resonator mandolin

[billkilpatrick]

could someone please explain the basic principle behind these wierd and wonderful and slightly goofy looking instruments from outer space? how did they develop - how old are they? did they evolve from the rose - if i put a perforated tin can or metal drain protector in the sound hole of my instrument (charango) will it resonate?

i've put "resonator" in google but only photos came up; nothing to explain how they work.

just idle curiosity.

thank you - bill

[mandoJeremy]

Try this:
http://www.nationalguitars.com/start.html

[mikeomando]

You push the little strings down
The music goes down and around
whoa oh oh oh oh oh
and it comes out there.

[Bob DeVellis]

Think loudspeaker. Under the "hubcap" is a metal cone that works like the paper cone of a speaker. The bridge sits on the cone (in one of at least two different arrangements), so that the string vibrations are transferred to the cone. The cone itself is very thin aluminum alloy. The vibrating cone sets up mighty soundwaves that radiate forth. The body of the instrument isn't the acoustically active element -- the cone is. The body is merely an enclosure. On metal instruments, the body does color the tone. On wood-bodied resophonics, the body is literally an enclosure for the cone and is designed to be acoustically inert so as not to interfere with the cone doin' its thing. How well all of this works tonally is, as always, a matter of subjective opinion. But there's no question about its volume enhancement.

[billkilpatrick]

thanks to you all. i'm going to post the following on the "buldiers" message board:

ready?....

there's a "really good idea" coming up...

what would you say to the idea of "resonating" my charango with a pop-in resonator cone? the sound hole has a 5cm radius and a cone could probably go that far into the body of the instrument before hitting wood.

- i know it's daft but is it feasable?

- if so, what could i use as a resonator cone? i know a jewler who could probably construct a "bisquit" for me but there may be something like an aluminium tea caddy or a perforated concentrated orange juice can or ...something... that would do just as well.

- do you think it would make any difference in the sound?

totaly sane - bill

[tiltman]

Just a heads up-
for fun (? - get back to work) I contacted National about resonator mandolins and they said they are in the final stages of a prototype for making new ones. May have them out by the end of the year!
Hey Santa...I've been good this year...
Kirk

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif