Rattler..

[monton]

My new Reso has developed a bit of a rattle in the cone area, usually only when I'm fretting around the 5-7 range. It's fine when playing open strings. I have heard that becoming a bit of an expert on fixing under the hood can be useful in the resonator world - has anyone got any tips on sorting out a vibration/rattle? I was going to just open her up, but thought maybe I should talk to those with knowledge first!

Thanks

[pete1951]

When ever taking a Reso apart remember not to put stress on one side of the cone , so remove the strings in pairs, 1st and 6th followed by 5th and 2nd. 3rd and 4th. Next put a small ‘Sharpie’ mark on the cone/body junction and the biscuit/cone position. Cones ‘bed in’ to any distortion in the well and usually it’s best to put them back in their original position. Cones are very delicate, and much care in needed when handling .
What make/type of resonator do you have?
Pete

Of coarse it may not be the cones at all! Check loose strap buttons, m/head buttons and cover plate screws before you start lifting the hood.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Monton,

My questions, before offering any advice, are to ask what make and type of guitar you have. Tricone, single cone biscuit, spider Dobro-style. What tuning you are using and what gauge strings are on it?

The less you take off the coverplate, the better. These things like to settle and bed into how you play.

Shine On
Michael

[purpleorange]

If you are not getting and rattles when playing the open strings it is worth checking to make sure there is no fret buzz before doing anything else.

Strange noises coming from your cone can be caused by a buzzing fret. It can be difficult to see the buzzing fret but you can put some sort of shim over the frets and play each of the notes to see if it still rattles.

Fret buzz can be fixed with a truss rod adjustment or some super glue and baking soda in the offending nut slot depending on what is causing the issue, it would be best to take further advice before trying either of those options.

[Stevie]

Michael is spot on by querying the guitar in question because otherwise we end up flailing around chasing rainbows. If it only affects a couple of frets I suspect a resonance issue. Since you seem to feel the noise comes from the vicinity of the cover plate, and assuming it's not "understrung" on the tail piece in a crude attempt to compensate for other faults, it's worth investigating whether the ball ends of the outer strings are vibrating against the cover plate. Beyond that I defer to the acknowledged experts.

e&oe ...

[lonelyjelly]

I think Monton posted recently about string action and that the guitar in question is a single cone, strung possibly with medium gauge (56-13) strings with an action of about 3mm at the 12th fret. In terms of rattle, I'm definitely not the person to give advice but I think that's the instrument and set up Monton has, so jump in Michael, Pete, TT etc with suggestions and possible remedies. Hopefully it's a simple tweak to getting it sounding how you want it 🙂

Lew

[lonelyjelly]

michaelmesser.proboards.com/thread/12557/raising-action-on-resonator

Pictures of said guitar are within the thread 🕺🏻

[Pickers Ditch]

Another question...

Are all six strings causing the rattling around the 5th to 7th fret or only specific strings and/or specific notes?

I ask because sometimes a strings winding can loosen and cause problems, particularly if they are worn or have become twisted on installation.

My first check would be to change the strings, ONE AT A TIME, before doing anything else.

[monton]

Hi all, thanks again for your thoughtful replies - a friendly bunch!

A few more details which I hope cover all your questions; LJ is exactly right, I posted recently about my new resonator but to recap a few details;

- unknown brand, assumed to be eastern made
- heavy brass bodied guitar, very solid and seems well made
- single cone
- Paul beard cone (so I was told - haven't opened to confirm!)
- tuners seem solid and not loose
- I have tightened the cone plate screws
- I think it's strung with 13s
- it was tuned to open E when I got it. I down tuned to open D, then tuned back to open E, which I think is when the problem started.
- the rattle/vibration seems definitely to be coming from the cone area, and is now happening when I strum an open E
- the rattle sounds almost a bit 'papery', if that makes sense



Here's a picture again, not sure if that tells anyone anything!

I haven't restrung yet, so maybe that would be worth trying, two at a time as advised.

Best regards and hope you all have a great weekend

M

[pete1951]

There’s a pic on another thread of the back, my guess is it’s from Shanghai, which can be good .
Is the body parallel or is the bottom slightly thicker than the neck end?
Pete

PS: removing 2strings at a time was advice for total removal, restringing you do 1 at a time.

[thebluesbear( al)]

Hi Monton
first up welcome to the forum , my ideas are similar to others here , a photo of the action would help and anywhere you are troubled about ...

If the problem is that it was stored in open E then id ask what strings were on it ? id change them , one at a time for sure , if you are in the UK ,id put some MM newtones on it ....either way good luck , these are just ideas that spring to mind

al

[Michael Messer]

It doesn't sound too serious and without photos of the headstock and back it is still a bit of an unknown.

This is all guess work because the guitar is not in mine, or anyone else's hands on this forum.

My advice is to lay the guitar on its back, loosen all the strings so they are no longer putting any pressure on the cone, then using the biscuit to grip either side of the handrest, waggle the cone around in circular motions. This should hopefully re-seat it in a comfortable position. then tune it up to pitch. I would definitely recommend a new set of strings. Buying a used guitar and changing the strings is something that should always be done.

If that doesn't work we need to see some other photos that show setup and break angle from bridge to tailpiece.

Shine On
Michael

[monton]

I've attached a few more photos, I'm very interested in opinions on what it is, plus hopefully this might help in diagnosis. It's 8cm wide at the base of the body and also at the neck end of the body.

That said, sounds like a sensible starting point would be new strings and giving the biscuit a wiggle. With that in mind, what would be the best to buy do you think? Part of me wants a bit more distance between frets and strings so I'm guessing thicker would help - but I could be looking at this completely the wrong way. Hopefully I can buy through here as it would be good to support the forum. 

Edit - just read the following from LJ on my last post, so I'll have a go with these - 'The Newtone MM phosphor bronze set 56-15 is a very popular option too 🙂'



Cheers, Monton

Attachments:

[Michael Messer]

Your guitar is a generic Shanghai-built instrument. Shanghai is the best place in the far east for this type of thing and yours looks fine. It looks like it has a nato neck and a nickel-plated brass body. The set up looks weird, or it may just be the photo, but it looks like the strings are higher at the bridge than they are at the 12th fret?

Whatever it needs, with some TLC and in the right hands your guitar could sound great.

Shine On
Michael

[Pickers Ditch]

I was just thinking that about the string height , too.

Can you get a pic of the bridge through the side of the hand rest, Monton?