Resonator biscuit mods?

[gnugear]

I know it's not "traditional" but has anyone experimented with different materials for biscuits in a resonator. Seems like whatever transfers the most energy to the cone would be desireable. Maybe some sort of synthetic, metal, or stone?

[AK47]

I've never messed with my biscuit reso but I have experimented with my spider bridge model. I only tried bone because it is traditional to other acoustic guitars. The bone gave it more presence and volume but seemed to loose warmth. I went back to maple because IMHO it sounded better.

Be careful what you place directly on the cone by chance of damaging it. Maybe make a maple biscuit that you can insert diferent sadle material to try. Aluminum is soft and easily damaged. If you find something you like let me know I mght try it.

[Freeman Keller]

Some cheap biscuit resos come with a plastic biscuit - they can really benefit from a maple one (the same time you upgrade the cone). But making an new biscuit would be a heck of a job since the saddle is built in - you would need to build it on a lathe or a mill. Remember too that the spun cone supports the mass of the biscuit - I would be hesitant to add much weight.

 

On a spider the saddle is replaceable in a slot into the spider. Most common material is again maple but people have experimented with other - you frequently see maple toped with ebony.

 

As you know, unlike a normal saddle, both a biscuit and a spider saddle have the string slots cut in them - setting the action. How much it will affect the tone I can't say (I run a standard maple biscuit and bridge in my two reso and am very happy with both).