Post by vastopol on Mar 23, 2024 12:57:07 GMT
This thread reminds me when Mike Lewis restoring my old Triplate show me how he spin his magnificent cones...
Thanks again Mike, that's an unforgetable moment.
Stunning to see this little flat foil becoming an inspiration amplifier.
I think "laguitare.com" made an interview...in french... with Mike demonstrating in a video these few magical seconds of cone spinning.
On a whole different subject, I have a bunch of generic cones given by some friends overtime, they swap their old cones and I kept the old from various brands.
Perhaps in my retirement I will try to build a multicone harp like one of the John Dopyera patent shows?...
Some of the single cones are "continental" shape but are very different in weight and stiffness from one to another, with one that I prefer when I swap with a "Hot-Rod" in the same guitar. (obviously the lighter of the bunch).
When I compare with the shape of an old crushed National cone, I see how the spiral lines get lighter as they go far from the center, meaning the center is more rigid than the perimeter, this softer perimeter come to mind when thinking about how the spining process diminish the thickness of the alluminium from the center to the outside lip.
On the "continentals" the spirals are more punched in the perimeter, and almost erased around the center; that means different mechanical factors, adding rigidity in a space where a relative softness might be desirable.
I can feel this when I pinch the side of these two cones beween thumb and index and apply a gentle flexing.
I wonder if these inverted spirals are a choice or just a way to use the existing tools ?
I understand the way the spinning is done is more important than the shape, but it's always tempting to think about what a closer copying can gives.
Interstingly the actual NRP model is showing strongly punched spirals, similar in deepnes all the way, with no decrease. (very rigid feeling when pinched)
About the NRP "Hot-Rod" type of cones, I remember when few members choose to swap their cones when Hot-rod appeared, Snakehips had the nice idea to weight his, and if I remember the weight was the same as old National cones (thanks again sir !).
Years latter I give a try on NRP and get me a Hot-Rod, as i am touring most of the year sometimes in weird places, under the sun, rain, or snow, I beggan to think about preserving my old cone.
But I was very disapointed and the old cone came back in place, even after a long time of bedding, I never feel nice with this one (even same biscuit and saddle, same set up, same guitar...ok you can think that my biscuit may have a weird surface and if he work with his old companion, he may be not perfect for the new one, so I get a new biscuit too, but nothing interesting happens).
Another factor of misreading is the way someone might cut string slots on the saddle, it can have a dramatic effect on the result, but after all those years I think I'm doing it correctly.
Weighing this cone gives me a significant heavyer weight than what I expect from the Snakehips thread.
Same weight with the Best "Continental" of the bunch.
Do that means make their cones stiffer right now ?
Since Don Young was gone many things seems to have changed from this company...
Or, if I let my imagination run, do they sell stiffer cones for spare and fit their instrument with better sounding ones ?
You may think I am paranoîd and seeing the devil evrywhere but hey shall be aware of the fact of many budget priced instrument can came very close to their products once correctly set up and fitted with their cones.
That may give two good effects: a stiffer cone wont crush inside a weird angled cheapie guitar, so no complaint or bad reviews, and it maintain the "upgraded" ones a step under them.
I hope my brain don't go to far and I don't hurt anybody.
Talking about cones in France, a New brand might be more recognized for the quality of his work, I am talking about JMT, I don't want to turn this forum as a market place, but this name deserves interest.
To me it's just matter of time for these instruments to come in the major line of brands for who wants a very good instrument.
I had some of these cones in hand, and they are the thinner and lighter you can hope, they sound very rich and warm, of course he don't sell them as parts.
Well this post is too long, too many ideas, too many questions, I went mad when talking about cones...