Thoughts on restring and setting up a National Tricone

[Gary Meixner]

During the pandemic I purchased a 1928 Square neck National Tricone from a forum member. The guitar was in great shape but like many vintage Tricones, was in need of some minor restoration and a proper set up. This is the third Tricone that I have owned and the only one that I have really bonded with.

The main issue with the guitar was the wooden pads and supports under the cone shelf had shrunk considerably and did little other than create rattles. The tone was uncontrolled and tin canny. I decided to take out the original supports. They came out easily and remained intact should I decide to return the guitar to its original condition. I made new pads, posts and a tee bar support, matching the originals, from some well seasoned mahogany and installed them as the originals.

The metal cone shelf was nearly perfectly flat with one minor deviation that I was able to correct. All other parts of the guitar are solid. The fellow who sold me the guitar generously provided the original cones as well as a new set from National. Both sets were in good shape. I am not certain the bridge is original. It is crudely made with bandsaw marks still on it, although it fits perfectly. It appears to be made from boxwood. I have heard that Orange wood was originally used as well as maple and boxwood.

I have been able to get the guitar a point where I feel it is at 95% of its potential but the last 5% has me frustrated. These instruments are a pain to take apart and reassemble. A minor adjustment can take 45 minutes. Before and after comparisons become very subjective and had to make.

The back of the guitar is flexible and I have found that the amount of tension placed on back when fitting the supports pads greatly effects the tone. It seems coupling the back to the cone shelf is critical, but too much tension will choke off the tone and too little tension creates rattles. The original support configuration had a total of three support pads. The long support had a pad at each end, one at the tail piece and one towards the neck. A third support was under the tee support on the bass side of the cone shelf.

I have seen photos of models where the wooden supports bars made a cross under the cone shelf (rather than a tee ) and there was a fourth pad under the treble side of the cone shelf. I saw no evidence of this on my guitar but these components may have been removed.

My question for those of you who have experience with these guitars is what was the original arrangement of supports on these guitars: a tee form with three pads or a cross formation with four pads. My guess is probably both were used at various time. Also can anyone who has experience provide some guidance for tensioning / coupling the back to the cone shelf. I think most likely trial and error may be the only way.

Thanks for the help,

Gary Meixner