Resonator tonal differences: Messer Blues v Ozark 3616
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- This was to be a video showing the tonal difference between two low/mid priced resonators - One brass bodied, the other steel (and not which is better). This particular portion of the video uses the internal mic from the video recorder only. My intention was to include a further recording after this section which used a pro microphone set up, to reveal even more of the differences/quality. Unfortunately I sold the Messer before completion.
A little bit about these Resonators:
OZARK 3616 (laser etched antiqued brass)
This Resonator is very, very heavy. In fact stupidly so. This particular one was right-handed but I have converted it to a lefty. It also features a highly varnished neck (which I don't particularly like) but it does have a comfortable shape to it. Hand spun (Chinese, I think) cone.
THE 3616 SOUND
Sweet top end ring. Bass end is choked due to the overly gauged thickness of the brass body. The mid range (which is where these instruments really shine and have dominance) is slightly clearer and of a higher mid range, but it still has a wonderful percussive and compressed sounding pop when plucked.
MICHEAL MESSER BLUES 28 (spray coated steel)
Micheal Messer is a well known UK Blues player and decided to create an improved, low-priced resonator by going to a Chinese production house and getting them to tweak their output to his specifications. What he has achieved here is a genuinely robust and rich sounding reso at a low price point.
The first thing I noticed is the slightly wider neck (which I prefer). The steel body is much lighter than the Ozark and feels overall more like an acoustic guitar. It has a hand spun Chinese cone.
THE MM BLUES SOUND
The Blues 28 has a more rounded sound and achieves more bass with a slightly less mid/top end. The ringing almost reverb edge of the Ozark is missing here. This means the barking mid range really comes through and matches the bass end better, so overall volume seems to increase. It still retains that wonderful compressed pop when pulling on the strings.
Very enjoyable and very interesting. I actually like both sounds very much. I note that the Ozark is a 12 fret model and the Messer is 14. The Messer 12 fret model would be different from the 14, since the 12 has a longer resonating chamber (body), but how noticeable that is I do not know. Many thanks!
I've only just started on reso guitar a week ago after 50+ years playing acoustic, and I love the sound and feel of my reso (Icarus parlour) but I'm sure I'm going to need another! i love the sound of both of these, and fortunately you are playing them in a style quite like my own (I've never really got on in my attempts at slide playing) so I get a good idea of how it might sound in my hands. I'll be investigating a Messer, I think, as the Ozark is probably a little weighty for me - my main acoustic is a Guild M-20, which is light as a feather.
Really enjoyed this. Great comparison and great playing. Cheers! ☺
I appreciate the comment.
It was very interesting hearing (and feeling) the difference between these two. I found that when recording them properly you can pretty much dial in the tones so they sound like each other (with a little bit of subtractive EQing).
For me the brass sounds a bit sweeter around the mid-top end but the steel has more lower-mid presence so it growls more when driving the signal. Thanks again.
Great playing! What tuning are you in?
Beautiful Melody! Great playing
Thanks. Glad you liked it.
Thanx very helpfull
And thank you. Appreciate the comment.
Like the brass one
Thank you
Beautiful playing! I find the Ozark brighter but not harsh & the Messer warmer & maybe a little more dynamic. At least to my compressed RUclips ears. Do you find either more challenging on the left hand? I quite like the Messer but the Ozark seems to play like butter
Thanks for the comment. I think I dialled in the Ozark a little better. The Messer was a little high on the fretboard when this was recorded. I just love the natural compressed sound of these. Ended up keeping the (very) heavy Ozark in the end. Keep well.
what song is this?
Hi Jonathan. This is one of mine. Thanks
Tis mine. It's the start of a track I'm putting together.