Rono Electrics

[Jerry Turberville]

I've noticed a few Rono 4 and 5 string electrics on ebay advertised as "new." I've not had the pleasure of playing any of Mr Oates instruments and was just curious if anyone owns one, or has tried them. I've heard nothing but good things about his insturments.

[allenhopkins]

Major subject of controversy: five-year-long, 360-post thread on the subject. Consensus seems to be: good instruments, somewhat unreliable builder. I'd skim through this to get a feel for the situation.

[mrmando]

I've had a few Ronos through my hands ... all good stuff. The ones being sold on eBay now tend to be a little less fancy than the ones he used to build. But they appear to have quality where it counts.

[SincereCorgi]

Wait, are Rono guitars and Ron Oates the same guy?

[mrmando]

Never seen a Rono guitar, although I don't doubt he could build one if someone asked him to. AFAIK he builds only mandolin-family instruments. But yeah, Ron Oates' instruments are often called Ronos, and many of them bear a "Rono" insignia.

[SincereCorgi]

I meant these, which are what I immediately think of when someone says they have a Rono:

http://www.rondomusic.com/

They're supposed to have a great bang/buck ratio, especially if you want a 7-string or something weird.

Edit: oh, man, I am a moron, nevermind

[mrmando]

Speling maters.

[Daniel Nestlerode]

Yes, it doze.

[allenhopkins]

RonDos are great -- except in dropped "D" tuning...

[SincereCorgi]

RonDos are great -- except in dropped "D" tuning...

Ha, give the man a cigar.

[Tony Furtado]

I noticed there was a question about Ron Oates guitars. He DID make some...I have one! Its a redo-electric. I got it when I lived in Boulder 12 or so yrs ago. Pretty cool, haven't found much use for it. Probably looking to sell it if anyone is interested. I always thought he did a great job creating cool instruments, sorry to see he got himself backed into so many corners

[cheesepicker]

I have played almost all the Rono's listed on ebay they are all great working mans mandolins with the exception of the resonator and the hollowbody 5 string. the one britone listed has amazing tone and is beautiful. Rono has continued to make his fine instruments through out the years regardless of what the others say. I just picked up a custom i had him make for me last month. a five string double cut baritone.

[mrmando]

Well, what's your opinion of the reso and the hollowbody 5-string, then?

I had a Rono resophonic octave mandolin for a while ... it had a really shallow neck angle that was hard to get used to, but it played fine. Cosmetically less than perfect ... it had an F-style scroll with a little hole on the interior curve, but I had a luthier patch it up. Sent it off to a fellow in Vermont a few months ago.

[cheesepicker]

How ever that being said rono instruments take a long time to commision and make. These instruments are very hard to obtain especially if you do not live around the denver / boulder area. Customs take a really long time especially because it is just him and the electronics and woods are very hard to obtain in mass quantities. With my experience with his instruments i would recommend the instruments on ebay they are all very nice and kept in the back away from customers at wedgles. Also the prices listed on ebay are the top dollar prices call them nd they usually are willing to take around 500$ off of regulars and 800$ baritones.

[mrmando]

Also the prices listed on ebay are the top dollar prices call them nd they usually are willing to take around 500$ off of regulars and 800$ baritones.

Ah, well, that's good to know!