I have a guy who said he would be interested in having me make a dobro for him. I kind of get the idea of how they go together, but does anyone have any pics, inside and out, so I can see what I need to do?
I know I need the cover that is visible on the face of the instrument, but I need to see how the bridge and the resonator and all that work together.
Thanks
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Just a thought.
Have you checked out the photos of Ted Crocker and soundssogood as well as bairfoot cajun?
They have a lot of photos concerning their reso builds and you will get a lot of ideas from them.
I've had some great results with a cookie tin lid for a 'cone' you can get quite a bit more volume and middly woody warmth than that same lid will give you on a cookie tin guitar.
I bought all my cones etc from Bezdez in Canada about 5 years ago. He still has them listed and they are a good price. Don't know what shipping will be now but I bought 3 sets and they cost me, including shipping, about £20GBP each, which I thought was a good deal.
David Lloyd said:
Hi, Yes you have got the idea regarding the cone.
As the other members have shown you can use any metallic vessel as a cone - tuna tins, metal bowls, number plates etc... a bought cone may sound better - but as sound quality is a personal choice this is upto you. You can easily add disc piezo sounders very cheaply so you can amplify the sound (if you search the forum for piezo you will get hits for price, where to buy and how to wire in place). If you use a magnetic pickup you do get an electric sound. I wired up a magnetic pick up and piezo discs via a 3way so I can have magnetic/both/piezo options giving 3 different sounds. I used a cone off a friend - to buy in the UK they are expensive. If you get chance try out a resonator guitar at a local music store if possible (the string tension is quite high so the cone will resonate properly). On my six string build I started with 11 gauge strings but found it pulled the neck/box too much and I now use 9 gauge - it doen't sound quite so good but the guitar appreciates the lower tension as do my fingers. I also realised that you need a decent angle from the tailpiece to the bridge otherwise the cone doesn't seat or resonate properly.
Good luck, David
Iggy said:
Thanks for the replies, that helps a lot, but I do have some questions.
So basically, a dobro has a bridge that the strings rest on, which sits on top of the cone, and the cone vibrates to give it that special sound, right? So instead of the cigar box top vibrating to make the sound, the cone does it?
Can a cone be made from some type of household item, or does it need to be purchased? Can I use a cheap metal bowl, or would it be too thick to vibrate enough?
In the YouTube video, the guy looks like he made it with a 3 coil pickup. Wouldn't the magnetic pickup ignore the sound of the cone, and turn it into a simple electric guitar? Or would it still sound dobro'ish when plugged in?
I am sure I will have more questions as this project progresses.
As the other members have shown you can use any metallic vessel as a cone - tuna tins, metal bowls, number plates etc... a bought cone may sound better - but as sound quality is a personal choice this is upto you. You can easily add disc piezo sounders very cheaply so you can amplify the sound (if you search the forum for piezo you will get hits for price, where to buy and how to wire in place). If you use a magnetic pickup you do get an electric sound. I wired up a magnetic pick up and piezo discs via a 3way so I can have magnetic/both/piezo options giving 3 different sounds.
I used a cone off a friend - to buy in the UK they are expensive. If you get chance try out a resonator guitar at a local music store if possible (the string tension is quite high so the cone will resonate properly). On my six string build I started with 11 gauge strings but found it pulled the neck/box too much and I now use 9 gauge - it doen't sound quite so good but the guitar appreciates the lower tension as do my fingers. I also realised that you need a decent angle from the tailpiece to the bridge otherwise the cone doesn't seat or resonate properly.
Good luck,
David
Iggy said:
Thanks for the replies, that helps a lot, but I do have some questions.
So basically, a dobro has a bridge that the strings rest on, which sits on top of the cone, and the cone vibrates to give it that special sound, right? So instead of the cigar box top vibrating to make the sound, the cone does it?
Can a cone be made from some type of household item, or does it need to be purchased? Can I use a cheap metal bowl, or would it be too thick to vibrate enough?
In the YouTube video, the guy looks like he made it with a 3 coil pickup. Wouldn't the magnetic pickup ignore the sound of the cone, and turn it into a simple electric guitar? Or would it still sound dobro'ish when plugged in?
I am sure I will have more questions as this project progresses.
For goodness sakes, take a look at Barefoot Cajun's pictures. He's made resonators out of everything except his mother's fine china....and that may be next! If you can't find any inspiration there.....you might want to talk the guy into a diddley-bow :-)
Thanks for the replies, that helps a lot, but I do have some questions.
So basically, a dobro has a bridge that the strings rest on, which sits on top of the cone, and the cone vibrates to give it that special sound, right? So instead of the cigar box top vibrating to make the sound, the cone does it?
Can a cone be made from some type of household item, or does it need to be purchased? Can I use a cheap metal bowl, or would it be too thick to vibrate enough?
In the YouTube video, the guy looks like he made it with a 3 coil pickup. Wouldn't the magnetic pickup ignore the sound of the cone, and turn it into a simple electric guitar? Or would it still sound dobro'ish when plugged in?
I am sure I will have more questions as this project progresses.
I don't know if these photos are any help but if you want more info give me a holler. Just hope they have downloaded corrctly as it is the first time I have tried to add pics to a post.
I have recently finished a 6 string resonator CBG with a 7inch cone - I didn't use a top plate because I couldn't find one the right size or price.
If this is the kind of resonator you are thinking of let me know and I will post more pictures of the insides. Regards, David
Jack Nelson > David L.September 13, 2012 at 7:17pm
Hey David,
I really like the way you hid the cone under the box top. I sure would like to see photos of the inside of the box to understand how you mounted the resonator. Already ordered a good size Antonio Y Cleopatra box (12"x7.25"x4") for my 1st. build; a 4 string reso.CBG. I'm new to CBN and this is my first posting. Hope I'm doing this right!
Replies
Have you checked out the photos of Ted Crocker and soundssogood as well as bairfoot cajun?
They have a lot of photos concerning their reso builds and you will get a lot of ideas from them.
Heres one here. http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/2012-12-longbro?context=user
In the very start and very end of this video I'm playing it unplugged
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/longbro
got a video of it on this siteDavid Lloyd said:
Yes you have got the idea regarding the cone.
As the other members have shown you can use any metallic vessel as a cone - tuna tins, metal bowls, number plates etc... a bought cone may sound better - but as sound quality is a personal choice this is upto you. You can easily add disc piezo sounders very cheaply so you can amplify the sound (if you search the forum for piezo you will get hits for price, where to buy and how to wire in place). If you use a magnetic pickup you do get an electric sound. I wired up a magnetic pick up and piezo discs via a 3way so I can have magnetic/both/piezo options giving 3 different sounds.
I used a cone off a friend - to buy in the UK they are expensive. If you get chance try out a resonator guitar at a local music store if possible (the string tension is quite high so the cone will resonate properly). On my six string build I started with 11 gauge strings but found it pulled the neck/box too much and I now use 9 gauge - it doen't sound quite so good but the guitar appreciates the lower tension as do my fingers. I also realised that you need a decent angle from the tailpiece to the bridge otherwise the cone doesn't seat or resonate properly.
Good luck,
David
Iggy said:
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?screen...
So basically, a dobro has a bridge that the strings rest on, which sits on top of the cone, and the cone vibrates to give it that special sound, right? So instead of the cigar box top vibrating to make the sound, the cone does it?
Can a cone be made from some type of household item, or does it need to be purchased? Can I use a cheap metal bowl, or would it be too thick to vibrate enough?
In the YouTube video, the guy looks like he made it with a 3 coil pickup. Wouldn't the magnetic pickup ignore the sound of the cone, and turn it into a simple electric guitar? Or would it still sound dobro'ish when plugged in?
I am sure I will have more questions as this project progresses.
Thanks
http://www.acousticfingerstyle.com/ResonatorsExplained.htm Here is a picture of a cone/biscuit bridge sitting in a soundwell without the cover on
I have recently finished a 6 string resonator CBG with a 7inch cone - I didn't use a top plate because I couldn't find one the right size or price.
If this is the kind of resonator you are thinking of let me know and I will post more pictures of the insides. Regards, DavidHey David,
I really like the way you hid the cone under the box top. I sure would like to see photos of the inside of the box to understand how you mounted the resonator. Already ordered a good size Antonio Y Cleopatra box (12"x7.25"x4") for my 1st. build; a 4 string reso.CBG. I'm new to CBN and this is my first posting. Hope I'm doing this right!
Jack Nelson
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