"Mushy" low strings on resonator guitars

Ben Sims · Post by **Ben Sims** » 9 Nov 2006 10:40 pm

I've recently started to become frustrated with my Beard-setup Flinthill resonator because, while the upper strings sound great, I just can't seem to get a good, lively sound out of the lower three strings. I've heard people describe this as "mushiness" in the lower strings. I guess this is common in less expensive instruments. Putting on new strings definitely helps. I've tried adjusting the tension on the cone without much improvement. Before I go upgrading to something more respectable, I'm just wondering - does anyone have an idea what makes a resonator guitar sound lively or mushy in the lower registers? And are there any tweaks I can make to my setup that would possibly improve things?

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 10 Nov 2006 12:47 am

Which tuning are you using?

------------------
Mark

Charlie Campney · Post by **Charlie Campney** » 10 Nov 2006 4:25 am

I have the same problem mainly with the fretted G (base) string above the 5th fret or so. I am using GHS strings and tuned to GBDGBD. The guitar was set-up by Tim Scheerhorn a few years ago using his nut and bridge/spyder and quarterman cone. That string on the 7th fret sounds dead. Other strings sound good.

Ben Sims · Post by **Ben Sims** » 10 Nov 2006 7:31 am

Mark,

I'm currently using standard GBDGBD dobro tuning, but it sounds similar in low-bass G tuning as well.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 10 Nov 2006 8:16 am

I would suggest going with lighter gauge strings on the lower ones.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 10 Nov 2006 8:48 am

Sounds like you are using a GHS dobro set with a .056 for the 6th string, so I agree with Erv that lighter gauge strings on the lowers may be the ticket.

One of the things folks like to talk about with dobros is that with a pro setup, using a Q-cone, a quality bone nut, and quality bridge materials-one can get a great sounding guitar at the fraction of the cost of an expensive hand made instrument.

I'm sure there is some truth to that, but as with everything else in life-there is no free lunch. There has to be a reason why aside from aesthetic beauty, many luthiers price their resos at $3,000 and up.

Top quality resos seem to still have a pretty good sound the farther up the neck one plays on the bass strings, and I think this is based on quality construction techniques, but they still don't hold the "ring" the upper strings seem to generate.

Erv's suggestion of lighter strings would be the first thing that I would try.

------------------
Mark

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 10 Nov 2006 9:38 am

Don't lighten up too much. The resonator has to be properly loaded.

You've played long enough to hear the difference between the Flinthill and handcrafted guitars? That's good. It usually indicates that you are at a point where you are ready to move on.

The good news. You've got lots of fine choices. The bad news...It'll cost you

h

------------------
Howard Parker
poobah@resoguit.com
www.resoguit.com
ListOwner RESOGUIT-L
03' Carter D-10

[This message was edited by Howard Parker on 10 November 2006 at 09:39 AM.]

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 10 Nov 2006 9:52 am

I agree with everything Howard said on this.

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 10 Nov 2006 9:56 am

Are the strings running under the tail piece or over the top? Sometimes if you run them over the top, it can be eaiser to string up but, will result in less load on the cone and could result in the sound you mentioned...just a thought.

------------------
Sho~Buds, Fender amps & guitars, Tut Taylor resos, and Twang to the bone!

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 10 Nov 2006 10:18 am

Great points by both Howard and Larry-though there seems to be sort of a Hatfields vs. the McCoys thing on how to string, over or under the tailpiece.

Howard is right-don'tlighten up too much-but it might be a worthwhile experiment to take the lower three down a few notches-maybe the 6th from .056 down to .052?

You must know Howard since he works for Beard Guitars. And hearing the difference in quality is a big factor, as to which both he and I alluded.

I have a friend out here with a Beard Mike Auldridge, and you can play the 6th string pretty far up the neck and still get a nice ringing bass sound.

It's one of the reasons they cost around $3,500...

------------------
Mark

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 10 Nov 2006 11:27 am

I can tell you that my Beard MA 8 string has bass to die for. And it has a low E string!

But Howard's right: it will cost ya.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 10 Nov 2006 12:01 pm

When I ordered my Guernsey several years ago, one of the things that he emphasized was the volume, and response, of the bass strings on his guitars. Reso-vets have all been in bluegrass jams where they were stuck on the first two strings, just to be heard.
So Howard's dead-on. Time to spend some SERIOUS money. Light gauge strings won't help, in fact, they may make the problem worse. And I doubt if it even matters whether the strings go over, or under, the tailpiece, as long as they're putting downward pressure on the bridge.

AJ Azure · Post by **AJ Azure** » 10 Nov 2006 2:30 pm

Try switching to a Randy Allen taiLpiece. google it. it could help.

I am in Low G6 and if I lightned strings i would get even more mush. my string gauges 68,58,38 (maybe going to 40),28,20,18

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 10 Nov 2006 2:56 pm

OK, Ben forget about the lighter strings!!!

...it was just an idea-I haven't actually tried it myself-but I have a couple of pretty nice resos, so I don't need to.

Time to upgrade to a nice dobro and consign the Flinthill to the "going camping" guitar.

------------------
Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 10 November 2006 at 04:38 PM.]

Ben Sims · Post by **Ben Sims** » 10 Nov 2006 6:30 pm

Thanks for all the advice, but I think I actually did something to my guitar to cause this problem, which I have now managed to fix. I think what happened was this: I disassembled the resonator assembly last time I changed strings, and when I put it back it was rattling quite a bit. So I tightened the cone down, just until the rattling stopped, but this took more tension than usual. But now it seems to have settled down to where I can loosen the screw a lot more without rattling. And after doing that, a lot of tone returned to the lower strings. It's still not perfect, but I have less of an excuse to upgrade immediately ...