Official Luthiers Forum!

Just joined forum - been working on a project I thought I'd toss out there. An adjustable Cone Well. Intent is to manipulate the tone through the use of sliders on the ring. I'll be posting updates on the cone well portion of the build. You can find more info about this project on my blog at http://HijinxGuitars.Wordpress.com.

That is going to make an amazing... tambourine?



Sorry, couldn't resist. I admit I have no idea what a cone well is. For a banjo or resonator?


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This is for a wood bodied resonator guitar.

Hijinx, welcome to OLF. I'm still trying to figure out how all this fits together and works - I'll be watching your thread with interest.

For Rirhett, the cone well holds the cone to the top inside a resonator. Most biscuit bridge reso's just have an open bottom into the body of the guitar. Spider bridge resonators sometimes have a ring that goes from the top to the back with holes in it, sometimes they are open like biscuits. I've followed a little bit of what Hijinx is planning on his web page and suggested that he post here to get some comments from people who build resonators.

So the metal parts can slide to open or block off the holes in the rim? Could be interesting to hear the effect it has. Will the metal posts go through the cover plate so you can slide them while playing?

A few bugs to work out but this prototype of the ring and sliders will give you an idea of how this will come together. One pic shows the slider open, the other closed. The post will protrude through the top just slightly outside the cone cover. I'll keep the profile low and finish with some sort of a knob. Took a few tries but I've got the positioning and mechanics worked out. It's not pretty from a workmanship standpoint but hey - it's a prototype not a showpiece.

Interesting..... I understand what you are doing but not why. I guess that will be revealed as this goes forward.

Once this project is completely assembled I will be doing some tests to see how much impact the adjustable cone well can make on the tone of the guitar. It's one idea of several like this I will be exploring. More on this project can be found in my blog at https://hijinxguitars.wordpress.com/. I also have been posting updates via Twitter at https://twitter.com/.

All mocked up with top and neck.

Ready to route binding channels. Getting closer to final assembly and testing!

Been a while since I posted an update... Tailpiece is done, biscuit/bone bridge ready for fine tuning during set-up, cover plate is next. I'm avoiding the easy button on that part as tempting as it is to just buy the ol' standard metal cover. Just get tired of the limited options and same designs everyone else has got. I have seen some great examples of home built covers and like I have with the rest of this project am exploring my own twist. Here are some pics of the tailpiece. More background and current info available on my blog at https://hijinxguitars.wordpress.com

Ready for final assembly and set-up!

More background and current info available on my blog at https://hijinxguitars.wordpress.com

The Hijinx Guitars R1 wood bodied resonator guitar final assembly and set-up is complete - time to play!

Reviews will be available on my blog at https://hijinxguitars.wordpress.com

SO....how does the adjustable cone well work? Big differences in tone?