Michael Messer Lightning

[Deleted]

Hi Michael,
i have a MM lightning on order, I just watch a comparison video on YOUTUBE. National style  O v MM Lightning it said that both guitars had National Hot Rod cones and Stew Mac Golden Age tuners, is this a upgrade available via yourself. If not how would I  go about having this work completed 

[Michael Messer]

Hi Dennis,

Thank you for ordering a Michael Messer Blues guitar.

We do not fit NRP cones, but we can get the Golden Age tuners.

That film was made when we first started out and we had some problems getting the right tuners to go on our guitars. These days we fit tuners which are retro design and just as good as the Golden Age.

Regarding the cone; we do not do that upgrade, if 'upgrade' is the correct term for this. My opinion on this issue is that our cones are hand spun using the correct material and while there are slight differences between our cones and National cones, those differences are not necessarily a case of one being better than the other, they are just differences between two cones. In my opinion there is much more than just a cone that makes the sound, it is the whole guitar and very importantly....the set up, and if I were looking to upgrade an MM guitar, I would not fit a new cone, but I might fit a National biscuit/bridge assembly. However, what I would say at this point is that all my MM guitars that I play (my own ones) are absolutely standard with no upgrades or changes from the factory original, and they play and sound great. I would advise you to get your guitar and use it for a few months before making any decisions about changing major components.

I hope that my comments are helpful.

Shine On
Michael

[erwin]

Hello, coincidentally I read this thread and I must agree with Michael about the cones.
I put for test once a Republic cone (which is I suppose in fact a Continental cone, today more than probably spun in China), into a 30's Style O I have, but mounted the original Style O's biscuit also and the guitar sounded a bit different but still great, with a somewhat "warmer" tone, maybe a fraction less sustain but hardly noticeable if you are not aware what was changed.
When I was testing this, I also weigh the Continental and compared it to a recent nrp hotrod which is nowadays to be said top of the bill. And indeed the Continental was somewhat heavier (we speak in grammes on a digital laboscale of our vet). As a technician I am also curious and did some tests on the lathe to know what kind of aluminium they use for that. My conclusion was that some types of duraluminium are useable. This alloy existed back in the 20's and I think was used for the cones. A development is Alclad which has more pure aluminium in it, this protects better against corrosion and is a somewhat stiffer, probably nrp uses this now, so they can spun a slightly thinner cone with the same strength. Which results thanks to the lighter weight to more sensitive response and tone. In fact it is easy to know the compositions of both cones, I can go here to a factorylabo who has metal characteristics archievated, let them do some stress, puncture and other tests, compare them to the values they have and I know exatly what is used. But I have no bad cones here, and I don't want to destroy mines.

I am not a luthier but I think a correct setup by people who know what they are doing has more value return than spending your money on another cone where you are not always sure it is an improvement, so again I must agree with Michael.

And last but not least, the little boy with the guitar on his knees plays an important role on the sound of his guitar.
We all try to improve our skills, at least I do, and when it sounds ok, I should try learn to know the instrument, the strong and weak points of it before deciding to change anything.

I am sure you will have a great instrument

[gaucho]

I replaced the Continental cones in my Republic tricone with a set of NRP Hot-Rods. Complete waste of $130USD.