Aligning biscuit

[beaverHausen]

Is there a method to make sure that biscuit is aligned dead centre of the cover plate hole i.e. equal space all round?

[snakehips]

Hi there !

If the geometry of the guitar is all correct AND the geometry of the resonator cone and the biscuitar/saddle on top is correct, then the biscuit SHOULD be dead centre of the coverplate.
There will be a liitle play in the well to move the cone around that you could use to your advantage to get the intonation as good as possible.
Now there lies the more important issue - put the saddle where it needs to go for good intonation, not where it looks good !
If you get it where the intonation is good but the biscuit touches the side of the coverplate centre hole, then that is no good as the contact will rob sustain, volume and tone.

[mikenewport]

The only thing that I might add to what snakehips has said is that if it's a new biscuit and cone, make sure that the outer strings slots are aligned with the edge of the biscuit when viewed from above. On mine this looks like they're fractionally inside where the bevel starts on the biscuit. If they are not this will effectively push the biscuit out of alignment when fitted with strings. Mike

[beaverHausen]

Hi and thanks for the information, much appreciated.

The intonation was out a little on the G B E side, I've slackened all the strings and adjusted the bridge so it's now at 90° to all the strings - it was at a slight angle and I've also tried to centralise the biscuit by sight.

Strings are parallel with the fretboard and it sounds better ☺

I think all the other rattles and buzzes are down to my inadequacy at playing with a slide.

[mikenewport]

Hi beaverHausen, if you think about the bridges on an acoustic or electric guitar you will see that they are at a slight angle. 90degrees may not be the correct position for intonation. As snakehips says above set your intonation (with a tuner) at the optimum position regardless of what it looks like. By the way it is difficult on a resonator to get perfect intonation, some compromise is needed. Myself I try and make sure that 1st and 5th strings are accurately compensated and the rest have to do.

The stings should look relatively equal from the edge of the fretboard all the way up the neck. If the string tension pulls it everything off centre then the tailpiece may need resiting. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Mike

[Deleted]

The treble strings should usually be slightly forward of the bass strings at the bridge in order to intonate. Since they're higher frequencies, the string needs to be shorter. A lot of bridges compensate for the G string (3rd string standard tuning), which needs to be pulled back slightly of the others, but I don't know if this is possible with a biscuit bridge.

Intonation is sort of relative on this kind of guitar, since you can't adjust each string individually. It's not a bother to me, since my ear is quite "accommodating." Someone with perfect pitch would probably be driven nuts with my guitar...

[beaverHausen]

OK so, I noticed that my E and A strings were slightly sharp and my B and E strings slightly flat when playing the 12th fret harmonic and then fretting at the 12th. The two middle strings seemed spot on.

So I detuned, and with the guitar sat on my lap, headstock to the left, rotated the biscuit ever so slightly anti - clockwise.

I am at present unable to check it properly as I left my tuner turned on and the battery has died... DOH!

It sounds alright but am I correct in making these adjustments?

Bryn

[oldpicker]

Try a Google search for 'guitar tuner'. There's quite a few out there.

[beaverHausen]

I can tune by ear once I get an A or D but I need my tuner to check the harmonics.

It all sounds right, I'm just wanting it to be the best I can get it.