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Post by skiffle on Sept 5, 2021 18:52:38 GMT
Hallo All, I see my issue as a repair task, that why its posted here. I used to play my resonators for years in a fretting blues style and I never got tone issues on the 1st and 2nd string. The sound was and is still clean with good sustain playing fretted. Since some months, I started to play slide on open G and D. I tried also open A and open G flat to cover the Tyler Bryant style. Doing all this I figured out that the 1st and 2nd string on all of my resos sound kind of shabby. I mute the strings behind the bottleneck as it should be and vary the pressure on the strings to see if the light snarry sound changes. The sound has no clear sustain and last not long when I play slide. it just do not sing as it should. The resos I use are 2 x biscuits and one spider. All the same. All other strings sound nice, like expected. If there is someone out there, who know about how to get this changed/repaired I would be more than happy for a hint.
Thanks Best Regards
skiffle
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Post by pete1951 on Sept 5, 2021 19:44:23 GMT
First, a question, what gauge strings do you use? Pete
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 5, 2021 19:49:04 GMT
Hello Skiffle
Welcome to our forum.
The fact that you say this problem is affecting all three of your guitars tells me that it may be something other than the guitars. Please could you tell us what each guitar is, what gauge strings you use, and the height of the strings at the 12th fret. Maybe a photo or two would be helpful too.
Shine On Michael
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Post by skiffle on Sept 7, 2021 13:30:52 GMT
Thanks for the quick response. Michael, you are right. When its on all, it looks more that it is not the guitar. Here some images and answers to the questions: Strings I actually use are 013. (guess Ishould change to 016 instead 013). Two of my buddies. The spider one is a Harley Benton I bought for rough outdoor tasks (no image). String gaps of about 3mm for both. My collection of finger replacements. Thanks for your support Best Regards skiffle
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Post by bonzo on Sept 7, 2021 13:50:30 GMT
Hi Skiffle, welcome to the forum. I'll say what a lot of forum members will be thinking! Get your hands on some MM resonator pb's from Newtone strings, 15's are the ones many of us on the forum go for. It might not seem to be addressing your immediate problem but it will be a good place to start from. Good luck with it, with the help of forum members you'll get it sorted. ๐๐๐ธ
Best wishes to you all, John
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Post by pete1951 on Sept 7, 2021 14:11:41 GMT
Getting a good sound from thin strings is a challenge ( though 013 is not very thin) and if the fretted tone is satisfactory you may just need more time . Heavy strings make slide โeasierโ but make fretted notes harder, so there is a compromise to be made if you want to do both. One thing that I usually do to my guitars is have a wider than standard string spacing at the nut ( I would think the National guitars are already setup like this, but the Harley Benton might benefit). By having the top string a little closer to the edge, when playing the top couple of strings you are less likely to hit the frets, so you get more control.
Pete
I think there is a YouTube video on this subject, will try to post on โ Workbenchโ
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Sept 7, 2021 15:38:04 GMT
Exactly wot Bonzo sez above.
I have three resos on which I play slide - one strung with 12s, one with 13s and one with 15s along with a couple of parlours with 12s, one of which is tuned down to C vastapol so it's pretty slack.
The one with 15s is much the "easiest" to play with a slide but that can make you lazy.
I suggest you start with 15s then work your way down to 12s - it ain't easy and the only way is to practise, practise, practise.....
If you're in the UK it may be worth your while in going to the Pocklington workshop in November - you'll get loads of help on set up and technique there.
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Post by skiffle on Sept 7, 2021 18:10:53 GMT
Awesome the way the response is comming in.
First I will follow the tip to change the gauge. Also the idea to join the Pocklington workshop is nice. Unfortunetely I live in Hamburg Germany. But it might be, that I have to work in Longbridge/BHam that time and can make it to London. Once I got the strings, I let you know.
Thanks a lot
Best Regards
skiffle
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Post by ken1953clark on Sept 7, 2021 22:50:56 GMT
Pocklington is in Yorkshire :-)
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Post by skiffle on Sept 9, 2021 10:33:12 GMT
Yorkshire uups wrong direction.
Here the news of the day.
It is fixed.
I will thank you all upfront, for bringing me back to think about strings and strings related issues.
As said, usually I play fretted and I do this using brass picks and plastic thumb. Mostly I play loud and pick hard (steel picker playing hammer blues). This cause the following to my strings: - 5th & 6th no impact because of picking with the plastic thump mostly. - 3rd &4th massive damage caused by the brass picks. I usually need to replace these strings more frequently. - 1st & 2nd I never really checked them, because the fretted sound was still acceptable. But they are damaged as well massively, as I realized now.
Because of covid and not playing a lot, I did not got a new set of stings when I started to slide. This I missed on all three resos. After getting new 013 on the guitars, the problem was gone and the strings now sing like I like it.
Again, thanks for getting my brain rebooted and move me out of the dead end road I was lost in.
I also ordered some of the recommended 015 MM strings to check.
Best Regards skiffle
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Post by bonzo on Sept 9, 2021 10:55:28 GMT
Good result Skiffle! When you get the Newtone strings DON'T cut them to length until they are on the guitar and tuned to pitch. The wound strings are on a round core and may unravel if cut before installed. It is explained on the package but worth mentioning. Stay in touch and let us know how you get on. ๐๐๐ธ
Best wishes to you all, John
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Post by pete1951 on Sept 9, 2021 11:04:37 GMT
Good news. These are strange times and it can be difficult to get advice. ( Nice to hear that the forum has filled that gap for you) The best way of learning ( for me ) has always been to try and play with people who are better players than I am. Not easy in a pandemic, and YouTube ( and even the this forum) is not the same as playing live with someone .
I am getting a little set in my ways ( despite my youthful appearance I am very old) but will still go to events like Pocklinton and I might even learn something! Pete
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