no name squareneck - any way to id the spider and cone?

[Deleted]

Hi All, just bought my first squareneck resonator guitar (yes!)  My other two resonators are a National Estralita Deluxe and Tricone Style 1, but I always wanted a dobro.  I bought it without hearing it based on the many posts that suggest the major determinants of sound quality are the cone, bridge, saddle, nut and maybe the tailpiece (coverplate too, or is that just for looks?).  Brought the existing (very old) strings up to tune, and it doesn't sound half bad.  My next step will be to remove the cover plate (showing signs of corrosion) and inspect the cone and bridge. So here's my question: Is there a way to determine how good (or bad) the cone and spider are, before I decide to upgrade to a a Quarterman,  Beard or Smith and Young set?  Second question:  The cover plate, which is a fan design, has a hole in the hand rest/saddle cover part. The other design types (Lyre, Chicken feet) don't seem to.  What's that for?   Thanks, and I'm REALLY excited!

[gaucho]

The hole in the hand rest is to access the tension screw. Conventional wisdom is to tighten it down until it just makes contact and the go 1/4 t0 1/2 turn more.

[pete1951]

Best way to test the cone is a new set of strings and your ears.
PT
US made cones usually have a US thread, Far Eastern have a metric one (this is for the screw goucho was talking about)

[amccj7]

Also Check if you have #14 Stamped on your spider.
This is the one you want.

Many players in the Dobro camp change their cones,
on regular intervals depending on playing time.

Metric center screw indicates Euro made cone,
Imperial would indicate US made cone.

Some cones have brass center nut which would indicate US made.

[Deleted]

Thanks, all. I just ordered a new Quarterman cone and #14 bridge, bone nut(existing one was plastic), and I sprung for an Allen RS2 tailpiece. I have an extra set of NRP tuners which I will install and I've ordered a set of D'Addario 15s. The saddles from the current bridge look like ebony topped maple and in good shape so I'll use them. Guitar looks to be constructed of mahogany plywood. I can see the wood under the old nut and it looks like it might be mahogany, but the guitar is very light.

Anyway, I should be able to report back in a week or so after all my parts have been installed. Thanks again for the help.

[Deleted]

Received the cone, bridge, nut and tailpiece on Thursday and installed them all that night.  Sounds really good. I ended up sanding the bass side of the saddle a little too much making it loose in the bridge, so I shimmed it by wrapping it with with a double sheet of aluminum foil.  Also installed a set of D'Addario 15s.  Looking forward to listening to some really good dobros so see how mine stacks up, but so far I am very happy and now starting to learn