Darryl
Serious MM Forum Member
Posts: 28
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Post by Darryl on Sept 21, 2021 10:02:03 GMT
Hi all, I'm starting to build my first resonator guitar and have opted for a single cone/biscuit with all mahogany body and neck. My question relates to the circular cone support that I will glue to the soundboard. I'm planning to construct this per the StewMac plan for a 9.5" cone (see photo). However, buying a solid piece of hardwood (and then cutting away 80% of it) just for this purpose is looking a bit pricey and wasteful. Obviously, this component will conduct vibrations from the cone to the soundboard, but how critical is the material? I can form one from good quality birch ply and have a sturdy item, but don't want to risk it if you good people think this is an area we cannot afford to compromise with. Grateful for your thoughts - and thanks in advance!
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 21, 2021 11:05:33 GMT
Hi Tootall100
Welcome to our forum.
The soundwell will be fine made of good ply. In fact so will the body. You don't want to use solid tone woods to build a resonator guitar. You will get a better tone and a better guitar all round by using good plywood. 5mm ply for the top and back. Think of it more like building a speaker cabinet. Mahogany neck is fine, it will be warmer than maple. But usually on single cone guitars the maple is better.
Have fun!
Shine On Michael
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Post by pete1951 on Sept 22, 2021 8:01:47 GMT
I have used birch ply with ( to me ) good results. Sometimes I have used 1β and router it out, and sometimes 3/4β , I glue 1/4 or 3/8β ply to form the lip, this means I donβt have to set the router up, and do it all with the jig saw. Some vintage resos use a solid block , the only one I have worked on was a Trojan and the well was Western Red Cedar, a very soft timber. The guitar sounded great .
Pete
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Post by snakehips on Sept 22, 2021 11:06:08 GMT
Hi there !
Would totally love to make an acoustic and/or resonator guitar myself one day. Will stick to fixing teeth for now, and maybe dabble with acoustic guitars when I retire from teeth ! I like to tinker on guitars & have made an elctric guitar by putting chunks of wood together BUT I know that's altogether much easier than making an acoustic guitar. Some day ...... Anyway, in the meantime, I'm in awe of anyone that can make guitars from scratch. Double-awe if they are any good. Triple-awe if a cool reso guitar !!
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Darryl
Serious MM Forum Member
Posts: 28
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Post by Darryl on Sept 22, 2021 11:16:20 GMT
Thanks all - using ply will save a lot of hassel and wastage, so that's great. I've already bought the mahogany for the body, so will use that - with lots of strengthening braces. But I'll look in to using laminate for future projects (now I've built all these jigs etc.!). I notice that National use laminate/ply, so they're not just being thrifty.
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 22, 2021 16:03:11 GMT
Thanks all - using ply will save a lot of hassel and wastage, so that's great. I've already bought the mahogany for the body, so will use that - with lots of strengthening braces. But I'll look in to using laminate for future projects (now I've built all these jogs etc.!). I notice that National use laminate/ply, so they're not just being thrifty. All the best wood bodied resonator guitars, National and Dobro, are made of laminates and not solid woods. Shine On Michael
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Post by bonzo on Sept 22, 2021 16:34:21 GMT
Hi Darryl and welcome to the forum. You can get some very nice finishes on plywood and with the use of wood stains and varnish some very attractive results can be had. Let us know how you get on, with pictures if possible! πππΈ
Best wishes to you all, John
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 22, 2021 16:47:01 GMT
In addition to John's comment, you can also finish laminates with veneers.
Shine On Michael
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Post by bonzo on Sept 22, 2021 17:08:44 GMT
As Michael says veneers too. Little bit harder to work with but well worth the effort. Don't even get me started on painted finishes! ππΈπ
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Darryl
Serious MM Forum Member
Posts: 28
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Post by Darryl on Sept 22, 2021 18:06:12 GMT
Thanks guys, I'm looking forward to starting it properly. So far I've just been putting jigs and formers together - which is a bit boring. I had an upset last week when the cone arrived. I'd ordered a National with biscuit, but they packed it together with the Schaller machine heads in the same box, so the cone arrived severely dented! The store gave me a refund, but that was their last cone and they've discontinued them now. As I live in the UK, ordering from the National store isn't really an option. I've managed to push out the dents and the cone looks ok (with just a couple of creases), so I'll risk it. If it collapses I'll have to buy a substitute. Thanks, Bonzo, I'll post some pics here as it progresses.
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Post by bonzo on Sept 22, 2021 18:15:56 GMT
Someone on the forum will have a cone. If you have a refund try to work up the one you got. You'll have your own individual sound! ππΈπ
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Post by bonzo on Sept 22, 2021 19:20:21 GMT
WOW! Quite a big dent. π€ If you take your time you should be able to to press that out. Keep checking your progress on a flat surface. You'll want it to sit squarely in the sound hole. Once it's back in shape and firmly seated hopefully it will be fine. Give it a try, if you need to replace it you won't have lost anything. ππΈπ
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 22, 2021 19:31:33 GMT
That cone is just about repairable in experienced hands, but just pushing it out won't be enough. To put all the time and effort into building your self a guitar around that cone is not a good way forward. My advice is not to use it. Get another from somewhere, but don't waste your time with that one. If you can't get a National, get a Continental.
In 1982 I ordered a cone from OMI Dobro in California. It took a lot of doing because it wasn't easy back then to communicate across the world. When it arrived in a padded envelope it was completely squashed flat! So I booked a person-to-person phone call and told them what had happened. "Oh I am sorry dear" said the lady at Dobro HQ and she sent me another. This time it was in a large box with loads of newspaper and packing and a few weeks later it arrived safely. Phew....the olden days weren't always as good as they are cracked up to be!
Shine On Michael
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Post by pete1951 on Sept 23, 2021 6:25:07 GMT
Having a cone that can be put in and out of your guitar when under construction is vital, and as you now know cones are delicate things. When you get a new cone check the dimensions and then put the new cone in a box out of the way. Use the damaged cone as a guide while building ( it will probably go in and out several times and there is always a risk of damaging from a screwdriver or drill) . Now you have one where damage doesnβt matter. Pete
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Darryl
Serious MM Forum Member
Posts: 28
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Post by Darryl on Sept 23, 2021 7:44:13 GMT
Good advice all round, thanks! I've not been able to find a supplier for the Continental cones online. There's a UK supply called DC Cones that claims to produce unique-sounding hand-spun cones. I might give them a go.
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