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Post by resotonic on Jul 3, 2015 15:13:50 GMT
I've got an '08 Donmo Tricone that has had some considerable reworking but still ends up with a very muted sounding high E-string when played with a slide.
I've had the bridge tweaked with a custom-made bone saddle from Chris Allsop, which made a great difference in volume, but I'm still getting a poor sound out of the one string.
Any suggestions? I've heard maybe go to a heavier gauge for 'E' and 'B' strings.
I currently use MM .016.
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Post by Michael Messer on Jul 3, 2015 16:17:33 GMT
Hi Resotonic,
From what you have said, I would look at these things .....
1 - The problem could be in the bridge slot of the E string. It could be too tight, the wrong shape, or the wrong material. This can choke a string, even though it all looks right.
2 - or...the guitar needs a new cone.
3 - or....the guitar needs to be setup by an expert resonator luthier.
4 - or ....the guitar will never sing because it has a deadness somewhere in its construction.
When you say "it has had some considerable reworking"... what do you mean and who did it?
My money is on a combination of numbers 1 and 3, that it needs a proper setup by an expert resonator luthier. I don't know Chris Allsop, which means that he is not in the resonator guitar world. He might be a brilliant acoustic/electric guitar builder, but resonator guitars are a world unto themselves.
I hope that is helpful. Any more questions....please don't hesitate to ask.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2015 16:30:23 GMT
I have a related question... my high E sounds fine when I'm playing only that one, but it gets drowned out easily by the other strings, because it's just not loud enough. I figure part of it is my technique -- since I have pretty much the same problem on all my guitars. Is there some trick to this that I'm missing?
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Post by Michael Messer on Jul 3, 2015 16:54:11 GMT
Hi Mickey,
It is very hard to comment without actually hearing and seeing you play. If it is a techniques thing, rather than the balance of sound on your guitars, it sounds like you might be a little heavy handed in your touch. But please don't quote me on that, or take it to heart, because I have never heard you play. It could also be something that you think is a problem, but it's not!
It ain't easy advising on these type of questions, because to really understand, I need to be in the same room as you while you are playing.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2015 21:43:02 GMT
From what I understand, you use a heavier string for your E string, right? I think part of it might be that -- I hauled out my metal reso, which is strung with those John Pearse strings (I think the High E is a .15?), and it has more volume. I think I'll try putting a heavier string on the high E, see if it helps.
I don't have this volume problem when I'm fretting only with slide, so maybe it's my angle.
(Oh, and I'll start making videos one of these days...once I decide I'm good enough!)
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Post by resotonic on Jul 3, 2015 22:52:05 GMT
My guitar was made by Don Morrison in Australia, a tricone with a single cone style cover plate.
Chris Alsop is a repair man from Derbyshire and can make intonated bridge saddles for reso's or what have you.
I'll check the nut - that's about the only thing that hasn't been changed on the 'guts' of the guitar.
Thanks Michael!
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Post by Michael Messer on Jul 3, 2015 23:29:56 GMT
The intonated bridge should be removed and a straight maple bridge saddle fitted. Then you may find the problem is solved. Intonated bridges on resonator guitars are useless.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Michael Messer on Jul 3, 2015 23:31:37 GMT
Custom made bone saddle! That's your problem!
Shine On
Michael
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Post by resotonic on Jul 4, 2015 0:02:53 GMT
Good thing I saved the old saddle...
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Post by resotonic on Jul 6, 2015 2:17:03 GMT
Reinstalled the old wooden saddle and low and behold, I've got balanced volume across the strings! Overall volume is down a bit from the bone saddle, but hey! Plugged in sounds very good. No noticeable intonation problems; just gotta keep that slide finger vibrating!
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