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Pros:
- Great Sound
- Interesting Design
- Great Tuning Stability
Cons:
- Not Cheap
Some resonator guitars go an extra step to bring more style into their looks. Guitars like these tend to cost a little more, but are capable of providing the style and looks that any musician will appreciate. So when we get an instrument that is affordable and goes the extra step, we get a little over excited. Let’s take a look at the Epiphone Dobro Hound Dog Round Neck guitar and see what makes it one of the more exciting resonator guitars.
Body Quality
The dobro body shape is the original resonator guitar body shape. It is a combination of several different shapes, all of which in the end produce a great projection and a beautiful design. Take some qualities from the grand auditorium, combine with the parlor guitar details, and you get a double shape. It is comfortable, easy to play, lightweight and has powerful projection. What else could a guitar player want out of their guitar?
The body of the guitar is made with figured ply maple. Maple is a great tonewood. Sturdy and dense, it will serve the guitar for many years to come. It also has a great and vibrant response to the high and mid-tones, brightening the already beautiful tonality of the resonator guitar. Despite the fact that the wood is very sturdy, it is also quite lightweight, making for a great body wood. The bright color of the maple is especially brought out by the typical dobro lines, which cover the entirety of the body. The design is beautiful and does, in some ways, remind me of a badass hound dog.
The neck of the guitar is made of mahogany. This allows the guitar to be studied throughout the entirety of its structure. The mahogany is lightweight enough that the guitar does not feel like a burden to hold. It’s dark coloring contrasts the brightness of the rest of the guitar well. The neck is round, making the guitar well suited for playing both on top of your lap and while holding the guitar as well.
The cover plate of the guitar has a simple, yet beautiful design that contrasts the lined pattern of the wood well. The soundhole covers add character to the guitar and result in the guitar having a sort of surrealistic design.
Hardware
The bridge of the guitar is a spider design with an ebony-capped maple base. The bridge is thus very responsive and adds some great tonal qualities to the sound the guitar produces. Thanks to the ebony and maple combination the sound feels lower than what you would expect of a maple guitar.
The traditional dobro cone installed in the guitar is a marvel to behold. It has a beautiful amplification quality, allowing the guitar to project its sound powerfully. The tones of the guitar are all well expressed, with the mid and high tones stealing the spotlight every time.
The nut of the guitar is made of tusq, a great synthetic material. It is raised for comfortable guitar slide play, but is low enough for finger fretting to be easy. This encourages the players to try playing both with the guitar on top of their laps and while holding the guitar.
The tuning machine is very stable and can hold tuning for long periods of time, which is especially valuable in a raised nut resonator guitar.
Epiphone Dobro Sound
The guitar has a very typical Dobro sound. Long sustain with powerful overtones, the guitar has an active, bright sound that is incredibly enjoyable whether you are playing it or listening to it. It is metallic and twangy. The energy contained within the guitar is released the moment you start playing, with the highs and lows making your foot move faster than a Hound Dog running at you would.
Conclusion
A great guitar! Definitely recommended, whether you are a professional or a beginner. The design is amazing, the price is friendly and the sound is definitely something to be in love with.
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