Post by Sac DaveI just put a new Quarterman cone in my recently built resonator. I
used some cheap cone off of e-bay just in case it turned out bad. I
did spend some time fitting in the e-bay cone following the set up
tips from stewmac (http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/
String_action_and_setup/i-4006.html ) so the guitar sounded pretty
nice. The new Quarterman Cone sounds a little better, more of that
nice vibrato sustain. Was a little disappointed in the outer edge of
the cone a bit wavy but seemed to fit alright. Now I think I need to
find a just the right brand of strings I’m using thirteen’s I’m
thinking of trying elixirs, maybe a size up on 1st and 2cnd strings.
Other than that it’s fun to play but need to find a good book on slide
any suggestions?
The book I started with was by Ferguson and Gellis "Country Blues Bottleneck
Guitar", published by Walter Kane, 1976. I don't know if it is still in
print. After that got me started, I mostly picked it up by ear. I can't help
with bluegrass or country, not my style.
The dobro cone is supposed to be pulled flat by the tension screw through
the spider, but it I would get the worst kinks out by hand first, as it
shouldn't need much tension on that screw. - This is why the spider should
be machined or carefully bent level. I did mine by checking the cone and the
ends of the spider legs on a pane of glass, it took hours. I also go to a
lot of trouble to make sure that the cone is properly seated on its shelf -
to prevent rattles and maybe optimise tone.
Tony D
Yeah I think I’ll try to fit the cone again when I do a string change.
It dose seem to fit nice and flat on the ledge no rattling when I tap
around it. As for the spider bridge I did spend some time leveling it
on my table saw table. I used the method from Stew Mac on
Resonator guitar set-up techniques their set up guide really improved
the sound. Might pick up some new strings today and still have to
touch the lacquer around the nut and one ding or two already. I’m
already thinking about another guitar build but for some reason I sure
downloaded a lot of info on Ukuleles. Anyway its fun to play the
resonator I haven’t picked up my electrics since I finished the guitar
I did play the breedlove a little it was giving that look it’s a moody
bastard. Hears a repost of the set up link at SM didn’t come up on my
end
http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/String_action_and_setup/i-4006.html
Thanks for the link. One thing it didn't mention that I have seen somewhere
else is that dobros like a higher break angle over the saddle than
nationals. - Squarenecks with their high saddles are easier to optimise than
roundnecks, where action height limits what you can do with the saddle. If
you want to experiment with this, something you can try is stringing *under*
the tailpiece to increase the break angle. I've also experimented with
different saddle materials. I had a prewar dobro with a very woody tone, and
I brightened it up by replacing the maple saddle with one made of hard
plastic. <g> If I still had a dobro, I would probably now try aluminium.
Tony D