Subject: Dobro setup
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 19:15:24 -0500

I have recently purchased a Gibson 60-D. Made around 81. Great sound but the bottom two strings (D and B) don't have much sustain. Any thoughts you have on how to correct this would be greatly appreciated.

Jim

We'd have to see this in person to truly assess why you're losing sustain.

You can pinpoint the sustain problem as coming from the nut or bridge simply by testing the strings closed, with the steel bar in place at about the 5th fret, as compared to open. If the sustain increase when using the steel bar, then the problem is at the nut. If there is no sustain, even with the bar being placed at the 5th fret, then it's possible the problem stems at the bridge. Then there are many other factors to consider:
1. Are the strings properly seated in their respective slots in the bridge and nut?
2. Do you have new strings to replace them with? Try a bronze strings for added brightness.
3. Is the resophonic cone system properly adjusted and seated?

Not sure if anything would assist here, just shooting in the dark. Mickey

Subject: regal RD-45
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 15:50:18 -0500

Hi Mickey:
Great site, a lot of interesting reading. Bought a RD-45 squareneck for my 14 yr. old son. The tuners were coming off the guitar due to a big burr left on the string shaft on the two closest to the nut. We took the burr off & put the tuners back on. Also, while we were apart, I changed the nut, spider, and saddle. Sounds10X louder with deeper tone. The highest string (I would call high E as a guitar player) sounds like a sitar. Everything looks good, and adjusting the spider to the cone does not change it much. What do you think? Is it a bad seat of the string in the slot of the sadlle or nut?

Greetings!

Thanks for the kind words regarding our website...

First and foremost, we always recommend taking any problem to your local repair technician...without training, you're taking a risk in following any repair suggestions...since we, ourselves are not present to properly analyze the problem...

Based on your description, if you're willing to take the chance: Yes, we've encountered this before...an extremely twangy sound...could be that the tension of the resophonic cone is loose...try tightening the screw located through the hole on the reso cover...only tighten one revolution or less...be careful not to over-tighten.

If it still sounds twangy or has some buzzing overtones, try removing the E string and carefully filing the notch where the string resides in both the bridge/saddle and the nut...use a file that fits properly...do not make the notch any wider than it is...and, finally, if none of this works, try replacing the E string itself...

Best of luck to you...Mickey