amistar are making the "traditional" Hawaiian Tri Cone. This is the model with the square neck and the upper bout that flows gracefully into the neck.Not enough of a market I'm sure. ------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 06 June 2003 at 10:25 AM.]
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Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 06 June 2003 10:47 AM
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I agree with Gerald on that, but I can imagine that the tooling and production costs for two different tricone body styles are prohibitive.I've read that Beltona in New Zealand makes hollow-necked tricones and I think Don Morrison in Australia does, too. And of course there is Mike D's "Weissonator ..." |
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