[DerekSlide]

If I were to add a passive in port jack to my reso, How much easer would it be to make some volume?

[Noodler]

Not 100% sure what you mean by "passive in port." Do you mean a pickup system? To use electrically?

I found the best way to make mine loud and twang (mine was an ebay lemon) is that I've taken to using metal finger-picks like a banjo. Goes lots better.

There are various acoustic things you can do. Higher action, adjusting the cone (mine is non-adjustable), the way the strings are put on (there is a trick to the bridge end to make them louder), bright bronze strings, etc. You probably knew that stuff, but just in case.

[DerekSlide]

Originally Posted by Noodler

Not 100% sure what you mean by "passive in port." Do you mean a pickup system?

I mean to say so I can use my amp with my tricone resonator so my amp don't feel lonely LOL.

[Noodler]

Depends on the amp and the pickup you buy. I think you'll find a regular amp is too trebly to handle a reso properly. Or rather the output from the reso will be too thin and trebly for a regular amp.

Mine came with a pickup, jack, and EQ built in. I've tried it through my electric amp and thought maybe an acoustic amp might be better. Too brittle to be practical (fear of wrecking the speaker with attack), but my reso was cheap.

It's a bit specialised. I'd place a call to a bluegrass store. ie one which specialises in resos, banjos, etc. and ask them. They might recommend a stick-on PUP, the cost might be prohibitative, ask them how it would go with your amp. When I asked about getting a Fishman fitted to another guitar they were a bit reluctant to make holes and recommend I duct-tape a PUP on.

They'll show you that trick where they put the strings on "the wrong way" for extra volume if you don't already know it too.

I'm going to keep mine and just use metal picks for now.

Can you post a photo of your one?

[DerekSlide]

Originally Posted by Noodler

Depends on the amp and the pickup you buy. I think you'll find a regular amp is too trebly to handle a reso properly. Or rather the output from the reso will be too thin and trebly for a regular amp.

Mine came with a pickup, jack, and EQ built in. I've tried it through my electric amp and thought maybe an acoustic amp might be better. Too brittle to be practical (fear of wrecking the speaker with attack), but my reso was cheap.

It's a bit specialised. I'd place a call to a bluegrass store. ie one which specialises in resos, banjos, etc. and ask them. They might recommend a stick-on PUP, the cost might be prohibitative, ask them how it would go with your amp. When I asked about getting a Fishman fitted to another guitar they were a bit reluctant to make holes and recommend I duct-tape a PUP on.

They'll show you that trick where they put the strings on "the wrong way" for extra volume if you don't already know it too.

I'm going to keep mine and just use metal picks for now.

Can you post a photo of your one?

Well I was going to order the pre amp thingy from republic guitars, in the parts links but here is my resonator.







And here is the preamp one I'm going to think about using.


Schatten Tricone Resonator Guitar Pickup

[allthumbs]

Look at swapping out the cones to National steels or a high end 3rd party cone maker's stuff. More volume and better tone.

[Noodler]

Sweet-looking geetar there. Looks bluesy rather than blue-grass. I especially love the star inlay. I haven't tried a tricone before, but I love metal bodies. Seem to have even more "resonatoriness" about them.

Listening to those samples, I liked the first one. It seemed balanced and true to life. The other samples are what I mean about the trebly, thin sound. Not true to life. Grates a bit, especially the 2nd sample. Not as nice as just the guitar unamplified.

I was recommended one like the first type, that doesn't need holes drilled. For me personally I am not drilling a hole in my guitar, and a pro would probably do it installed for not much more than that, if you want the 3-way option. Of course I don't know how good you are with a drill, but you can't make a mistake, you know?

[allthumbs]

The last clip, the tricone, is the closest to the sound of those guitars. A tricone has a distinctive brassy sound with lots of treble overtones. Unmistakable. People either love or hate that tone.

[DerekSlide]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

Look at swapping out the cones to National steels or a high end 3rd party cone maker's stuff. More volume and better tone.

Thanks bro but I love the tone of this tricone.


and I'm still not very good at swapping out stuff.



By the way this tricone is one bad mo "because it's mine LOL"

[Noodler]

This is what I hear.

Clip 1: Perfect
Clip 2: Annoying, horrible metal against metal. Thin and trebly. Yuk!
Clip 3: The amp. Sounds like any acoustic guitar through an amp at a beer garden. Reverb is as strong as the guitar. Could get that sound out of a regular guitar (although I played my reso all day after reading this thread).
Clip 4: Rough and bluesy. Actually sounds like mine when amplified, so I guess mine is good then? Mine isn't a tricone though. Lots of high mids. I don't hate it, but I liked the first clip (single cone?) better.

So the tricones sound like they look then. Like they belong in the hands of some old blues hound with a real bottle-neck they got from the whisky bottle they smashed when someone stole their mojo while the was drinkin in a juke joint down in Mississip. Very specialised sound. Really authentic blues sound.

[Noodler]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

The last clip, the tricone, is the closest to the sound of those guitars. A tricone has a distinctive brassy sound with lots of treble overtones. Unmistakable. People either love or hate that tone.

It didn't strike me that I hated it at first, but I've listened to those clips quite a few times now and as much as I like Resonators I must not be a fan of tricones. Thanks for the info. I'll remember that when I upgrade.

Derek, did you buy a pickup? Resonators are supposed to be loud anyway....