What is the purpose of the cover over the bridge on resos...

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Blake Wilson
Posts: 115
Joined: 12 Mar 2007 7:03 pm
Location: Boulder CO, USA

Post by Blake Wilson »

Although I can't cut and paste the paragraph, according to The Luthier's Handbook by Roger H. Siminoff, there is about 145 pounds of string "pull" on the bridge and therefore on the soundboard as well on a steel-string, fixed bridge acoustic guitar (using medium gauge strings). According to Siminoff, "to envision what that 145 of pull means, think of an acoustic guitar, neck pointed down, with a person weighing 145 pounds standing on the edge of the bridge!" (p. 7). (find it on google/books). Would this be any different on a reso? Athough not directly attached to a soundboard, I'd think the pull would be the same (i.e., to a cone) regardless of what the bridge is attached to.

Still, I'd think a reso cone acts like an aluminum can regarding its rigidity. You can stand on top of an empty aluminum can, and it would appear to have plenty of strength and rigidity, but then barely touch the side and it'll crush. Anyone want to try this out ont their cone? :D

Regards,

Blake
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