Best Dobro cones these days?

Tom Quinn · Posted 7 Jun 2009 6:32 am

I finally got my Dobro out of storage yesterday. I bought it almost 30 years ago -- traded a cream-colored Les Paul Custom straight up for it. It's a custom guitar that started as a blonde maple OMI body and finished at Santa Cruz guitars. I got it from the luthier who made it and was retiring.

The guitar has a custom cone that has a beautiful tone, but I'm interested in what is the "hot" setup these days.

Any advice or direction appreciated!

Tq
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Mark Eaton · Posted 7 Jun 2009 7:01 am

What is a "custom" cone?

The hot cone for years was the Quarterman, but they are becoming difficult to get. The supply is drying up, and John Quarterman apparently is difficult to get get a hold of.

Legndary resonator guitar luthier Tim Scheerhorn is now spinning his own cones, and the few people I know that have them so far are raving about their quality. Scheerhorn cones are being in installed in Rayco Guitars out of British Columbia.Tim Scheerhorn doesn't have a website, so there isn't anyplace you can go to check them out on-line.

Paul Beard started spinning his own cones several years ago, and they have a very good reputation. The supply is consistent, which can't be said for Quarterman. What I'm excited about from Beard isn't the cones they have been spinning over the past few years (I already have a Quarterman in my Clinesmith, and it sounds great), but Paul is coming out with a brand new highly polished cone called the Legend Tone, and you can check it out in his new Odyssey guitar here:

http://www.beardguitars.com/guitarodysseymain.html

Scroll over the top of the guitar and you will see the cone, and an accompanying spiel. I'm not sure if it is only available like his new proprietary cover plate designs by ordering a guitar, and not as a separate part. But if a dobro cone can be considered "pretty" then this is easily the prettiest cone I have ever seen.
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Tom Quinn · Posted 7 Jun 2009 7:10 am

When I bought the guitar the maker said he took the cone to a friend in the aerospace industry who re-spun it making the edge a bit thinner and some other stuff. It is a rich sounding instrument, not as metallic as some Dobros. I don't know if it is as loud as other guitars because I haven't had good strings on it in 20 years until yesterday.
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Billy Gilbert · From: Texas, USA

Beard wasn't selling the polished cone to the public a few weeks ago. I tried to get one. But if you like the way it sounds, "If it ain't broke don't fix it". Billy

Mark Eaton · Posted 8 Jun 2009 7:08 am

Of course if you like the way it sounds don't mess it with, always prudent advice but I have to believe that Tom already knows that, being a big boy and all.

But odds are it has an OMI Dobro cone - decent, not a thing wrong with them and as opposed to being a "custom" cone I would guess the correct term would be "customized" because of the modification the aerospace friend did. But he could modify it until he was blue in the face and it's not going to change the alloy that the cone was made from to begin with.

Many people have installed modern upgraded cones like the Quarterman into older dobros and have been very pleased with the change.

On the other hand, I have a 1930 Dobro that has the original cone, and I have not modified it intentionally because of the "vintage" sound it has, though it is not very loud compared to modern well made resonator guitars.
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Mark

Billy Gilbert · From: Texas, USA

Mark, the thing about Quarterman and Beard cones is that they are consistent in quality. On the other hand I have seen OMI cones that sounded just as good as Beard or Quarterman, but that is the exception rather than the rule. If he happens to have one of the good ones, little or nothing will be gained by trading out the cone. There could be other factors that need some tweeking, (check out Paul Beard's DVD on dobro set up) that would make as much or more difference than changing the cone. If he really wants it set up right, he could send it to the Beard shop and get all the "issues" taken care of at once. YMMV

Mark Eaton · Posted 8 Jun 2009 7:52 am

You'll get no argument from me Billy except on one point and this refers more to someone upgrading an "entry level" resonator guitar like a $300 Regal which has a cheapo imported cone. Not necessarily the guitar Tom has, because you and I have no clue about Tom's guitar: The most dramatic change you will notice is a high quality cone. I know how important setup is on a dobro. But I have also had a few reso luthiers tell me that they believe the cone is responsible for 80-90% of the sound of the guitar, but don't shortchange the importance of the last 10-20%, that is what will take the guitar from good to excellent.

This is all basic stuff that has been hashed over endlessly on "dobro-centric" forums like Reso-Nation or Resoguit, it just isn't posted about that often on the Steel Guitar Forum.
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Mark

Billy Gilbert · From: Texas, USA

Mark, When you give the cone 80-90% and the setup 10-20% of the credit for a dobro sound, that leaves 0% for the body, and I think that is pretty close to right. Different tone woods and different body volumes make a little difference, but in my opinion not much. One of the young up-and-coming reso players used a tweaked Regal for 2 or 3 years, professionally, while waiting for delivery of a Sheerhorn. Herb Remington has a Saga (Regal's parent company) converted to 8 string via a new neck and tuned to A6 that he calls a "wonderful instrument". I think when most of us "upgrade" to a more expensive instrument we are looking more at the "prestige" angle and expect to sound better with a more high dollar instrument. Again YMMV.

Mark Eaton · Posted 8 Jun 2009 12:10 pm

Billy, part of that last 10-20% I think has to do with a whole bunch of little things done very well, like materials, construction, and of course workmanship. but I'm also including the body in there - it's not just the setup. I have run across some folks who think it is a waste of money to spend the big dough on a custom guitar because "it's just a wooden box to hold a different version of a speaker cone."

If that were truly the case, how could anyone justify the money spent on high end resos? Why wouldn't Jerry Douglas just play a Regal and then be done with it?

I know a number of stories like the one about Herb Remington having a great sounding Regal, but I just haven't had that experience myself.

Along with being a guitar and music freak, I'm a long time cyclist, I enjoy both road biking and mountain biking, and I really like following the technology used in building high quality bicycles, like something one of your fellow Texans, Lance Armstrong would ride.

There is a long-time saying among bike builders that you can get 90% of the performance of a top pro racing bicycle for half the price by subbing out parts, etc.

In other words, let's say on the average pro racing team these days a pro level bike might retail for about $6K (some pros ride road bikes valued at about $10K). But for the sake of discussion, let's stick with the $6K figure. I could take you into a high end bike shop right now and put you on a bike for half that, around $3K that is pretty darn close in overall ride quality to the $6K bike. Except it might weigh 1.5 to 2 pounds more,which means that you will arrive just a little bit later at the top of the mountain and the brakes and shifters might not be quite as smooth operating, and and you might not feel quite as sure about the whole thing riding it at a high speed it on a curvy downhill road.

The $3K bike is fine for a middle-age Joe Blow like me who doesn't race, but for the Lance Armstrongs of the world, they need all the advantages of the $6K bike, because seconds might separate them from success or failure.

With musical instruments like resonator guitars, the reality is that there isn't a huge difference between a fairly inexpensive guitar with a good setup and a very expensive Scheerhorn, but you'll know it when you hear it! And a big part of thing is the cone, but all the other little things added up is what makes it a Scheerhorn, including many hours and repeated applications of the finish in the spray booth.
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Billy Gilbert · From: Texas, USA

All I meant to say, and apparently I didn't say it very well, is that the average Joe don't need to spend a lot of money on an instrument that will meet their needs.

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

High end resonator guitars, like high end steels, have tonal nuances that the builder has designed into the voice of the guitar.

Those nuances might not be important to some. To others they are critical.

Also, one has only to casually glance inside an OMI vintage guitar and compare it with other modern high end resonator guitars. The difference in craftmanship will be obvious to all. There is a non-trivial price to pay for that level of detail.

It is important to some of us. At least in the company that I keep. Smile

h
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Howard Parker

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

Tom Quinn · Posted 8 Jun 2009 4:15 pm

Well in the company that I keep, this is a terrific and well-admired guitar. It is one of the prettiest, most understated Dobros I've seen, and I've seen many. It also sounds pretty decent. But I like to tweak things, hence the cone question...
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Mark Eaton · Posted 8 Jun 2009 4:24 pm

It's no different than any other guitar in that you can get some good bang for the buck.

I have a Simon & Patrick acoustic dreadnought, this brand is from the Godin/Seagull family of guitars made in Canada. Pretty nice guitar for the money, ballpark $450. They save money on the aesthetics, it's not real fancy. But it sounds pretty good, and average Joe that I am, it gets the job done.

But when I have sat down to play any number of $3000 guitars, the difference is readily apparent, looks aside.

Tweak away, Tom! I'd look into a Scheerhorn cone, if I were you, just for the fun of it.
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Tom Quinn · Posted 8 Jun 2009 4:35 pm

Multiple layers of hand layed wood binding. Ivory at both ends. A bound ebony fretboard AND headstock; custom tuners. A killer sunburst and all around custom workmanship. I've owned maybe 200 -- 250 guitars including all sorts of Dobros and Nationals. I like this one fine... -L-
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Mark Eaton · Posted 8 Jun 2009 4:56 pm

Man, Tom, that's a beauty! I'd sure like to be able to hear it some day. The sunburst is gorgeous, and I really like the binding with the purfling.
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Howard Parker · From: Maryland

Sure,

You should like it fine. To answer your original question, any one of the hand spun aftermarket cones will do quite nicely.

Enjoy.

h
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Howard Parker

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

Tom Quinn · Posted 8 Jun 2009 5:36 pm

Thanks h !!! :- )

Tq
_________________
I need an Emmons!

Mark Eaton · Posted 8 Jun 2009 5:51 pm

Beard Guitars · From: Maryland, USA

Nah...

I was chided for obsessing on "high end" reso's. I thought I'd just come full circle on the discussion. Wink

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301-733-8271
pbeardguitars@hotmail.com

Tom Quinn · Posted 9 Jun 2009 5:10 am

No that's okay. I get it now. The basis for you condescending remarks. You work for Beard. One thing about OMI: they were made in America. They didn't have a factory in China.

I'm well aware what an OMI looks like inside. Seems to be virtually identical to the earlier guitars made by the Dopera brothers, the original Dobro makers.

One thing for sure, if I buy anything it won't be from your company. I wonder if Paul Beard knows that his marketing guy hangs around here and makes snotty remarks to people looking for information?
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Beard Guitars · From: Maryland, USA

My apologies that you took my remarks that way. I was trying to be helpful.

My belief is that there is an instrument for everybody. It really matters not that my personal guitar may not be for you or I don't care for yours.

It's only important that you enjoy what you are doing and make the best music you can.

If you call me I'd be happy to make make my apology personally by phone.

Or PM me and I'll call you!!

Howard
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Beard Guitars, LLC
21736 Leitersburg Pike
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301-733-8271
pbeardguitars@hotmail.com

Sonny Jenkins · From: Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx

Very well stated Howard,,,,I see nothing you should apologize for. You and Beard go above and beyond with help for the reso community,,,,can't please everyone.

Mark Eaton · Posted 9 Jun 2009 7:46 am

And all that stuff aside, there is real difference in sound depending upon the overall construction of resonator guitars.

The cone obviously has a lot to do with the sound. But the more traditional styled Dobro with a soundwell has a body that is not as deep as a lot of the modern guitars. Many modern guitars with baffles, or in the case of the Beard E, no baffles, and lacking the soundwell contruction have a "bigger" sound, more bass response, etc.

The instrument is still evolving. One visit to the Beard website and you can see that. Whereas with a six string flattop large-bodied guitar like a dreadnought, the "holy grail" is still something like a mid 1930's Martin D-28, and there has been a lot of effort made by contemporary luthiers to try to capture that.

There's a guy over on Resoguit that's touting a carbon fiber dobro cone. Really expensive at this point, but maybe another step in the evolution?
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Mark

Tom Quinn · Posted 9 Jun 2009 11:03 am

I've played the Chinese version and it sounds different than an old Dobro or one constructed as such. I don't buy Chinese stuff, period.

My own instrument is valuable and I have been offered good money for it. It takes a backseat to nothing from any company. It is what it is -- a high-end custom-finished Dobro along the lines of the Dopera Brothers instruments. You either like that tone or you don't. Personally, I haven't heard any dobro playing over the past 25 years that sounds better than the old stuff, but hey YMMV... More is not always better, whether in volume, number of notes or bass response.
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Beard Guitars · From: Maryland, USA

The real value of the Chinese made instruments is that they can sometimes provide a reasonably priced entry level guitar.

I remember my first OMI guitar cost me about $700. I don't recall any sub $1,000 (new) domestic guitar for quite a while. I think that the last price for a Gibson 60D was $2,600 before they pulled in from the market.

The Gold Tone and Wechter imports at least are set up in the states. The Regal "Black Lightning" comes with a Quarterman cone. All the Gold Tones use USA made internals.

Not to dissuade "buy America". I'd recommend a used OMI vintage guitar in a heart beat!!

h
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Beard Guitars, LLC
21736 Leitersburg Pike
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301-733-8271
pbeardguitars@hotmail.com

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