A couple of dobro questions.

Paul DiMaggio · From: Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

Does anybody use the split string slant minor triads in the high G tuning ? It is an inversion with the root on the 2nd or 5th strings.
I have a Gretsch Bobtail and the 6th string seems to loose tone faster than the others but only acoustically , when plugged in it sounds fine. I think I've seen someone mention that these guitars are short of bass response. Can anything be done to remedy this?

Michael Kienhofer · From: Goulais River,Ontario,Canada

If your Gretsch is still stock .
Change the spider and cone.
This will yield a dramatic change in tone and playability.

Mark Eaton · Posted 29 Nov 2014 5:58 am

A high quality cone and spider will definitely help, but trading up to the next level to a guitar like a Goldtone/Beard will yield an even more dramatic change.
But if you need it for plugged-in playing then you can't beat the Gretsch for value - they have done a great job in getting the Fishman Nashville pickup to work in the guitar for a very reasonable price.

If it were me, I might go for a Beard Legend Cone as an upgrade and leave it at that. I wouldn't want to mess with the setup involving the spider bridge with the pickup mounted in the slot. The Legend cone might make a fairly significant difference in overall tone improvement.

Not sure how much it will improve bass response. One of the things you pay for in a quality American-built resonator guitar is the overall design and construction which often includes a strong bass response. Without the pickup, the Gretsch is a ballpark $350 dobro - you are only to get so much out of an instrument in that category.

I've done slants with minors - I'm not sure what "split string" means.
_________________
Mark

Michael Kienhofer · From: Goulais River,Ontario,Canada

Sorry, Mark I disagree on the Leaving it at just the cone,
If you had one of these spiders in your hand you would see how badly these are really made! they look more like a medieval weapon.
If you are going to go thru this, the cone without the spider change is not worth the effort.

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

Yes,

The spider cone, combo will give you the best bang for the buck.

Problem is if you replace the spider you may have two issues with the pickup, which as we know is also the bridge inserts:

1. Getting it out without damage.

2. Getting the spider arch to mimic the original "Klingon" spider because of the real risk of an action issue.

I'm afraid Paul is caught between a rock & a hard place. Spend the money for the cone if you wish or just set it aside for a future better guitar.

h
_________________
Howard Parker

03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
Listowner Resoguit-L

Bill Mollenhauer · From: New Jersey, USA

I dont see how losing 6th string bass tone over time has anything to do with the cone. The first place I would look (assuming a recent 6th string) is the string slot for the bridge and nut. Maybe something shifts during time if one of he slots is a little big. Is the bass side bridge in the correct place or can it move. Has the spider shifted position on the cone. If you mark everything with a china marker you can keep an eye on your setup.

If you are thinking of upgrading stop with a Legend cone. Your dobro will be better than a Gold Tone.

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

I'll disagree with the last opinion Very Happy

Let me just say that there is a reason why price points on the two guitars are significantly different.

There is more then a "Legend Cone" of difference between the two.

I'm intimately aware of what a Legend Cone can do. Turning a Gretsch into a Goldtone will take more than a cone swap.

It'll take a new design.

h

Paul DiMaggio · From: Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

It is just the 6th string, the set that is on now are GHS PL1650, but the EJ 42 set did the same thing. They are great initially then after a time the 6th gets thuddy, if that is even a word. I do tune back and forth to the drop E tuning. I can't see that making a difference tho. I'll check all the contact points.

Stephen Cowell · From: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Make sure you get a good right-angle bend on the wound strings before you cut them... this keeps the wrap tight.. if it loosens up it will definitely sound 'thud-like'.
_________________
New FB Page: Lap Steel Licks And Stuff: https://www.facebook.com/groups/195394851800329

Paul DiMaggio · From: Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

I am sure this was a string issue. The 4th string broke right out of the blue so I've changed them out. The 6th string's winding had separated under the tail piece. Not sure if that contributed to the problem. I checked the guitar out there doesn't seem to be any obvious thing wrong with the bridge, nut, tail piece or tuners.

Brian McGaughey · From: Orcas Island, WA USA

Paul,

I've been playing and around dobros just long enough to feel very confident in saying that you'd be throwing good money after bad to try to significantly improve the sound of the Gretsch by upgrading any parts strictly for sonic reasons.

IMO you're best off to continue to play it plugged in and save your money for something else that will come your way when your ready for it financially.

Speaking as an owner of a Goldtone that I never play at all anymore other than to keep as a backup for my go to guitar, you may want to skip that step on your way up the ladder toward better dobros. (Sorry Howard Smile

)

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

Better dobros are good. I have a basement full of them Laughing

I always tell people that the Goldtones are way better than the Dobro 60-D's I learned on..back in the dark ages.

h

Asa Brosius · Posted 8 Dec 2014 6:37 pm

I own a goldtone ,and the cheap gretsch with the pickup installed- the goldtone has significantly more volume and weight, and the bass response is superior, to my ears. The Gretsch has a midrange sweetness I really like- not dissimilar to a few hi- end Raycos I've played. I only play out with the gretsch and the jd aura pedal however, and that's allowed infinite possibilities, via amps/pedals . Does anyone have any experience with a goldtone with the Nashville/ Aura combo?

Brian McGaughey · From: Orcas Island, WA USA

I had a Fishman JD pickup mounted on a Schoonover spider that I mounted in my Goldtone for a time. I used it with the JD Aura pedal. Amplified it sounded like my Goldtone only louder, which is exactly what this system is supposed to do.

I just have never been able to "get one" with that Goldtone, try as I might for several periods of time. I found a dobro that I fell in love with and mounted the p/u system in her.
The Goldtone has been kicked to the side of the road. Sad

Paul DiMaggio · From: Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

The string change seems to have worked. I've put lots of playing time on the new strings (GHS pl1600) and they are holding up fine. Just a bad set I think. I agree about the midrange tone these guitars have, it is nice. Plugged in, even without the JD Aura pedal ,it sounds pretty good to me.
I have another question tho. Playing standing up, with your picking hand arm hooked under the strap how do you play palm harmonics? It kinda restricts hand movement.

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

The common wisdom is to unwrap the arm temporarily for the harmonics.

Move back to the "normal" playing position for the rest of your playing.

It's a move to practice Smile

h

Paul DiMaggio · From: Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

Ok ,thanks Howard.

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Vis a' vis Goldtones, I have two, one maple and one mahogany, and both with Fishman pickups installed by Paul Beard himself and played through a JD Aura pedal when onstage. At home, I usually play my pre-war guitars.

The mahogany Goldtone has noticeably better bass response and sustain than the maple up the neck past the 7th fret, where bass response and sustain are needed most. Maple, like on acoustic guitars, is punchier and less bassy. Like a maple Gibson J-200 vs a rosewood Martin D-28.

For what I do, I prefer the mahogany to the maple.

The maple Goldtone is fancier (and some would say "gaudier") with a radical sunburst finish, the mahogany model basically a deep burgundy look to it.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Forum Index > Steel Without Pedals		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic