Actually, the original China cone give a more twangy resonator/dobro sound I believe than the Beard cone - depends on what you're looking for in a round neck resonator - a square neck more expensive instrument using a tone bar would give you the deeper sound that the Beard seems to offer - so again, all in what you're wanting. Either way, good playing there fella.
Also that ´China cone´ may sound better with a heavy steel bar, may ´sound just right´ and give it that Dobro twangy, a little banjo-y sound, were as that ´Beard cone´ with that same heavy steel-bar will give it a too ´liquid-y tone´ which is great sounding for the Hawaiian steel guitar, but will lose that bite and bark in the Bluegrass sound. *"Let´s bring out Josh here to do us a number on the ´ole hound-dog´" -Lester Flatt*
What y'all mean to say is : The generic import cone , has less sustain , harsher sound , and more limited tone , to make it sound more like a Biscuit Bridge Resonator . If you actually * want * to sound like that , great ! That's certainly a valid choice , that's why there are three styles of Reso designs , to give choices . But compared to what a Spider Cone is * supposed * to sound like , it's embarassing .
I have a budget Fender "Resophonic" guitar. I replaced the spider and cone with a Beard set. I was amazed at how reasonable the price was for a Beard cone, and the tone is transformed. It now sounds like a much more expensive instrument. It took me some time to set it up properly. But it sounds really good now, and the new bridge and cone and new ebony/maple bridge were less that a hundred bucks!
Interesting video. It was a closer contest than I imagined but the beard cone has a warmer low end and a bit more sustain to me. I’m currently deciding if I want to upgrade the cone on a cheap Harley Benton reso I’ve just bought, and this was a useful video. Thanks
You can bend the spider assembly to get each legs level to the cone but because it's cast, you have to be careful. I bend them by hanging the leg over a sturdy table and put pressure on the tip of the leg. Having the spider just a little off level makes a big difference in tone. The Beard cone sounds more powerful. The stock cone is a little nasally sounding, but not terrible.
And not needing to adjust the tension screw very often =/= needing to adjust the tension screw never . And if they are properly fitted , two piece bridge inserts don't give anything up to a one piece . John Dopyera knew what he was doing in 1927 when he invented it .
Well the Beard cone sounds far better but the question that springs to mind is did you record the Chinese made cone before you worked on the spider or after ?
@@martinstubeampworkbench2299 OK so the difference could just as easy be because of you improving the spider or a combi of that and the new cone. Thanks I just wondered.
Ah , no . Even properly set up , a generic import cone will not sound like a Premium Cone . ( But it would be noticeable improvement over the baseline .)
I'm not really concerned whether it sounds like another cone I'm just concerned which I like the sound of most and the sound obviously could be the result of the set up and the cone because one was played before the set up and one was played after the set up. Clearly both cones should be trialled under exactly the same circs to give a fair test, otherwise, like your comment it is just opinion without basis. It may be popular opinion but still opinion.
Does a Beard cone sound better than a generic import ? Well Yeah ! Would any Premium ( or almost Premium ) USA cone sound significantly better than any generic import cone ? Well yeah ! Which sounds better between a Beard , Quarterman , Repogle, or Scheerhorn ? No single answer. Depends upon the interrelated body shape and size , design of sound hole / open body/ baffle design , type of wood , exact set up specs , the strings used , subtle differences in playing techniques , and subjective personal preference .
