Single 6” cone for travel guitar

[pete1951]

Sometime ago I made a 3 string sort of cigar-box style guitar . It has in it a 6” Busker uke cone, and is quite loud. At least as load as a standard acoustic, unlike most cigar-box guitars which tend to be very quiet unless plugged in. I am thinking of making a travel guitar with a headless neck that has just turned up. Has anyone used a 6” cone on a guitar before ( apart from in a tricone) ?

I’m happy with calculating the pressure on the cone , though the way the biscuit sits on the cone still needs some thoughts, the uke cone has a much smaller ‘flat’ than a standard 9”.
Any thoughts........
Pete

[Michael Messer]

Hi Pete,

My Schoen cigar box guitar (tenor guitar), built for me in 2008 by Kurt Schoen, has a 6" triplate cone in it. When I first got the guitar from Kurt it had a non-spiralled Beard Triplate cone. It sounded good, but didn't sing like I knew it could with a proper one. I fitted a National Reso-Phonic 6" Triplate cone and it transformed the instrument completely. It sings as loud as any resophonic guitar and has loads of sustain and harmonics.

The biscuit is shaped inside to take the pointed cone without damaging it.





Shine On
Michael

[pete1951]

Thanks Michael, my 3 string is of similar proportions to yours and the Busker 6” looks very similar to a Continent cone (very similar pressed spirals etc) so I think I will use one rather than a tricone 6”.
Pete
So if you have not seen a 6 string with a 6” cone could this be a first?

[Michael Messer]

Jul 8, 2020 12:13:41 GMT pete1951 said:

Thanks Michael, my 3 string is of similar proportions to yours and the Busker 6” looks very similar to a Continent cone (very similar pressed spirals etc) so I think I will use one rather than a tricone 6”.
Pete
So if you have not seen a 6 string with a 6” cone could this be a first?

Hi Pete, I think there may be a difference in the gauge of metal used by National, National Reso-Phonic and Fine Resophonic, when making 6" Triplate cones and 6" ukulele cones, whereas Continental use the same gauge for both. However, I am sure your ukulele cone will work well and you won't have to make a witch's hat biscuit to fit it.

I am sure have seen a 6" cone used on a full size guitar, but I can't remember where. If I do I will let you know. Of course National used their 8" cone in a few models in the 50s. They sound okay, but not as good as 9.5" cones. Just as OMI used 10.5" cones, which also weren't as good as 9.5". It's always fun to try these things, but I do know from seeing many patent applications and documents that John and Rudy went through all the options and variations before settling on the designs and specifications that we all know and love.

Will this be a sololian?

Shine On
Michael

[pete1951]

I have already called some guitars I have made/converted ‘Monolion’. So this may have that badge. A 6” cone is a compromise, but I hope it will produce a travel guitar that is very small but with a standard scale and a volume you can hear when playing with someone on a standard acoustic.