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Heath - Posted - 06/17/2015: 05:45:22
Hi good people! This is my first time here. I am a lifelong harmonica player, and just got into the Resonator a couple of weeks ago. I bought it used from Guitar Center online (from Texas). I cannot put it down. Simply, I am in love.
I am a blues player, and I play it like a guitar (very smooth, thin round neck). While slide is in my future, I am currently using it for percussive chords. I just used it for the first time this week at Allentown's Blues, Brews, and BBQ's Festival, where my partner and I had a performing slot.
SO: UPGRADES and MODIFICATIONS. I am always - to a fault - looking to improve my sound. I have read about replacing the cone. Can someone school me on this, and tell me some high quality options? I love the neck and the build. I am currently using regular "12" guitar strings.
Thoughts for the new guy?
Thanks!
Heath
thebluesprofessors.com
MC5C - Posted - 06/17/2015: 07:17:53
I would probably change the nut to a bone nut and finess the string height at the nut to make playing the first position chords happy for you. Then I would look at setting the neck relief and bridge height to suit your playing style - percussive chords implies a heavy hand on the strings, which sometimes calls for a little more neck relief and string height at the 12th fret than I might use for finger picking up the neck. Finally, after I figured out what setup I wanted and the strings I like to use I would look at a hand-spun cone with a matched biscuit and bridge inserts to add in some more tone.
Brian
wlgiii - Posted - 06/17/2015: 08:07:50
I second the motion for a hand-spun cone. I put a National cone into a Rogue Triolian, and the sound improvement has been astounding.
Heath - Posted - 06/17/2015: 08:21:53
Thank you -
As far as replacing the cone, will it be as simple as "unscrew, pop out, pop in, re-screw" (like replacing a speaker in an amp), or do I need a specialist? Are these cones the same size, or will there need to be adjustments?
hlpdobro - Posted - 06/17/2015: 09:08:17
You are 2 1/2 hours from Beard Guitars. If you had the time I'd say "day trip" and let them set the guitar up.
h
MC5C - Posted - 06/17/2015: 09:20:56
Yes and no. Yes, you basically take the thing apart, get the old cone out, fit the new cone in and away you go. No, that is not plug and play like changing a light bulb. You will need to fit the new cone into the recess in your guitar, which may include a little trimming and finessing of the ledge in the guitar top. You will need to do a new setup on the guitar, setting intonation, string height, etc, you may need to cut new string grooves in the new bridge insert in your new biscuit. If you are a competent guitar tech, no problem. If you don't know how to set the intonation at the bridge, probably get a good competent shop to do it for you. I think the Beard shop gets like $250 to install a new cone and do a set up.
Always remember that an awful lot of the tone is in the fingers. People sometimes ignore that and just change the instrument, but working on playing it usually gets you pretty far. I would really do the cone thing last, after I had gotten everything else out of it. But then again I played a lot of guitars before I finally sprung for a Goldtone solid mahogany cutaway with a Beard spun cone in it. None of the $500 - $600 import guitars had me reaching for my wallet, but the Beard tone grabbed me from the get-go.
Brian
wlgiii - Posted - 06/17/2015: 14:25:09
I forgot to mention earlier that that cone swap on my Rogue made a huge difference, but I'm still using the stock cones in the Regal tricone. And yes, if you try to swap the cone yourself, make sure you're in a good mood when you start because you may not be by the time you finish.
Heath - Posted - 06/17/2015: 14:28:32
Thanks, everyone. Not handy and living on an Adjunct Professor's salary, so I'm just gonna PLAY for awhile.
aljohns - Posted - 07/17/2015: 09:51:53
Hi
your reso will improve as is with loads of playing it will open up ......playthe **** out of it ........then see
al
