mike81800 - Posted - 12/28/2009:  11:59:26

I want to make some Reso Cigar box guitars. I want to find some 6 inch reso cones but I don't have a lot of money. I have seen kits for $60.00 on Ebay. I have searched the Internet and I can't find a supplier for these or the covers. What else can I use in place of the cones to make one of these guitars.

eastmountain - Posted - 12/28/2009:  16:20:20

Mike I have good news and bad news for you. I've been building an on-the-cheap reso guitar using alternative parts with mixed results. I used an aluminum candy dish lid for my cone, and just strung it up today. It sounds okay, but not very loud or with that distinctive reso sound. I know some cigar box reso makers use tin cans (like a cookie tin for example) with somewhat limited success. I've read of people using metal mixing bowls and the like. They have to be thin enough to vibrate like real cones do. The sound you will get will be what it is, but don't expect to have a great tone.
Now, if you want to buy a real 6-inch cone, your best bet is to buy a set of 3 that are used in tricone resonator guitars. If you are wanting to build more than one cigarbox guitar the price isn't too bad split three ways, but still about $23 a piece. I don't know if you can buy a small biscuit bridge other than in the kits on eBay. You'd have to make your own or maybe cut down a regular one.
The best sounding cigar box guitars I've heard have been amplified with pickup. In those cases, I think the quality of the cone is probably less critical. But, again, they sound more to me like an electric guitar and less like a reso.

Check out youtube for examples of cigarbox guitars and homemade resonator guitars. You'll see what I mean.
Good luck and have fun.

eastmountain - Posted - 12/29/2009:  02:04:04

Also, there are a few places that make ukulele reso parts at the size you are looking for. Not cheap though.

But if you want to see some out of the box resonator instruments, check out this guy.
otherstrings.blogspot.com/

Slideman1939 - Posted - 12/29/2009:  08:32:27

Slideman suggests: To keep costs down on this type of project consider MAKING rather than buying the biscuit bridge. A simple tool in many toolboxes is a "holecutter". This is a harbor freight item--5 or 6 sizes nested in a kit--of circular metal with sawteeth on it--an accessory for a hand drill. Select an appropriate size and drill out a disc from a hardwood or tonewood (maple). Then cut a shallow slot in the disc and do the vertical riser and file the string slots. It will attach to whatever your homemade cone is by a small screw from the bottom. This screw will come up thru the center of the cone and draw down the biscuit into it's pocket in the center of the cone.By doing it yourself you are in control of the bridge height/ string height---the action--because you decided on the height of the vertical part of the biscuit. Pretty simple--and that's the point of a cigar box Dobro--a memory of rural hard times during the Depression--and how people were able to get "acceptible" sounds from homebuilt. Back then people didn't have $20 to spend on a Stevens bar--and the Slide Bar for a cigar box dobro was the WRIST PIN (from the piston/ connecting rod) of a model T ford. A fun novelty project...good luck. It's a wonder more people don't try simple home built acoustic projects like this with extra strings and experimental tunings.

eastmountain - Posted - 01/03/2010:  21:37:12

I'd also recommend you read Joe Kuter's post on making a biscuit bridge and piezo pickup for under $2. Very inspiring.