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Post by hawgwash on Feb 21, 2020 15:06:05 GMT
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Post by hawgwash on Feb 21, 2020 15:13:08 GMT
Sorry about the upside down photos and multiple shots - Hey what the heck do you call the material used for the headstock overlay-..? And why do those photos come out up side down-..? oh.. and I meant it to say' Tale of the Cone '
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Post by leeophonic on Feb 21, 2020 17:59:02 GMT
You are lucky to have a Don, they are top of the tree with German silver bodies being few and far between in the single cone domain.
The shop would have been well advised to talk and advise prior to swapping the cone, on what basis it was in for repair only you know how the initial conversation went prior to the commission.
From what I gather you still have the vintage cone as well as a hotrod in situ. If you are curious get the old cone re-fitted with a correct saddle to compensate for the sag, it may be the case that it is no longer up to the job,they are afterall eighty years old and everything has it's day.
The new NRP hotrod's are very good cones I have several as vintage replacements with no issue or compromise in tone, volume projection etc.
Keep us posted.
Lee
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 21, 2020 18:02:25 GMT
Hawgwash, these photos are too small for us to see any detail in them. I have tried enlarging the photo of the cone, but it just pixelates too much. Perhaps you could post a bigger photo of the cone.
It is so hard to see in that tiny image, but unusually for me, I think I might agree with the shop that your old cone is not working properly. The break angle should only be very shallow on an old National. I have a feeling that the new cone might be the way to go, and it will warm up and sweeten with time. Play it lots and it'll be fine.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by hawgwash on Feb 21, 2020 18:37:31 GMT
Thanks - it does sound great with the new cone and the German silver .I put the photo image on small because the last time I tried to post a photo it wouldn’t come and I thought it was too many gigabytes -or whatever - you’ll have to excuse me as I flunked kindergarten- . I’ll try to post a cone photo with more detail .This cone dilemma on old Nationals gets interesting . How much would it influence whether you would buy an old National whether it had an original cone (depending how viable the cone is if it was original etc . )As much as you wouldn’t buy an old Gibson if it didn’t have original PAF pick ups -..? Since for me they are players as well as hopefully a decent investment which allows me to talk myself into buying more guitars -oh boy ... talk to my wife or better yet .. don’t .. oh one more question - I would’ve preferred to see if the tone volume etc improved after the saddle biscuit fix even though as you say the break angle is very slight - but it would make a difference in your opinion- ... or could possibly make a difference depending obviously on the cone itself but the difference is really off the charts with the new cone so ....
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 21, 2020 19:27:43 GMT
I don't think it would influence me if the guitar was the one I want. A Don is a rare and valuable guitar and while it is worth keeping the original cone, I don't think that having a new cone would affect its value or its desirability. A Don is a Don and they don't turn up every day, but with all vintage guitars and their value, condition does play a big part.
Regarding your question about whether the old cone and new biscuit would sound good? Well that is why I would like to see a more detailed photo of the cone and perhaps of the break angle too. I have a feeling that it should stay as it is with the new cone, but it is worth seeing a better photo.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by resotonic on Feb 21, 2020 20:09:14 GMT
Hard to tell from pics, but it looks like the headstock overlay might be pearloid, MOTS - mother of toilet seat!
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Post by rbe on Feb 21, 2020 21:50:16 GMT
Don't mean to be disagreeable but, if that was my guitar, I would fix the old cone. It doesn't look bad at all in the photos. I just don't think your repair person knew how to do that. Most don't. Also, I would go, old cone (fixed), old biscuit and new saddle (if something had to change). I would prefer go, old cone, old biscuit, old saddle (if the saddle had not been altered) and reset the neck to that. That would be "my" ideal process.
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Hey I’m going to try to post a couple photos of the Don I bought on US Reverb about three years ago .it was pretty reasonable - just needed saddle /biscuit work so I sent it out for that . I got it back we’ll set up but the shop (I shall not name ) had changed out the cone for a new National hot rod and never even mentioned it . I got the old cone which from what I’ve seen on this board of old cones straightened and repaired and still going strong was in excellent shape . The shop said when they put the new and old cones next to each other the older cone had (quite naturally I guess ) shown some stress and wasn’t as tall as the new one . I mean it’s 80-90 years old - wtf - I guess it’s worth mentioning they are NRP dealers and claim the new ones blow away the old ones . It does sound great with the new cone imho - but next time I get to my local guy I’ll switch it out to the old one . It sounded okay before - maybe a bit muted but I attributed that to the lack of any break off the biscuit -it was totally flat . Just kind of blew me away they just changed it out without even a by your leave .. anyway very fortunate to have this beauty . 
