Advice wanted for a Reso Mandolin design

[Driftwood]

Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum and looking for advice.

I have a 9 inch National cone and am getting down to designing a wooden body for it (starting point being some of the basic dimensions found in mandos like the RM-1 and Beltona). I would like to know the typical string break angle over the bridge of these instruments. So far, I'm assuming it's fairly shallow similar to that on resonator guitars.

Can anyone tell me the recommended string gauges or favoured string brands for resonator instruments?

[Verne Andru]

I have a Republic Mandolian, which is an Asian version of the old National's but with an adjustable truss rod. I find GHS Ultra Light strings work best on it as those are a slightly longer scale than typical mando's.

Aside from the fine folks here, there's a fellow going by the handle Freeman Keller in the acoustic forum at Harmony Central who has built a few really nice resonator guitars that may guide you along if you asked him nicely.

[Grommet]

Here is a link to one of East Mountain's threads. He has done a few reso conversions and you may want to chat with him about it. Check out his site also.http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...eso+conversion

[Dobe]

Here's a thought: I've worked one up off a Baritone scale reso my buddy designed. Capo 3- Mandola capo 5- Mandolin. We used the 9' cone. Very versastile instument. The longer neck fits the cone proportions nicely. Neck angle/string breaking angle should be around that of a guitar, I don't have an exact number; you'll basically have to make your conewell depth based upon the bridge/saddle height clearing the coverplate. That should pretty much be the right angle.