Hi all, I wasn't gonna say anything about this. But maybe it might help somebody to learn that resophonics are real fragile! Don't let the words 'metal cone' lull you into thinking they are somewhow sturdier than a wooden uke! They're not, as I found out, the hard way.
I've been carrying my new National around in a softsided Martin gig bag that I bought a couple of years back for (no surprise) a Mexican made Martin. And, I've been wondering if that was all that wise a thing to do. I have been in the habit of taking a wood uke along to work with me. I jam it in the back of my backpack along with my Mac Notebook, harmonicas, DVDs, and just whatever else. So, I was doing the same with the National. But, like I said, my spider sense was tingling....
Then, when I got home the other night, very late and bone weary, I set my National, still in the Martin bag, on my bed.
Then, guess what I did?
That's right, I sat on her!
Not real hard, but enough to hear her buckle a bit and then come back as I jumped up. The bed absorbed most of it, I suppose, but not enough. But when I played her, sure enough, the strings were buzzing. The action was too low, and I could see the bridge was dipped down a bit to the right as I sighted her up the neck.
I forced myself not to worry too much, I knew I would eventually get her repaired somehow, someway, someday, whatever the cost would turn out to be. It's only money, right? And so I went to bed.
I tried her first thing in the morning, but she buzzed, and I realized I just couldn't play her in this dreadful condition. So, then I started fretting and wondering what to do. I stewed all day long.
I busked, as usual, with my soprano RISA (I do that eight days a week, as a rule) and I had a really good day of it. It is a long weekend here in Canada, so the streets are busy.
But, I stewed all day, nonetheless.
The one music shop that I would trust with her is a National dealer. But, I think the first time they ever saw a National uke was when I showed mine to them. And now I am cursing my bad luck because the long weekend means they won't even be open until Tuesday. All in all, I've been trying hard not to feel too bad about the situation.
So, last night, I visited the National website, and found I can buy a new cone for her, if I need to. I also discovered that a new cone comes with a new biscuit/bridge already attached and the site said something about 'ready to drop in and install.'
I gotta tell you, I am not all that comfortable with taking things apart and tinkering!
But, armed with this new knowledge that the biscuit and the cone are an easy installation, I decided to clear off the kitchen table.
I took the plunge. I de-strung her at the pegs, leaving the strings still tied at the tailpiece, and I took the cover off.
Sure enough, I could see a couple of dents and crease marks in the cone. I lifted the cone out, and discovered my National truss rod was signed and dated.
But, I had no idea just how thin and fragile a resonator cone is! It is thinner than a pie plate! Sheesh! What a metal egg shell, Batman!
I carefully rubbed the cone from the inside and managed to bring both dents out and smooth out all the creases. When she looked uniform and smooth as possible again, I put the cone back in, taking time to measure that I had the bridge properly perpendicular to the neck. I carefully tightened the cone back on, and restrung her.
With relief, I am able to report that she is back to 100%.
So, one thing I know is that I will never transport her in the softsided bag again. From now on, she sleeps in her hardshell case!
But, one thing I'm not too sure about is what I should do next? Should I get a new cone from the factory, do you think? Or, should I wait and see how she is behaving over the next little while?
I would really appreciate some advice.
(Yes, I'll look before I sit next time, thanks all the same...)
Cheers,
boswell
in risu veritas
www.someclown.com
Posted By:
hoaryhead
Date: 8/4/2008 3:22:24 PM
If you fixed it, you fixed it. Sounds like having a spare cone isn't a bad idea, though.
Posted By:
Allison's R
Date: 8/4/2008 3:24:15 PM
Well done Kitchen table Luthier ! You had nothing to loose, so why not learn from your mistakes. I have no recommendations for you, but just wanted to thank you for sharing this with interested people on this BB.
Posted By:
RSteve
Date: 8/4/2008 3:48:23 PM
Last week, I sat on my glasses; trifocals with Transitions lenses. Frame, kaput...lenses won't fit another frame; almost $500 spent.
Your new cone, biscuit bridge, and saddle, about $60.00. Buy a new one and keep the old one as a back-up and reminder of what not to sit upon.
Posted By:
allenhopkins
Date: 8/4/2008 5:10:38 PM
Practicing for a gig, "rocking alone in an old rocking chair," I was engrossed in Dobro and sheet music when an ominous "crunch" hit my ear. My Martin Style 0 had somehow crept under one of the rockers of the chair (they move about all the time when we're not watching them).
Well, the li'l Martin has had its share of ups and downs over the past half-century, including a home refinish job that'll never be held up as an example of immaculate work. (Hey, I didn't do it!) So, cleats and glue and a bit of buffing out later, she's back in business. But the experience does remind me of the vicissitudes of musical life, and the fact that, unless we keep 'em in glass cases, our little ukey friends are subject to danger. It's a jungle out there...
a.) I never set anything temporarily on the roof of my car. The only place I will set anything is on the hood in front of the driver.
b.) I never set a ukulele on a chair, bed, sofa, floor or anything else which can be sat on or stepped on, even for a moment.
Those habits were easy to develop.
Jim
Posted By:
Bruce E
Date: 8/4/2008 6:57:57 PM
Grandpa Jim wrote:
"b.) I never set a ukulele on a chair, bed, sofa, floor or anything else which can be sat on or stepped on, even for a moment."
I practice this also. Sometimes I feel like I might be a little obsesive, but then, I haven't sat upon my uke.
I've discovered the two secrets of life.
1. Never tell everything you know.
Posted By:
Boswell
Date: 8/4/2008 11:02:45 PM
Thanks everyone.
I brought the National along busking, today, and I took her out at the end of a subway station set and tried a couple of tunes.
She didn't seem to be sounding too great, and I thought maybe I had been a little too economical with the truth when I said she was 100% on my first post. A couple of the strings were buzzing, and ringing, in a weird way. Anyway, I finished my set there, and headed to the seawall to catch some sun, eat my lunch, and do a bit of rehearsing.
The National is a busking magnet! People love the sound of her! I only have a few songs worked up for her exlusively, so I began trying some of my other songs and figuring out how to fingerpick them on the fly (as opposed to strumming).
That worked out okay, except I kept getting a bit confused with the difference between picking and strumming. Some chords sounded a bit weird with the fourth string thumb-plucked and the fingers responding with upstrokes. I'm going to have to seriously sit down and rework a lot of my songs to play them with fingerpicks on the National. Anyway, I'm digressing from my main topic here.
The point I wanted to make was that I noticed she started sounding better and better the more I played her! The weird buzzing went away. Perhaps the cone and cover needed to settle down again? Does that make sense? Or, are the strings partially to blame because of having been un-strung and re-strung, and they are settling in again, now?
Actually, I was kind of dreading hearing from one of you luthiers telling me that the cone is now 'compromised,' and that she will never sound as good as she first did. But, so far, nobody has said anything like that. I would appreciate hearing from one of you alley cats, though.
I am going to call National tomorrow, to hear what the official line is.
I just might end up ordering a new cone, after all, as hoaryhead and RSteve suggested, and, presumably, keep the old one as a backup.
Cheers,
boswell
Posted By:
Debra
Date: 8/5/2008 1:49:17 AM
My advice is to get a hard case. I'm too big a klutz to risk anything else, because inevitably I will bang it, drop it, sit on it, trip over it...you name it.
Hey Boswell, best to call National. They know best. But let me know if I can help.
Posted By:
Boswell
Date: 8/5/2008 2:05:20 PM
Thanks ukemaker!
I am sure glad I spotted this instrument on your table in Portland!
If not a Hollywood ending, would a San Luis Obispo finale do just as well, dya think?
I called National to discuss the situation.
Like I feared, the technician there told me the integrity of the cone will never be quite the same, but he did say she was sounding pretty healthy from what he could hear from her over the phone. He suggested I just keep playing her and, like I've already noticed happening, she should settle down a bit.
But, he said that if it was him, he would replace the cone, which is what I've been kind of secretly dreading having to do all along.
So, I ordered a cone. But just to sweeten the pot a little bit for me (and make Mastercard even happier), I ordered their Hawaiian Ukulele: The Early Methods book, too.
I may keep the new cone on hand as the spare, actually, and continue to play on the old cone. I'll just have to wait and see how she's sounding.
So, the moral of the story is, look before you sit. Furthermore, I should remark that I have dealt with the folks at National Reso-Phonic a couple of times now. I spoke to them about adding a strap button a while back. They have always been very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful.
One final footnote to this fool's unfortunate mishap.
The replacement cone arrived in the mail today. Installation was straightforward, and easy. As National suggested, I attached the old biscuit to the new cone, and kept the new biscuit as a spare, along with the old cone.
I am relieved and delighted to say this instrument's bright and sassy tone is back, as bold and brassy as ever! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
I am sitting here working her new Aquilas in (Yes, her second set, now, too!), and it is such a joy to liten to her voice as I type out this final chapter.
I would like express my gratitude to the staff at National Reso-Phonic Guitar. I really appreciate their concern, and advice, and the promptness with which they sent this new cone out to me.
Finally, if you are in the market for a reso-phonic, then there are a couple of things I want to convey.
First, I found out the hard way that resophonics are not as sturdy as wooden ukuleles! That is why they come with covers and a shield over the bridge. So, beware, and watch where you sit! Always put them away in their hardshell cases, kids!
Secondly, I want to point out the merits of having ready access to parts and service. National Reso-Phonic, Inc. are a great company. They make a great product, and they're easy to do business with.
So, it's a Hollywood ending after all!
Whew!
boswell
