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The
ResoBaffle T - 2 in stock
An acoustic baffle
that is designed to extend the bass response of Tricone resonator
guitars.
PLEASE NOTE - The
ResoBaffle T is designed to fit the basket weave soundhole based
on the dimensions of National Resophonic guitars. Most copies
use the same dimensions.
Fitting does require
removing the coverplate, bridge and cones
Features
-
Requires no permanent
modifications to the guitar.
Transparent, unobtrusive
and does not substantially change the look of the guitar.
Extends the bass
response without affecting other frequencies. Is particularly
effective on baritone Tricone resonator.
The rational behind
the ResoBaffle
The soundboard of a
conventional wooden acoustic guitar has a main resonant frequency,
below which its response to string vibration falls rapidly. Practicality
limits the maximum size of the soundboard and therefore resonance,
to a frequency which is higher than the fundamental frequency
of the bass string. The volume of air inside the body and the
soundhole form a Helmholtz resonator, tuned to roughly the resonance
of the soundboard. As a result the main soundboard resonance is
flattened and the bass response of the entire guitar extended
downwards.
In the resonator guitar
the soundboard is replaced by aluminium cones and the wooden body
with its round soundhole often by a metal body with either F or
basket lattice, multiple soundholes.
In their designs the
Dopyera brothers seem to have been most concerned with sheer volume
and cut through and don't appear to have tuned the hole to body
volume ratio to make use of the Helmholtz resonance effect to
extend the bass response.
By blocking one of
the basket lattice sound holes on the Tricone body the ResoBaffle
lowers the body resonance tuning nearer to the bass string pitch
and therefore produces a warmer, fuller bass end.
You can perform a simple
test to see if the alteration in bass is to your taste, as follows
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Place the guitar across
your knees for lap style playing. Play a little to get used to
the sound, take a suitably sized paperback book and place it so
it blocks the lower soundhole, then play some more. Try alternately
playing with and without the book to see if you like the change
in sound. The ResoBaffle of course, unlike the paperback book,
is designed so it doesn't fall off with the guitar in the upright
playing position and it won't reveal your appauling taste in reading
matter to an audience.
Usually the change
in tonal response isn't massive but it is worthwhile.
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