The Steel Guitar Forum

All other things being equal, is there a real difference between a tricone and the more common single cone resonators? Has anyone out there played a Weissenator? That's the (very nice looking by the way) wood bodied ticone. I know many of us have played single cone metal guitars. Judging from my expeience with the metal guitars, the tricone has more volume and fuller tone. So why aren't more wooden tricones being made? Wouldn't they be cheaper? Wouldn't the characterisitcs of the tricone (fuller tone and greater volume) be just as pronounced? And judging from my experience of wood vs metal, the sound would be more consistent.

I personally prefer single-cone biscuit resonators, but I do like the sound of a tri-cone. In my limited experience I wouldn't say that they are any louder than a biscuit (might depend on the guitar), but they definitely have a smoother tone. For me and the types of songs I play, spider cones are my least fave, although I could sit and listen to guys like Jerry Douglas all day.

In my experience, biscuit cones are louder, but have less sustain, although some can really sing in some of the higher frequencies, apparently due to a good match of body size and resonator size. That punch and piercing highs is why the old Mississippi juke joint players preferred them in the days before amplification.

But I prefer spider-bridge cones for the deeper and sweeter tone, even on a round-neck, but especially for a square neck. The mids are really good.

The tricones have a mellow, complex tone, I guess because of the multiple cones resonating together. But I think the big T bridge eats up some of the vibrational energy and cuts down on the volume a little.