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Post by olebanjoguy on Oct 28, 2021 0:23:08 GMT
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Post by olebanjoguy on Oct 28, 2021 0:27:38 GMT
Wanted to ask is it better to leave enamel as is or repaint it? Also one cone was hide glued to hold together the top of cone, and it plays ok but should l replace it? I also would like to get a bottleneck neck. Or do l just use this shaved square neck and trick it out more with a reset? I would really like to hear your opinions thanks.
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Post by catsmiler on Oct 28, 2021 5:36:22 GMT
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sceyral
Serious MM Forum Member
Posts: 24
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Post by sceyral on Oct 28, 2021 6:02:20 GMT
"Wanted to ask is it better to leave enamel as is or repaint it? Also one cone was hide glued to hold together the top of cone, and it plays ok but should l replace it? I also would like to get a bottleneck neck. Or do l just use this shaved square neck and trick it out more with a reset? I would really like to hear your opinions thanks."
My (personal and humble) opinion is : you have a real rare bird; a '97 style Tricone is not an ordinary pawn shop wall hanger! History is watching you, this is not a $100 Harmony or Sears&Roebuck toy for kids...
The least you'll touch it, the better. No buzz, good sound ? Don't touch the cones! Paint is partly erased? This guitar is 90 yrs old, what did you expect ? Imagine a Sunday morning painter retouching a Renoir (found in a garage sale!)... Want an real expert opinion ? Contact François Charle (17 galerie Vero-Dodat 75001 Paris, France tel : 33 (1) 42333893)
Don't do anything irreversible on that instrument, please. If you want a round neck, have one built by a real luthier: maybe M.Messer could do that for you; if not, if you're in Europe (EU or UK) , contact Mike Lewis (FINE RESOPHONICS 3 voie Coypel 94400 Vitry sur Seine France Phone: 33 (1) 46 77 86 17). He knows pretty much about Tricones. He will build a perfect round neck for your baby, for a reasonable price. A 1k€ investment in a new neck is nothing, on a (maybe) 5 to 10k€ instrument.
If someday, you want to go back to the original instrument, it will be easy... But, it's YOUR guitar, not mine: those who give advices don't pay.
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Oct 28, 2021 8:36:22 GMT
Messrs. Messer and Makin where are you?
Until you have heard these experts and historians opinions please do not do anything to the guitar.
...particularly the paint work! DO NOT TOUCH IT!
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Post by Michael Messer on Oct 28, 2021 9:50:46 GMT
Hello olebanjoguy
This will take more than one post to answer all your questions.
First of all I would like to see more photos of your guitar and to know the serial number. These are rare instruments and each one that turns up is another piece of the jigsaw puzzle completed.
It would be a crime to put any paint on the body of that guitar and with careful polishing it will look beautiful.
The cones - well it is hard to tell from your photos, but I think they look saveable. They could do with being cleaned, but I would only do that if you have done this type of thing before. If not, then it should be done by an expert. The hide glue, although it should not be there, is probably adding strength to a damaged cone, so again that should not be touched until it is in the hands of an expert.
I think the cones may have been moved around because that dent usually appears on the back bass cone, not the front one. It comes from years of playing in high bass A and G tunings. AC#EAC#E / GBDGBD.
If you want to play it as a round neck guitar you should think very carefully about what should be done. A shaved square neck will never be a very playable neck, they are okay, but the heel is the wrong shape and so is the rest of it. Having a new neck made is a good option, but if it were mine I would leave it alone. It was made as a square neck Hawaiian guitar, it is an extremely rare piece and it should remain as it was intended (IMHO).
So, please can you give us more information before we can really advise you.
If you are considering having it worked on by an expert resophonic guitar luthier, then as Serge has said, Mike Lewis in Paris would be the person to talk to before anyone else. Mike is semi-retired these days and is only taking on work that he really wants to do.
My advice is to put the coverplate back on, put the guitar in its case and wait until you have spoken with Mike about it.
Catsmiler - no, this is a different guitar.
I hope we have been able to offer you some good advice and that you will take great care of that instrument.
Shine On Michael
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Post by Michael Messer on Oct 28, 2021 10:08:45 GMT
Serge, François Charle sold his shop and is no longer involved with selling guitars.
Shine On Michael
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Post by catsmiler on Oct 28, 2021 10:13:31 GMT
Hi Michael. i know the NoTom guitar is different.
It was my “tactful” way of saying…take the guitar to Mike Lewis and, if you want a round neck, get one made by him. The NoTom description also makes clear the rarity of this guitar. I had a quick go on the NoTom guitar and it was very nice. Mike Lewis had made an excellent repro neck which could be interchanged with the original square neck.
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Post by Michael Messer on Oct 28, 2021 10:39:58 GMT
Hi Michael. i know the NoTom guitar is different. It was my “tactful” way of saying…take the guitar to Mike Lewis and, if you want a round neck, get one made by him. The NoTom description also makes clear the rarity of this guitar. I had a quick go on the NoTom guitar and it was very nice. Mike Lewis had made an excellent repro neck which could be interchanged with the original square neck. Hi Mark, My apologies. I misread your comment and looking again I completely understand what you were doing. Yes, the Mike Lewis restoration and replacement neck on that guitar is a really beautiful piece of work. Mike is the only person I would recommend to do that job. Shine On Michael
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Post by olebanjoguy on Oct 28, 2021 11:18:16 GMT
thanks everyone for the great advice. l will post more photos and info in tne morn , its 4 am on Vancouver lsland. l want to preserve it and will be patient. l am a bottle neck player l have a blues 14 . l would like to use it for slack key. perhaps it should be left as is and me buy a round neck.it sounds good just needs set up
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Post by olebanjoguy on Oct 28, 2021 12:35:52 GMT
thanks everyone for the great advice. l will post more photos and info in tne morn , its 4 am on Vancouver lsland. l want to preserve it and will be patient. l am a bottle neck player l have a blues 14 . l would like to use it for slack key. perhaps it should be left as is and me buy a round neck.it sounds good just needs set up serial number is C 5786
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Post by Michael Messer on Oct 28, 2021 12:38:51 GMT
thanks everyone for the great advice. l will post more photos and info in tne morn , its 4 am on Vancouver lsland. l want to preserve it and will be patient. l am a bottle neck player l have a blues 14 . l would like to use it for slack key. perhaps it should be left as is and me buy a round neck.it sounds good just needs set up My pleasure and our pleasure that we have been able to offer you some advice. As a resident of Vancouver Island your nearest and by far the best person on your side of the pond to do any work on your guitar is Marc Schoenberger in California. Shine On Michael
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Post by Michael Messer on Oct 28, 2021 12:41:42 GMT
....Further to my previous post, I had not seen the photos until now.
Okay, so as the neck has already been sort of converted to a round neck, it might be wise to get the job finished properly.
Shine On Michael
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Post by olebanjoguy on Oct 28, 2021 12:52:17 GMT
By finished do you mean to have a new neck or complete the conversion? I will contact Mr. Schoenburger thanks. aanndd I spoke to him and got some more info .so far no one has been able to answer my enails but NRP Obispo, they have been very helpful and offered to put a neck on it. there were different fret boards used on these . and seems fortunate this one is mo simple . this is ready to rip as a lap style and bottle necker but i am craving to put a roundneck. this neck is 11 and a half frets to body which is different than necks from NRP so not sure how the intonation works. the tri plate has a mellower sound than my blues 14 which is louder and a bit raunchier. anyway, im lovin it,
Ive asked NRP about a new neck. the 1940 model had the neck simplified as to the connection and look of the neck. apparently it is ebony not ebnonite and doesnt have the complicated joint as the previous years . being a 11 and a half fret to body seems to complicate things. the neck on it needs a reset and could be modded or get a new neck. I will probably end up selling it as l prefer my blues 14 as its louder and brassier.
Update, the neck on the chicago made style 97s were style O necks. I think the fret board is ebony. Marc can make a neck to match. Im happy.
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Post by olebanjoguy on Oct 31, 2021 17:11:42 GMT
I guess i have three options, reshape this neck and leave it on with a reset setup, have national do it but the neck is not bnuilt for 11 and a half fret scale i understand, or dont understand if that is a problem, or have Marc S build one. Will anyone make a recommendation please?
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