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Post by gaucho on Feb 19, 2011 22:37:03 GMT
I have a Republic tricone and though it's a great guitar, I want to tinker with it a bit to attempt to get better high end out of it. The lows sound nice and gritty, but I feel like the highs are a bit muffled. Anyone modified their tricone (the Republic and the Buskers are similar)? I hear that replacing the Continental cones with some National Hot Rods doesn't really make a big difference as the Continentals are decent cones. Mine appears to have an ebony capped saddle and I've heard replacing that saddle with an uncapped Maple one is a pretty effective upgrade. The nut is bone and looks good and I've tried a variety (but I'm open to suggestions) of strings in nickel and phosphor bronze. Anyone do any mods that they've been impressed with?
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Post by honeyboy on Feb 19, 2011 23:05:07 GMT
I don't have a tricone, but the biggest single improvement I made to the sound of my metal bodied single cone reso was to move from playing with a glass bottleneck to a heavy stainless steel slide, bored out from a solid rod of stainless steel. I bought it from here It is called an Elmore Slide, and it gives far nicer sound on metal bodied instruments to my ears (especially in the upper register). Having said all that, my glass slides *still* sound far better on a non reso, wooden bodied acoustic.. |
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Post by kiwi on Feb 20, 2011 8:53:38 GMT
I have modded nearly every reso I had, Johnson, Regal, Epi and Amistar, mushroom mods, rebuild inside, cone replacements, saddles, nuts you name it but the Republic, all I have done to get better trebles is put a 16 on the top e. That sorted it.
Apart from a slight drop away on the fret board after the 13th fret, not much to complain about, and that doesn't worry me, I do little fretting up there.
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 23, 2011 0:21:41 GMT
Hi Gaucho,
While replacing various parts can improve a Republic Triplate, the first thing to do is get a good set-up done. The only part I would replace to begin with would be the bridge saddle. Your guitar probably has a rosewood capped bridge, it would be better with a plain maple one.
Triplates should be set-up with as little break angle as possible, but still keeping the downward pressure on the bridge.
There are many little 'tweaks' that can and do improve those guitars, but you really need to see an experienced National repairer to get it all working correctly.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Ian McWee on Feb 23, 2011 8:46:30 GMT
Hi All!
Just a quick aside to the topic here ~ the fantastic steel & brass 'Elmore' Slides that Honeyboy has mentioned above will unfortunately be going out of production in the very near future. Jim at 'Guitar Spot' is ordering his last batch this week, so if you wish to try one out or add to ones you already have.....drop Jim a line from Honeyboy's link
Slide On!
Ian.
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Post by percythewonderant on Feb 23, 2011 9:09:06 GMT
That is bad news for sliders everywhere,
I have one of Jim's tubular steel masterpieces and wouldn't be without it.
Get one while you can folks!
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 23, 2011 10:10:33 GMT
The 'Elmore' slides are beautifully made.
I have many slides that can are no longer available. If it's a goody, get one while you can!
Shine On
Michael.
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Post by Steverb on Feb 23, 2011 12:28:27 GMT
Ian, are the Elmore slides the same steel and brass slides that you were flogging at last year's Slidefest (in which case I already have one) or something different?
Steve
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 23, 2011 20:25:51 GMT
Hi Steverb,
I don't think Ian has seen your message.
Yes, the 'Elmore' slides are what Ian was selling at the Slide Fest.
They are beautifully made and as I was saying somewhere else on the forum earlier today; when a good slide turns up you should buy it, because next time you want one it won't be available.
I would have bought one from James, but they were too small for my ring finger. They are really designed for the little finger....pinky.
Shine On
Michael.
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Post by Steverb on Feb 24, 2011 8:35:12 GMT
Thanks Michael. Yes, they are certainly a lovely piece of kit. Glad I got hold of one whilst they were still around.
Re Honeyboy's post about a good steel slide improving his sound when playing slide on a reso - I don't think it's necessarily as clear cut as that. In my case I find that the steel Elmore slide sounds fantastic on my wooden John Alderson tricone, as the steel adds bite to complement the warmth of the wood. But I really don't like it with my steel bodied Busker Delta - it's too biting on an already bright sounding instrument, I much prefer my Mateus Rose glass slide with the metal body. I guess it's horses for courses and each to their own.
Steve
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 24, 2011 13:12:57 GMT
I have heard through the grapevine that The Guitar Spot only has a few steel 'Elmore' slides left.
(I have no connection to the Guitar Spot, I am just keeping the forum informed)
Shine On
Michael.
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Post by leeophonic on Feb 28, 2011 16:00:07 GMT
I got one of these slides in the post today but should have paid more attention to Michaels post as it is too tight on my little finger (hands like a shovel!).
It is nice but will have to go as I have too many unused slides as is.
Please see the Tin can section if you want it.
Regards Lee.
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Post by gaucho on Mar 7, 2011 2:23:34 GMT
This is a follow up to my post . Just finished installing the Hot Rod cones and doing the set up and WOW, it's great! I always felt the highs on my tricone were muffled and now they are bright and clear. The lows aren't quite the same growl yet, but they sound really good, just different. And this is all after playing it for 10 minutes after the swap. Everything I've read says they "play in" and really start to sound great after a few weeks of playing. I kept the same strings as a "constant". Played it with the stock ebony capped bridge insert and I could hear a difference immediately. Then I took it all apart again and shaped a new bridge out of hard rock maple. That seemed to take it up another notch! The cones dropped right in with no mods necessary. Just changing the cones on my Republic would take only 20 mins or so. Shaping the new bridge insert was several hours of shaping, cutting, sanding. and testing. I had to put it all together and take it apart 2 more times to get the bridge insert and action right. All in all it was totally worth it. Not 100% sure if the bridge insert change was necessary. My Republic had a decent maple with an ebony cap insert already. On a side note, I've never had my Republic tricone (or Resolian single cone) opened up before. I was impressed at how well everything was finished and how clean it was in there! Now, can I resist the temptation to Hot Rod my Resolian single cone? I like the sound of that guitar, but I'm a tinkerer. It's a curse....  |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 7, 2011 9:38:17 GMT
Hi Gaucho,
That is good news!
The differences between Continental 6 inch Tricone cones and NRP 6 inch Tricone cones is far greater than the differences with 9.5 inch single cones. The 9.5 inch cones are almost identical to NRP cones, whereas the 6 inch Continental cones are made with heavier gauge metal than NRPs. They are made with the same gauge metal as 9.5 inch cones, original Nationals and NRP use lighter gauge.
The reason you are not noticing such a difference with your new hard rock maple bridge saddle is because you have used a wood that is too hard and therefore similar to the rosewood capped original bridge saddle. Tricone bridge saddles should be made with softer maple. Original Nationals used boxwood bridge saddles. The difference is quite dramatic.
Having said that about 6 inch cones; with a good set-up and bridge saddle made with the right material, I am often surprised by how good Continental 6 inch cones can sound.
There is always a compromise. Your guitar has less bass growl now because of the lighter cones. This is because your Continental cones were making up for the slightly thinner gauge sound-well (or pan) in those guitars. It really is a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other, which is why I tend to recommend a good set-up and bridge saddle over replacing the cones.
The main thing in all this is that you are happy with your guitar and that with its new cones and set-up, it is now 'your' guitar and not just a stock Republic Tricone.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Tymus on Mar 7, 2011 11:48:44 GMT
Hi Michael,
I’m intrigued with your above comment…. “Original Nationals used boxwood bridge saddles. The difference is quite dramatic”.
Please could you elaborate on the dramatic difference, how the tones of boxwood and maple compare to each other? As I have a few small lumps of boxwood, I’m now wondering if my Deco would benefit from a new boxwood saddle. Should the saddle be quarter cut as bridges are on other instruments?
Cheers, Tymus.
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