Resonator guitar

jimstadler

Resonator guitar

Post by jimstadler »

I want to build a resonator similar to the Schoen Turbo Diddley guitar. I'm wondering if anybody has ideas on where I can get a small cone and either bisquet or spider bridge assembly that will fit in a 10 to 12 inch wide body. I plan on using the wood from an old beer crate for the body and making a 6 string neck. I will also install a pickup. Also wonder if anybody has experience with this type of building.
Kevin Sjostrand
Posts: 3712
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:06 pm
Location: Visalia, CA

Re: Resonator guitar

Post by Kevin Sjostrand »

Hi Jim,
Freeman has built a resonator. Do a thread search, and you should find some info on his build, but it goes way back to the old forum.

Kevin
deadedith

Re: Resonator guitar

Post by deadedith »

Jim - I hope you can follow through on this - I would love to build a resonator myself and I would follow your building thread if you posted it.
Good luck!
DaveB
jimstadler

Re: Resonator guitar

Post by jimstadler »

Thanks, will check it out.
Ken Hundley
Posts: 608
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:34 am
Location: Wilmette, IL

Re: Resonator guitar

Post by Ken Hundley »

That sounds like a fun build....brings to mind the whiskey barrel guitars....
Ken Hundley
Nocturnal Guitars
http://www.nocturnalguitars.com

So, my big brother was playing guitar and I figured I'd try it too.
- Stevie Ray Vaughan
Kevin Sjostrand
Posts: 3712
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:06 pm
Location: Visalia, CA

Re: Resonator guitar

Post by Kevin Sjostrand »

Ken,
Do you have any new pictures of what you're working on?

Kevin
Freeman

Re: Resonator guitar

Post by Freeman »

jimstadler wrote:I want to build a resonator similar to the Schoen Turbo Diddley guitar. I'm wondering if anybody has ideas on where I can get a small cone and either bisquet or spider bridge assembly that will fit in a 10 to 12 inch wide body. I plan on using the wood from an old beer crate for the body and making a 6 string neck. I will also install a pickup. Also wonder if anybody has experience with this type of building.
Hi Jim, just popped in and saw your thread. I built a wooden tricone, since it wasn't a kit I didn't post a build thread here but I did at another forum

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/sho ... oa-tricone

You'd better do some serious research on cones before you start. I have both a spider and a biscuit - if I recall spider cones are 10 inch diameter, biscuits are 9-1/2 (you can get them from Beard or maybe NRP). Obviously you need to decide on the bridge style - the cones are very different. The cones in my tricone are 6" and from NPR - you would have to figure out how to attach a biscuit to one. Also, over the years there have been resonator mandolins, ukes, violins and lots of other critters - NRP could probably spin a special sized cone for you. Republic also has a parlor sized biscuit, maybe their cone would work.

Lots of considerations when you build a reso - the bridge is the starting point, everything works back from there (unlike an acoustic where it is the last thing located).

There have been a few threads at MIMF on folks building odd sized resonators - even making their own cones. Frankly I doubt that they have sounded all the great (there is a prettly large difference in the sound from commercial cones). Lastly, it is possible to build "resonating" instruments that do not have cones - this guy does some very interesting things

http://eddowling.com/pages/Technophonic.shtml

and I'm in the process of building a couple of Weissenborns

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/sho ... t-take-two

As far as amplifying a reso - many people follow Bob Brozman's advice and just mic it. Most pickup in or on the guitar loose a lot of cone sound - internal mics are popular. A magnetic or lipstick will just sound like an electric guitar. Jerry Douglas sells a pretty good system.

Post pictures, this should be interesting
jimstadler

Re: Resonator guitar

Post by jimstadler »

Thanks for all the information and advice. Yes, I am finding it difficult to find the proper cone and understand that that is my starting point. I learned a lot viewing your wooden tri-cone build, that helps. Thanks again.
Freeman

Re: Resonator guitar

Post by Freeman »

Would the uke cone work? It looks like a standard biscuit would screw directly to it

http://store.nationalguitars.com/resonators.aspx

This is a great resource for building reso's, particularly spiders.

http://www.resohangout.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=31

There is also a resonator sub forum at OLF (slow moving) and some good stuff archived at MIMF. You probably won't get a lot of answers on a kit forum except from wackos like me.
jimstadler

Re: Resonator guitar

Post by jimstadler »

Freeman wrote:Would the uke cone work? It looks like a standard biscuit would screw directly to it

http://store.nationalguitars.com/resonators.aspx

This is a great resource for building reso's, particularly spiders.

http://www.resohangout.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=31

There is also a resonator sub forum at OLF (slow moving) and some good stuff archived at MIMF. You probably won't get a lot of answers on a kit forum except from wackos like me.
That was a good tip (resohangout). I think I'll start with the uke cone, i presume I can make a bridge wide enough for 6 strings. Thanks
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