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Post by Bottleneck John on Feb 8, 2005 20:35:17 GMT
Hi there!! I'm thinking of buying another resonator guitar, I believe it's from the 30's.. No numbers or name on it.. 12 fret neck.. Looks like a KAY body..!? But the resonator is weird, it looks like a bisquit cone, but upside-down.. The "bisquit" is about 120 mm high..!! What is this..?! It sounds GREAT however and it has the "mojo" that comes with the years.. Suggestions..?! I think I'd like to know what it is before I buy it..!! ;D  |
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Post by Russ Young on Feb 8, 2005 21:16:19 GMT
John -- That's a Shireson resonator system in a Kay body. The Shireson Bros. were successful instrument builders in Los Angeles in the 1930s, but erred badly in using this cone/biscuit setup. National successfully sued them for patent infringement, and that was the end of the Shireson's business. (I've read that National was angry enough with Kay about their involvement that they gave future wood-body work to Harmony instead.)
I had a similar guitar -- with lightning-bolt shaped soundholes -- for a while. I'll post some pictures of that guitar -- and the cone/biscuit -- later today.
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Post by Bottleneck John on Feb 8, 2005 21:22:52 GMT
Thanks Russ!!
Look forward to see the photos!!
It sounds SOOO sweet, they really made their reso-system work well..!!
Later!
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Post by Russ Young on Feb 9, 2005 3:12:39 GMT
My Kay/Schireson, which I would describe as sounding like a cross between a biscuit and spider bridge:  The Schireson cone/biscuit/bridge; the Schiresons received a patent for this design in 1933, but somehow lost the suit to National in 1937:  By the way, the correct spelling is "Schireson." The Schireson Bros. -- Nathan and Jacob -- also built hollow-neck Hawaiian guitars under the names Mai Kai and Lyric, and may have built some Kona guitars along with Weissenborn. |
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 9, 2005 18:30:46 GMT
That is a great looking guitar John. Thanks Russ for picking up on that one. The more we all contribute, the better the forum will get.
Schireson cones are pretty strange & some of them do sound pretty good. It sounds like both of you have found nice ones! Cool.
Keep in touch,
Shine On,
Michael.
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Post by Bottleneck John on Feb 9, 2005 20:39:13 GMT
Absolutely great, Russ!! That's the one...  VERY strange cone indeed, but as I said, the sound it produces really blew me away!! Sweeeeet!!! ;D I'll let you guys know if I bought it... |
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Post by Russ Young on Feb 10, 2005 3:29:31 GMT
Here's the patent for the Schireson cone/biscuit/bridge. As far as I can tell, it was granted, but National took them to court claiming it was an infringement on the single-cone patent that they got in 1931. (Note the "H" shaped soundholes -- "Hollywood" was one of the brands made by Schireson.)  |
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Post by Bottleneck John on Feb 14, 2005 19:58:13 GMT
Russ!!! ;D You are the MAN!!! Thanks for these great pics and all info!! I'm sure more folks than me are grateful for your sharing of knowledge!!! John |
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