Replacement cone for Dobro?

Marc Stone · Post by **Marc Stone** » 25 Sep 2020 7:58 am

I'm sure this has been beat to death, but couldn't find the thread.

Got this old OMI model 60 or 63 8 string Dobro, spider cone. The cone has def seen better days. Sounds pretty good as is and is noise free now that I reset it, but I imagine it's q little tired.

What do we love for replacement cones? Sonic differences between models such as the Beard "Original" BC-1 or the "Legend"? What if I like high string tension? Any more delicate or durable than others?

Thx!

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 25 Sep 2020 2:08 pm

As far as the Beard cones go, the Legend is a different alloy, spun thinner to make it more responsive. Should not be an issue as string tension rarely causes cone damage. It's the over tightening of the tension screw.

Here's the rub. 35-50 year old guitar with original parts (especially plastic nut)? Highly likely it would benefit from an end to end setup.

If you decline to go that route check the cone ledge after disassembly as it may have "egged out" requiring routing or (homeowner solution) trim the cone, hoping for enough material.

fwiw, My 8 string has the Legend, a fine cone.

Worse comes to worse, call the Beard shop and ask questions. Good folks.

There are other cones on the market, notably Scheerhorn and Replogle.

hp

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 25 Sep 2020 5:28 pm

I have a nearly new, only sized, installed, tested and removed, Scheerhorn cone. It has been sized down from 10 9/16 in. to fit Dobro and other guitars that take a 10 1/2 in. cone.

It's in perfect shape. Message my PM for details if you have any interest.

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 25 Sep 2020 7:50 pm

I have some NOS Quarterman cones which may need to be trimmed (reduce diameter ~1/8") to properly fit loose.

Thanx,
Jim

Please send me e-mail if interested.

David DeLoach · Post by **David DeLoach** » 26 Sep 2020 5:51 am

Can someone educate me about how you know when a cone needs to be replaced?

I've got a 1980 RQ Jones square neck. Sounds fine to me. What are the symptoms that let you know its time to replace the cone?

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 26 Sep 2020 9:46 am

40 year old cone?

Many contemporary "players" replace cones every 3-5 years or so. That's also about how often I do mine, along with a setup tweak.

Cones are considered "wear items". They oxidize and lose efficiency over time. I have never failed to hear a difference after a cone swap.

Full disclosure:

Dobro is my primary instrument. I've also followed my mentors with regards to things like cones and other wear parts as well as the builder's recommendations.

You might not care so much.

h

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 27 Sep 2020 6:16 am

The OMI/Dobro guitars made in California were equipped with OEM cones from Bob Replogle. Here is the link....

https://www.replogleresos.com

I have a Dobro duolian (biscuit bridge) from that era, and I had a difficult time finding a cone that would fit because the soundwell was unusually shallow. The Replogle cone was a perfect fit. May not be an issue with a spider bridge cone.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 27 Sep 2020 3:46 pm

The “Standard” cone from Mike (not Bob) Replogle should hopefully drop right into that guitar.

The Beard Legend is a great cone, but the outer lip sits slightly higher than other cones and it can make for a tight fit under the palm rest of certain coverplates, and there is a good chance one of those could be an OMI Dobro coverplate.

Scheerhorn cones also “sit” a little lower than the Legend. I found this out firsthand a few years ago.

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 28 Sep 2020 11:49 am

Oops. It is Mike.

David DeLoach · Post by **David DeLoach** » 29 Sep 2020 4:19 am

Any recommendations for someone who can replace a cone in the Nashville area?

I may put this on my list of things to do in 2021.

Randy Koenen · Post by **Randy Koenen** » 30 Sep 2020 4:50 am

David, It's not real difficult to do yourself, Rob Ikes has a couple of good videos on resonator maintenance. One with Tim Scheerhorn and the other with Bobby Wright who I believe lives in the Nashville area. Paul Beard also has a maintenance video available. Rob's video can be found at bigmusictent.com

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 30 Sep 2020 7:18 am

You can watch me disassemble/reassemble a dobro HERE!.

Cone swap included. Also a few "Don't do this".

h

David DeLoach · Post by **David DeLoach** » 2 Oct 2020 3:25 am

Howard Parker wrote:You can watch me disassemble/reassemble a dobro HERE!.

Cone swap included. Also a few "Don't do this".

h

Very enlightening!

I'm wondering how to find the right replacement cone for my 1980 RQ Jones.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 2 Oct 2020 6:01 am

The Beard shop for all things resonator. During my tenure I saw a few Jones guitars come through the shop for work.

Give em' a call and chat.

301-733-8271

David DeLoach · Post by **David DeLoach** » 3 Oct 2020 3:34 am

Howard Parker wrote:The Beard shop for all things resonator. During my tenure I saw a few Jones guitars come through the shop for work.

Give em' a call and chat.

301-733-8271

Thanks Howard!

Brian Christiano · Post by **Brian Christiano** » 8 Aug 2021 12:56 pm

Randy Koenen wrote:David, It's not real difficult to do yourself, Rob Ikes has a couple of good videos on resonator maintenance. One with Tim Scheerhorn and the other with Bobby Wright who I believe lives in the Nashville area. Paul Beard also has a maintenance video available. Rob's video can be found at bigmusictent.com

Bobby Wright, who in my opinion is the best Reso setup guy in the business, lives in NC up near
Wilmington. He sets up all the Griffis reso guitars and has been used by some of the best. he just setup a Griffis for Jimmy Heffernan. He is on Facebook.

Bobby set up a Flinthill (import) for me several years ago that I bought in 1996 to learn to play on. After I had him set it up, I have played it until just this last month, when I bought a Harlow from him that he had Frank Harlow make for him. Love this Harlow. The setup he did on the Flinthill was so good I couldn't find a Reso to play that I wanted to spend the money on to replace it. He's that good.

Glenn Wilde · Post by **Glenn Wilde** » 8 Aug 2021 4:43 pm

My National and my Dobro have 80+ year old cones, they both sound awesome.

Brian Evans · Post by **Brian Evans** » 10 Aug 2021 3:09 am

Original cone in my 1935 Dobro, not going to be changed. It sounds like it sounds, bright, loud, brash. I like it. My newish PBS Gold Tone has a different construction, different cone, sounds different. It sounds like it sounds. Changing cones every 3 - 5 years promotes consistency of sound over time, which for a lot of people is very important. They want to sound the way they sound, not how the guitar feels like sounding today, so they keep up to date. It's all good, but old cones usually, if in good shape, sound fine, they just sound a little different than the same guitar with a new cone.