Reso Setup Question

Rick Jolley · From: Colorado Springs

My first two strings are fine and loud. My 3rd and 4th seem a lot less loud, harder to play. (And you need theme to play those nice Hank Williams licks.)

Any suggestions. I'm pretty good at set up.

Rick

John Dahms · From: Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA

Remember, on steel those strings are unwound and cut better. On reso they will be wound and mellow out by comparison. If you need to cut in the style songs you will be playing try to find unwound strings close to the gauge you need.
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Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana.

Bryan Bradfield · From: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

1) What are your string gauges?

2) How long have the strings been on the guitar?

Rick Jolley · From: Colorado Springs

Oh Gee, John,

The strings are probably six months to a year old, I guess maybe I should change them, if you think that's critical. <grin> (I don't play that much...two three times a week... more lately, as I get better.)

Unwound strings are an interesting option. I will explore that.

Your quotes 'time flies...fruit flies...' came from James Martin. Are you a computer guy? (me too)

Best,

rick z

Lynn Oliver · From: Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.

Just keep in mind that unwound strings of the same diameter will require more tension than a wound string.

For example, for a 25 inch scale, a phosphor bronze wound .026 string would take 33.9 lbs of tension when tuned to G. An plain steel .026 would take 37.2 lbs of tension, so it's going to feel stiffer.
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Lynn Oliver

Billy Gilbert · From: Texas, USA

Change your strings, and try a .022 unwound string for your 3rd string. The windings tend to loosen after extended usage and that kills the brightness of the string. Smile

Billy

Rob Anderlik · From: Chicago, IL

What are the particulars involved here?

What kind of guitar and who did the set-up? I could be way off on this (I'm no expert, that's for sure) but every component in a set-up makes a differnce, with attention to detail and "know how" being the most critical factor of all. What is the height and composition of your saddle? Is it set-up as high as possible in order to exert maximum pressure on the cone? Is your cone a quarterman cone?

My first reso was an OMI D60 Dobro which also had some "dead" spots where the 3rd string had relatively poor response (especially at the 12th fret) compared to the others. Of course, I didn't realize it at the time, but the reason for that was the set up, not the strings. Like all factory OMI set-up's at the time, it had a maple saddle, set relatively low which did not effectively "load" the cone. About 2 years later I had Tim Scheerhorn do his mod-job and it sounded and played like a completely different guitar. Everyone who played the guitar before and after was amazed.

If you are interested you can reference a few ideas and concepts on reso set-up at my website, including a PPT detailing a recent mod job on a Regal guitar (by Chicago-based luthier Mitch Nelson) as well as a video clip detailing the before/after results.

http://www.robanderlik.com/reso_set-up.htm

Hope this helps!

Regards,
Rob

Rick Jolley · From: Colorado Springs

Guys, thanks so much for the suggestions. I will change my strings (it's about time) and put on an unwound third.

Rob, your site is wonderful. I did my own setup, and the axe sounded pretty good compared to every other one I could find in that part of OK (southwest, slim pickens)

Got up here and the best guitar setup man in town admitted that he "didn't know much about dobro's" So, I will change to an ebonex-capped saddle -- just put one of those on my banjo and it made a big difference.

The axe is a Galveston (prob. Chinese) pretty nice external work (laminated purfling, nice maple) but of course, as you say, setup is everything.

Thanks again, everyone,

RZ

Rick Jolley · From: Colorado Springs

I ordered a new bridge from Stew-mac (well, the material to make one, with ebony top) but it hadn't arrived yet so I decided to change my strings. Lo & behold, the bridge (two pieces of course) had moved around. Part of my problem, eh?

So a twenty-minute job turned into an hour and a half. I had to take the 'hubcap' loose, and put a drop of superglue on the bridge to keep it in place. I put that big solid third string (a .24) on, and it does pretty much do the trick.

Next week, I'll build a new bridge. <sigh>

Rick

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