I've been thinking about a Republic Highway 61 for a while but there is no stock available.
Anybody bought one of these? Kev? Anybody played one?
Any recommendations on the pickup choice? Apparently the volume control is an aftermarket purchase and installation.
I'm wondering about the quality , set up etc. Medium relief/ action seems to be the standard. I want to pick and slide.
Thanks,
Pat B
I have a Republic Duolian Single Cone Resonator and also a Gretsch "Alligator " like the one Tommy has for sale. In the past I had an Epiphone Hound Dog Dobro, but I sold it, see below. In comparison I would comment as follows.
Fit & Finish:- All are made in China, the Republic is supposedly set up and tested in Austin before release to a customer. Both the Republic & Gretsch are nicely made with no obvious flaws. If I run my fingers down the side of the fretboard I can just slightly feel the frets on the Republic, not on the Gretsch, otherwise they are equal. The Epiphone in comparison is poorly made. The Republic is probably a more sturdy instrument than the Gretsch.
Playability :- The metal body on the Republic makes it heavy and somewhat out of balance. I would not want to play it standing up for any length of time. However if you play gigs where they have bar fights it would be a lethal weapon!! The string recommendations from the manufacturers are 12-53 for the Gretsch & 13-56 on the Republic and that's the way I keep them. Both fingerboards are relatively wide and quite flat, the action is a tad higher on the Republic and the string tension feels a little higher also. Both are good for fingerpicking with the wider board. The Epiphone is strung with 16's which tore my fingers up and so I played it with metal fingerpicks which I don't like because I find it makes muting more difficult. I didn't try lighter strings because of the sound issues, see below. The Epiphone is also heavy. The Republic I have is 14 frets to the body, the others are 12, I prefer 14 to reach the higher frets easier with a slide but most resonators are 12. In overall playability I would give the nod to the Gretsch.
Sound :- The Republic is loud and sustains forever especially on the bass side so your damping technique has to be really good. The Gretsch has a more nasal sound than the Republic. Both sound like a resonator should with a slight edge to the Republic in this category. The Epiphone just doesn't project, not at all.
Electrics :- My Republic is acoustic only, so I can't comment. I have pick ups in the Gretsch and Epiphone but just to use for recording purposes not to play out. Here the Epiphone was better than the Gretsch.
Overall :- The Republic is really set up to play slide, the Gretsch is more versatile in that you could also play it as a regular acoustic guitar and get a "different" sound. If you're new to slide paying and fingerpicking then the Gretsch is probably easier to learn on. If I just had to have one resonator it would be the Gretsch but the Republic is a really nice instrument but more demanding, or should I say less forgiving of mistakes.
Hope that helps.
