Good to know, thanks!
Probably this question is way out of everyone’s wheelhouse, but what the heck. I bought a resonator a couple of years ago with the intent of learning slide. But as much as I like listening to slide guitar, realized that I was going down yet another tangential rabbit hole. I do really like the sound or the resonator, a single cone Chinese copy of a National type O (without the coconut trees) and would like to play it with standard tuning and a pick. The problem is that the setup is so dang high and the string gauge would make Stevie Ray Vaughn cringe. Do you think that a good luthier could lower the setup and replace or fill the nut for lighter gauge strings to where I wouldn’t need a slide to play?
Always wanted to try a resonator. Pictures please!
If the nut needs refiling (or even replacement), then that’s definitely a job for an experienced luthier if you want it done right the first time. Take it to a good shop, they’ll tell you if that type of setup is possible. You probably won’t want to go too light on the string gauge though, because that will definitely change the sound. You probably need a certain gauge to get some sustain out of it, that sonic energy has to come from somewhere.
Agree 100 % on the nut. The bridge is nothing more than a rectangular wooden block held by string pressure to the cone. To lower the string height, I imagine that you could just sand or shave a bit off of the cone side of the block/bridge thingy, AKA the biscuit. But I’ll leave that to the professionals since there might be some intonation considerations. I forgot to mention that it is a round neck and not square as some of them are.
Funny thing, I tend to sneeze deeply and loudly, which tends to make dogs bark and babies cry. My dad used to do it as well and I remember how it would give me an adrenaline rush when I was growing up and dad would sneeze. My kids are used to it now and really laugh when it happens. What’s funny is how loud the cone rings if I sneeze in the same room or even the adjacent room. So the cone and I must be on the same resonate frequency or something.
Of course you can play this like an acoutic.
This is the one I occasionally play:
I raised the nut, but before I did it I used to play it normally. It has a nice sound.
Right now it is tuned openG (D-G-D-g’-B-d’) but you cannot play minor chords well with that, so I’ll try the C6 tuning (C-E-G-A-c’-e’), in which you play minor chords on the three high strings, and major ones on the low ones.
I found a recording of my attempt at that Tallstrom piece I linked to in the music thread. It’s not my best, I since found a better one, but this was already uploaded so what the heck!
Less reverb, more buzzing! Crafter acoustic bass…
Impressive! It’s not easy to get an acoustic bass to sound like that
Thanks - I could actually not find anything else to play on it, so I sold it. I was hoping to join an acoustic band but didn’t get any offers on the local musician sites. Oh - except a busker, and I wasn’t going to do that.
Slowly getting my left hand back under control as far as playing is concerned. I didn’t upload this to YouTube for fear of a copyright block, don’t know how that works these days, so put it on Drive instead…
Nice playing there!
Well done sir
Thanks guys - you’re very kind.
Got myself a nice little pedal board - first time I’ve had one - to cut down on the cable spaghetti…
Very happy with it.
I never bought one of their pedals (yet), but I love the JHS Pedals Youtube channel. Their latest video hit it out of the park. The creativity of those guys is off the charts.
Looks like a good christmas present (if the Phantom will not arrive by surprise). I only have 5 drive pedals already, so…
Over the last 3 years, my essential tremor (ET) has gotten gradually worse, to the point that I have difficulty holding on to a pick. At times, I don’t have the dexterity to even pick one up. And fingerpicking is worse. It’s like my fingers are going to all of the wrong strings, never mind the timing.
But one day while playing pickleball, I noticed that after about an hour into playing, I become not only more accurate hitting the ball, but have less double-tap incidents. I wondered if that would have a positive effect with other activities, like playing guitar.
Earlier this year, I had made the choice to stop playing and sell most of my gear. I’d keep one electric, one amp, and one acoustic for he kids. When I had tried to play, I’d only given it about 10-15 mins before throwing in the towel. But based on my pickleball experience, it turned out similarly. If I keep playing, the sound be damned, sure enough after about 30 mins I can strum and perform chord changes reasonably well. Beer helps, but there is a point of diminishing return, which seems to be about two beers max. Probably for the better. If I play an hour or more, it almost feels like old times. Well almost. I have to focus really hard on the next chord change and where I am fretting strings. Nothing is automatic - yet, but I seriously doubt that I’ll ever regain my former dexterity.
I’ve only been back playing about a month, but this Saturday night I’m getting together with some guys in the neighborhood who want start a garage band. I hope that they have understanding neighbors. I also admit that I am harboring much anxiety that they will think of me as a newb, which in a way I am. It feels like I am learning to play all over again. One of them was a serious artist pre corporate career and has music on Apple Music. Nothing that a couple of brews won’t sort, but I’m getting a bit nervous as the weekend approaches.
I know that there are a lot more challenging problems in this world, like wondering if a Russian missile is going to drop on the house tonight. So my apprehension is not even worthy discussion in the large scope of things.
Almost forgot the pron. Incentive to keep playing arrived today.
This is absolutely worthy of a discussion!
Please don’t let anything stop your plans. Music has healing power.
Also, everybody is a newb. Just on a different level.
I’m a brother in crime, playing the drums for a 40 people music club without having any clue or an adequate level of skill or training. Dunning Kruger tried everything to stop me, but it just had to be done due to lack of personnel.
4 years later I’m sitting on the throne, and the music carries me through a crisis. Glad I just pulled through. I still suck, but there’s slow progress. At the current pace I will be good enough on my 90th birthday.
That is one fine tele. Love the clear finish.
This is the one thing that stops me from progressing from playing in the man cave.
Good luck with the weekend jam session. Mentioning your ET woes shows we’re not getting any younger, so go out and enjoy it.
I just wish I had your confidence.
Edit: and Sobek is right, it’s a fine axe. Nicely understated with a beautiful finish.