upgrading a cheap reso

[armando]

Hi everyone,

Huge reso fan, longtime lurker, learned a lot here.

I'm looking for advice on upgrading a guitar. I have a 14-fret National Style O copy, rolled f-holes, biscuit bridge, solid peghead reso. I paid around 350. It's branded Harley Benton, but I think it's a standard Korean/Chinese build - Regal, AMG etc. It has a weird scale length, around 24.85? Or is that a 24.75 gone wrong? I already have a Fender Esquire and a Gibson LP and it doesn't match either one. The eBay seller (now disappeared), assured me that he upgraded selected guitars with new cone, bridge, nut etc. Originally it sounded OK, but then I didn't have anything to compare it with. Ten years on, the tuners have rusted, the body is tarnished, and the tone is shot to hell. Last time I buy a guitar unseen. I know, should have bought an MM in the first place.

So one day I took it apart - found a hollow plastic nut, bent outta shape hubcap cone that didn't sit right, thanks to two screws on the wooden strut that stood proud, glued-on biscuit (two mounting screws). Total crap. Having said that, the actual body construction seems sound, the neck is nice and straight, there's nothing loose inside and the neck angle and action were OK. I read somewhere that some makers buy these same bodies and upgrade them.

So here's my thinking : install a National hot rod cone and bridge/saddle, bone nut and new tuners. If I can turn this into a player for 200/250 I'll be happy. The problem is this: my soundwell is one inch deep (as is the existing cone) and the existing biscuit plus bridge is 10/16 high. Stewmac sells a cone that is 1 inch and a biscuit/bridge that is higher than that, also I believe the hot rod cone is even higher at 1.2, I've searched for various cone and bridge dimensions but without much success. Are bridges/saddles deliberately made high so you can sand them down? If I go ahead and buy the NRP combo do you think I can make it fit? I'm happy and capable to take on this project, but should I just throw the whole thing away and buy a real one?

[Matt]

If you want a project, then maybe give it a try (although you may get a response from someone who's actually tried with one of these before). If you want a good sounding guitar, see what you can get for it as a project for someone else and put that plus the £200/250 towards a second hand MM. You can probably get one for £350-400 if you're very, or £400-450 without too much trouble. A second hand republic might be ok or make a more viable project guitar, and will cost a bit less.

[Deleted]

You had just one reso for ten years?
I concur with Matt. Although it is a poor guitar, they can still sell for silly money on ebay.
Sell it and go mad - get a decent one before its all too late.....
TT

[Keith Ambridge]

my 2p's worth, you could do what you plan but for about £100.
Get a continental cone (as used in MM guitars), I got one from Busker Guitars with a biscuit and saddle and postage for (I think) around £40.
Add a set of Gotoh tuners, a bone nut blank and you'll probably have enough for a bottle of wine to make your own slide out of from £100!
1" or 25mm is fine for your soundwell depth by the way!

[pete1951]

I`ve come across several Harley Bentons and they spend a lot on the outside of the guitar ,but not much on the inside. Keith has told you the best way to make it sound better , but I`d go with TT (deuce), and start again unless you enjoy messing with guitars.
This would be a great thing to learn `Resonator Construction` on. Neck angle on these can be far from ideal, you may have to take it off (ask members for help at every turn....there can be some screws in odd places.
PT

[armando]

OK thanks all for the replies, Also now I see there are other posts on the board on this subject. I think I'll go with the Continental cone, bridge/saddle from Busker and see how that works out. Also, I now know how to cut the saddle properly (the original wasn't). Plus the shiny chromey finish has mostly gone, so I might relic/duff up the body a bit. Will let you know how I get on.

[armando]

OK, I am going ahead with this upgrade, more as a project than anything else. Best way to learn is do it yourself (but practise on something cheap). I've ordered a Continental cone, biscuit and bridge from Busker, just over 50 quid, so not much damage there. In the meantime, I've sanded down the top and body to get a matte finish - in some places I've gone through the chrome, into the nickel and exposed the copper - starting to look nice, and at least I know it was plated correctly. I also now know I am allergic to nickel/chrome dust, so if you do the same, wear gloves, sleeves and eye protection, that shit is deadly! Going to keep the coverplate shiny and drill out the handrest welds to make it removable for easier setting-up. In all this my local Harley D shop has been really helpful, those guys know all about metals and chrome! Later, I'll lacquer the whole thing to prevent rust.

Everyone's so quick to diss these guitars, but I figure a metal body is a metal body, and a reso is a metal body with a neck sticking out of it. Most manufacturers seem to source the same bodies from China, so what's the difference as long as you get a good one? Also, I quite like the radiused neck on mine, almost flat, like a 16 maybe? Suits my playing style. And that's what it's all about.

[Deleted]

May 12, 2014 16:03:51 GMT armando said:

Everyone's so quick to diss these guitars, but I figure a metal body is a metal body, and a reso is a metal body with a neck sticking out of it.

James Trussart would agree with that .
TT

[pete1951]

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I have to disagree with Armando, you do not have to have a "neck sticking out" on a resonator!
PT
I tried to put my `sink` here but got this line of odd text.....

[bod]

May 12, 2014 18:15:10 GMT pete1951 said:

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I have to disagree with Armando, you do not have to have a "neck sticking out" on a resonator!
PT
I tried to put my `sink` here but got this line of odd text.....

You can't have too much of a good sink...

[armando]

Well, that adds a whole new meaning to 'everything but the kitchen sink.' Sounds good too, if (as you say) a little clean. Have you thought about a double sink/double neck version, I now you don't like to stick your necks out, but a double lapsink E6/C6 would really clean up! Can always add some dirty water!

Armando