Hot rodding a Resolian?

[paulreso1]

Hi all
....I have a Republic Resolian (one of the original ones in swamp green with 3 on a plate tuners from a classical guitar parts bin). This guitar has the attraction of the comfortable size & weight, but the slightly disappointing feature of the sound quality it produces. I am sure there is a better sound to be had out of it....Has anyone out there had experience of improving these guitars - e.g. through upgrading the Continental cone or getting the guitar set up by an expert? What do you knowledgeable folks recommend for uprating a Resolian?

thanks in advance for your help

Paul

[gaucho]

I have a couple Republics and the posts I've seen where the Continental cones were replaced with Nationals have been luke-warm as to the results. The Continental cones are regarded as being good cones and most people didn't notice a big difference it seems. I like the way my Resolian sounds, but I did see an interesting thread on another board saying that taping up the holes in the soundwell made a big difference. I have not opened mine up but there are apparently 8-10 holes around the soundwell and supposedly taping the upper and lower ones and leaving the bass and treble side holes open made the most improvements. I think the poster used that aluminum tape that AC installers use. Maybe someone has tried this....

[Michael Messer]

The best way to upgrade a Republic Resolian is to get it set up by a resonator specialist. It does not need a new cone, but a new bridge and biscuit is definitely an improvement. The Continental cone is fine, you don't need to replace it. Really, a set up by a really experienced resonator repairer.

Shine On
Michael.

[melp]

Hi Paul,

Don't have a Resolian, but I do have a Busker Canon, sort of similar wood body. I followed Michael's advice of changing the biscuit for a NRP maple and it made quite a large difference.
I did buy a NRP hotrod cone for another guitar and then did not need it. So I put it in the Canon just to see what difference it would make. It did change the tone a little bit, but it was a very small change, nowhere near like the new biscuit.

I did a couple of clips before and after, not exactly the same guitar as yours and not all of the change comes through in the recordings, that said, hope its of some use.
web.me.com/melproudfoot/Mels_Stuff/Conclusion_Busker_Cannon.html

Cheers

Mel

[paulreso1]

Thanks to all for your comments. I will ask an experienced resonator specialist to have a look at setting this guitar up correctly & see how far that takes the sound,

thanks again,
Paul

[gaucho]

Please report back, I'd love to hear what you find out!

[paulreso1]

Gaucho

I will...I'll try to take a leaf out of Melp's book & record before & after sound files

Paul