GRETSCH ALLIGATOR Resonator Guitar This is just to demonstrate the guitar I have here . . . Fitted with a National NRP Hot Rod Cone. #a_six_string_thing #resonator #dobro #resonatorguitar #slideguitar #gretschalligator #gretsch
well played Jan, and your Gretsch sounds so cool. did you replace the coverplate as well?, which one did you use please? and where can I find them please? thanks
Fantastic, really nice sounding instrument and sure fine bit of noodlin’ there!! That Alligator looks different from the ones I see online…is it an older instrument? Thanks and have a nice day!!
A happy new year to you. This Gretsch was a new one back then (2017?) but I polished it with some wood oil and changed the coverplate and cone (National hot rod cone). It was a cool guitar, had two very different sounding ones back in those years. I do not own them any more since I changed to Michael Messer guitars. Kind regards. Jan
They are a bit different in feel/playing but both good guitars. The Michael Messer Blues 28 has a better build quality i think. Michael Messer is an expert in National style guitars and the guitars are Set up by Dave King in the UK before they get sold. The Gretsch models are build with vintage Gretsch resonators in mind and have a more narrow v shaped neck. Theese days I have the Michael Messer ones only but liked the Gretsch ones when I played them. Best regards Jan
Hello, I've recently purchased a Gretsch Alligator for myself and I'm looking to get it amplified. I'm thinking about going a with a National Hotplate pick up but I'm not sure if the cover plate with be the same fit. That cover plate that you have on looks like it's from National. Could you tell me about it?
Hello and a ahappy good new year to you. Fitting a resonator National style guitar is a bit tricky. This coverplate was a replacement from a no name brand I found on e.b...y back then. I could not compare it to an originanl National one. I think the National pickup plate should work (Mike Dowling's pickup plate). You could purchase it and check the fitting on the Alligator model. Since it is a wooden one, it xould be adjustet onto zhe body anyways but I am not shure. I used the Fishman passive resonator piezo/transducer with a decent preamp/D.I. (L.R. Baggs) back then and could get it sounding really good. Now adays I only use Highlander pickups for my Michael Messer wooden Triolian style guitar. Does that help? Kind regards. Jan
Hi Jan - Your playing is great! I just got this guitar and am looking for new strings. I saw you recommend the 016-56 gauge (and I love your sound), but I've read that this gauge can put too much strain on the roundneck guitar, and it should be a slightly lighter gauge, at least for the high e sting. Do you have thoughts on this?
Hi there I would not bother that much and experiment with strings and string settings. As long as you do not tune too high for a longer period of time it will work. I used to play standard tuning and open G on the Alligators all the time (some years at least). You should not tune to open E or A with that strings. If you find the heavy strings not nice to play and may be a bit dull tone wise go for a lighter set like 12 to 54 or 13 to 56. I recommend using Newtone Michael Messer resonator guitar strings 013 to 056 or with a bit thicker melody string like 014 or 015. Theese strings are designed for resonator guitars: they use a round core that allows having thick strings (=good tone) at a bit lower string pressure.
Bob Mac Thank you Bob. Back in those days I would have recommended them. Since I have Michael Messer resonators I totally recommen them. Nearly the same budget range you get the highest quality construction-, sound- and quality control wise.... check them out
@@clevertrevor7360 Hello. Thanks so far. It is not an easy comparison. Quality wise concerning the "Vintage National's sound" the Michael Messer resonator guitars are approximately the best in the budget prise range (if not the best due to their 100% quality control and Michael's responsible customer service). I liked the Alligator. They can be great 30's sound resonator guitars like old Gretschs or Harmony resonator guitars. But i always feared mine might not last long (no neckstick for example; old Gretsch Dobro guitars didn't have one though). So it depends on what you look for... In the end it alldepends on a proper setup on those (if not on all) guitars...
@@JanHaasler Thanks for taking the time to reply. I am currently looking to buy a Reso and leaning towards a wood body, probably an MM Blues 28 mainly due to the reasons you mentioned.
@@clevertrevor7360 I suggest just to contact Michael Messer and ask him everything you need to know. He always tries to fullfill special requirements; i was asking for a guitar from him with a "darker" voice and although that is very subjective he tested the ones he had in stock and chose one for me he thought would fit when i did the purchase.
Hi there and thank you for your compliment. I guess we all admire skills of others that we might not have. In my experience the only thing that matters (in music) just doing it and enjoying it (even or especially when it is practising). Do you play guitar as well?
Excellent! Did you have any trouble with the cone being too high for the soundwell? I was going to do the same replacement, but I read on a forum someone saying that the national cone is 1 cm taller than the grestch cone and that replacing it would cause the action to be raised by 1 cm! They said the only cone that fits in a gretsch is the continental cone. What's your experience?
Hello. I made two experiences. In one case there was no problem in changing the cone (but a new bridge and biscuit are recommended, the gretsch ones tend to sound a little plonky; so you need to adjust the actiouse of fitting the cone with a new bridge though) and secondly i needed to adjust the action by lowering the bridge using sand paper. You need to try two have the experience by yourself I guess,
@@Mountainrock70 thank you for your comment. I am not a Fan of simply judging (pointing at someones "failure") what people upload. Feedback is meant to be constructive. I just played it right on from scratch. My whole life sometimes feels like a rush. In this video I just demo this guitar I had and customized back then. I think I came pretty far on the reonator guitar, musically, technically and tone wise. Players like Gottfried David Gferer, Charly Bird and others plus all the artists I worked with told me so too. My bottleneck playing which I studied in my early teenage years is captured on several recordings/albums too. I was hired because of my abilities. I would have appreciated a more detailed feedback other than only stating it is rushed. I just fool around here and yes not only stick to a certain style some people say is the ony "allowed" stuff to play on a resonator guitar. I am an artist and do not belong to the music police. In this clip you even can hear me playing some stuff Rainer Ptacek did (I grew up listening to his music and admire it). Check out more of my videos too. like this: cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=jan+haasler+rainer+ptacek&d=4585573551327874&mkt=de-DE&setlang=de-DE&w=lFsxI6_i9PklRyinn3GkdJmGCtQXVfBy or here some other playing, not "rushed" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-D608t6VnfmY.html I even composed a tune called "Always in a hurry" (as a full time familiy dad and worker), that captures a "rush". ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5bi-Fcpelgo.html A happy new year anyways. Jan
Hello and thank you for your comment. A happy new year to you as well. I am not a fan of feedback that only seems to aim at the "failure" of the other one. Feedback is meant to be constructive. I am always doing my best with my music. If you do not like it you might just stay away from my stuff. Kind regards Jan
@@JanHaasler You're an amazing artist! And your kind response to undue criticism was class. I will listen to you links. Ive been looking at reso's and this may be my kick around travel guitar. Keep playing; you have a special gift. Best Regards. Never let them put you in a box!
@@charleshusome3298 thank you verymuch for your supportive words. I know that most criticism is not asked for (or feedback at least) but reality is hard and one has to be tough. At the same time I am just a normal guy doing music since early age next to other daily life things. Have a good day and keep doing your music/focus on your passion as well. Jan
