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Topic: what happens if you "restore" vintage tricone?? |
Hiro Keitora
From:
New York, New York
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Posted 31 Jul 2012 6:31 pm |
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Folks, I have a silly, yet real question here;
What happens if we, say change cones to brand new national ones and stuff like that to the vintage tricone from late 20's and 30's?
I'm sure it'll brighten up the tone, and perhaps, increase the sustain, well, then, it becomes 'closer' to Dobro?? 
My '29 Tricone has such a sweet tone, but compared to modern resonator, it racks sustain a little, especially on bottom 6th string. But, isn't that why we think sweet about these things? or the ultimacy is to be bright and loud as much as it can be?
It's like strings on Acoustic guitar, it sounds metalic for a while, then it mellows out, and eventually, it'll die out. Is old cones considered like that??
<H> |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 31 Jul 2012 7:07 pm
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Hiro, those qualities are actually relished on those old tricones. Changing the cones may change the sound a bit, maybe giving a little more volume and life, but sweetness is irreplaceable.
The only reason I'd swap out the old cones is if they were buzzing or showing signs of damage. Maybe yours needs to be opened up just so you could maybe rotate the cones a bit or clean things out.
Sustain is usually not that great on the bass strings anyway. Good strong vibrato will help that out.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Hiro Keitora
From:
New York, New York
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Posted 31 Jul 2012 8:11 pm
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Ah, Mike , thank you!
I was wondering about exactly what you said. 
No Buzz, like cones not seating well, or bridge groove been worn and too deep, nothing like that.
It seems to me, people want to get "modern Dobro" out of ol' Tricone and that's nothing wrong with that. but it seems like any "improvement" that people try on tricone is to make it closer to "Dobro"....
So I figured I'd try different approach here. 
To me, Dobro and Tricone are very similar,both in design and sound, but I think they are different animals. Or, let me say, I like to treat them as different animal, do I make sense to you??
<H> |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 31 Jul 2012 8:37 pm
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There is no question that old cones sound different to contemporary cones. What I would like to know is Why? After all, National Resonator went to great lengths to reproduce the original idea. The new cones I tried mellowed quickly from the initial sound.
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Hiro Keitora
From:
New York, New York
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Posted 31 Jul 2012 8:44 pm
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Hey David,
So are you saying it's like stringing up an flattop guitar(wither it's sluck key, or not  )with new strings, say, bronze wound. and it's great and brassy for a while-- but how long??
Are you saying the new cones mellow out quickly??
Now, that can be "welcome" thing for us looking for sweet sound, but is it like, dead strings, or mellow strings on flat-top?
(as a comparison)
What do you say?  |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 1 Aug 2012 1:31 pm
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Hi Hiro, I would say the new cones improve with playing. Mine were a bit harsh at first. It is really difficult to quantify or qualify. I am very happy with them now. I have the originals. Someday I'll put them back in and try to make a comparison.
_________________
Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Hiro Keitora
From:
New York, New York
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Posted 1 Aug 2012 7:01 pm
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I guess it's like speaker cone, it needs "break-in" time. If someone can fabricate that "T-Bridge" with Titanium, please drop me a line. 
BTW, I LOVE those Titanium saddles for Tele. It's much more musical than Brass saddles. |
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