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Post by kristo on Dec 4, 2014 15:15:56 GMT
Just wondering, which string material gives a National style resonator the most volume and projection? I would guess phosphor bronze, but don't know why.
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Post by Michael Messer on Dec 5, 2014 17:38:25 GMT
Hi Kristo,
I would say phosphor bronze wound onto a round core is the loudest combination.
Shine On Michael
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Post by blueshome on Dec 7, 2014 15:07:22 GMT
Try a few different materials and gauges, I've found it varies from guitar to guitar. Let us know what you find. BTW, why the concern about volume? I would have thought tone was more important.
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Post by kristo on Dec 7, 2014 16:28:59 GMT
Thanks for the replies. I've only tried phosphor bronze and nickel so far. Tonewise/feelwise I preferred the nickel, but felt like I was losing too much volume.
Volume is important as the two acoustic bands I'm in play purely acoustic 95% of the time. One is a NewOrleans Jazz band where there's competition from trombones, saxophones etc. The other is a blues trio with another resonator and cajon. My resonator is set up for standard tuning for rhythm playing.
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Post by Michael Messer on Dec 7, 2014 16:43:49 GMT
Hi Kristo,
From what you have said, maybe you should try nickel on round core as they are slightly louder that hexagonal core strings.
Shine On Michael
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Post by zak71 on Dec 7, 2014 16:53:29 GMT
I prefer the tone of nickel strings to bronze on Nationals, especially when playing with other instruments. The Style O I use for standard tuning just generates too many obnoxious harmonics with bronze strings and doesn't blend well with the other instruments. I get completely different results with nickel strings, the most striking difference is the clarity in a band mix.
If you think your guitar is significantly quieter with nickel strings, have someone play it facing you...I think you'll be surprised. I don't perceive nearly as much of a volume or projection difference from the listener's side as there is from the player's perspective, it's more of an absence of certain frequencies.
The only thing to consider is that nickel strings generally have lower tension at the same gauge as bronze, so you may want to beef up the gauges slightly to compensate for the lack of string tension on the cone.
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Post by zak71 on Dec 7, 2014 16:58:59 GMT
maybe you should try nickel on round core as they are slightly louder that hexagonal core strings. Hmm...I really prefer the feel and tone of round core strings compared to hex core, but I would have to (very begrudgingly) say that I've found hex core strings to generate a little more volume on my guitars. I can't think of any other attribute of hex core strings that makes them perform "better" than round core, either!
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Post by Michael Messer on Dec 7, 2014 18:43:17 GMT
This is a subjective and personal taste thing; I prefer phosphor bronze and have always used them on all of my National, Dobro and other types of resonator guitars. I do manufacture a nickel resonator guitar string, but I did this because I knew of people who prefer them. I think people prefer them because they are more forgiving and because they sound more like worn in strings than new p/bronze ones do.
My choice would always be phosphor bronze on any acoustic / resophonic guitar.
As for the point about which material is loudest; it has to be phosphor bronze, but as to whether round cores or hex cores are loudest, I would have to do some tests to be sure. I still think round cores should be louder, but as I say, I would need to do a proper test, which I am not going to do this week!
I would have thought that a good National-style resonator guitar should easily be loud enough to play in a New Orleans jazz band and a blues trio. In any band, unamplified acoustic or amplified electric, everyone has to play so that everyone can be heard, otherwise there is no point.
Shine On Michael
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Post by zak71 on Dec 7, 2014 19:03:32 GMT
I would have thought that a good National-style resonator guitar should easily be loud enough to play in a New Orleans jazz band Take away nearby reflective surfaces, add brass instruments, and they become "just barely audible"...
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Post by Michael Messer on Dec 7, 2014 19:19:02 GMT
I can't even hear it when the space is there to hear it.
I have played in line-ups of all kinds and as long as everyone is experienced it generally works.
Shine On Michael
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Post by zak71 on Dec 7, 2014 19:27:50 GMT
When I started busking outside with my string band, I noticed that the presence of a washboard immediately undermines a National's attack, which is pretty much all you're left with outdoors. It's audible at close range, but it's nothing like playing in a room, even a large one. Add traffic noise, and it gets really hard to be heard, regardless of string type!
Just to illustrate - no reeds, no brass, but notice how the moment that washboard kicks in, it makes the guitar sound like it lost half its volume.
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Post by Michael Messer on Dec 7, 2014 19:57:00 GMT
The band sounds good and I can pretty much hear everything. I agree that the washboard in the wrong hands overpowers most things, especially outdoors.
It's a vicious circle; plug in an electric guitar and the washboard player will be on his forum complaining about loud guitars!
Shine On Michael
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Post by zak71 on Dec 7, 2014 20:03:38 GMT
The existence of a washboard player's forum is surely one of the signs of the Apocalypse.
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Post by kristo on Dec 7, 2014 20:13:13 GMT
If you think your guitar is significantly quieter with nickel strings, have someone play it facing you...I think you'll be surprised. I don't perceive nearly as much of a volume or projection difference from the listener's side as there is from the player's perspective, it's more of an absence of certain frequencies. That might be worth doing then. It definitely seems quieter to me playing, but I should try this. Thanks.
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Post by kristo on Dec 7, 2014 20:16:31 GMT
I would have thought that a good National-style resonator guitar should easily be loud enough to play in a New Orleans jazz band and a blues trio. In any band, unamplified acoustic or amplified electric, everyone has to play so that everyone can be heard, otherwise there is no point. This is true and generally the case, I would just like the overall band level to be as high as possible, as I'm the 'quietest' member. Thanks for all the comments so far, it's really got me thinking. Tuba Skinny are very much the vibe of the jazz band, which is the one I'm more concerned about. I'm gonna restring with the Newtone National nickels I have and get the wife to bash some chords, see how it sounds out front. She's the cajon player in the blues band (and actually has a washboard en-route for christmas...........I might need an amp ;-) )
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