Republic Miniolian

Satin finish, solid spruce top, rosewood (?) laminate back & sides, parlor-size biscuit-bridge single-cone 12-fret-to-the-body resophonic. Slotted headstock. Wide medium-deep neck, equally usable for slide/fretting. Medium frets. 24.5" scale (I believe). There are 2 models; mine has a moon-&-stars coverplate and 5 small "wiggly star" soundholes above it, with scroll-like inlays at the usual marked fret spaces on the neck. Basically made in China, finished & set up in USA. Bought new in Feb. 2008, presumably made not long before. Canvas-covered wood case included with purchase (and a good thing, too - finding a case to fit a parlor-size might have been a chore).

I play (or play AT) blues (slide/fretted), primarily, along with some attempts at old acoustic jazz licks, and this guitar is excellent for that. I was amazed at how loud & full a sound it produces, given the smaller body size - but remember, the cone's full-size (9.5"). Just really fine biscuit-bridge tone, and more sustain than you'd expect. You can get a good range of variation in sound, too, depending on whether you pluck over the cone or up towards the neck. Nothing at all to dislike on this score. If you google, you can find some sound samples (not mine, I mean by real players) - check it out.

Action and set-up were just right, an in-between string height allowing slide or fretting. I believe the stock strings are GHS 13's, and they are fine. There is one very minor cosmetic discoloration in a fret space on the neck, otherwise cosmetics are fine. I seem to see a small "hump" in the neck at the 12th fret on the treble side, but it has no effect on playability, fretted or slide. Enclosed tuners have the heads toward the back (it's a slotted headstock, remember), and although the tuner handles themselves sort of look "economy-class" (one-piece black plastic of some sort), so far they do the job fine. Back & sides are dark-stained, the top lighter, nice binding front & back.

I play only by myself or with a friend or two, so no real opinion on the live-playing issue. I will say that the instrument seems quite sound structurally. The top, being solid instead of laminate, might be a bit weaker than if it were lam, but I don't plan to test it much. The finish seems quite durable, but I've only been playing on it for 5 weeks or so. It stays in tune quite well.

No need for any repairs/corrections yet & don't anticipate any. No warranty as such, but Mr. Frank Helsley, the Republic founder/CEO/chief, assures one & all that he'll make anything right that needs making right. Judging by my dealings with him, and by the numerous accounts I've read elsewhere, I certainly trust him to do so.

Been playing for right around 40 years, self-teaching (with agonizing slowness) the whole time. First had an Airline 6-string acoustic, then an off-brand Japanese 12-string acoustic for decades. A few years ago I decided to get half serious about this guitar thing, and after some getting & swapping, I now have (besides the Mini): a Republic steelbody tricone, a Johnson brassbody 14-fret biscuit-bridge, a Gretsch Historic 12-fret spider-bridge (soon to be sold), and a Liberty 14-fret coppertop spider-bridge. Other than resophonics, I have a Gretsch 5120 electric, a Gretsch Historic G3967 junior-size A/E jazzbox, a Squier 51, a Danelectro U2 reissue, a Danelectro Hearsay, a Gretsch Historic Sierra jumbo 6-string A/E, a Maton EM325C A/E, and a Gretsch Historic 12-string jumbo acoustic. If the Miniolian were stolen/lost, I'd be wayyyy upset... but at the price paid ($329.00!!!) I'd get another one ASAP. It's EASY to play, weight-shape-balance-wise; great neck. GREAT sound. I have a National/Lace reso PU from another project & I'm looking forward to trying it on the Mini, but the Mini's just fine as is. Unbeatable for the dough, IMO. I'm no one's shill, but if you're interested in getting a good biscuit-bridge resophonic for under $500, I'd encourage you to try one of these.