The Cone of Uncertainty

Unlike tropical storms resophonic guitars are somewhat easier to predict.

While we see a handful of them on the bench for maintenance per year,

the primary reason they need tending to is silencing rattles and 

buzzing. Think about it: you play vibrating strings and those vibes

travel throughout the guitar's body so that anything oscillating at

a certain frequency can begin to work loose screws, tuning machines,

and anything else that requires a mechanical fit to stay in place.

Resophonic guitars, dobros, and other resonator based instruments 

including ukes, have many screws holding their cover plates 

(the shiny plate you see on the guitar top) onto the guitar. The 

spider, those 'arms' or metal web you see inside behind the cover plate

is held by string pressure when fully tuned, otherwise it would simply 

fall away from the guitar without the cover plate in place. 

The cone, the heart of the resonator guitar is very light

and must be fitted properly to the wooden body and that

in turn shares the load from the bridge and strings so

that it is all 'unified' so to speak.

When we see resophonic guitars on the workbench we always

check for screws that are loose or not seating properly. We also

inspect saddle placement and tailpiece screws and alignment

so that your strings stay in line from end to end. Even strap 

buttons can rattle if not tightened!