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Post by twistedbiscuit on Sept 10, 2015 11:12:07 GMT
Hi all, new user here, I've just bought an MM Blues second hand and I'm nervously awaiting it's delivery! Just hope the courier gods are on my side over the next few days. It's coming by UPS in a hard case, no strings and the cone padded to avoid damage.
I'm new to resonators, slide and indeed delta blues, which is what I've bought the guitar for, but I've been playing guitar for many years. So any suggestions for string type and gauge? I know MM Newtone National strings have a great reputation on here but does the make make much difference? I'm a big fan of DR Pure Blues for instance but I also use Ernie Ball on my electrics.
Also there is a position dot missing and also the truss rod cover. Any suggestions re replacements?
Thanks for any advice!
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 10, 2015 13:53:10 GMT
Hi Twistedbiscuit,
Welcome to our forum and thank you for buying an MM Blues. Secondhand or new, you are still the owner of an MM guitar to me!
I am sure I have some trussrod covers and a few dot markers....somewhere... I will have a look and let you know. If you don't hear from me in a couple of days, nudge me as I am very busy and could easily forget.
Strings are a personal taste thing and the answer you will get from me is an obvious one; MM National Strings by Newtone (either 13/56 or 15/56), are the ones to get. I am not saying that as a salesman, I am speaking as a musician who has played National guitars for 38 years, and for the past 23 years I have used Newtone strings on all my guitars. I designed them with Malcolm at Newtone in 1992. The idea was to get as much weight into the strings without too much tension, this is to drive the cone. This was achieved by using a round core, which could be thicker but with less tension than a regular hexagonal core.
The strings were designed for National and National-style resonator guitars and for the past 23 years have been almost an industry standard.
That does doesn't mean that other brands won't sound and feel great on your guitar, but is there any difference between MM Newtones and other brands... the answer is 'yes'.
All MM Guitars are fitted with MM Newtones as standard.
Best wishes
Shine On Michael
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Post by twistedbiscuit on Sept 10, 2015 14:00:56 GMT
Hi Michael, I appreciate the personal response! Actually the guitar is a birthday present from my wife, ain't I lucky? We searched around looking at new and second hand resonators and the MM Blues was by far the best instrument in our price range. I'm sure I'll be thrilled with it assuming it arrives in one piece!
Thanks for the offer re position markers and truss rod cover and the advice on strings, I'll order a set of 13/56.
Cheers - Barry
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Post by bod on Sept 10, 2015 15:31:55 GMT
Hi twistedbiscuit,
Greetings and nice present!
A couple of quick thoughts, as you say you are new to resos and may be new to Newtone strings too:
1) The instructions on the Newtone packet are best followed, cut these strings too early and they are liable to unravel...
2) Given that your guitar is travelling without strings, you may want to take advice on positioning / adjusting the cone, fitting the strings (puts load on the cone), and settling-in periods (I'm sure people here can advise, but I'll leave that to someone who knows their stuff better than me... )
Enjoy!
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Post by twistedbiscuit on Sept 10, 2015 16:15:55 GMT
Thanks Bod, that's a good point! I'm guessing the truss rod may have shaken loose too - Cheers
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Post by orbital on Sept 11, 2015 9:28:57 GMT
Hi Barry, Welcome and definately a great present you're getting! I recently purchased an MMBlues as my first resonator and these are amazing guitars. Not sure what part of the country you're in but you may want to consider taking your MMB to a recognised resonator luthier for an initial set up/check etc. Down south,it's Dave King Acoustics nr Newbury. There are other's around the UK of which other's on here will be better placed to advise you. Here's to a safe delivery of your MMB! Enjoy... Orbital.
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 11, 2015 10:35:34 GMT
Hi Twistedbiscuit,
I have just looked through my spares drawers and I don't have any trussrod covers or dot markers. I did have some dot markers, but they were used up recently.
If I were you I would look on Ebay, I am sure someone sells slotted headstock trussrod covers. Or... just make one with a piece of wood or plastic.
Dot markers are available at Stumac.com
Sorry I can't help.
Shine On Michael
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Post by twistedbiscuit on Sept 11, 2015 15:48:00 GMT
Orbital - I'm near Norwich in East Anglia, I don't know if we have any resonator specialists around here but if anyone can recommend a resonator luthier in Suffolk or Norfolk I'd be very grateful! Martyn Booth isn't too far away and Andrew Guyton is right on my doorstep. Both first rate guitar techs but I don't know how expert they are on resonators!
Michael - no problem, thanks for checking for me. I can easily make a truss rod cover and position markers are easy to find.
Thanks for the help guys!
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Sept 11, 2015 17:30:11 GMT
Hi Biscuit, I'm in NE Essex and Robbie Gladwell (Dr. Robert) did a fine job of fitting a Highlander pickup and modding the electrics on my old NRP Resolectric Jr. a few years ago. Obviously he had to strip the guitar to do the job and put it back together. He did a fine job, new strings and set up on it so I guess he knows what he's doing. It may be worth giving him a call, his workshop is just outside Sudbury, Suffolk. robbiegladwell.com/
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Post by twistedbiscuit on Sept 11, 2015 18:54:07 GMT
Thanks for the info, sounds very promising and not far from me, cheers!
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Post by resotonic on Sept 11, 2015 20:09:16 GMT
The Blues looks great without a truss rod cover too! Vintage!
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Post by twistedbiscuit on Sept 12, 2015 6:54:28 GMT
The Blues looks great without a truss rod cover too! Vintage! LOL true!
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Post by twistedbiscuit on Sept 15, 2015 15:11:57 GMT
Warning - mini rant!
My precious MMB arrived at my local UPS office on Sunday and was sent out for delivery on Monday - it never turned up. Tracking said it was out for delivery again today and I actually saw the UPS van delivering a few doors down from my house but it then drove off so still no guitar. Frantic searching online turned up a phone number for UPS support but that just connects me to a computer that tells me my package is out for delivery. So I tried an email. About an hour later I got a reply apologising that the delivery was late but their system doesn't give reasons for delayed deliveries. In any case the package was out for delivery and I would receive it by the end of the day. This is despite my explanation that the UPS van had already been to my road without delivering my guitar!
I just know I'm going go through all this again tomorrow - Aaaaaaarghhhh! I dread to think how many times that poor guitar has been thrown in and out of vans!
OK I feel better now - sorry!
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2015 18:24:53 GMT
I've always hated UPS. This is why.
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Post by orbital on Sept 15, 2015 18:52:01 GMT
Hi Twistedbiscuit, Maybe since you last posted,your MMB has arrived?...or maybe not. I am sure I'm not alone in being able to empathise with you over courier/delivery companies. Even the more reputable ones seem prone to 'errors',both human and machine. My MMB was sent to the wrong depot recently and I had an extra 24hr wait in which my excitement turned into 'sectionable' anxiety!..(the kittens are all doing fine btw). Best thing to do is remain calm and logical in your thinking. It will almost definately turn up and the smiling delivery driver will be completely unaware of your anxious wait. And if you are taking it to a specialist resonator luthier for checks & set up,it will be fine even in a worst case scenario that the cone is damaged. And in the scenario that it didn't turn up,then there are claim forms to complete. Ignore tracking numbers,from what I read online,there are pages of stuff outlining how useless they are,even with the better companies. Try to remain in the 'excited' stage,keep reading MMB threads on this forum and tell yourself you will soon own one! Orbital.
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