My Fiddle-Edge Dobro initial videos

[snakehips]

Hi there !

Just thought I’d post my first two videos on how I’m finding the latest MM guitar model.
As per my usual YouTube video, I’ve got to jump at the chance when the kids are not asleep, studying, or my wife working on her laptop and wanting no noise.

I didn’t even have time to get a decent set of fingerpicks ready !
I had to cut my 2nd video a bit short as my eldest boy appeared outside my garage, bouncing a basketball, and bashing it against the garage door, when I was inside the garage !!

Here goes anyway :



and

[chrisburnuk]

Congratulations on the new addition. I need to get my headphones & give it another listen 👌🏻

[snakehips]

Stick it in High-Definition mode for best results

[Bottleneck John]

Sounds and looks super nice!!

[snakehips]

Hi again !

Never quite happy without trying everything, I stuck a NRP Hot Rod cone in the guitar then did a video.
I really should have played it a while first.
The strings are still brand new and the cone was obviously settling as I was playing it - as it was going out of tune during the recording !

Here it is though :



I’ll probably put the Dobro cone back in.
I liked with the Hot-Rod cone BUT I have enough National guitars that sound like Nationals.

[stevie2sticks]

thanks snakeships these are really interesting.

For me it’s gonna be the Dobro.

[carreau]

Hi
I own a MM Blues since several years. After having Seen the Fiddle edge I hesitated a bit but finally decided that It is a must. Now I saw snakehips Video and dont know whether Spider Bridge or Biskuit is what I want. OMG I know this is a luxary Problem, but what can i do. 🤨.
By the way, can one simple choose, between Spider and Biscuit, or does it needs to be modified afterwards ?

Thomas

[Denbo]

I saw the videos on YouTube, and although I preferred the hot rod cone, I must admit I’m biased. I have a Blues, and a Blues 28. I also have a Lightning arriving today! Personally, I couldn’t justify laying out the cost of a fiddle edge then to change to a biscuit cone. I’d leave as-is with the spider. However, it sounds brilliant, especially in your capable hands.

[snakehips]

Hi again !

Guys, I advise getting the Dobro Spider Cone.

If you don't, and have it shippped with a National style cone, WILL you be able to get a correct dimensions off-set Spider & Dobro cone, at some point in future years ? Might be v difficult.

Go for the Dobro cone & spider - as obtaining a National style biscuit bridge cone in the future will be much easier.

The MM Fiddle-Edge cone has a stepped, two level resonator well , just like the original Dobros.
The inner well, is at a slightly lower level and of narrower diameter, perfect for a biscuit-bridge National cone.

I found the cone had to be as far forward (towards the neck) as the well would allow - and here the intonation was pretty much perfect.
I needed the full height of the stock NRP bsicuit's quite tall saddle - to give me circa 2.25mm to 2.5mm action height at the 12th fret, when shallow slots where placed on the stock NRP biscuit saddle.

V little adjustments (string slots, cut with nut files) were required - way less than I've ever had to do before. Piece of cake !!

NB. I also found another thing, opening up the MM Fiddle-Edge guitar, that shows MM's strive for everything being as close copy as possible to vintage Nationals / Dobros :
The coverplate screws use the same Imperial 3-48 thread as vintage Nationals.
Although the MM model uses Philips-head screws, I was able to swap them out with slot-head screws I have, that also fit my vintage Nationals !
Pics to follow at some point !

[hawgwash]

Look and sounds purdy dang nice ¡!

[bdeivert]

Great stuff Richard! So when are you going to show us the x-rays!? :-) I was severely impressed in Dundee years ago when you told me that you had x-rayed your Nationals! I asked a security person if I could have a look at the x-ray when we went through the airport with my Rosita and they let me! Cool!

[snakehips]

Hi Bert !

I didn't x-ray the whole guitar !!!
I x-ray'd a small section of the necks of a few of my Nationals, to see if they had a metal bar/trussrod in them.
None did.

I also x-ray'd a quite banana'd neck on a Kawai electric guitar - the Hound Dog Taylor model with the chrome plates on the guitar body. It's got a weird set of 3 non-adjustable metal rods. May still have the x-rays - I'll have a look.