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Topic: Alternate Materials for Resonator Cones |
Mike Harris
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2009 7:12 am |
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While researching info about 7 and 8 string dobros I came across a Paul Beard quote to the effect that the added tension of one or two additional strings can have an adverse effect on the sound.
Does anyone know about experiments, recent or long ago, with cone materials other than aluminum? |
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Dave Begalka
From:
Minnesota, USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2009 2:49 pm Maple cones
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Hi Mike,
Funny you mention that. I've been spinning cones out of hard maple with good success. Check out the topic: Lapro Electric Resonator Guitars.. and see for yourself. However, the ones I make are intended to fit the guitars I make. They react and sound very different than an aluminum cone does. Sometime down the road I'd like to make a more scientific comparison of the two materials tested on a single guitar. If only there was more hours in a day... Cheers. |
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Mike Harris
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 27 Feb 2009 7:07 am
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Hey, Dave,
I figured in a world where people pay more for plastic-coated phosphor bronze strings or 99.9999995% pure copper speaker wire that some new alloy would be found suitable for a resonator cone. I have to admit, maple was the furthest thing from my mind.
It looks like you may be on to something--I hope you can do this for as long as you want. Good luck on your new enterprise. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 27 Feb 2009 7:33 am
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The problem is, when you change the material you can change the sound. If, for instance, you used a membrane you would end up with an instrument that sounded like a banjo.
That's the opposite extreme, of course. You're trying to enhance sustain, so you need a material which is going to transmit the sound vibration. Steel would be too rigid, I think, unless it were really thin. Has anyone ever tried brass ?
I've seen people use tin, usually in the forms of the bridge resting on an empty food can.
I think I'll do some experiments. I've wanted to incorporate a resonator in a console non-pedal steel for some time, but the size has always been a problem.
It's a bit off-topic, but here's an instrument I've been working on which has all the advantages of a lap steel and a resonator guitar in one, and it has a Hipshot Trilogy that can be used to quickly retune to other tunings. It has both electric and acoustic pickups. The only problem is that's it's heavy, which is why it's lain unfinished for over a year now. I might experiment with different types of cone. |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 27 Feb 2009 4:33 pm
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| Quote: |
| While researching info about 7 and 8 string dobros I came across a Paul Beard quote to the effect that the added tension of one or two additional strings can have an adverse effect on the sound. |
Yes. I have a Beard 6-string, mahogany body and it sounds extraordinary, to me. I also have a Beard 8-string that sounds great, but not as great as the 6.
Back around 1980, Red Rhodes was playing a 10-string Dobro with a diatonic tuning, and he suggested that I get one also, which I did. At that time, I looked at guitars the same way I looked at beer, if 6 is good, 12 is better. So I added a couple banjo tuners, made a nut and bridge, and turned my 10-string into a 12-string.
It didn't sound very good, and when I took it to Donald Young, at OMI, he found that I had crushed the cone and cracked the spider. So I went back to 10-strings and he spun a new cone out of something better. It's a good sounding guitar, but not a s nice as the Beards.
I would love to have cone made out of titanium 6-4 for the 10-string. If it's good for mach 3.6, it's got be good for 10-strings. |
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