Single Cone vs Tricone

[Deleted]

Advice about choosing the right guitar for you. Just wish I could buy one of each!

[gaucho]

I have one of each and I prefer single cones by a fair bit. YMMV

[gouranga]

What can I say? They are both such great instruments and both have their own moods. We also have our moods and I have experienced that according to our moods and the songs we play and sing when in these moods, the different guitars often help fulfill these moods and express them more.
I, like Gaucho, have both types and use them for different purposes, but the single cone is my daily workhorse, and the tricone is my sit and chill-out, laidback, easygoing, gentle mood guitar.
I would not like to be without both now. I started out on my serious reso journey with a tricone, although had an old National Triolian for years but did not appreciate it at the time sadly.
But it is a very personal thing choosing a guitar as most on this forum will agree with.
I would say. Whatever one you buy will most probably be the foundation for the other.
Best wishes with your choice my friend.

Gouranga

[Deleted]

I started with a cheap single cone, made by Harley Benton, which was awful, and I gave it away. I then went to the other extreme, and bought an NRP tricone (polychrome). It sounded too pure for my liking. Then I had an MM Blues, single cone. I liked the sound when others played it, but not when I did! Humph. Then I got a Continental single cone. I thought it sounded like a cheap banjo, but the guy I sold it to, said it was the best reso he'd ever played, and he'd played original Nationals and NRPs.

I prefer the sound of acoustic guitars, but every now and again I get severe GAS for another reso. One day.

[thebluesbear( al)]

Hi

i echo gouranga s point of view , if possible you should play them both and see which one speaks to you the most

be warned , you my well find your self wanting both .....

al

[hokumjim]

I have been a lifelong reso player, my thoughts are;
Tricones are great for sweet sounding melodic playing, lapsteel, Tampa Red and the like
Single cones are better for Delta stuff that requires "bite" best is Duolians/triolians
Style "0" is best for finger picking, piedmont, ragtime, Bo Carter
But, Hey,that;'s just my opinion and the way I play them

[blueshome]

Red wine or white? It's a matter of taste. I like both but prefer red, same with guitars.

The one I play every day is the triplate not the NRP Style O single cone, and the one I get the most comments about the great tone is the triplate.

If I want to get that authentic "Delta" sound then I reach for the Stella, that's what the vast majority of the old guys played.

[Stevie]

A friend at work had an NRP single come and chopped it in at the LRC for an NRP tri cone. He maintains that in addition to the sweeter tone on the tri cone, it also seems to separate the individual notes in a chord better than the single cone ever did. Me, I couldn't comment because I haven't any experience of a tri cone.

[Deleted]

Another variable is body material... steel vs. brass vs. wood... My main player is my NRP Estralita Deluxe (single cone wood body) and I think it gives me something else I can't find in any all metal guitar... maybe 'organic' is the word I'm searching for... ?

I have played a very nice NRP Style 1, and own an early very 'authentic' sounding Continental tricone, and yes, a good tricone definitely has a very sweet sound... that long, silvery sustain is certainly something!

I have played with the idea of trading 'up' to a NRP tricone, but something always holds me back, I have a deep seated feeling I would horribly regret selling the Estralita... I have compared her to a NRP Bendaway side by side, and she just has a certain something special no other guitar can touch to my ear.

[Jaco]

philh

If there was ever a complete logical answer Gouranga gave it. I couldn't agree more. For me it's the Tricone. I want start a small collection of Reso's and a single cone is defo on that list. Best wishes with whichever you decide to go with.

Best,
Jaco

[Deleted]

Lenny does other vids "the shootouts", where he compares single cones (triolian, collegian, style o etc). Its amazing how different some of them sound, especially the triolian.
TT

[spikeymikey]

Tricone vs single cone apart I I think one part of philh's answer struck me: 'Then I had an MM Blues, single cone. I liked the sound when others played it, but not when I did! Humph.'

My point is that, when we play the guitar (well, non-electric anyway) we are not in the best position to appreciate it's tone! The people in front get that. The player gets second best sound. Try playing a chord and then bring the sound hole up to your ear. It sounds sooooo much richer and fuller. Shame really.

[gaucho]

If you have a tiled room like a bathroom or kitchen. sit playing into a corner to hear it better. Don't know how accurate that is, but it sure sounds sweet! I even saw a reverb pedal the other day that had a mode (out of many modes) called "Tiled corner"!

[Deleted]

Im still unsure why the metal dobro seems to be less popular than biscuits and triplates. Aside from the 12 fret smith & young, no-one is making them I think. Yous probably know I LOVE metal dobros (especially MMs ). Someone will make a mint from making them soon, I reckon.
TT

[waffle]

I couldn't agree more Deuce, I was thinking the same thing just the other day, It's that sweet inbetween sound of a single cone and tricone...a nice place to be.A good solution if your umming and arring about the other two.
Do you prefer the gun sight sound holes or the f holes? personally i like both.