Lowering action on a resonator

[blakejcan]

I'm guessing you pull the little wooden bridge and shave down the bottom part till you hit the right height? Ehhh?

 

[ICTGoober]

No. You don't wanna know the right way.

I HATE working on resonators. They are literally a freak of nature in the world of string musical instruments. Invented by the Dopyera Brothers. They actually ran an auto body shop, and thought they could make guitars - but only after looking at a banjo. PROVE ME WRONG!

 

[blakejcan]

haha well, I do want my action lowered so uhhh, sup?

I have a super fancypants Mule Resonator. He even has this video on how to do it:

https://www.muleresophonic.com/videos/2045428

It kind of didn't make sense to me that you'd file down the string slots when you could just take it off the bottom. In fact, I think he even says you can do that if you wanna in the video.

 

[ICTGoober]

That brand is better made than anything the Dopyera Brothers ever dreamed of.

 

[blakejcan]

haha I mean, I guess? But......back to my question.....

 

[ICTGoober]

Blake - you have pull the neck off most resonators to adjust the action. Look at banjos - see the neck stick inside the pot? (the body) I'm telling you - you DO NOT want to try it. There a couple experts around the country, and most of them do work for Nashville types, and it's not cheap.

Just do a little research. I've tried on 2 old Dobro's and I finally gave up. As far as I'm concerned - they do not compute. Resonators are my kryptonite.

 

[idsnowdog]

I'm not sure why you would want to lower the action if you're playing slide.

 

[jeremy]

you wouldnt on a square neck, but ive played fretted on plenty of round necks over the years. a buddy has a few round neck beards and they play great for both fretted and slide work

 

[ICTGoober]

You can play slide with the action below normal. I've had 2 clients who did it well.

Thusly. This guy had me set all his guitars up the lowest of anyone I'd ever encountered in over 45 years at the bench. I couldn't play them without buzzing.
Scott was a spook and could play slide with no buzz. He died last year. His daughter gave me his brass slide. It's incredibly heavy.

Pray For Rain Scott on Ebony Taylor​

 

[jeremy]

derek trucks's action is pretty damn low, i dont know how he does it

 

[beaubrummels]

I'm not sure why you would want to lower the action if you're playing slide.

If you flip between fretting notes and running the slide, you need lower action and a delicate touch with the slide. Derek Trucks is a great example. He'll put the slide in his pocket and run a fretted finger solo, then take the slide back out and keep going.

 

[blakejcan]

Thanks for all the feedback. Yes, I do play slide on this guitar BUT I also play it just like you would a regular guitar. Or, as pointed out, more often than not, I'm playing some parts slide and then fretting notes with real live fingers.

I don't want it lowered to the ground. I just want it a touch lower. Up by the 12th fret it's pretty flipping high.

Did anyone happen to watch the video I linked out to?

I can't imagine pulling necks to lower action is needed w/ this guitar. I'd love feedback from anyone who has watched the video please. Thanks.

 

[jeremy]

i did, and i would sand the bottom of the saddle

 

[GuitarStv]

If you're happy with the way the strings sit and are radiused, just want the whole thing lower . . . I would sand the bottom of the saddle.

 

[blakejcan]

Thank you gents!