I just did my first build using a lightning reso cone from Gitty and at the end found I had a problem with intonation. I laid everything out first as I always do, used a 24" scale. I was very careful to measure twice and cut once for the hole to hold the cone. All done and string it up and something is not right, intonation is off. I used a medium action since I wanted to do both slide and finger notes, it is fully fretted. I know it will go a bit sharp if the action is too high. So , to get the intonation to be correct , I had to slide the discuit/ saddle back by a bit over 1/4", so now the biscuit is not centered on the cone "nipple" like it should be but teetering on the edge. I think I will make a new biscuit/saddle on an oval shape (maybe rectangle) and screw it to the cone so it does not tip off the edge of the "nipple". I've done resonators before but never one where moving the biscuit causes a problem. I guess the moral of the story is I needed to figure in some "compensation" in my calculation of where to mount the cone on the box for my scale length.
Anyone else run into this??
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Note to self measure 3 times. most my build have floating bridges but not all now i'll think twice thanks Bluesheart.
Before you move the resonator back check the break angle of the strings and adjust if necessary. I ran into this problem and moved the res back. Still had an issue. I ended using the neck on a different git and had the same problem. I finally discovered the break angle was all wrong eventually after slowing down and taking a closer look. Even if it isn't wrong, the angle of the strings can influence better intonation.
Hi, changing the break angle at the bridge and/or nut would have an effect on how the strings feel, soft or tight, and may tie in with what I mentioned on this thread earlier. The fact that finger pressure on strings when setting intonation can effect good intonation. Soft strings and soft/light tension may allow the string move more under finger pressure. Giving a false note against the harmonic.
Taff
Depending on the design of your git,could you relocate the fingerboard/nut away from the saddle using a bit of creative bodging?
That is actually a really good idea and one I had not thought of. I could add 1/4" to the length of the through neck . I'm not sure if I would like it visually as I have the fretboard meeting up with the body right where I want it now but thanks for the food for thought! I think this is similar idea that another poster suggested, but they were talking, pre build. I had not thought of it as a retrofit.
Make another fingerboard,you can always use this one on a future build.
Fingerboard is glued on and fretted, fret spacing etc are fine. I'm going to go with the simplest solution, make a new biscuit with the slot cut off center.
Thank you all again for all the helpful suggestions!!
you can trim out the neck to box where they meet
This a question prompted by Chickenbone Johns post... I'm trying to figure out "the compensation" - I'm afraid I may have missed something. Why the compensation and is it only for reso cones??
"Compensation" is needed for all fretted insturments. As you press the strings down to the frngerboard it will tend to pull the strings sharp, so you need to set the bridge back a little from the theoretical scale length, which helps to the flatten the note to nearer how it should sound.
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