Product: Vintage AMG-2 Resonator
Price Paid: #175 (Pounds Sterling)
Submitted
01/05/2004
at
02:06am
by
J.j.
Features
:
9
Don't be fooled by the price, this is a 'REAL' resonator. It's based on a National Style 1 (late 1920's), with the neck correctly joining the body at the 12th fret, the neck is Honduras Mahogony, there are a few slightly sharp fret ends, but nothing to worry about. The neck is fat and wide, with a nicely cut nut, that looks like bone but it may not be!
There's no getting away from the fact that the machine heads are cheap and cheerful, i'm going to replace them with some groovers as soon as possible, if your into alternate tunings, (which, lets face it you will be, or you probably wouldn't be buying a guitar like this!), then the stock machines are not really up to the job.
However, (Gripe over).. everything else about this guitar is wonderful, it has spun aluminium 6' cones, authentic diamond pattern and lattice sound holes and heres the real deal, it's constructed correctly, it has a neck stick running through the body and real mushroom pit-props to keep the body tension... It's a 'REAL resonator!
Sound
:
9
This guitar sounds great, you can get into the ball park of 'Tampa Red'(wish my technique was good enough though!)and pretty much nail all the acoustic shenanigans carried out by 'Ry Cooder' for the Crossroads film.. (No, not the one with Britany Spears in!!!)
It seems happiest when played hard, i find a metal pick helps too. Slide wise it reacts nicely to different materials, much harsher and brash with a metal slide and completely mellow with a glass slide, very 'Delta'.. gorgeous.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
Only a few sharp frets to mar the feel on the fretboard, easily buffed off though.
And those cheap machine heads...Yuk!, budget for quality replacements when buying the guitar, (Groovers should slot straight in) you won't regret it!
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Good solid build quality, when you consider the price, should last forever if treated properly, it comes with a good quality hard case as well for the price, so should stay in good condition in the back of the car or van as well.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
No dealings with Vintage, however JHS distribute in the UK and they are always quite helpful.
Overall Rating
:
10
I bought this for a silly price as a cheap guitar to play slide on, little did i know what a cracking guitar it would turn out to be. Well built, great sound with a good blues vibe. Having played one i would say it's a bargain at full price, especially considering the superb quality hard case included in the price.
We all know it's not a National, but at a third of the price it's got the vibe, bags of tone, vintage looks (..no pun intended) and your friends will be envious.. rightly so!..... I love it, thank you Vintage.
