Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2004 15:06:23 GMT
I need a pickup of some kind for my national style 1 tricone. can any one advise where such a thing can be found.
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Oct 27, 2004 15:47:53 GMT
Fish68,
The only pickup worth talking about for a National Tricone is the ‘Highlander Magnophonic X’. It is by far the best pickup available for Tricones. Likewise for single-cone Nationals & National Reso-Phonics, the ‘Highlander IP-1X’ Inline is the best pickup system available.
It must be fitted by a National expert – the only person in the United Kingdom I recommend for repairs, set-ups and this kind of work on valuable guitars, is Dave King at Dave King Acoustics. He is based in Reading, Berkshire, there’s a link on my website.
In addition to my recommendation; Dave King is an approved National Reso-Phonic Guitars INC repairer.
Shine On, Michael.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2004 12:44:19 GMT
thanks Michael I got a highlander installed in my tricone by Dave King - he's a very nice man - going to play down the pub on tuesday to give it a try out so far it sounds good - it'll be nice to plug in and play for a change. but the mic option sounds better if you have the time to set up. at a jam night you just got to get up and go for it ;D
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2004 13:00:55 GMT
national tri-cones I play most things in open g - but also like to play in open d - Dave king mentioned something about cone collapse if you change tunings is this a common problem with tri-cones I only have the one guitar and need to change tunings Also I'm using messer strings heavy gauge could this be the root of the problem ?
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Nov 25, 2004 21:17:10 GMT
Hi Fish68,
Good to hear that Dave King has sorted you out with a pickup for the Tricone. The Highlander is definitely the best option.
Regarding your question about tunings; Dave is correct that changing tunings can cause buzzes & rattles in Tricones, but I would say that is something generally associated with old 1920s Nationals. On your National Reso-Phonic Style 1 Tricone with strong cones, you are okay to tune from DGDGBD to DADF#AD and back again. Okay occasionally you might get a slight buzz, but don't worry, Tricones do that & then they settle down again. What you are not advised to do is to go from DGDGBD to EBEG#BE or GBDGBD, this is bad and in time will collapse your cones. Just keep your Tricone in slack open tunings (DGDGBD & DADF#AD) with 15 to 56 MM Newtones & you will be fine.
As you know I have a lot of respect for Dave King and his knowledge & skill, he is a world class craftsman with a very deep understanding of how resophonic guitars work. I have spoken with Dave about this subject many times and he has had Tricones in for repair where the damage has been caused by changing tunings. But I have to say that numerous musicians including myself have owned and used Tricones on the road night after night with very few buzzes from changing tunings.
Your worst enemy for creating buzzes in a Tricone, is your own playing. Tricones do not like being snapped & picked hard without fingerpicks. It makes the strings twang about to much and really messes with the cones. With fingerpicks and a sense of 'Tricone-understanding!' you can pick a Tricone as hard as you like!!!
These guitars (New National Reso-Phonics) are very well built and will take a lot of wear & tear & use & abuse! Don't be scared of it, make it work for you and learn to be able to tweak it occasionally to keep it running.
Shine On, Michael.
|
|
|
Post by snakehips on Nov 26, 2004 15:45:52 GMT
Hi there !
While we are talking about tricones and Highlander pickups - I know that mic'ing up a National will always give the most natural sound. I know that.
Given that Highlander pickups are the best option for resonator guitars, what I would like to know is this :
Does the Magnaphonic Tricone pickup replicate the tricone sound as good as, better than, or not as good as a the IP-1X does for the single cone pickup ? If you get my drift !!
I've got a Tricone (style 1.5 NRP) and am considering a Magnaphonic pickup for it. If it isn't at least as good as the single cone pickup then I'll not bother.
Its just that I feel I'm leaving the Tricone at home too often for gigs, taking a National that does have a pickup on it instead (for less hassle) - I'm not really gigging with it - and that is a shame ! That baby was made to be played and to be seen !!! Plus ! I can use it to check my quiff is still perfect - mid song !!!
Please all you out there - give us your critique on the Magnaphonic pickup. As good as the single cone Highlander pickup ? (please don't reply with "of course......will never be as good as a mic'd National....blah blah" !!!) (I'm comparing the "difference between" pickup and guitar for two guitars - tricone and single cone - NOT between pickup and microphone !)
|
|
|
Post by guest on Nov 26, 2004 18:49:28 GMT
Snakehips Ive no doubt your quiff will stay perfect, my children remember you for it.
|
|
|
Post by snakehips on Nov 28, 2004 23:01:00 GMT
Hi there, Dave (?)
How's that neck coming along ?
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Nov 29, 2004 13:38:29 GMT
Hi Snakehips,
The Highlander Magnophonic X pickup for a Tricone is the best you can get at this point in time. When you ask how it compares with a single cone Highlander pickup, the only answer I can give you is what I have already said....It's the best option.
I would say that it works just as well as a single cone pickup, but possibly suffers from feedback problems a little more, so care with the EQ-ing and you'll be fine.
To get the best out of your Highlander pickups and resophonic guitars, I would advise using a Shure SM57 microphone & the pickup. Then you can control your volume by backing off the mic to use the pickup sound, and then move in to the SM57 for soloing.
Shine On, Michael.
|
|
|
Post by snakehips on Nov 29, 2004 17:06:15 GMT
Hi again !
Would you hear some Tricone tone with the Magnaphonic pickup ?
ie. If you couldn't see that a musician was using a Tricone with a Magnaphonic pickup, could you tell sonically that it indeed was a Tricone (or would it just sound like a "resonator guitar" or worse just "a guitar" ?
I find the sustain on the single-cone Highlander pickup is not great (yes, I know that single cone resonators do not have as good sustain as a tricone, but ....) so how does the Magnaphonic pickup fair, sustain wise (being that that is one thing tricones are famous for) ?
Anyone's comments on the Magnaphonic pickup welcome.
|
|