SamCy - Posted - 08/15/2024:  16:07:19

National Reso-Phonic had their own version of a Dobro spider bridge. One of the differences is the placement of the webs between the legs of the spider. They are farther away from the center of the spider than those on a #14. Has anyone had opportunity to compare the sound of one of these with that of a #14? If so, what did you hear?

NationalResoSpider

 

JC Dobro - Posted - 08/15/2024:  18:12:35

I brought in a National Scheerhorn to Byrl Murdock’s shop for a refresh setup.

He removed the National spider, dangled it on a pencil, and pinged it with a hammer. He did the same with a #14 spider. The #14 rang louder and sustained much longer. Unscientific, to be sure, but the difference was noticeable.

Byrl convinced me to try the #14 spider with a Legend cone in the National Scheerhorn. He said if it didn’t improve volume and sustain, he’d change it right back.

Well, I walked out of there with a louder, more punchy resonator, courtesy of #14, Legend, and Byrl.

I can’t isolate what variable caused the most improvement…the spider, the cone, or the professional setup. And in fairness, the since-replaced Scheerhorn cone was already several years old by then.

But it would be hard to dismiss the role of the spider, in light of what I heard during the A/B “ping test”.

So my answer to your question is “ sort of…”

Maybe someone else has a purer A/B comparison to share.

tomkatb - Posted - 08/16/2024:  08:18:22

Reminds me of one of my visits to the late Frank Harlow.

He had fixed up a well used Regal Black Lightning for me as a travel guitar.

My wife and her buddy were with me. Bright Lady's. Both Chemistry and Physics teachers.

He had added a #14 spider and Quarterman cone plus a hard maple bridge to that guitar. Much improved. Louder.

Frank had a little hammer and several spiders and cones to mess with. They had fun comparing the ringing of them

I was shocked at the difference.

The point was improved transmission of vibrations to the guitar.

Better parts can improve a cheap guitar. However, several folks complained to me when I brought that guitar to Jams. They missed my Harlow sound.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 08/25/2024:  13:23:32

The two items on Nati-horns that seem to come up every so often that owners replace are 1. The spider and 2. The tailpiece

I don't recall the reasons why some folks didn't care for the tailpiece, but Jamie's experience with Byrl regarding the spider change echoes other reports. 



I had a nice conversation with Byrl sometime back, and the topic of spiders came up. I told him several years ago I changed the spider in my my Clinesmith to a Schoonover Modular spider. At the time I was  getting the Fishman Nashville pickup installed, and I really liked the idea of how Kent Schoonover's custom Fishman pickup mounts from a flat bottom surface with screws underneath which makes for a super tight fit with the base of the Nashville. After this change, whether it was with a Legend cone or a Scheerhorn cone, the guitar unplugged to my ears has sounded the best it ever has, including the years when it had a #14 along with acoustic only bridge inserts. 

I don't recall the "why" off the top of my head, but Byrl Murdock told me that he isn't a big fan of the  Schoonover spider.

Go figure.