Resonator Ideas

[Darryl Young]

I have the Beard resonator plans and the body is similar to a 00 sized body. I have bending forms and a mold for a 00 body......but it is a 14 fret 00 body and the Beard plans and the squareneck Dobros I've seen are 12 fret bodies. Anyone see an issue with using a 14 fret body on a squareneck resonator? Only issue I can think of is how the waist fits against ones body and it doesn't seem that would change a lot. Seems less curvature in the waist would fit the body better.

Thoughts?

[kencierp]

Since I've seen resonators with the neck attached at the 14th fret as well as the 12th fret (of course the 12th is more traditional) I believe you would be OK using either configuration with the "00" body style. Note I have never constructed one of these. My only qualifications come from listening to "Jerry Douglas" WOW! So this is truly an opinion.

[Darryl Young]

I seen that on the Beard site. Here is a pic of Vince Gill holding a 14 fret resonator.......but I doubt it's a squareneck.

[Darryl Young]

I'm amazed how much effort and "art" there is to the design and placement of a baffle inside a resonator to direct air in/out the soundports......and to block off much of the upper bout.

This makes me think 2 things. 1) The sound holes don't have sufficient area thus a sloped baffle directing air in/out the soundhole improves the tone. 2) A smaller upper bout would make little to no difference as far as reducing internal air volume (it's mostly blocked off, but not completely) and might actually help the ratio of internal air volume to soundhole area.

[kencierp]

I know for one Regal has 14th fret square necks available.

[deadedith]

I know nothing about resonators - other than the obvious difference in shape between square and round, what are the differences and why are they important?

Aren't some resonators played lap style, and some played like guitars?

[Darryl Young]

Basically, the difference is how they are played (I'm certainly no expert).

Lapstyle means played with a slide. The nut is very high on these so there is freedom to move the slide without contacting the frets or neck. The high action puts more stress on the neck so since you don't need the grab around the neck to play a slide, the neck is bigger and thicker and squared off. Easier to make and stiffer to compensate for the high action.

Round necks are traditional guitar necks that meant to be played like a guitar.......just have the tone of a resonator cone instead of a soundboard.

At least that's how I understand......I'm far from an expert on this.

[Freeman]

Darryl, a couple of quick comments.

First, I have a 14 fret round neck and I really hate the neck. It is 16 inch radius, narrrow nut and I have a hard time playing it. Like the difference between a 12 and 14 fret 000, the upper bout is pushed down to the 14th fret, not that the bridge is located higher in the lower bout (ie the shoulders are more squared off). It is basically an OM body.

Remember that the location of the bridge is sacred on these things - you locate that first, then work back from there. If you do decide to make a 14 fretter make very sure that you get that measurement perfect.

Next, also remember that most reso use a neck stick rather than a bolt or dovetail joint (I did use a bolt on neck on the tricone, but both my Dobro Type 27 and Duolian are stick necks. Again, make sure you work out the details before you build something different. By the way, the necks stick is how you set the neck angle, which is how you set up the action on these things. There isn't much you can do with bridge/saddle height on a spider.

Spiders have slightly larger diameter cones than biscuits and you need to build the soundwell. Make sure that will fit in a double ought waist - you might be pretty close to the edge. Mine are all 000 or OM bodies.

Last, most spiders have pretty high string tensions - they are often moderately heavy gauge string and in "high bass G" tuning the bottom two strings are tuned up. Square necks, the stick and 12 frets clear all make for a stronger neck joint - don't compromize it.

Comment on your last post - it is possible to play lap style on a roundie (I am doing that right now with the Type 27) by simply adding a tall nut or extender. It is not possible to play Spanish style on a square neck. The square neck is marginally stronger, but the body joint is the same - the big advantage is that it doesn't slide off your lap.

Otherwise, good luck with your build. Resos are a heap of fun.

[Darryl Young]

For anyone interested, here is a link to a nice squareneck resonator build tutoral in PDF format:

http://www.hangoutstorage.com/resohango ... 252011.pdf

I may employee a top bracing scheme similar to this for the post style construction without a soundwell. I might connect the ply brace to the sides and/or kerfing near the waist where it almost touches. You can see holes around the perimeter of the circle where the posts will be placed.

PostConstructionTopBracing.jpg

[Darryl Young]

Here is a great turorial on how Schoonover builds resonators. Looks like he uses a thick ply support for the top and doesn't use posts or a soundwell. This would leave the back free to vibrate like on a flatop. I'm liking this design.

http://www.schoonoverresophonicguitars. ... uitars.htm