Topic: Guitar Blues

[CF]

I've got the guitar blues, & bad. I have a Norman B-15 that has a pick-up but no presence acoustically: I play in a string band & play unplugged into a condenser mic (along with my other bandmates) & it just doesn't project. A friend recently lent me a Yamaha FG-150 (small body) & it sounds great, projects real loud & etc. I'm going to be giving it back to him soon, I hate playing something that isn't mine. I have a Flinthill resonator that I just never used because it had no pick-up but now i might have to start depending on it. Problem is i don't know if it will work sound-wise in a string band set-up, afraid maybe it won't jive with the banjo. Wondering if any one here could give me some info on resonators & perhaps mine in particular. Who the hell are Flinthill, for instance? I periodically have problems with it buzzing real bad & have to tighten the screw just beneath the saddle but it inevitably begins buzzing again. Anything I can do about that? Basically, I know nothing about this guitar or resonators at all. Ideally i would like to use it for blues, ragtime, folk & even my more singer-songwriter stuff if possible. Anything anyone here might know about these guitars would be most welcome, i'm gear-illiterate . . . & thanks (I've asked a lot, I know, apologies ahead of time)

[CF]

Ok well I've done a bit of searching on the internet & found some stuff out & now have a different set of questions.
Seems Flinthill is a Korean make . . . a gentleman by the name of Paul Beard seems to have been modifying these by adding a bone nut, a Quarterman cone & a maple saddle (?) & selling them for a couple hundred more.
Will a Quarterman cone give me a more intense resonator sound? My Flinthill is a spider bridge. I don't really want a particularly loud resonator sound as i may want to use this guitar for a variety of styles.
Should the nut be secured in place or is it alright if it is floating & is just held in place by string tension? 
What are the advantages of a maple saddle (I'm assuming I don't have one at the moment)?
Thanks in advance to anyone who may be able to answer any of these questions for me

[Slack]

Will a Quarterman cone give me a more intense resonator sound? My Flinthill is a spider bridge. I don't really want a particularly loud resonator sound as i may want to use this guitar for a variety of styles.

Quaterman's are high quality cones and will definitely improve the sound - and make the guitar louder as well.  Swapping cones will make the biggest difference.  If it is too loud, play softer. 

Should the nut be secured in place or is it alright if it is floating & is just held in place by string tension?

Yes, secure the nut in place. One small drop of white glue will do it.

What are the advantages of a maple saddle (I'm assuming I don't have one at the moment)?

As opposed to what type of saddle?  Any type of hardwood will do - the difference is subtle.  If Paul Bard is tweaking these guitars - they must be worth tweaking. 

[CF]

Thanks for the response Slack . . . now all I want for christmas is a Quarterman cone & a bone nut . . .  there's a bawdy joke in there somewhere

[dave stott]

All I want for Christmas is a steady / consistant right thumb & the ability to play smoothly 2 versus's of;

Mermaids Flirt with me & Long Tall Mama


Dave

[unezrider]

hey cheapfeet,
i don't know much about reso's, myself - other than i like the sound. i've played a few, but most were just so-so, low end things. (though a really cool regal from the 30's - it just needed way too much work)but while searching the net i came across vintagenationals.com it has some good information on resonators.
chris