Convert baritone ukulele to resophonic

[ProfChris]

The 5.5 inch cone from CB Gitty is a biscuit cone, but shaped more like a spider cone!

https://www.cbgitty.com/cigar-box-gu...rles-atchison/

The centre of the cone needs to be where the saddle is on the baritone, or maybe a fraction further back if it's not properly compensated (like most cheap ukes). So your saddle has to be at least 3 inches from the tail, 3.5 inches would make life easier.

Then the top of your new saddle needs to be a fraction higher than the current saddle when all is in place, to allow for the cone sinking maybe 1/16 under string tension. Looking at the pics I'd guess you can't surface mount the cone because you'd be too high, so you'd need to construct a shallow sound well (this might be little deeper than the thickness of the top). You'd probably need to chisel away some of the tail block.

All doable if your bridge is 3 inches or more in front of the tail. If not, not doable.

[Edit] I see Jake Wildwood mounted his cone upside down - that should make surface mounting work if the biscuit doesn't have to be too tall.

[Sven]

Sven - I think this project will require creating a sound well. I'll probably buy all the parts and design a 2 piece sound well. I want the ukulele to be a fretting instrument and not a high action slide guitar. Charles Atchison advised that it me be very difficult to design and fit a sound well without removing the top or back. Part of me says to abandon this idea, but it will be a cool project.

Thanks for the reply,

Ed

Of course you need a well. I was thinking of the location of it - its centre needs to be exactly where the bridge is on the baritone. Otherwise you’ll eff up the scale length and intonation.

[Edspyhill05]

Thank you to the new posters. I lost the bid on the low priced baritone ukulele on ebay, so I'm waiting for another candidate for transformation to show up. It is hard to ferret out all the cheap ukes out there sitting in closets and under beds.

As far as the sound well, one option is buy a cheap tambourine and use that. I found several on ebay for under $3.00. Just need to match the inside diameter.

To be continued.

Ed

[Edspyhill05]

Hi everybody! Long-time reader and first-time poster here, also frequent musical instrument tinkerer. Jake Wildwood's blog is often a good source of ideas, here's a baritone he modified into a reso: https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/20...-baritone.html

Thanks for this link. Every bit of information helps since this will be my first attempt.

Ed