wooden-cone resonator mandolins: opinions?

[mjbee]

Hi folks,
I have a trio of vintage resonator mandolins ( '29 national style 1, Rudy Dopyera custom, Del Vecchio), each with a distinctive voice. I've been curious about alternative ways that builders use the resonator concept to produce volume and tone. I noticed recently that a couple of builders (Blues Hardware, Richard Morgan) are using lathe-turned wooden cones, and I'm wondering if any cafe members have any direct experience with these instruments. What do they sound like? What about durability of the thin wooden cones? Thanks for any thoughts and opinions.

[Jim Garber]

Michael: I know you probably are quite aware that the newer National RM-1's sound completely different from the vintage Nationals.

Otherwise, I, too, am curious what the wooden ones sound like. I wonder if they sound more like flattops than the metal resonators ones. I would think the cones are driving the tone.

[allenhopkins]

Three demos of Richard Morgan instruments on YouTube:

Mandolin


Mandola


Mandocello


I think that the "mandocello" is really a re-necked acoustic bass guitar, not Morgan's construction; it's also being played amplified, so not really answering OP's question.

Not sure that you can call these "resonator" instruments, since it seems that the entire top is heat-pressed into a conic form, rather than having an imbedded disc like a Dobro or National. Nevertheless, the voice of the mandolin and mandola does sound midway between a standard carved mandolin top, and a resonator instrument.

Quite strong projection from both of them, with the usual caveats about low-fi YouTube sound etc. Australian, apparently?

[Jim Garber]

Thanks, Allen. Sound on the mandolin video is relatively poor, probably they just used the mic on their phone. I guess you can sort of extrapolate the tone quality. Interesting.

I have a feeling that Blues Hardware only made one or two of these. I only see one of them on an old listing on Reverb and on the same store's site.

[Graham McDonald]

I had the opportunity to play one of the Morgan mandolins a year or so back. Interesting idea, but it did not sound much like a mandolin. The soundboards are made from small wedges of wood, so the grain radiated out from the centre.

[mjbee]

Thanks Allen, Graham, and Jim. Jim, you had sent me the listing for that Blues Hardware one, and it got sold soon after: I'm experiencing "non-buyers remorse (and I do know I can get an RM-1 anytime: looking for the oddballs, speakin' to one who appreciates them!) "!! It is so hard to tell from videos what an instrument will sound like in person. I just found these clips, of much better quality, on the builder's website. https://extraordinaryinstruments.com/blog-2/
Graham, you may save me from myself, as I've been thinking about purchasing the Morgan on the Gruhn website, and was just about ready to spring: what do you mean by "doesn't sound much like a mandolin?" How would you describe what's different (and would it be a satisfying sound for someone like me who plays jugband, blues, and a bit of jazz, never bluegrass) The one Gruhn has looks like a different design from the other Morgans, a "floating" soundboard that seems to be a bit more like a resonator without a coverplate. https://guitars.com/inventory/mf8960...nator-mandolin

[mjbee]

Graham, thanks for your PM. I responded but your MC mailbox is full!