I thought I had made my final decision re a tricone until a guitar tech told me that tricones have 1/2 the volume of a single cone. Is this the case?

Posted - 04/15/2009 :  12:33:25      

I think half is an overstatement but single biscuit cones are the loudest resonators there are. Actual volume varies between individual instruments.

Posted - 04/15/2009 :  12:35:17    

I would be careful around that tech. Tricones tend not to be as loud as single cones, but they're pretty damn loud. It also depends on what company, and shockingly enough, which guitar. I have a republic squareneck tricone that I lucked into needing a quick affordable backup, this thing is not only a cannon, it's become my main axe.

As far as 1/2 the volume...I would say that is a major exaggeration.

YMMV
Matt

Posted - 04/15/2009 :  13:05:35  

Thanks guys. My plan for the Republic Tricone stays then. I have to rely on messageboards as I will be buying the Republic Tricone without playing it. There are NO dealers near me so I'll be sending my neighbor the trucker to pick the axe up on his next Dallas run. There is a National dealer near me so I will try that Tricone and compare it to the single just for the hell of it. OK now I'm getting excited.

Posted - 04/15/2009 :  14:55:24  

They're really different animals. Single-cone = hard, directed, punchy sound; less sustain; emphasis on fundamental. Tricone = softer, smoother, sometime almost silky; good sustain and balance across strings; lots of overtones. Think Son House as opposed to Tampa Red; Sol Hoopii or Mike Neer as opposed to, say, bluegrass Dobro.