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??

Views: 897

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Stew Mac has a calculator that gives you the extra length you need to help intonation.
http://www.stewmac.com/FretCalculator

Cool, thanks, that looks helpful however I had to move it over 1/4" in this case, where the calc only indicated a few thousands. Prob due to my action, I also used heavy strings, maybe that makes it worse?

I was never big on a floating biscuit for a cone, thats why I use a short 1/4" dowel rod out the bottom of the biscuit plate and thru a drilled hole in the center of the cone. Then I measure the scale length from nut to biscuit saddle. That gives me spot to cut the cone hole in the lid. You can also adjust the pitch of the neck a few degree`s downward and adjust the action off the biscuit saddle.

Hi heavy strings need a longer bit added - all of my acoustics and electric guitars have slanted bridge saddles with the bass side having more compensation length than the treble side.

You'll also notice, the height of the action can also change the intonation, when I was adjusting my last builds action, I had to re-adjust the bridge placement each time. Now I know it wasn't a res, but the same applies. I'm building a res as well, I have the Thunder cone, but I'm making a bolt on neck, and I was thinking of making the neck slightly adjustable by a 1/4" so I can compensate for the intonation, but was thinking, instead of sliding the biscuit forwards or backwards, you should be able to just turn it on axis(rotate counter clockwise), as usually the high string is set more forward than the low pitch, and the middle would stay where it is as usually needed.

Yep, I do turn it so there is longer space on the bass side. The thing I did not anticipate is the area on the cone that you can move around on is very small. When I slide the biscuit back far enough to get intonation, 2/3 of it is now in the air, no longer in contact with the cone.I've not run into it before because of the kind of reso, like a dog dish for example , has a pretty large flat area to move the bridge around on, not the case here. I'm sure I will end up lowering the action a bit, which will help. In this case "the middle would stay where it is" is no good cause where it is is about 1/4" from where it SHOULD be....

I have actually had the problem before....just remove the strings and tail piec, and  loosen the screws on the cone and slide it back just  a bit, if you have not made the cone hole so big there should be a 1/4 inch to sldie the hole cone back....you might need to take the cone out and on the back part of the body round out the hole so the cone can go back a bit, you only need to move it a liitle

Um, that is a good idea, though it will leave screw holes in the top where the cone was first mounted(I'm not using a cover, yet). I think I'll leave the cone a come up with a "cantilever" bridge.

Well, thanks for the heads up, not sure what everyone else has been doing to this point, but I may mount the neck temporarily fretless, wind a couple strings, then mark each fret position with a tuner, might cut down on the amount of adjustment needed at the biscuit

I play "Red Dog's"...problem averted!

Well that's just cheating, having someone else build it for you lol...how ya doing Beetle?

Hi, I'm thinking that with such a short scale the strings would have less tension on them anyway, so heavier strings would be needed [to allow for slide playing] and may not cause as much intonation problems as you may think, depending on the action of course.

I also  think I would fret the neck, string up the guitar [two outside strings will do] and with a tuner available, slide  a  saddle [with the action height desired] along the top until tuner shows the sweet spot.

It works, its what I do. But maybe a bit late now. Soooo, if your frets are correct I'd go for the "move the whole cone solution".

Cheers Taff

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

Doug Thorsvik posted a video

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

Cigar Box Guitar Slingers - Spokane, 195th Zoom Mtg 03/25/24. Only 1-finger chords, free songbooks here: https://www.cbgslinger.com/download CBG SOF Songbook...
46 minutes ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
17 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
17 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
18 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
18 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
19 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
20 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
21 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
23 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
yesterday
A.D.EKER posted a video

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

The recorded History By Alan Lomax for the library of Congres of the Blues, from Mc Kinley Morganfield (Aka Muddy Waters) the in this take recorded Tribute ...
yesterday
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
yesterday

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->