Billy Hell - Posted - 03/26/2009:  19:55:52

While installing a pickup in my Gold Tone PBR Deluxe I noticed one of the screws holding the cover plate on was "ajar". After I got the cover plate off I saw that the screw that was sticking up slightly had missed most of the wood and had jammed into the cone. The good news is this helped me put the cone back on exactly where it was but I'm wondering if that dented edge of the cone is messing with my sound in any way. What do you guys think? I would post a picture but I put it all back together before I realized I didn't get it in one of my shots. I put everything back together and opted to leave that screw out. What do you think?

It''ll never heal if you don''t stop pickin'' it!

Edited by - Billy Hell on 03/27/2009 05:54:42

Slideman1939 - Posted - 03/26/2009:  20:30:52

Without seeing any pictures,the real question is whether the screw mishap has created a buzz or rattle. IF the screw can be re-inserted properly or the cone lip re-seated on the ledge by finger pressure (re-bending / re-sitting flat to the ledge) then go for it.It's a hardware instrument and many amateur small fixes are the norm--before paying the shop charge of a pro. If it doesn't (cone) buzz, then be happy because no one will ever know the screw pierced the cone lip. It sounds like a minor thing that would be very expensive (cone replacement) to repair properly. In ancient days on some of the older O.M.I. early products it was actually factory custom to staple and glue the cone to the ledge seat---so the piercing of the cone rim or lip does not necessarily mean bad tone/ ruined cone---unless it buzzes or rattles and that too is fixable.

Billy Hell - Posted - 03/26/2009:  21:19:24

Good info. I'll string her back up in the morning and see what I have.

It''ll never heal if you don''t stop pickin'' it!

jaykellogg - Posted - 03/27/2009:  04:28:20

If you bought it new it may be covered by warranty. As Slideman said it probably doesn't make much difference, sounds like you got a less than perfect setup.

W. Jay Kellogg

Billy Hell - Posted - 03/27/2009:  05:14:25

It did come from Beard that way but I'm the second owner. I'm not opposed to buying a new cone.

It''ll never heal if you don''t stop pickin'' it!

jaykellogg - Posted - 03/27/2009:  07:26:41

If it is just a tiny dent you can smooth it out with a tool (I used a spoon) or leave it as is. It is important that the cone sit in the well flat. I touch the cone in various places around the rim and if it tips up (flat ledge) then I massage the cone until it touches all the way around. I can turn the cone and it still won't wiggle when I touch the rim. On my last reso I levelled the spider as Paul Beard showed in his video, but on my Beard Vintage R the spider had the tips angled "up" a little and I couldn't check the level of the 8 legs the way the video showed. I checked it in the cone and all eight legs touched evenly. I marked it with a sharpie before I took it apart, but if it is the same all the way around it shouldn't make any difference.

W. Jay Kellogg