HogWild - Posted - 04/16/2011:  12:34:14

Howdy!  I'm new here and look forward to meeting everyone and reading old posts to learn more about resonator guitars.

I've built one acoustic guitar and a friend has asked me to build him a square  neck resonator (spider bridge).  I must admit that while I've studied a lot on how the acoustic guitar works, how different woods affect tone, how the body size affects tone, etc.........I have a lot to learn to build a nice sounding resonator guitar  Would you mind if I ask for some recommendations to get me started in the right direction?  For reference, my friend loves the sound Jerry Douglas is getting so I would like to build something with a similar sound.  Also, he is a steel guitar player and he has never played a resonator guitar.

First, body shape.  Seems some luthiers are using a deeper body (and maybe less waist).  Is this to get a little more bass?  How does it affect the mids and highs?  Would a 00 Martin guitar body be close to the size and shape of a traditional Dobro?

I have a hundred other questions but that's it for now.  Thanks, and I look forward to your responses!

JWJ71 - Posted - 04/16/2011:  21:56:25

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Unfortunately I am not the person to answer your questions as I am a newbie to the world of resos myself. But, I have been a member here long enough to know you will find many people willing to share their knowledge,

One thing you may want to do is do a web search for "resonator guitar plans." Stewart Macdonald used to sell some but stopped for some reason. I recall seeing it mentioned that they were Paul Beard plans and can still be found as a PDF file.

As to the Jerry Douglas setup, I have no doubt there are MANY people here that can answer questions about that   too. But, again, I would suggest doing a web search for "Jerry Douglas Dobro setup."

Give the folks here a little time to find your post and I am sure you will get the help you need.

And, again, welcome to the forum!

-James

HogWild - Posted - 04/17/2011:  11:13:12

Thanks James.

Does anyone know which body size is shown on the Beard plans?  Is it use soundwell or post construction?

phil dean - Posted - 04/17/2011:  12:27:01

Those plans are for a small body, soundwell design. 

HogWild - Posted - 04/19/2011:  18:16:43

Thanks Phil.

Does anyone have plans for a large body open body cavity design?

kenjeffs - Posted - 04/24/2011:  07:28:14

Do you have the plans from the Gary Dusina article posted in MIMF a few years back?.  It was a 13 part series of posting on building an open body posted design.  While he does not go into great detail on technique and body styles, it does provide what is needed to build.  If you would like a copy, I can send it to you.  BTW, I am presently using it in combination with the Beard plans (R-body) to build my first resonator. 

Ken

kenjeffs - Posted - 04/24/2011:  07:33:54

Addendum to my last post:

Your inquiry about the larger body styles would mean you are thinking about something close to the Beard E body.  I have done some preliminary measurements of an E that I have access to in a store.  It is basically a dreadnought size box.  I am plannng my second build to use a dread size box and adjust the bracing of the Dusina information to support the size.  If you can get the pattern for a dread box you would be able to do the same. 

hat - Posted - 04/25/2011:  05:04:29

One thing I've noticed, and this is a very personal thing I think - that is how well the guitar sits next to you when you play. I've noticed that a dread body shape would be better suited to my body shape ( belly , lol )  when standing up playing..it sets it out straighter than the standard shape does.

HogWild - Posted - 04/25/2011:  15:35:47

I live about 10 miles from Janet Davis Music so I went there at lunch today and bought the Beard plans for a squareneck.  I have access to the Martin 00, 000, and dreadnaught shapes.  Seems the 00 shape is the closest to what is shown on these plans.  One thing I want to keep in mind is I want to be able to get a case that fits whatever body I choose.  BTW, my friend I'm building for will have final say on the body decision.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the case for a squareneck needs more room for the neck than a normal guitar.  So if I use a standard 00 or 000 body, I wouldn't be able to fit the finished resonator in a standard case for 00 or 000 guitar, true?

I have bending molds coming for the Martin 00, 000, and Dreadnaught bodies.  I know of one individual that used a 000 body to build a resonator guitar (roundneck).  I've considered using either the 00 or 000 bodies and making the body roughly 4" deep at the tail.  Thoughts?  I'm wanting to build a "baby Drednaught" one day that has the shape of a Dreadnaught guitar with the dimensions of a standard 000 (15" lower bout).  This might make a good size body for a square neck resonator.  Hat's comments about the waist fit made me think of this again.  Thoughts?

HogWild - Posted - 04/25/2011:  15:41:56

By the way, here is a pic of the baby dreadnaught I drew up using G-Thang software.  Just looks very similar to a standard dreadnaught without showing dimensions but It is 15" across in the lower bout like a Martin 000 size body.

HogWild - Posted - 04/25/2011:  15:43:51

Ken, I have the Gary Dusina article.......but I don't have plans from that article.  Anyway I could get those?  Thanks.

kenjeffs - Posted - 04/27/2011:  07:44:07

quote:

---

Originally posted by HogWild

Ken, I have the Gary Dusina article.......but I don't have plans from that article.  Anyway I could get those?  Thanks.

Well there really are no "blueprint" plans like you get with the Beard.  I drew mine on a piece of poster board and then used my somewhat rusty drafting skills to make my own blueprint.  It is full scale like the beard so i don't know now to I can scan it to make a pdf.  Let me see what I can do with Goggle Sketch up to make something useful to you.  I wanted to do that anyway so you are giving me a good excuse.  LOL

I am not an expert, but if you stay close to the standard size bodies the case issue should be mute.  You will have to modify the neck support insert for the case.  You should be able to remove that insert and model a new one for a square neck and then replace it in the case.  With some care, it could be made hardly noticeable.

I am in St. Louis and want to let you know that we are having a luthiers "gathering" planned for May 21st here at Hibdon Hardwoods which is located in St. Louis.  It is from 9-3.  It is designed for amateur through pro levels and is our first time for one in the midwest.  I am going to put more details in an announcement on the forum here is a few days.  It would cool to get to meet you there.

Ken

 

---

kenjeffs - Posted - 04/28/2011:  13:20:03

Some have wanted to see my bracing schematics for the Dusina article.  All dimensioning was done either through what dimensions were provided in the article or by my rough scaling from the pictures.  I think is pretty accurate, but remember you get what you pay for; buyer beware,  measure twice - cut once and all that.

Ken

Resonator Top Bracing Schematic

Resonator Back Bracing Schematic

Mungo Park - Posted - 04/28/2011:  20:50:10

Ken:

 Thanks for posting those  diagrams, very helpful and kind of you to share.

                             Cheers Ron.

Steevarino - Posted - 04/29/2011:  05:43:09

I've never heard of G-Thang software.  What is it?

HogWild - Posted - 04/30/2011:  07:25:20

G-Thang can be used to easily and quickly design musical instrument shapes.......at least body shapes.  It's not CAD software, but software that is used to design guitar bodies.  It can be downloaded here:

liutaiomottola.com/formulae/gthang.htm

HogWild - Posted - 04/30/2011:  07:30:59

Thanks for those drawings Ken!

That doesn't appear to be a standard resonator shape......more like a dreadnaught shape.  Is it a bit larger than a traditional "Dobro" shape?

kenjeffs - Posted - 05/01/2011:  12:25:10

Yes,  I took it from a generic guitar body in the Google Sketch-up Library.  The nice thing about the Dusina article is that the body shape does not affect the dimensional requirements for the scale and cone support bracing.   As long as you keep the 25" scale and make your distance from the 12th fret to the bridge inserts at 12.5" it will work for any box shape.  The difference in the length of a dread and R model box is approx.  1/4 to 1/2 inch (dependent on maker).  With Beard, custom builds exempted, both designs are 12 fret necks  and although the vintage model R had a 24.4" scale the newer R models are standard at 25".  The larger box effect is with tonal quality and not with scale.

My expertise is limited and while I do understand the engineering, I would welcome other input.  Any additional comments would be appreciated no matter whether pro or con. 

Hog,  I hope this helps get you started.  I want to hear about your progress.

Ken

Mungo Park - Posted - 05/01/2011:  19:50:05

Since the Dusina article has been mentioned here I hope this is not considered a hijack, if so I apologize.

 I looked up the article, but the source I found starts the article on chapter 3, could somebody link me or PM me with a link to the whole article.

                                                                                                          Cheers Ron.

kenjeffs - Posted - 05/02/2011:  21:01:15

Ron,

Here is the Dusina article compiled (by me) in book form with appendix.  Have fun

I have a few pictures of my build in my photo album if you are interested.

Ken

Building A Resonator Guitar by Gary Dusina