jamie_t123 - Posted - 12/22/2009:  16:17:34

Any advice on how to adjust a cone....just came over from the Banjo Hangout and need some help with my new Dobro...I know to not over tighten it...but how tight is just right....

XWIND - Posted - 12/22/2009:  16:53:22

Go to Stuart Macdonald web site. All info is there free.

El Dobro - Posted - 12/22/2009:  18:13:00

If you're talking about the screw adjustment for the cone, loosen the screw until it's not touching the spiderbridge, screw it back down until it just touches, then give it a half turn more.

otdobro - Posted - 12/23/2009:  05:49:15

Also, make sure that the screw isn't binding on the sides of the hole in the spider. If it is, you cannot get a good feel for when the screw bottoms out. You may have to slightly shift the spider to accomplish this. Worse case, I have seen holes that are too small of a diameter for the screw (Chinese). (It should fall in under its own weight) If not, you may have to drill it out a very slightly larger size from the bottom. Try not to go all the way through.

Preston Thompson - Posted - 12/23/2009:  07:57:06

Jamie.........the way I adjust it is to screw it down till it touches the spider, as has been said. Then I strum the guitar to see how much rattle is there. Turn the cone screw in increments of 1/4 inch. Repeat this process till the cone to spider rattle is gone. But under no circumstance do you adjust it more than 1 turn. Should there be rattle still, one of these other item could be out. If the spider legs are all flat, the cone is flat on the cone ring and the ring is exact all the was around, the half turn should do it. One of the most important things to check is the legs of the spider. If they are not all equal the one or two that are not, will pull the cone out of contact with the ring. Also the spider could be sanded on the leg ends to see that the legs have a flat, smooth surface to lay on the cone lip.

That's the way I check it anyway.

pt

jamie_t123 - Posted - 12/23/2009:  10:01:30

Thanks All.....really helped me, thanks!!!