National Tricones

Jim Landers · Post by **Jim Landers** » 6 Jan 2005 4:38 pm

I just aquired a '31 Tricone, and it's a beauty.

So I have a couple of questions for you guys that play them.

What do you use for wiping them down to keep the plating from tarnishing?.....

This one came with a new set of accoustic strings, 15 17 26 36 46 56, and right now I have it tuned high to low D B G D B G. I would like to bring it up to a high bass "A" tuning but, even in the G tuning there are a couple of strings that feel pretty tight and I'm kind of worried about trying to take them up any more. So.....

What strings and gauges are you using for the higher tunings?......Can you buy accoustic strings in individual gauges, not pre packed sets, like you can for electrics?....If so, where?....Thanks.

Jim[This message was edited by Jim Landers on 06 January 2005 at 04:40 PM.]

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 6 Jan 2005 4:55 pm

Jim ... I just wipe mine down with a damp, soft, terry cloth towel.

I tune mine to C6/A7:

E = 0.016
C = 0.018
A = 0.020 P
G = 0.026 FW
E = 0.030 FW
C# = 0.038 FW

Most folks would use phosphor bronze ... not nickel flatwound ... thats just me.

Give Just Strings a "gander" ...

You'll be able to pick and choose ...

Hey ... hows #001 treatin' ya ... I heard from Orley today and he's still on his "Honeymoon" ....

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 06 January 2005 at 05:01 PM.]

Jim Landers · Post by **Jim Landers** » 6 Jan 2005 7:27 pm

Rick, yeah, 001 is treating me just fine but, I'm not sure it would tell you the same about me.

But seriously, that is a really nice sounding and playing guitar that you created. It really sounds good through the Fender TR but, I can't get it to sound right through my old Gibson amps. I think the pu is just to hot for those little class A amps to handle.

I usually get my strings from Just Strings but I have'nt checked them out for accoutic strings. I think I would prefer to stay with the accoustics for the Tricone if I can find them in the gauges I need for the tunings I like. I'll have to do some checking around to find out what's available.

Jim

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 6 Jan 2005 7:43 pm

Another option that blues players use is to tune in G or D (or even F) and use a capo. That way you don't get the strings too tight and overstress the neck and cone(s).
Beard makes a good capo if the guitar has a raised nut.

Thanx,
Jim

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 8 Jan 2005 11:55 am

Are there any 8 string Tri-Cone guitars available,from National or other builders?

Roger

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 8 Jan 2005 12:14 pm

Roger -- I can't recall seeing an 8-string tricone, but both National and Amistar (Czechoslovakia) make 12-strings. As far as I know, the other tricone builders -- DonMo (Australia), Beltona (New Zealand) and the Asian shops that build Johnsons and Regals only make 6-string guitars.

Maybe Mike D. could be persuaded to make an 8-string Weissonator. [This message was edited by Russ Young on 08 January 2005 at 01:08 PM.]

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 8 Jan 2005 1:57 pm

Ohh, I gotta get better pics up on that site!

http://maricopaguitarco.com/Weissad.jpg

I did a 7 stringer for Howard R. and 8 would work but only if the spacing was narrowed. 7 normally spaced strings was about all that would squeeze on the t-bridge.

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 8 Jan 2005 4:00 pm

I received this E-mail message from a non-Forum member.:

Roger,

You can post this on the Steel Guitar Forum.

I have been lobbying Don Mo to make an 8 string copy of the original (hollow neck) possibly German Silver Tri-cone. He is interested in doing it and we've been tossing it back and forth as to how much interest there would be. A note to him would definitely help in convincing him that there will in fact be an interest.

Adriel

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 8 Jan 2005 8:13 pm

I have been lobbying Don Mo

and one time, in a lobby, I met Don Ho.

What a coinkiedink!

[This message was edited by HowardR on 08 January 2005 at 08:19 PM.]

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 8 Jan 2005 9:24 pm

Howard, is that a 7 string Weissenator guitar? Is the string spacing narrower than a 6 string guitar? Do you or anyone else have any sound samples from this guitar?

Roger

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 8 Jan 2005 10:29 pm

That is beautiful ...

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 9 Jan 2005 8:19 am

Sorry I don't have have sound bytes, but if I did, my sound would really bite...

I don't have any recording facilities right now.

The string spacing is very close to six string spacing.

Here's an 8 string metal body Dobro. This is the only metal body 8 that I've ever seen.

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 9 Jan 2005 9:07 am

I failed to mention one other tricone builder -- Dobro. Although this looks like a standard 1990 OMI/OAI Model 33, check out what lurks beneath the coverplate:

Dobro made a limited number of these "Triplate" versions of their standard biscuit- and/or spider-bridge guitars. The owner of this one describes it as "quiet compared to most resonators, but well balanced tonally." (I've also seen the Triplates referred to as "worthless.")

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 9 Jan 2005 9:39 am

Russ, I'd bet a buck that the problem with that Dobro tricone is the cones. Those look like Quarterman cones which are much thicker than Nationals or the one Don Morrison makes. I've found them to be very dull and quite in comparison.

Roger, here's a tune with an older Weissonator along with a roundneck tricone doing the rhythm: http://members.cox.net/blueswizards/music/openseablues.mp3

I also have a short solo soundclip somewhere on my 'puter.

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.