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dna9656 - Posted - 02/04/2022: 18:07:17
I'm changing the strings and cleaning up my Regal RC-51 Tri-Cone. Since I have read a little about the care and feeding of Resonators I needed to do just that. I took off the strings and removed the plate that holds the bridge/saddle spider and removed the 3 cones. I noticed that there is what appears to be masking tape in the well around the holes where the cones reside. The bridge cover also has this tape, it's worn through in a couple of spots and is still stuck. This stuff has dried out BIG TIME; it's no longer sticking, it's just there. IS it masking tape or something super secret and sexy; made of unobtainium or can I use masking tape? Pls. see the pic, the "tape" runs the circumference of the 3 holes and it's on the removable part too.
I usually use Mother's 100 % Carnuba car wax on my metal resonator parts, it buffs off easily, it lasts, and protects. So I cleaned it with the wax and got a lot of expletive) off of it but some stuff just wouldn't come off so I got some CD/DVD polishing paste (course and fine) and went over the guitar. It cleaned up nicely, then I waxed it. Now it's more shiny than a new Obama penny! So, can I use a good quality masking tape or what?
Edited by - dna9656 on 02/05/2022 10:27:07
tomkatb - Posted - 02/05/2022: 13:01:51
Clueless on the tape. Inherently. I do not like the idea.
My Recording king got hot rodded.
I know the spider/bridge was covered in paint. Got removed.
I know he replaced the bridge with 100 year old maple.
New strings and Quarterman cones.
Wildeman - Posted - 02/05/2022: 16:19:36
Try it without the tape, if it doesn't rattle then you're good.
dna9656 - Posted - 02/05/2022: 17:12:45
Well I'm a bit chagrined; after ever so carefully replacing the tape I next installed the 3 cones, they install point UP (the only way the would have contacted the tape was point down and they won't fit that way nor were they intended to be installed that way) so I am surmising that the tape was there to prevent people cutting their hands? I was also on the back/bottom of the triangular topside piece; THAT I think was intended to take a bit of the "metal sound" out. Anyway...
My wife was returning from an errand and called me asking if there was anything she could pick up; I had noticed at the music store yesterday that they had some finger board oil, well I couldn't find the lemon oil I used to use so I asked her is she would pick that up for me. I called the music store to set up the sale and the kid there starts trying to educate me about oiling finger boards; he asked what kind of guitar I have i responded with "about 17 which one did you want to talk about? I told the kid I had been maintaining guitars since before he was born (1971) but he was determined to let me know not to treat maple finger boards with oil. I said yeah, they got a finish on them. Here is a guitar secret though: you CAN treat a finished maple finger board with oil; it's just not going to do any good.... if it has a finish on it. So I made sure he knew what my wife was picking up namely finger board OIL. He says "ok sir I got it". So wifie got there and he recommends THIS: Dunlop Finger Board Cleaner and Prep. it's like water, and prolly is, it sure acts like water, but no oil. So now I got a cleaned and prepped finger board the instructions say to apply the oil next...I got no oil to put on it! Ya know I really don't care what the 10 grader there recommends all he had to do was give her the oil! OR, OR, sell her the damn oil too! I have used steel wool to clean up boards, furniture polish, Murphy's oil soap, stuff like that. I have never had any problem, I really didn't NEED a cleaner (it's prolly baloney anyway) but I sure wish I had some finger board oil. this is the closest music store to me and it's 20 miles away. Guitar Center is 26 miles away.
My brother had a similar exp. today at the auto parts store. He goes in tells them he's got a '94, '95 chevy pick up and needs a head light. the kid says "what are you drivin'?" " A '94, '95 chevy pickup I need a left had head light (in case there is a difference) the kid says "2 wheel or 4 wheel drive?" Brother walked out.
docslyd - Posted - 02/06/2022: 18:36:20
Doug:
On the original tricones, national placed a strip of paper under the cones and the coverplate. It was like carborundum paper (fairly thick) without the abrasive. It was made from straight strips which were kerfed or sliced so that they could be placed in a round shape and they were glued to the guitar. When I have worked on vintage tricones, I always try to salvage that paper and replace it. The tape you saw was probably Regal's ill-fated attempt to duplicate what was done originally. On the vintage guitars, the glue and the paper is always extremely dried out and brittle. As far as whether it is necessary....I have played tricones that had the paper, and tricones that did not have the paper and, in fact, I have a tricone that I glued very thin felt in the cone ledges. I have also tried thin cloth, such as cotton T-shirt fabric....that works excellent, but is a little hard to handle. One would think that the paper and especially the felt or cloth would deaden the sound, however, the guitar with the felt is one of the best sounding I have ever heard or owned. So, I suspect that the lining has more to do with preventing rattles and buzzes than enhancing the sound...or not. If the guitar sounds good without the tape/paper then forget it. If you have buzzing problems, then replace it. Under the coverplate, it was probably determined to be more necessary than would be needed with a metal coverplate upon a wood-bodied guitar such as a Dobro.
dna9656 - Posted - 02/06/2022: 19:06:59
Well the 3 cones are point side up so nothing touches the tape! Nothing goes in the holes, there is a 1" X 1" (?) just off the center line the is held in place with 3 countersunk wood screws and the strap button screw. The was some more of this tape on the Back side of the cover; THAT tape is between the cover's edge and it's home on the body; THAT tape would at as a damper but the other....the cones won't fit in the holes for the 1 X 1 so I donno what it's there for except to cover sharp edges. Mine is a Regal RD-51 if that helps you.
'That's Earl' 1 day
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