Honey Dipper vs Gold Tone: Which Resonator Guitar Do You Like Best?
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
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Resonators are just plain fun to play but they can sound wildly different.
In this video we'll have a look at a Maple Body Gold Tone Paul Beard resonator and a Brass Body Gretsch Honey Dipper.
Which one do you prefer?
Play On!
John
#tuesdayblues #acousticblues #playbetterblues
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I prefer the metal body Honey Dipper because that metallic sound and pure rawness spews the Blues to me. Just like the old recordings of long ago.Thanks for the great videos. Peace
I think I would use them for different expressions. The tone of the Honey Dipper is more rebellious, aggressive and flurry, while the Gold Tone is more melancholic, warm and wants to express soul pain.
I think that's my ultimate conclusion. So different that I'll just use them for different things.
HOney Dipper without any hesitation : More powerful and clear sound
I agree
Definitley
I really appreciated you doing this for us, John. We got to hear the same piece played in ecactly the same way, but on two profoundly different instruments. Thanks for you considering us & gifting us in this way.
My pleasure! Thanks for the comment, John and hope you have a great day!!
yeah, thanks for the video. great intro to resonators. sweet as riff on the open d section
I like them both but the warm simple sound of wood body wins me over.
I find myself leaning most strong to the wooden resonator. The warmer sound and my fingerpicking go together best.
The best side-by-side comparison I’ve seen! Thank you.
Thank you, Josh. Have a great day! John
I think "both" is right and it depends on the piece and your personal ear. In the first clip I preferred the Honey Dipper but in the second it was the Gold Tone.
To me it is hands down the honey dipper. It says old blues in every aspect. Tone, looks, sound and tradition. I love to listen to it. Congrats on your new addition, I hope you get great enjoyment out of it!!!..... But I am here for fingerstyle blues guitar. Slide is not my playing thing. Have fun.
Different not better... Which is why you have both. One may be preferred in one tuning over the other as their voices will change with the tension. Its great to have tools ☺️.
I have the Honeydipper but honestly I like the warmer sound of the wood resonator for most blues. The Honeydipper may be better in a band when one wants a distinct sound in the mix.
The Honeydiper for a good ol' Delta blues. It's got that "swampy" sound. The Gold Tone for warmer toness.
METAL. I came real close to getting The Gretsch Honey Dipper. The sound and the historical look attracted me. The metal body is louder, brighter sounding, while the wood body is a warmer sound. I recently got an Epiphone Dobro Hound Dog M-14 and I was unaware of a few facts about these guitars. For one, I was not expecting it to be as heavy as it is; two, I was unaware that the best string gauge is 15-56; and three, I didn't know that it doesn't have a strap button at the heel of the neck, so now I have to get a resonator guitar strap (connects to headstock). I don't want to drill holes on it.
I was aware that the cone needs replacing annually, that is if you use it a lot, or two years. With all that said, I still love it. She's in your face loud, and the latest addition to my harem of guitars!
That Honey Dipper I think has the true resonator twang. I've always loved the metal body resonators. I just bought a resonator similar to the Gold Tone, but it has the spider cone so it's sound is kind of a combination of the two and it was within my budget range. Someday, I hope to buy a Honey Dipper also.
70 on June 11th..it's in the hands of the Birthday Bunny..
👍 for the PB wood resonator
I lean toward the Honey Dipper...it's louder and has more of that 'Dobro' sound coming through.
Just did my own comparison, and for me the Honey Dipper was the winner. It has such great sustain and very haunting echo. Love it.
Love the softer sound of the wood body
I, too, appreciate this comparison. The steel body seems better for a Delta Blues or more "raw" type of sound. The Gold Tone is a softer sound more suited for something like Country/Folk, like the stuff Eddie Honeyeater plays or maybe Doc Watson. I have a Gold Tone, but I look forward to getting a steel body one as soon as I emerge from beginner status (lol).
I own the exact gold tone you have….have played both….the build quality and gold tone sound, fit and finish and playability took me over the edge for it. Looking at the gold tone never gets old. I would like to have heard your opinion on the playability of both. Great vid…thx.
I’ve had a Gretsch Boxcar resonator for at least 5 years now. Same as the Honey Dipper, but with a wood body. Maybe a little lower tone. I love it and would recommend it to anyone looking to purchase a resonator.
I’m digging the honey dipper. It’s a very brash sound. I get enough warmth from my Yamaha acoustic. If ya wanna tear it up, go with the dipper!
I think brash is a very good way to describe it. I've been playing my acoustic for the last several days straight working on some lessons and then just now picked up my Honey Dipper and that stark tone just hits you. Brash is one of the best words I've heard to describe my experience with it.
Great comparison video! I can hear the difference in each guitar. Gold tone sounds little warmer but heavy mid range nasally sounding. Both beautiful pieces of work! Well done. I go with the honey dipper.
Sonically they are opposite ends of the spectrum. Gold tone is laid back & sweet. Honey dipper is up front in your face punchy. Both extremely nice. Guess it would depend on how you want it to stand out in the mix. I'll take one of each please 😀 👍👍
Finger picked the metal guitar will always sound best if all are setup correctly. Using picks the wood will sound best. It’s all according to what ur doing with it.
I prefer the wood resonators. Partly because I don't like the weight of metal ones. But the warm tones of wood resonators fit my style too.
I like the Goldtone better for sound, but it isnt as loud. The Honey Dipper appears to be brighter, good for cutting through a jam. Both sound good when you play them!
thanks for comparison. Am with you on this. Like em both! and would select depending on vibe wanted. Steel for raw 'son house' sound, wood for something mellower.
Can't argue with that...
I’m of the mindset that if you’re going to play a res it should sound like a metal but if you can play the way you do it doesn’t make much difference
Ha! Thanks, Kirk!
It is a comparison between two variables: wooden vs brass body and spider vs biscuit bridge. So that makes it complicated. Decision is which music you want to make: delta blues/raw roots or bluegrass/sweet sound .
I agree after listening to the entire video the wood body one sounds more suited to roots type folky music where as the metal one is straight up delta blues
For variants in rich tone, I’d have to go with the GoldTone, I just feel the Honey, though prob bit louder, is all clangy mid tones and doesn’t compare much to the sound quality of the Gold Tone
John - Thanks so much for the comparison. I'm with you - I like both! Although, there's something about the Honey Dipper, I like the spider cone on the Gold Tone. In a perfect world, it'd be nice to have both!
Lol
Thanks, RW! Now I need a tricone to toss that in the conversation. hahaha
Played solo, I strongly prefer wood/spider to metal/biscuit. However, I think the National type offers more cut through in an ensemble situation. I play wood/spider ones myself, but if I ever joined an acoustic band it would be an excuse to buy the other, too.
All right, you've made up my mind. I've sprung for a honey dipper instead of an alligator. That raw, in-your-face, sound is what I'm really looking for! I've got a Jim Dandy, and it's warm and bright, it needs a gritty counterpart! Thank you so much for a direct comparison and a fantastic demo.
Enjoy! I've had mine for a couple of years now and I like it more and more as time goes on. I hope you have the same experience!
I like both but if I had to pick one, it's the Gretsch. I like to lean to the raw and even harsher side of the blues.
I'm shopping for a resonator now but I need a magnetic pickup installed and the Gold Tones are past the top of my price range. Currently, my list has Recording King Dirty 30s Minnie Bucker, Dean Resonators with pickup, Danelctro '59 with pickup, Washburn Americana Reso with pickup. Possibly a Gretsch 9221 Bobtail with piezo...there's a cool after-market magnetic pickup by 12-Bar Blues Pickups that could be rigged up to get the harsher amp tones I require.
And if you ever want to see a guy tear up an acoustic steel or wood body via magnetic pickups, check out the late, great John Campbell!
I've got the Honey Dipper and since I have been following your slide lessons it's really starting to open up and has never sounded better. Love your work.
Thanks so much.
Both of them sound great depending on your skill level and what the style of music requires. Each have their own unique benefits. 🎧
Michael Messner makes the best inexpensive resonators. Made in the UK and can be purchased directly or in Canada. This is not an ad, just my observation.
Just for fun I recently threw on a set of D'addario silk & steel folk guitar strings and now my Gretsch Honey Dipper sounds a lot more like the Gold Tone. Not quite the same but almost like having the best of both!
I really like the thick and warmth of the the wooden body resonater, it might lack the volume of the Honey Dipper, but I am a fan of the warmer tones.
Definitely warmer. I almost balanced the volume between the two in the video but decided not to because that's the way I experienced it in the room. The Honey Dipper is loud! Thanks for the comment.
The clear growl of the honey dipper for open G. The sad melodic pain in the voicing of the Gold top for Open D. This video helped me more with Open D/G differences, than resonator differences.
GOLD TONE ...I've been playing slide for over 40 years. I love the brass body and high end.
For resonators, I'm a National- only guy. That said, I want metal - I want a resonator to have that metallic clang. I like both tricones and single cones. Singles are a little harsher, tricones sound fuller. This is all my opinion; yours may vary.
Hi John, (Blues Guitar Institute subscriber here) Thanks for this! It is really helpful since I am hoping to buy a reso in the next few months. I love the sound of both but think I prefer the woody for finger picking and the steel for slide. Not to nitpick, but I would have loved a 3-way comparison between a standard wood-body guitar and the 2 resos. I would also have loved a straight finger picking comparison. Maybe a nice Mississippi John Hurt tune that you cover on your site.
That would have been an interesting comparison for sure. Thanks for the comment. Maybe we'll do some bonus comparisons in myBGI!
This is one of the best comparison videos I've ever seen. So informative, and so easy to A/B the differences. I love, love the all-metal look, but the sound of the other is so much closer to my preference.
I like both, but the Gretsch is the sound I'm looking forr.
Gold tone seems to have a little more grit in its sound, which I love. The honey sounds a bit mellow which I like also, so I want both of them. I already have a honey but that gold tone just has it! Good by $$$.lol
Both are great! Hard to find left handed ones for me thou! Thanks for this video. I had asked for you to do it a few weeks back. 👍
Thanks for the idea! 🙏
First, thanks for the video. It was both entertaining and educational. The sounds are very different and it's hard to tell which one I like more. I'll probably have to get both.
Not a bad plan, Keefe :)
the honey dipper just has that sound! I have an Ozark mahogany bodied resonator, spider bridge just like yours but its that metallic, resonance that's lacking!
while the body material definitely makes a difference, I think the bigger thing is the difference in sound between a biscuit bridge and a spider bridge.... the nasal twang of the spider bridge has country and bluegrass written all over it.....the bark of the biscuit bridge is the sound of blues
agreed. Great comment, Don. Thanks!
It is a bit of apples and oranges, wood to metal and spider to biscuit. But I play blues, so the honey dipper it is. The goldtone is better for bluegrass. But I have a couple wood bisquit resos, including the Gretsch alligator, wood biscuit, and it is really nice and likely what most here might like, warm but still a blues tone with the biscuit. I like it for piedmont style fingerstyle. The metal is back to the delta and slide blues. I sold my goldtone, just not for me. But keeping my pre-war regal spider reso, that has a haunting tone. I did just find a great price on a used honey dipper that is one the way and will be my slide guitar for delta. Maybe someday I will find a tricone for D minor skip james tunes. What I do like is the specs on these, 1 3/4" nut. Just wish someone would make a wider saddle spacing for fingerstyle, like 2 3/8", not like many people are strumming resos.
The Honey Dipper fits my style of play and idea of what a resonator should sound like. I would like to have both.
Honestly I think it's like a lot of musical choices...it's subjective and it depends on what a given song needs.
But I learned a few things about components here . And was thoroughly entertained too..
great playing.
I like the sound of wood. I had the Honey Dipper but returned as I found it too heavy. I have a squareneck wood resonator from Beard. Love it. But, then got a parlor size metal Recording King to keep in D tuning. Really like the size and sound. My aging neck could not handle the weight of the Dipper.
The honey dipper , and I have one so I’m a little bias , love the sound.
No question for me…I love the Honeydipper sound. That’s why I bought one. I just wish I could play it half as good as you👍
Nice! Glad you got one too. I think it's a great little guitar for the money. Plus, you can get a work out in just picking it up! I was surprised at how much heavier it is than the Gold Tone.
I love the sound of the Honey Dipper but if I had to choose just one for myself it'd be the Gold Tone for sure. Its woody tone is easier on my ear so I feel I could sit with it for longer, especially indoors. The Gold Tone sit's higher on my wishlist. However the Honey Dipper's strident tone isn't far behind, I just think it better suits being played outside or in a big open space.
Thanks for the comment. I can certainly understand, I love the Gold Tone.
The Gretsch! I already have some nice sounding acoustics. When I buy a resonator, I want the max brass tone! Don’t want another “woody” sounding guitar.
Both are very good. The honey dipper sharper raspy. the gold tone is softer and mellow.
Excellent Video. Both resonators are wonderful, but the Gretsch is my personal 1st choice.
Hi John- wonderful video. Firstly, thank you for teaching this novice a lot about how to enjoy playing the Blues! This was the final two guitars I looked at before buying my resonator. Love them both! Sadly budget dictated I could only get one and in the end, I chose the GT. The reason is the warmer wood sound. Since I usually play to relax and destress, and most of the time it's just me - with the GT, it felt like I could go on playing for hours and hours. But someday I'll get the Honey Dipper! ps. I have my GT tuned to Open-D.
Hey Adrian, thanks for the comment and congrats on getting the Gold Tone! Great guitar and I'm happy that you're happy with it...great guitar. Play On! John
The steel body is the one I prefer I have a 1928 National I prefer vintage guitars to be honest I prefer vintage everything they don't make them like they used to and I wouldn't own a car with a plastic bumper either I prefer vintage Steel on my cars as well
That's sticking to your principles right there! Respect. I would love to get my hands on a vintage National. Or even a current one for that matter but I just don't see them around and at that level, I really want to play a guitar before buying it. Thanks for the comment, Jerry.
Hea John, i have a Boxcar and i love it. Like the metal body too. Would agree with you both. Play on.
I like them both John, but I think I preferred the Honeydipper on the Open D piece that you played and the GoldTone on the Open G. Just a thought, but maybe the comparative prices of the instruments might be a factor?
To me, the Gretsch has a more penetrating, emotion-laden tone that works better for the music you're playing. The GT sounds sweet and warm, as many have said, but carries less emotional weight to my ears. Emotion counts when it comes to the blues. The Gretsch also seems to evoke more of the history of the music, which I also think is important when playing traditional styles.
I just watched another video of someone saying what a guitar is made of makes virtually no difference to the way it sounds.
I guess the Honey Dripper is the exception that proves the rule...
For my money, the Gold Tone just doesn't sound different enough from a regular acoustic to warrant the extra expense, whereas the Honey Dripper has a unique sound which can't be emulated & therefore, deserves a spot on my guitar rack.
Great video!
Tough one...I think if I had to only pick one, it would be the Honey Dipper. It's a bit more of a unique voice...the other one, while obviously different from a standard acoustic guitar, still shares some tonality with a non-resonator. But ideally, I'd like one of each!
If I was only able to get one, it would be the gold tone, just my preference, but they each have their own place, as you said.
I like the Gold tone wood body sound a little better but I guess it's just a matter of taste
Yeah, they both are great at what they do IMO so it really is down to taste and what you'd use it for I suppose.
HD sounds deeper and richer and louder. Notes are more distinct. I like ur HD 😀
I owe a wood-body resonator and the metal- Gretsch G9221. Had loads of problems with the Gretsch, returned her twice to the dealer for a massive rattling inside. The third one doesnt rattle, but still had some issues with the nut (too low, not well manufactured) so the 3rd and 4th string are deeper than the rest and the strap-knob at the neck was missing. Has a great sound, but all in all the issues didnt make her worth that price!
Wood, wood, wood!!! Not as much punch with the Gold Tone but much warmer to these old ears. Both are beautiful! 👍👌😄
My Gold Tone arrived to my son's loc this morning... the Gretsch will be inbound..... one day
Nice!
The gold tone is a warmer sound, definitely!!
I love the Gretsch! Just got the Alligator round neck a week ago 🤙🏼 Watching all your videos and learning 😁
I dig both, I love bluegrass music in addition to blues (and many other genres). The wood one seems like it could crossover. Someday I would like to have a square neck wood Reso for Bluegrass, as for now there is a metal resonator for blues in my future, so cool! Great video John, have a great week!
love both ! honey dipper maybe.
Yeah, I wonder which one's better for sound so I play outdoors it's not for me it's for the public. I personally like the wood.
I loved the Honey Dipper, the metal body is what I think of when I think of a resonator guitar. The Gold Tone wasn’t bad though
They are both nice Its a matter of taste. I 'd go with the Honey Dripper.
Thanks for the comment, Robert!
I think the answer is obvious. We’re gonna need BOTH. 😂❤
Both sound great but my preference is the richer tone of the Goldtone. Aesthetically the look of the metal body is way cool!
Its really hard to choose. I agree that both have their place. I would just have to own both myself.
Both are good but I prefer the Honey Dipper, it projects better and has a bit more sustain. It’s also reassuring to see another guitarist using bare fingers rather than finger picks (that’s my preference too). 👌
Man I’m jelly, You own both.?.?. Yeah!!! I’m with the wood though different sound for sure but I would only be Abel to afford one and to me it sounded more versatile.
I prefer the Gold tone , not sure if you have the square or round neck. Would be interested in how different a square or round neck feel to play.
It was probably just the tunes you were playing but I thought Honey Dipper sounded nicer in Open G and the Gold Tone in Open D.
Gonna have to get one of each.
That's a solid conclusion!
I am similar to you, I like both of them.
I had a Honey Dipper but I sold it. I didn't realize when I bought it online that it was a 12 fret join at the body. Gotta have 14. I traded the Honey Dipper for a Fender wood body with 14 fret join and single cutaway as a bonus. Also got $200 in the deal.
Yeah I kinda wish it had a cutaway so I could play up the neck more since I use a capo to play in Open E and Open A. Next time :)
Dont know about Goldie but Honey is heavy...done broke my back in the throws of passion.
If you've gotta double track, use both!
I'd love to hear them together! ❤
I dig both... different aspects of their tones are really nice... I generally prefer biscuit bridges, but both ot those sound primo
But I tried playing those models and didn't like the necks.
Hey John, I enjoyed both, but preferred HD(I attempt to play a metal body Resonator). Not easy to qualify difference but for me, I thought the HD sounded cleaner, a bit more "brash" and "sustained" longer. Thanks for your videos, which are interesting and entertaining. Cheers.
I think you summed it up well. I lean toward the Honey Dipper, but the Gold Tone does sound sweat.
Thanks, Jack. Appreciate the comment 👍
Gretsch all day long for me. Partly because of brand loyalty, but also I prefer the look and sound of metal. The only thing I like better on the Goldtone is the flowery Florentine inlays.
Great review and details. Really helpful in choosing. I see a Honey Dipper in my future
Glad it was helpful!
I like em both! Is this a Sophie’s Choice thing here? Because if it IS ...I’d go with the wood one. Wait! The other one! Whew! Wait......damn!