The Steel Guitar Forum

David DeLoach wrote:I've got an RQ Jones square neck that I've hardly touched over the last few years. I need to restring it and tune it to open G.

Any recommendations on what strings to buy?

Jim Sliff wrote:

David DeLoach wrote: If it's been sitting for years it needs to be set up by a competent resonator (not guitar) tech - the saddle and cone both compress and need to be reset- and the saddle and nut checked/re-cut for bar contact with no pressure; guitar techs generally set the bottom of the slots the same, which is backwards.

Thanks Jim, I'm sure you are correct about it needing a set up.

Anyone know a good resonator tech in the Nashville area?

David DeLoach wrote:

Jim Sliff wrote:

David DeLoach wrote: If it's been sitting for years it needs to be set up by a competent resonator (not guitar) tech - the saddle and cone both compress and need to be reset- and the saddle and nut checked/re-cut for bar contact with no pressure; guitar techs generally set the bottom of the slots the same, which is backwards.

Thanks Jim, I'm sure you are correct about it needing a set up.

Anyone know a good resonator tech in the Nashville area?

Call Kelcey at Emmons; I trained him a few years ago, but if he can't do it he should know someone who can.

One of the critical mistakes guitar techs make with resonator is that the cut the nut and saddle slots at even height from the fretboard/body - correct for "fretting" instruments, but with a resonator the slots need to be cut so the TOPS are even. That way the bar takes very little pressure when playing multiple strings. as it is sitting flat on all the ones it reaches.

Wrong saddle shape and over-tightening of the tension screw are other "guitar tech" mistakes.