vegtam2003 - Posted - 03/05/2010:  11:37:27

---

I have an import reso with an import cone. Last night (in the middle of a picking party) I blew my cone. The repair shop is going to repair it on Monday using a quarterman cone. Is there going to be a noticable difference with the quarterman over the import? I opted to pay more for it than the import version in the hopes I won't blow this one out.

Alan Rausch - Posted - 03/05/2010:  11:48:01

---

Like night and day, look at what inserts are in there while you are at it, also might want to make sure you have leveled #14 spider too.

claudeW - Posted - 03/05/2010:  11:56:23

---

Also please let us know what you think after it is done. I have often thought of changing to quarterman but have been hesitant.

Thanks
Claude

otdobro - Posted - 03/05/2010:  11:57:23

---

How do you "blow out" a cone ?

vegtam2003 - Posted - 03/05/2010:  12:08:50

---

I have no idea. I was doing the break on "cripple creek" in A. halfway through it sounded like a blown stereo speaker. made everyone stop playing and ask "what the hell is that?" It was the wierdest thing. Even my repair guy doesn't know what happened. (*!@#$ imports!) He is going to level my spider as long as it is apart and also he suggested removing the sound screens to increase volume

---

Edited by - vegtam2003 on 03/05/2010 12:10:01

Dean Upson - Posted - 03/05/2010:  13:19:56

---

The import cone is likely stamped and the Q is spun. World of difference in the sound in my experience.

Dean

vegtam2003 - Posted - 03/05/2010:  14:23:11

---

I can see the cone through the cover plate holes, it looks spun...do the chinese spin cones? it has grooves on it like a record

Slideman1939 - Posted - 03/05/2010:  14:35:04

---

The Quarterman cone will yield increased volume and a slightly increased bass response.The foreign cones don't cut it.Thru lack of knowledge they are using a cone that is more pure aluminum.They have no clue about the proper (alloy) amounts of Magnesium, Silicon,Chrome, and Copper. John Paul Quarterman was an employee of O.M.I. Original dobro in the 1970's and both he and fellow employee Don Young had in-person exposure to the 'Uncles" (Ed, Rudy,& Robert) and contact with (semi-retired) John D. himself about what alloys make a good cone. Don Young later left Dobro in 1987 to found National Resophonic and build reproduction Tri-Cones.He obviously spins a GOOD cone. The public became aware of the Quarterman Cone from a Frets Magazine article in 1986 or 1987---an interview with Jerry Douglas who had mentioned the benefits of that brand of replacement cone. I got my first Quarterman in 1988 and had it tested by a metals lab. I shared the results with Paul Beard. If you buy a Paul Beard cone it is the same proper alloy as the Quarterman. So if you spend the extra $$ for Quarterman or National (Don Young) or Beard you will be pleased with sound because it is a better quality part. Some people love the sound of the 60's and 70's O.M.I. STAMPED cones and buy up old Dobros at auctions just to get the old cone. Another desirable cone is the stamped LUGGED cone from 1934-35 sometimes showing up with parts dealers for $95-$100.They have an odd dull color to the aluminum, were only used for a short time, sound GREAT, and nobody can remember what particular alloy was purchased, before going back to regular aluminum. On some replacement cones there is a shape difference on the sides. They are proper Quarterman alloy BUT some have bowl shaped sides and some have straight sides.The straight sides sound more like classic 1970's OMI sound---but Beard Co. no longer has that option.Check with Quarterman whether he has the option of straight or bowl sides. I have seen some foreign Dobros from Chinese factories that CLAIM to have the Quarterman cone as standard equiptment, BUT they sound so bad, it makes you wonder if there are 2 John Paul Quarterman's with 2 different formulas. Some of the OMI employees in late 60's/ early 70's used to sign their name inside in pencil--and one sometimes finds J.P. Quarterman signatures on inside side of the back near the well. Spinning metals on a lathe goes back to the 16th century BUT you have to have the right metal to start with. Dobro enthusiasts babble on and on about "CONES" the same way Banjo enthusiasts babble about "Tone Rings". I guess this is more than anybody wanted to need or know about cones but I've been experimenting for 24 years. Some of the cheap cones wouldn't even make a good ashtray.Spend the extra $$ for the best.

Square Neck - Posted - 03/05/2010:  14:44:55

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by vegtam2003

sounded like a blown stereo speaker.

---

Sounds like you just need to slightly tighten the tension screw in the middle of the cone...it might have just worked loose?

But a JPQ cone will help a bunch!

Good luck!

<*)))>{

Dean Upson - Posted - 03/05/2010:  16:06:49

---

Slideman,

Your post was, as always, a wonderful education for me and I thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us. My first reso was a Chinese import and it had a stamped cone that would not have even made a good ashtray. The guitar itself might have made a paddle. It resides at my son's home and will likely never be played again!

Dean

Grizz - Posted - 03/05/2010:  18:46:07

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by wyattu

Slideman,

Your post was, as always, a wonderful education for me and I thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us.

---

Ditto, ditto, ditto. I love this stuff.

Mike

vegtam2003 - Posted - 03/06/2010:  05:41:18

---

really looking forward to getting this quarterman put in....I go to alot of picking parties around Nashville...just don't have the volume I'd like to have

Steevarino - Posted - 03/06/2010:  06:34:52

---

David,

If you are in Nashville, and you are a reso. picker, you should definitely stop by my shop some day. It is in Hendersonville, about a 20 minute drive from downtown NashVegas. You can play some of my reso. guitars, and get all the volume you'd ever want. Also, if you need help with your current reso, I have both Quarterman and Scheerhorn cones in stock. You could buy one here and/or I could install it for you, and give your reso. a "once-over" while it's on the bench, if you like. The shopl phone number is (615) 826-7890.

FWIW, I have replaced quite a few cones that have collapsed. This could also be called "blown-out", I guess. The most common way I have seen them fail is that they just collapse around the outer rim, where they rest on the cone support ledge around the big hole. Replacing a cone that has failed in this way will greatly improve the tone and volume of the guitar.

Steve Smith
RedLineResophonics.com

vegtam2003 - Posted - 03/06/2010:  06:52:37

---

I will definitely check out your shop. I used to live in Mount Juliet, moved to Burns last year. (right outside Dickson) Do you ever go to the Pegram fiddle and pick for the Thursday night bluegrass jams?

vegtam2003 - Posted - 03/11/2010:  13:16:49

---

I got the reso back from the shop today, it sounds amazing!! The volume is much louder, the sounds more full, the bass really sounds good. It doesn't even sound like the same reso. it rings when I play it now...quartermans rock! He replaced the cone, leveled the spider, and replaced the inserts. He suggested I bring it in at a later date to replace the spider with a #14, replace the nut with bone, and have him remove my screens.

---

Edited by - vegtam2003 on 03/11/2010 13:19:08