I Built a Resonator

[cpabolting]

Wow Howard..... just wow

[jt1]

A gorgeous thing! I love the look of the bindings and headstock overlay with that stunning finish.

Thanks for sharing it with us.

[44Runner]

First off Howard, that is a gorgeous resonator. I absolutely LOVE it.

I literally just joined the resonator game. Only thing I find this guitar lacking is the bridge cover. Different strokes for different folks but I personally like the look and feel of the cover...

[jmat]

Very lovely howard. Blind boy fuller / Blake would doubtlessly approve.

[Jimbolaya]

Very nice Howard. Stunning really.
The reso is so different from a flat top.
If you don't mind sharing, what was your process like to go about building this beauty? I'm not even sure if there is any bracing in what is left of the top.
Anything interesting you learned from your first reso?
Jim

[Howard Klepper]

Originally Posted by Jimbolaya

Very nice Howard. Stunning really.
The reso is so different from a flat top.
If you don't mind sharing, what was your process like to go about building this beauty? I'm not even sure if there is any bracing in what is left of the top.
Anything interesting you learned from your first reso?
Jim

Thanks, Jim. I wanted to build with a live back, to get more out of the bass and baritone range than is usually present with a reso. So no stick through the body supported by "mushrooms" against the back. And I wanted a rigid support structure for the cone and a flat bearing surface for the cone's flange, in order to avoid buzzes and get a strong fundamental.

Here is what I came up with:





The internal structure is gonçalo alves (left over from a batch of flooring), except for the blocks which are mahogany. I glued up the sound well from 12 pieces of gonçalo alves and turned it, with a ledge inside for the cone's flange. The soundwell is glued to the frame. The two longitudinal frame pieces are dadoed into the head and tail blocks, and the crosspiece is lap jointed to the longitudinal ones, and supported by the sides. The top has a transverse brace between the sound well and the two soundholes--top movement just takes energy away from the cone in a reso. The back is conventionally braced.

The fretboard extension is elevated, with a thick neck extension that rests on the top without glue; the neck comes out with two bolts for adjustability.

But the real secret to the tone is in the herringbone side tapes.

[Michael Watts]

Yes you did!

Looking good Howard!

[SMan]

That's really a beautiful instrument Howard. Thanks for sharing these pictures, especially the in process ones.

[liltiki]

This guitar is so beautiful.

Gorgeous.

[JoeCharter]

This is arguably the best looking resonator I've ever seen. Looks absolutely fantastic.

[hat]

Very nice work. I might mention another very old method for bringing out the grain in Curly maple is by using a re-agent called Aquafortis. I learned about using it in building black powder rifles. Basically you apply it to the wood, then use a flame to sort of scorch it. it really makes the grain pop. Of course with wood as thin as is used for instruments you really need to be careful with this method. Here's a link to one description of the process if anyone's interested: http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showth...qua-Fortis-WIP

[Taylorplayer]

Mr. Klepper:

The word "beautiful" falls very short. What an amazing instrument. Thank you for sharing with us.

Will

[mc1]

looks like an apex resonator to me. very nice.

[Leftyprs]

Howard, you've built yourself an absolutely beautiful instrument!!! That burst looks great on the Maple as well!!!

[Howard Klepper]

More thanks to those who have posted. I appreciate it.