Vintage National cone questions

[gaucho]

I have a '31 Style 0 I'm working on and I have some cone questions. The original (see photos) was a bit crushed down but I've worked it back into pretty good shape. It sounded OK when re-installed, but the highs were a bit banjo-like (which I hear was some what characteristic of Style 0's?), punchy with little sustain. The lows were pretty nice with a bit of that growl that sounds so good. Right now I have a Hot Rod in it with a new biscuit as well. It sounds really good with crisp highs and good lows but not as much of the growl. Ideally, I'd love to have the original cone and biscuit in there and have a nice mix of the 2 cones sound.
Does this cone look usable to you guys? My main concern is the wavy and ragged cone edge. It also needs a new bridge. Can I work the old bridge out of the biscuit and replace it. Anyone know where to buy a replacement? Any tips on getting the 3 little nails (that hold the biscuit on) out with minimal cone damage. Thanks in advance and sorry for such a long winded post!

[Michael Messer]

Hi Gaucho,

As you know I am all for saving old cones. Yours does look like it may have to be replaced - the edge folded rim has gone and that will seriously affect the tone of the guitar. I am clutching at straws here, but you could try one more thing before saying goodbye to that cone, but you will need to leave it in for a week to know if it has worked. Put a gasket of felt around the soundwell and sit the cone on that, string it up and see how it sounds.

You can certainly fit that biscuit on to a Hot Rod cone and that will probably be the best thing to do. The bridge saddle should come out if you get under it with a lever, a small screwdriver or something similar. To remove the pins - just pull them out like teeth! They should come out quite easily.

Your 1931 Style 0 should not have any 'banjo' type qualities to its sound, it should ring loud and clear with great harmonics, but you cannot really test the sound of a National until you have re-fitted the coverplate. They never sound as good without the coverplate. And.....they need time to bed in, so I would do my tests over a few days to allow everything to bed in.

With your cone in my hands I 'might' be able to get it back into shape, but explaining it in type is not easy. I think you will probably have to go with the Hot Rod cone. Once it has settled in you will be very happy with it.

I hope that makes sense and is helpful...

Shine On
Michael