Feedback and Reviews
Gwyn Ashton
"It Rocks!"
(Gwyn uses a Busker Delta set up with a medium/high action at the nut and bridge, and fitted with 15-59 pure nickel strings.)
Daz, Penzance
I’ve just treated myself to a Busker 'Deco tricone guitar... and what a treat! I’ve played on a fair few resophonic guitars over the last few years but this, in my mind, is the bee's knees! This guitar both looks and sounds fantastic.
After tuning it up for the first time and playing a few chords and licks to hear the sound of it, i knew that this was the exact sound I’ve been wanting from a guitar for a long long time.
I then tuned it to open E and played Blind Blakes 'Police Dog Blues'... wow!... ill say that again...wow! I then put it back into standard tuning and played another Blind Blake tune, Diddy Wah Diddy (not a very good attempt i might add) and a few other ragtime tunes, and once again... wow!
This guitar just oozes with the most amazing tone, especially on 7th chords. The resonance felt in your stomach through the back of the guitar gives you a kind of confidence that the sound coming out of the front is simply superb. The sustain it achieves when bending notes on slow blues tunes is, in my mind a sign of pure quality.
The neck is slightly wider to what I’m used to and I can’t quite hang my thumb over the top to reach the bass notes, but it won’t be too much of a problem. I was slightly worried about not being able to mute the strings with my palm while playing, but the 'T' shaped bridge guard is lovely to rest my hand on, and I can easily slide my palm up a little to achieve this. This may be a budget priced guitar, but it is in no way a budget guitar, and can very easily hold its own against other big named resophonic guitars. So much so, that I believe that the busker resophonic guitar range could quite easily become the next big name in resophonic guitars?... go out and buy one now!
I can’t see a serial number anywhere on it, and if it doesn’t have one I think it should, its nice to be able to check up details such as where it was made and when in the future, as I’m sure these guitars will be around for many years. The other guitars in the Busker range, with the old antique aged look, look fantastic too and I am now saving up for one of those as well. And, Robin, if you decide to make a model with some fancy engraved patterns please let me know!
I'd also like to add that the customer service I received from Robin, from my first enquiry to receiving my guitar was the best I’ve ever known.
Keep up the great work and good luck with these superb guitars...
(Daz has a Busker 'Deco set up for fingerstyle ragtime and bottleneck slide, with 13-56 phosphor bronze strings)
Karl, France
For the past 3 weeks I have been the proud owner of a Busker ‘Deco’ Tricone.
When the guitar was despatched by Robin it arrived the next day, fully protected in its original case, plus thick packaging. The guitar case is excellent, it is one of the high protection semi rigid variety, for several years I have used the same sort of case for my banjo, so I know it will last.
I undid all the excess packaging and finally got to the case, I just couldn’t wait to open it, when I did I just looked at it and thought what a beautiful looking guitar. Robin was exactly right in naming it ‘Deco’, this guitar is surely a design statement from the Art Deco era, the design of it has not changed since then.....why should it .... it’s so perfect.
When I strummed it for the first time I though ‘wow’ what a beautiful tone this guitar has, Robin had tuned it to D and then quite rightly tuned it down a further couple of steps for its transit. I tuned it up to its correct pitch and noticed straight away how it had been set up perfectly for me, it needed absolutely no adjustment whatsoever ‘thank god’.
I started to play it, it absolutely ‘growled, what an incredible tone, so unlike my Style-O, its tone could only be described as ‘sweet’. The sustain on it is unbelievable, this is a guitar perfect for playing the ‘David Kampmann’ type of slow, haunting slide music which I love. The first thing I noticed straight away was its lovely comfortable chunky neck. I thought the 12 fret body was going to take some getting used to, having only ever played 14 fretters before, but after a few days of playing I felt really at home.
The finish on the guitar was clean and perfect, especially the slotted headstock, which I thought I would never ever get used to, set off nicely with the ‘Busker’ logo made out of English pewter.
The ‘Deco’ tricone is without doubt a superb resonator. Across their range of products these guitars are certainly going to solve the age old problem of ‘What guitar should I buy for my first Reso’. The build and quality is certainly way above the other makes of entry level resonators. So good are these guitars that professionals are getting hold of them to use as their gigging guitars , enabling them to leave their valuable ‘Nationals’ safe at home.
In conclusion, this is a fine quality guitar, I am so happy with it, my playing has come along leaps and bounds since I have owned it. The next step for me is to get rid of my existing Style-O copy, which I now have great difficulty in picking up to play, and trading it in for a much better all round Busker ‘Delta’ or ‘Sidewalk’ model ....... I just love the wider chunkier necks on them.
From one totally satisfied customer
(Karl has a Busker 'Deco set up for slide in open D and open G with a medium action and 16-59 phosphor bronze strings)
Andrew, Bornemouth
Hi Robin
Sorry to have not got back to you earlier, but just to say thank you for the guitar. It is really quite something and is very well built. I was looking at a couple of National Duolians (in Denmark St, London) but I am glad that I didn’t spend £2-3k as the Delta sounds just as good, if not better.
My brother-in-law (who is fact a good blues guitar player) has also played it a few times and thinks it is fantastic!
Anyway thanks once again and I hope all goes well for you in the future.
Kind regards
Andrew
(Andrew has a Busker Delta set up with a medium action and 13-56 strings for fingerpicking and bottleneck slide)
Niall, Cork
Hello Robin,
Couldn't wait to get home yesterday once I had heard that my new Delta had arrived. It took a while to open your excellent packaging - best I've seen on anything I've ever had delivered, and as a result the guitar and case survived the trip across the Irish Sea no bother - well done! When I finally got the guitar out, I was awestruck by how beautiful it looked - absolutely stunning and not so much as a drop of glue out of place. Once I got it tuned up, I rattled out a few riffs and suffice it to say I was amazed. The tone from this guitar is absolutely fantastic - I've never played anything with such a warm, pure sound, and so many nuances and subtleties - a real delight. The finish on the neck is pristine. I also really like the wide, chunky feel of the neck. Your recommended hybrid set-up is spot on - ideal for slide work, whilst being totally playable in 'standard' mode also.
A little later I headed up the road to a mate of mine (who happens to have a small recording studio) to show off my new acquisition. Before I knew what was happening, I had a set of headphones on and there were microphones popping up all round me. We spent the next hour and a half doing some test recordings, trying out some different mics and mic placements etc. The results were quite simply brilliant. The slightest change in how I played the guitar, or even how I held it in relation to my body, made for dramatic and really interesting changes in the sound. The only guitar that I've ever previously experienced such a variety of sounds from has had a bunch of pickups, a selector switch and a need for electricity to work properly.
Likewise the smallest adjustment in the position of a microphone in relation to the cone/body of the Delta made for a huge change in the sound being captured. The clarity and purity of the notes, particularly in the upper registers - the best I've ever experienced - no contest. I've got a small recording job coming up soon where I've been asked to do some lead work on acoustic guitar. I'll take just one guitar to that session - my Delta.
Robin, as you know this is my first resonator, but I now know that all of my research before buying has paid off 100%. I've had experience of loads of guitars over the last 20 or so years, but this is already right up there with the best of them. A keeper for sure.
Thanks so much for all your help, advice and great service. Look forward to talking to you and hopefully doing business in the very near future again.
Best regards,
Niall
http://www.myspace.com:80/nylow
(Niall has a Busker Delta set up with a medium action and 13-56 strings for fingerpicking and bottleneck slide)
Richie Binns - Jazz Musician
The Busker Sidewalk is a fine guitar and I am very happy with it.
I am a professional modern jazz saxophonist and blues player so it’s difficult for me to compare the Busker Sidewalk guitar to anything else. I have played alongside a lot of very fine guitarists in the jazz and blues world over the years so I have some idea of what I am looking for.
I wanted a guitar at a cost effective price that I could play in standard and open tunings.
I required some warmth as well as attack which the Sidewalk accommodates handsomely due to its brass body. This in turn means I can have a sweet sound but I’ve got options to play it dirty. That’s Basic Saxophone philosophy right.
The extra two frets I needed as it gives me more musical options.
The aged finish and individuality for me was essential. It is better than any serial number man.
All my Saxophones are vintage 1930s and one from early 50s.They are original lacquer and all shot down to the brass. I think Robins idea to leave the inside of the guitar the way it is, is excellent.
When it arrived I tuned it up and within 15 to 20 minutes I was sounding like me. I took a 10 minute break for a cup of tea then worked out on it for four hours straight.
The Busker Sidewalks got its own thing going for it and I dig it.
Lastly Robin set the guitar up just about spot on to my requirements and that is worth its weight in gold.
(Richie has a Busker Sidewalk set up with a low to medium action and 13-56 strings - he plays a lot of Blues in standard tuning as well as slide)
Christian, France
Hi Robin,
The guitar cames on Wenesday but I was not at home.So, I took it today from
the post office and after opening the pack....WAOOOW!!!!
This guitar is good built and the sound is great!!!Very good balance between
basses and trebles,super sustain, neck easy to play in fingerstyle or
slide.Extra!
It's different of the Triolian : sound is deeper and plain, but I love both
two!
I'm goin' to tell about you and Busker Guitars to my friends.
Hope they'll buy a lot of guitars, and may be you'll can buy.....a superb
Style O!!!
Thanks for your good contact.
Best regards
Christian
PS The guitar case is superb!
(Christrian has a Busker Deco set up with a medium action and medium strings for both slide and standard tuning playing)
Clive, Scarborough
Hi Robin,
Many thanks for the splendid guitar – I am thrilled with it. It was delivered at work this morning and I’ve been aching to get my hands on it all day. Now where are those fingerpicks?
Thanks again and I wish you every success with this venture.
Kind regards - Clive
(Clive has an MM Lightning set up with 13-56 strings and a standard hybrid action)
Eddie, St Annes
Hi Robin,
MM Lightning arrived safely about 11.00 this morning (Friday) and I'm thrilled to bits with it.
I know I told you how I'd found Michael through the magazine reviews when I was researching resonators. I knew absolutely nothing about them & was trying to figure out which of the obvious budget brands would give me the best product. Michael's reviews and the website/forum have given me a good grounding in the basics and I soon realised this was the way to go. Then you gave me the benefit of your help and experience, so I have ended up with more information and a bespoke set-up specific to my style of playing.
Unlike the more knowledgable members of the forum, I have no personal or hands on comparisons through which to have an informed opinion on my new guitar compared to any other at any price. All I've ever been close to have been wooden guitars.
But I do know this:
Thanks to Michael & your good self I am now the proud owner of a quality instrument produced by people who really care about their product and their customers. I have received a personal service second to none & am truly grateful for all your help & advice.
Sincere thanks for everything
Very Best Wishes
Eddie
(Eddie has an MM Lightning set up with 13-56 strings and a standard hybrid action)
Gerry Cooper, Midlands
"It was good to meet you at last at your home. The Lightning is a great guitar and I am really enjoying exploring its range of sounds. Whether played with a slide or 'normally' it sounds amazing. A friend of mine, seeing it for the first time, thought I must have paid about two grand for it! The only problem with it is that all my other guitars now want a divorce...!!
All the best
Gerry Cooper"
www.myspace.com/gerrycooper
www.gerrycoopermusic.co.uk
(Gerry has an MM Lightning set up with 13-56 strings and a standard hybrid action)
Chris, Bristol
Hi Robin,
Just to let you know that the tri cone is fantastic, I love the guitar and my lap playing has come on loads since geteing it, I love the beautiful tone of the guitar, fantastic. In fact its so great that I'm after a round neck version!!
Your guitars have certainly made me a reso addict, you must be one of the best kept secrets in guitar making!! since getting my great guitar (oh and by the way I love the serial number being on it) I have played a number of similar priced and more expensive reso in comparison and non come close in feel, tone or volume, in fact not many instuments full stop in that price bracket sound as good.
Thanks again for your help and service, and I'll continue to enjoy my square neck and look forward to the next!!
Chris
(Chris has a Busker Chattanooga fitted with 16-59 MM Newtone strings)
Al Johnson, Belgium
Since it arrived, I haven't been able to put it down, to stop playing it. I have a tour of Japan lined up for 2009. I can not wait for my personal order to be ready and I intend now to have at least one metal body of you as well. Most people who know me well, know me as a bit of a cynic. But, I am totally sold. The only thing budget about Busker guitars is the price tag, nothing more. They are first rate instruments that I will be recommending to friends, students and anyone else who will listen.
Best regards,
Al Johnson
www.aljohnson.be
(Al has a Busker Cannon set up for a combination of fingerstyle and slide with 15-56 MM Newtone strings)