karlos
Serious MM Forum Member
Posts: 25
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Post by karlos on Feb 12, 2013 12:52:04 GMT
Hi folks,
I wonder what is the exact purpose of the mushroom supports between the neck-stick and the back of the body of metal guitars. One guy told me it's because to make the body stiffer which I am doubt of it - the metal body should be tough enough on its own....
cheers
Karlos
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 12, 2013 13:13:26 GMT
Hi Karlos,
The mushroom posts (pit props) are there for two reasons; they do help to stiffen the guitar, because the metal is easy to push in on the back of a National, and also, more importantly, they act as sound posts, like in a violin, to create the tone of the instrument.
Shine On Michael
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karlos
Serious MM Forum Member
Posts: 25
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Post by karlos on Feb 12, 2013 13:56:01 GMT
Thanks Michael.
Karlos
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Post by daddyslide on Feb 12, 2013 14:05:54 GMT
Yes, how Michael wrote, it is also for the sound and the sustain. They are very important, also the positions and how many mushrooms you have.
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Post by Wyzzy93 on Feb 13, 2013 22:35:34 GMT
I am glad you asked this question. I am fitting a neck stick with 2 mushrooms to a Busker Cannon at the moment. I did wonder exactly how this would help the guitar. The tone does sound different, I haven't glues them in yet, they are just wedged. What is the best position and number of mushrooms do you think? I've got one either side of the sound well.
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 13, 2013 22:40:53 GMT
Hi Wyzzy,
With most single cone National-style guitars, two posts is enough. One approximately under the 19th fret and one under the tailpiece, but not too near the edge. That should do it.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by Wyzzy93 on Feb 13, 2013 22:47:52 GMT
Thanks for the info Michael, Robin suggested fitting the neck stick with the two posts either side of the sound well under the neck side and tail side of the well itself. I wonder if it is worth putting another under the 19 fret. the neck stick does not extend this far as Robin said it is not necessary as long as it contacts both sides of the sound well. Or I could extend the stick and drop the middle post out. I cannot remember how they are configured in the Busker Delta i have.
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 14, 2013 7:57:30 GMT
Hi Wyzzy,
Two mushroom posts is quite enough. The only way to know what sounds best is by trial & error.
The problem with fitting a neck stick into that guitar is that the neck is not fitted correctly for a neck stick type of assembly. It is fitted like a regular acoustic. In theory, the neck stick and posts should help to bring out some more tone, but because of the neck joint I am not really sure what it will achieve. You might just get away with some mushroom posts to help with the tone.
Shine On Michael
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karlos
Serious MM Forum Member
Posts: 25
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Post by karlos on Feb 16, 2013 8:14:17 GMT
Michael,
one additional question. What is the recommended distance between mushrooms in tricone - there are three of them.
cheers
Karlos
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Post by oscar on Feb 20, 2013 18:53:35 GMT
hi karlos, I added a mushroom-like support to the soundwell of myMinolian (same type as a Busker Cannon) because I had to repair the soundwell. It did not change the sound at all. But replacing the original rosewood bridge insert by a piece of maple considerably improved the sound!
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Post by Wyzzy93 on Feb 20, 2013 20:55:49 GMT
I added 2 mushrooms to my Cannon and it does seem to have improved the tone. I will be replacing the bridge insert on your recommendation too.
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Post by oscar on Feb 20, 2013 21:09:10 GMT
The top of the Minolian is good, thick enough plywood. But the back is very thin like on normal acoustic guitar. So there is not much support to the support. To compensate that I added two braces. This was done not in search for a better sound but to prevent the top from sinking in. This seems to work.
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Post by Wyzzy93 on Feb 20, 2013 21:40:10 GMT
So where exactly did you fit the braces and the post? Towards the neck end I guess?
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Post by oscar on Feb 21, 2013 9:57:38 GMT
I put one brace directly under the soundwell at its "highest" point (nearest point to the neck). the other one about the center of the soundwell (for additional supports in the future in case the top will still tend to sink in). the support i made rests on the new brace. I forgot to take pictures so I can only give this description.
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Post by Wyzzy93 on Feb 21, 2013 19:17:43 GMT
I see, I put a stick across the soundwell and a post at each end directly on to the back of the guitar, I tried not to get too much pressure on there. I understand your point with the new brace though, good idea.
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