Why I Love National Guitars

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Why I Love National Guitars

9 Nationals are available here, now! Updated May 18, 2013. See all of them below.

Check out my National Guitars Price List page for my prices on every model now available from National. Please do email or call at 319-338-3614. I can match or beat most other prices, and will help you find the National that's perfect for you.

I offer some of the best service and best prices you will find, and I have over 30 years of experience as a professional, hands-on, National-playing musician. I love these guitars and am excited to help you get a new National! Here are some Customer Testimonials.

My prices include a National hard case, no sales tax (except in Iowa), and FREE SHIPPING in the USA & CANADA. I charge the actual shipping cost outside of USA & Canada, please enquire. Got a customized dream guitar in mind? I'm happy to help you. Email or call me anytime. There are loads of possibilities. Want, say, a Galaxy Blue NRP or Triolian, or a Dueco Tricone? Or maybe an engraved guitar in German Silver? Baritone or 12 string version? A different headstock, neck, action or fingerboard inlays? Pickup installed? Just ask me, I will make it happen for you.
Smith & Young M1 & M11 Spider Cone Guitars!

Smith & Young M1 & M11 Spider Cone Guitars!

Now, an Official Dealer!
Smith & Young Spider Cone Guitars - National's two head geniuses, Don Young and Eric Smith , have started a new brand devoted to making these new spider cone, Dobro-type guitars. Model 1 is steel bodied, Model 11 has maple body and neck. Both available with round or square neck(with a hollowcore neck.). Open series soundwells. 10.5" spider cones. ORDER NOW.

Radio Tone Bendaway, M1 Tricone Cutaway, Reso Rocket WB

Radio Tone Bendaway, M1 Tricone Cutaway, Reso Rocket WB

New! Return of the Radio Tone Bendaway

The groovy Radio Tone Bendaway, pictured to the left, (My price: $2360) is back in production, and now available from National. This is a very cool modern twist, first introduced over 15 years ago: a Maple, Cutaway bodied guitar with vintage radio-style soundhole slots, Peghead headstock with the unique curvy Radio Tone shape and logos, sunburst painted finish, mirror nickel sieve coverplate and tailpiece, unbound rosewood fingerboard. A great looking, sweet sounding, much lighter weight (compared to a metal bodied National), very fun to play, surprisingly versatile guitar. I've owned one myself since 1998 and loved it. I used it to record, have taken it on the road, and used it in a variety of settings. Ace guitar! ORDER NOW.

New! M1 Mahogany Cutaway Tricone
The stunning, very popular M1 Tricone is now available with a cutaway! (My price: $2785) These are very special instruments, all Mahogany, including the well and neck, matching steel coverplate, and now, the cutaway. M1 Tricones have a huge deep bass, the highs have sparkle, sustain and warmth. And now, plenty of access to the nether regions of the neck. (Pictured above, center.) ORDER NOW.

New! Reso Rocket Wood Body
The Reso Rocket WB (My price: $2530) made famous by the great bluesman Steve James, this guitar is now a production model from National! Replete with tricone style grilles, cutaway and unique slotted Reso Rocket coverplate (this one is with a sieve coverplate, you can get it either way). This is a beautiful guitar. All mahogany body and neck, slotted headstock with engraved, pearloid overlay, ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard with dot inlays. Wowwww. I can see why Mr. James favors these guitars! (Pictured above, right.) ORDER NOW.

~ Instruments Now In Stock UPDATED May 18, 2013. Scroll down further for article: "Why I Love National Guitars." ~

THESE 9 INSTRUMENTS BELOW ARE IN STOCK, AVAILABLE TO SHIP!
Call 319-338-3614 or email me at:catfishkeith@catfishkeith.com

SINGLE CONE NATIONALS:

~ Special Brown "Root Beer" Dueco 12 Fret Single Cone $4480 - NEW LOWER PRICE. The NRP, or Duolian guitar with a one-of-a-kind, brown or "root beer" colored duco finish done especially as a showcase art guitar for last year's NAMM show, done by the great Rik Besser of B-Fanatic Guitarworks. - Total of over 25% off of list price because of very minimal playing wear from NAMM 2012. (List price $6000). Available now. Pictured left. MORE PICTURES, JUST ASK!

El Trovador Baritone

~ Style O 14 Fret Replicon $3210 The Style O-14 Replicon is a reissue of the guitar used by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits and The Notting Hillbillies. Its contructed with a maple neck, bound ebony fretboard, and nickel-plated brass body with "chicken feet" coverplate. Each Replicon goes through a distress and aging process to make it look and feel as if it were 75 years old. The metal parts are artificially aged for the look of a lifetime's worth of use. The neck is artificially worn for a "broken-in" feel. (Pictured left.)

~ El Trovador Baritone $3125 This is the Baritone version of the fabulous El Trovador.It features a longer scale length of 27 inches, meets the body at the 13th fret, and has an unrivalled, super-deep tone. You can tune it down to Bb or C and it comes strung with heavier, Baritone gauged strings. I love the world of the Baritone, hard to go back to regular scaled guitars once you get into it! Available now. (Pictured right.)

Brand New 2012 Polychrome Tricone

TRICONE NATIONAL:

~ Polychrome Tricone Blue Powdercoat Finish $2700 Modern version of the Polychrome Tricone: Same classic peghead headstock, ivoroid bound rosewood fingerboard, but with the new body of the lighter gauge steel NRP and Triolian Tricone bodies with formed back. Super durable textured powdercoat industrial blue finish. Nice! Super guitars, there are 2 of these available. Available Now. (Pictured LEFT.)

RM1 Maple Mandolin

NATIONAL MANDOLIN:

~ RM1-V Figured Maple Steel Parts Mandolin $2020 The innovative, super mandolin from National. Figured Maple carved body with a burst finish, Steel metal parts, sieve coverplate, unbound Ebony fingerboard, peghead headstock with Shield badge. Available Now. (Pictured left.)

~ RM1 Walnut Antique Brass Parts Mandolin $2190 Ultra-cool with Walnut body and unique, slotted and ribbed coverplate with an Antique Brass finish, bound Ebony fingerboard. Shield Badge on peghead with black overlay. Available Now. (Pictured right.)

Koa Uke

NATIONAL UKULELES:

~ Koa Concert Uke $1935 Figured koa top, back and sides. The concert-sized neck is made of figured mahogany with an unbound rosewood fingerboard. The headstock has a tortoise/ivoroid overlay. Available Now. (Uke pictured has rope binding.)

~ Style O Uke $1900 The traditional Hawaiian palm tree design is etched on the top and back, with a stripe around the sides. Comes with a 15" concert scale length and Grover friction tuners. Available Now. (Pictured left.) 5% off price; it has a few minor playing scratches from the NAMM Show.

ORDER ANY Guitar, Uke or Mandolin from Catfish, including these NEW MODELS:

New! Reso Rocket WB $2530 Tricone style grilles, cutaway and unique slotted Reso Rocket coverplate (also option of Hotplate, pictured on Steve James' guitar, adds $350, my price), this is a beautiful guitar. All Mahogany body and neck, slotted headstock with engraved, pearloid overlay, ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard with dot inlays. Love it!
New! M1 Tricone Cutaway $2785 All Mahogany, including the well and neck, matching steel coverplate, and now, the cutaway. M1 Tricones have a huge deep bass, the highs have sparkle, sustain and warmth. The Cutaway give easy access to the nether regions of the neck.
New! Radio Tone Bendaway $2360 The Radio Tone Bendaway is back! Maple body, cutaway, slotted vintage radio-style soundports, cool peghead headstock with special jaunty logo decals, unbound rosewood fingerboard. I always loved these, I have one myself and have recorded, toured and thoroughly enjoyed this unique National! (Pictured at the top left of the page.)
New! Smith & Young Model 1 Steel-bodied: Roundneck $2190, Squareneck $1935 Powerful sounding, cool new spider cone guitars with 10.5" cone in open soundwell, the squarenecks feature a hollowcore neck. Beautiful rubbed nickel finish. Fishman Nashville Series Pickup installed add $300.
New! Smith & Young Model 11 Maple-bodied: Roundneck $2020, Squareneck $1765 Great lonesome sound on stunning spider cone guitar with sunburst finish, also has 10.5" cone, open soundwell, squarenecks with hollowcore neck. Fishman Nashville Series Pickup installed add $300.
New! RM1-V Mandolin $2020 Newest version of the groundbreaking National Mandolin has all steel parts and unbound fretboard. (Pictured with Revolver ResoLectric below, under "So Much is New in 2012.")
New! "The Revolver" Resolectric $2275 This classic Resolectric has translucent black finish with mother-of-pearl accoutrements. (Pictured with RM1-V Mandolin below, under "So Much is New in 2012.")
LEFT! "Vintage" Dueco 12 Fret $3040 The fantastic NRP steel body with the brand new groundbreaking tough finish reminiscent of the frosted duco finishes of the 30's, only even more beautiful, in the Vintage green-grey subtle crackle. Mahogany neck, ebony unbound fingerboard, slotted headstock, ribbed coverplate. Limited production. Dueco finish by Rik Besser at B.Fanatic Guitarworks. Pictured LEFT.
New! "Vintage" Dueco 14 Fret $3210 The 14 fret version, with unribbed coverplate,Vintage finish as on guitar to the LEFT.
New! NRP Hollowneck Tricone $3720 This is the much-anticipated new hollow squareneck tricone from National. More resonance than thought possible! Steel body. Comes in all four NRP finshes: standard green-grey burst, black, ivory and "black rust."
New! Triolian Hollowneck Tricone $3720 With the gold-to-brown burst finish and steel body of a Triolian W-Series guitar!
New! NRP Steel Hollowneck Tricone $3975 The great hollow squareneck tricone with the new rubbed nickel "Steel" finish.
New! Style 1 Hollowneck Tricone $4655 Hollow squareneck tricone, brass body, mirror nickel finish.
New! German Silver Style 1 Hollowneck Tricone $5505 The Ultimate: hollow squareneck tricone, German Silver body, mirror nickel finish.
New! Style 1.5 Hollowneck Tricone $5335 Hollow squareneck tricone, brass body, mirror nickel finish, wiggle border engraving.
New! Style 2 Hollowneck Tricone $5590 Hollow squareneck tricone, brass body, mirror nickel finish, rose pattern engraving.
New! Style 3 Hollowneck Tricone $7475 Hollow squareneck tricone, brass body, mirror nickel finish, lily-of-the-valley engraving.
New! Style 4 Hollowneck Tricone $8055 Hollow squareneck tricone, brass body, mirror nickel finish, chrysanthemum engraving.
Styles 1.5 thru 4 available with German Silver Upgrade ($850 more).
Galaxy Blue Collegian

New! The Collegian $2190 Cool new reproduction of the 30's "student" line of single cone Nationals has steel body, f-holes, 14 frets to the neck, solid headstock with shield logo, both in aged ivory and galaxy blue painted finishes, ivroid bound ebony fingerboard, and unique circle soundholes on the coverplate. Another beaut (Pictured left), this isn't for kids! Another great achievement from National.
NRP Steel 14 Fret $2445 New Rubbed Bright Nickel finish on the thinner gauge steel body. 14 fret single cone guitar, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, w/ bone nut, slotted headstock with "NATIONAL" stamped in the headstock, formed back, rolled f-holes.
M14 Mahogany $2275 Beautiful deep dark stained, warm-sounding all-mahogany 14 fret single cone guitar, with f-holes on the the standard 14 fret body shape. Ebony fingerboard, binding and nut. Nickel plated coverplate and tailpiece. National banner logo on flat headstock.
Estralita 14 Fret $2445 Stunning figured maple, sunburst top with walnut back and sides, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard. Ivroid binding on neck and body, solid peghead with ebony overlay, National banner logo in Mother-of-Pearl. This is the brightest and deepest sounding wood-bodied 14 fretter ever built.
RM1-All Figured Maple Mandolin $2445 Wow! Sublimely figured maple top, back, sides and neck, all with a sort of tobacco-red-gold-brown sunburst, antique brass plated art deco slotted coverplate and open tuners with ebony tuning buttons. Add matching Hotplate system for $350. (RM1 All Figured Maple Mandolin pictured to the right.)
RM1 Maple Mandolin

Reso-Tone $1255 Features very similar to National's Reso. Jr., featuring the Hotplate, with cool new colors. (Seafoam Green, Black, Red, & Ivory)
B-Series NRP 12 Fret $2190, 14 Fret $2190 New to the National line is this beautiful new "Black Rust" finish; it has the antiqued, nearly "duco" look that I think is stunning. Everything great about the National NRPs is there in spades: big tone, great price, now this deep dark new look. (Pictured left.)
M1 Tricone $2615 National has outdone themselves with a gorgeous mahogany bodied tricone. A very exciting first: dark Mahogany gives the tricone sound a wonderful richness and weighs 3.3 lbs less than a metal bodied tricone.
M1 Baritone Tricone $2915 Available by custom order. I have one myself, it's deep and giant sounding, what a beautiful voice. The low string notes remind me of an upright piano's bass notes. It's a phenominal instrument (Pictured at the very top of these pages, with my howling dog, Lily, and on the cover of my Put on a Buzz CD).
M1 12-String Tricone $2915 The Mahogany body and well and tricone make for an absolutely fantastic 12-String guitar! It was a knockout hit at the NAMM Show this year. Bob Brozman, Mike Dowling, Steve James, Ben Powell and myself were all nuts about this great, to-die-for 12-String marvel.
Triolian Polychrome $2530 Yet another brand new model from National. This single cone guitar features thinner gauge steel body, formed back, flat f-holes, maple neck and ebony fingerboard, black palm tree stenciled on back, goldish painted body...another great reproduction of a 1930's classic. Sound and feel is very similar to W-Series Triolian and NRP. What a cool guitar.
Triolian Ukulele

Triolian Uke $1425 New National Uke with the W-Series walnut burst paint, rosewood fingerboard, maple neck, steel body. Cute uke with a kickin' resophonic uke sound. (Pictured right.)
El Trovador 12 String $3125 All of the wonderful qualities of a National El Trovador: all mahogany, unique shaped body with tasty binding around top, back, fingerboard and edge of the coverplate, and a tone unrivalled; sublimely fantastic. Deep and dark and warm and bright at the same time. I'm the first musician to have one myself, and I'm slap-happy nuts abut it.
El Trovador Baritone $3125 This is the six string, baritone version of the National El T. This guitar could change your life...also brand new...you can tune this way deep with big strings and be in a gonad-rattling new world of deep and rich guitar tone. Wow!
National NRP Tricone $2445 This replaces the Polychrome Tricone in the product line; it has a slightly lighter, painted finish like the NRP single cone, thinner gauge steel body, unbound ebony fingerboard, with ebony nut and black tuner buttons, slotted headstock, "NATIONAL" stamped into mahogany headstock, mahogany neck...a great new innovation by National. They did it again. Also now in Black and the B-Series, the "Black Rust" finish.
National NRP 12 Fret $2190 Reproduction of the 30's Duolian, with a silvery-green 'burst painted finish, the thinner gauge steel body, arched back and flat f-holes, ebony fingerboard, with ebony nut and black tuner buttons, slotted headstock, The New Dueco Nationals!

"NATIONAL" stamped into mahogany headstock, mahogany neck, unribbed sieve coverplate. The thinner gauge steel of the body gives it the true authentic ring of the 30's models as well as making the guitar weigh less. These guitars are fantastic, and are a great value too. Also comes in Black and Ivory finish, as well as the new B-Series "Black Rust" finish.
National NRP 14 Fret $2190 This is the 14 fret version of the vintage Duolian repro, same thinner gauge steel on the body, with the shorter body shape that's the same as the 14 Fret Triolian and 14 Fret Style O. Cool!! Also in Black and Ivory finish, and the B-Series "Black Rust" finish.
W-Series Triolian 12 Fret $2190 Wild about the new National Triolian single cone guitar, with thinner gauge steel body, flat f-holes, arched back, "Walnut" sunburst, neck joins body at 12th fret. These guitars really capture the sound and feel of the 30's Nationals, but twith the modern good intonation and truss rods.
W-Series Triolian 14 Fret $2190 This Triolian has the same shorter body shape as the Style O 14 Fret, neck joins body at 14th fret, walnut 'burst. A beaut.
Triolian Tricone $2445 This is one great sounding and looking steel bodied tricone with "walnut" gold-to-brown 'burst W-Series-style painted finish, formed back, ivroid-bound rosewood fingerboard, maple neck, slotted headstock.
Style 1 German Silver Tricone $3550 The Ultimate National Tricone; German (or nickel) Silver body gives the guitar stronger low-mids, smoother highs. (Pictured left.)
Style 1 German Silver Baritone Tricone $3975 This is a special order guitar, with the ultimate body and baritone 27" scale.

There are instruments now in development that may be available later this next year, including the National Tenor and Plectrum Guitars and National 5-String Guitar (with Banjo-type neck), and an Octave Mandolin.

Email or call me at 319-338-3614 for more info, I'm happy to help you.
See National's Website for full instrument descriptions, specs, pictures, and soundbites.
My National Guitars Price List page has all of my prices for every instrument currently in production.

You can order any model or custom option you want. The in-stock inventory can and often does change daily. I will match or beat other dealers prices, please just ask! Please do contact me, it's always great to hear from you and I try to respond quickly. I ship worldwide, no sales tax (except in Iowa). FREE SHIPPING in the USA & CANADA. All National guitars come with hard case and within one day can have Highlander or Hotplate or National Slimline Pickup installed at the National Factory.

See article below:

Why I Love National Reso-Phonic Guitars
~ A Resophonic Primer ~
by Catfish Keith

As seen in Blues Revue, Acoustic Guitar, etc.

Back in the early days when I started playing guitar and my interest was being sparked by the wonderful world of fingerstyle acoustic blues and slide guitar, the dynamic sound of the National made a mighty deep impression. Pivotal experiences included listening and soaking up with every pore the excitement and depth of sound displayed by so many National-twanging artists:

Robert Petway singing Catfish Blues.
Son House and his Death Letter.
Bukka White Fixin' to Die on his way to Aberdeen.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe's God Don't Like It.
Bo Carter with his Banana in Your Fruit Basket.
Tampa Red and his Duck's Yas Yas Yas.
Sol Hoopii like a jazzbo Hawaiian God Himself.
I Am the Black Ace, I Am the Boss Card in Your Hand.
Oscar Buddy Woods pleads Mama Don't You Sell It, Papa Don't You Give it Away.
Oscar Aleman, every bit as hot and sweet as Django Reinhardt himself, and many others...

Then there are the modern touring resophonic heroes, people that have become like an extended musical family of fathers, brothers and sisters:

American artists Taj Mahal, John Hammond, Steve James, Doug MacLeod, Robert B. Jones, Geoff Bartley, Paul Rishell and Annie Raines, Roy Book Binder, Robert Armstrong, Del Rey, Rich Delgrosso, Paul Geremia, Rory Block, Stefan Grossman, Woody Mann, Rich Jones, John Cephas, Tom Hall, Leroy Pearson, Michael Roach, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Corey Harris, Spencer Bohren, John Mooney, Mike Gordon, Diamond Jim Greene, Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan, Harlem Slim, John-Alex Mason, Dave MacKenzie, Bob McCarthy, Kent DuCheine, Toby Walker, Dave Moore, Greg Brown, Joe Price, Bo Ramsey, Dustin Busch, Junior Barber, Pete Grant, Steve Creter, Fruteland Jackson, Mary Flower, Frank Corso, Hawkeye Herman, The Original Snakeboy, Jeremy Lyons, Scott Perry, Steve Arvey, John Hasbrouck, Dakota Dave Hull, Kari Larsen, Cam Waters, David Evans (former musical partner with Jessie Mae Hemphill), Tom Feldmann, Dan Phelps, David Jacobs-Strain, Pat Donohue, Mike Dowling, Shari Kane, Roy Rogers (Chops not Chaps), Johnny Winter, Paul Olsen of Scrapomatic, Guy Forsyth, Lightnin' Malcolm, Matt Woods, Luther Dickinson, Ben Powell, Rick Franklin and many many others.

Style O 14 Fret

UK artists Dave Arcari of the Radiotones, The Blues Band's Dave Kelly (and his sister the late great Jo Ann Kelly), Michael Messer, The Notting Hillbillies' Steve Phillips and Mark Knopfler (also of Dire Straits), Ian Siegal, Adam Franklin, Roger Hubbard, Dave Foster, Martin Simpson, Mr. Downchild, Dave Peabody, Round Eyes Ray of the Hot Licks Cookies, Gypsy Dave, Paul Cuddeford, Aussie artists Jeff Lang and C.W. Stoneking and the late Irish legend Rory Gallager and many more all have had their lives altered irrevocably by this unique instrument.

In The Beginning...

Invented in the USA by the Czech immigrant John Dopyera, Sr. in the 1920's, the first (and ultimate) National resonator instrument, the tricone guitar, was introduced to the world in 1927. Based in the Los Angeles area, the National company had a colorful, fascinating history and produced their most prized and beautiful guitars up until around WWII. In the 1930's you could purchase a single-cone National guitar for 25 whole dollars!

An essential and very beautiful book about vintage Nationals (as well as Dobros, Supros, Valcos and others), is Mark Makin's 423 page, hardbound "Palm Trees, Senoritas and...Rocket Ships! - The vision of the Dopyera Brothers and the art of National, Dobro, Supro and Valco musical instruments." This book is self-published and available directly from Mark Makin at: www.markmakin.co.uk/shop.html

Back of 14 Fret Dueco

A New Era:

The modern company, National Reso-Phonic Guitars, Inc. has taken the spirit and sound of National's best guitars of those halcyon years of the 20's and 30's and have created a line of guitars that are unrivaled in beauty of tone, playability and the very finest workmanship. Don Young and McGregor Gaines, the owners of National Reso-Phonic Guitars, worked for the OMI-Dobro company in the 1980's. Don had started making replacement parts for Nationals when he and McGregor decided to make National guitars. They set up shop in Don's parent's garage and initially made wood body instruments (the Islander, JazzBlues, M1 Mahogany and ResoLectric). In 1992 they started to make the brass body Style "O.". Their combined talent, drive and creativity have made a huge impact on the guitar world and their small factory in San Luis Obispo, California has produced over 18,000 instruments in the nearly two decades since the company's inception.

A few years ago, after the death of Marie Noerdlinger Gaines (MacGregor's wife and National's Office Manager), MacGregor Gaines left the company to pursue other interests.

Now Don Young is the company President and Eric Smith has become CEO and Vice-President of National. Eric has worked at National since he was 14 years old, and has brought a new vitality and focus to the company. The quality of the guitars is the greatest they have ever been, and the adventure continues.

The Instruments:

Triolian Polychrome

National Reso-Phonic has reissued the vintage classic models including the single cone brass bodied Style O, in 14-fret as well as 12 frets to the body, and the engraved Style 3, and brass bodied tricones Styles 1 through 5. All models made after 1994 have excellent adjustable double trussrods.

Innovations include many new models inspired by the classics: The Delphi was the first, the steel-bodied equvalent of the early Duolian and Triolian single cone guitars, with several cool colors with a powdercoated "industrial" finish. The NRP and Triolian Tricones are the fantastic steel bodied tricones, which have replaced the heavy Polychrome Tricone of previous years.

Within this last couple of years both the National NRP and the W-Series Triolian have been issued, in 12 and 14 fret models, which have replaced the Delphi in the product line. These come in several finishes. Standard are handpainted 'burst finishes, and the NRP also has black, ivory and "black rust" finishes, and are made of a lighter gauge steel, much closer in tone to the 30's Duolians and Triolians. New in 2011 is the "Steel" rubbed nickel finish on steel bodied instruments, and the stunning Dueco steel body guitars in Silver and Gold (The back of a Gold Dueco 14 Fret is pictured above left).

The Polychrome Triolian (pictured left) is another stunning 30's single cone reissue guitar, with goldish painted thinner gauge steel body, maple neck, and on the back, the classic black palm tree and orange setting sun stencilled design of the original models.

Although the name is confusingly similar, these are very different from the Polychrome Tricone of earlier years; Triolians are single cone instruments, Tricones have the three smaller cones.

The Estralita Deluxe and M2 Mahogany are wood bodied single cone guitars that incorporate some of the best of the warmth and beauty of several of the vintage wood bodied models. The unique body-shaped El Trovador has been reissued, becoming National's best selling model for the last three or four years. The El Trovador 12-String and the El Trovador Baritone have also been issued. The Triolian WB and the NRP WB are both made with a maple body. New 14 fret wood guitars are the M14 and Estralita Deluxe 14 Fret.

ResoLectric

The M1 Tricone is a knockout revelation: the first-ever wood bodied tricone, with an all mahogany body (including a mahogany well). Beautiful!

Cutaway bodied new Nationals include the ultra-cool groundbreaking Reso Rocket and the new Tricone Cutaways.

The Reso Rocket is a fantastic, versatile new design that incorporates a cutaway and tricone-style grille soundports in a single cone guitar. The result is possibly the loudest single cone National with a powerful, cutting, yet sweet tone.

One of my favorite new Nationals are the Baritone Tricones (in steel, brass, German Silver and mahogany bodies) which offer a longer neck (27" scale) and can be tuned as much as four or five half-tones lower for that extra-deep, gonad-rattling tone unrivalled by most any other guitar. This is a life-changing instrument for a guy like me. I absolutely love these, and would not do a show without one. Most any tricone National can now be made as a Baritone guitar!

Great 12-strings are offered in most all models. The ultimate National 12 string is the El Trovador 12 String. The National ukulele is the cutest (big-sounding) little thing and comes in both metal and wood bodies, soprano and concert necks. They have a fabulous mandolin. Electric players are delighted by the ResoLectric (Pictured right.) and the new Reso-Tone. One-of-a-kind custom art guitars are sublime.

The Model D, Model D Deluxe and cowboy-roped Western D have delighted fans of the spider cone Dobro-type guitar, and come in both round and square neck versions. The new Smith & Young guitars will take the spider cone guitar to a new level in 2012. The squareneck Smith & Youngs will have a hollowcore neck, similar to the new National Hollowneck Tricones. The hollowneck is a groundbreaking design that takes the sound to new, super-reverberant heights. The National Hollowneck Tricones are all handbuilt by National President Don Young himself.

So Much is New in 2013:

New RM1-V Mandolin &

Radio Tone Bendaway - Return of the maple bodied, slot-soundholed, cutaway with paddle headstock!
Dueco 12 & 14 Fret - New color:"Vintage" duco finish on the NRP steel body guitar is stunning.
Reso Rocket WB - The great Reso Rocket, now made with an all Mahogany body.
M1 Tricone Cutaway - The very popular Mahogany M1, now with easier access to the higher frets.
Smith & Young Spider Cone Guitars - New brand built by National of cutting edge Dobro-style guitars.
RM1-V Vintage Maple Mandolin - Maple contruction with "Steel" rubbed nickel metal parts, sieve coverplate.Trancendant Mandolin!
The Revolver ResoLectric - ResoLectric with translucent black finish with pearloid pickguard and headstock overlay.
Hollowneck Tricones - In steel, brass and German Silver. Most resonant tricone squareneck lap guitar on the planet!
The Collegian - Cool round ring of "bullethole" soundholes on the coverplate make this 14 fret reproduction unique.
M14 Mahogany - All mahogany 14 fret single cone guitar, with black binding and unbound ebony fingerboard, National banner logo on headstock, bright nickel coverplate and tailpiece.
Estralita 14 Fret - Figured maple sunburst top, walnut back and sides, ivroid binding on neck and body, bright nickel coverplate and tailpiece, National banner logo on headstock.
NRP Steel 12 Fret and 14 Fret - Beautiful new Rubbed Nickel Finish on the fantastic Duolian reproduction, the steel-bodied NRP.
Reso-Tone - Great new version of the Reso Jr. with Hotplate in Red, Seafoam Green, Black and Ivory finishes.
RM1 Maple Mandolin - All beautiful figured maple with rubbed Antique Bronze finish on too-cool slotted coverplate and tuners, with Hotplate option.
M1 Tricone - A National first: a wood bodied tricone! This one is all mahogany with super deep and rich and clear tricone qualities, and weighs 3.3 pounds less than a metal tricone. Also available as a Baritone.
Triolian Polychrome - Goldish painted single cone with black palm tree stencil on back, another suped-up reproduction, and it sounds GREAT, just like the NRPs and W-Series Triolians.
Triolian Uke - Cute, wonderful sounding uke with the W-Series gold-to-brown burst.
National NRP Tricone - With similar specs as the NRP single cone, the NRP Tricone is a knockout guitar. Lighter gauge steel bodies now bear the standard at National; not only does this make the guitar lighter in weight, but brings an added vintage ring and sparkle to the tone. Just when I thought "What could they do next?", National raises the bar yet again!
Detail of Antique Brass Tricone

National NRP - A reproduction of the 30's Duolian, with lighter gauge steel body, arched back, stamped f-holes, handpainted silvery-green 'burst finish, ebony fingerboard and nut, mahogany neck, slotted headstock with "NATIONAL" stamped on it, just like the old Duolians...with the great ring of the vintage models! In both 12 and 14 fret models.
National NRP WB - Maple bodied version of the NRP.
W-Series Triolian - Also made with a lighter gauge steel body, arched back, stamped f-holes, handpainted "walnut" burst finish. In 12 and 14 fret models.
W-Series Triolian WB - Maple laminate version of the 12 fret Triolian!
Triolian Tricone - Gold-to-brown 'burst finish on the steel tricone, formed back, ivroid-bound rosewood fingerboard, maple neck, slotted headstock.
German Silver Tricone - Nickel plated German (or Nickel) Silver bodied tricone. Stunning. Really, the ultimate tricone...the same body materials as the greatest early tricones that started in 1927; it offers richer low-mids and smoother highs than the regular brass tricones.
The Don - Limited Edition 14 Fret single cone, German Silver, Deluxe neck.
Style N German Silver Single Cone - 12 frets to the neck, super-shiny guitar with more present low-mids and smoother highs than a brass guitar.
Reso Jr. II - The Reso Jr. is back, this time with a sublime natural wood finish., also now in sunburst finish.
Hotplate - Hot new coverplate with pickup and volume controls, can be installed on any single cone National.
Hot Rod Cones - A new alloy makes the heart of the instrument sound even better; it's now stock on all new Nationals.
14-fret Style O - Very popular, a reproduction of the 1937 model, replete with "chicken feet" coverplate and etched palm tree design.
Tricone Cutaway - A modern innovation of the classic tricone design.
The El Trovador - A real beauty; all mahogany bodied, f-holed single cone guitar with a unique, larger and deeper body shape, now in 12 string and Baritone versions.
Lefty Tricones - finally available, and, at no extra charge.
Antique Brass Finish - Available for all metal bodied instruments. It's beautiful! (Pictured above left.)
Baritone Guitars - Most all single cones and tricones can now be ordered with a Baritone neck. My favorite.
12-Strings - Available by special order for most all National guitars.

Can you tell I love these guitars?
Catfish Keith playing his Radio Tone Bendaway

Catfish Keith playing his Radio Tone Bendaway

I play and record with several different new models myself; my Baritone Polychrome Tricone has been my primary touring and recording National since I got it in 1999. In 2011 I got the new M1 Baritone Tricone, which I've recorded and toured with. It is fantastic, and very, very beautiful. I've been having a blast with the brave new world of the 12-string on both my brass bodied, brass plated Style One 12-string Tricone and my new, mind-blowing El Trovador 12 String. I have special uses for a Custom Baritone Estralita which is so beautiful looking and sounding, I can hardly stand it. My Radio Tone Bendaway (pictured right) and Blue Delphi get their workouts too.

I started my resophonic journey in 1979 on a 1930 Duolian. This is a great guitar, which has been refurbished by Don and Mac and the gang. I had dropped this guitar in the ocean (not recommended!) back in the early 1980's while living on a sailboat in the Caribbean in my wayward youth, and when I sent it in to National it was a very sad looking, rust-bucket of a guitar. It came back reborn with a vintage, trippy crackle or "frosted duco" finish and new fingerboard. The guitar and I had a very emotional private reunion, songs coming back, seemingly playing themselves from over 20 years ago. Ultimately, a happy ending to what began as an unfortunate story.

The advantages of new Nationals over vintage Nationals:
1. New Nationals have very good intonation, the vintage Nationals intonation are all a bit off.
2. New Nationals have fully adjustable truss rods in the neck. The vintage Nationals have no truss rods at all. My 1930 Duolian's neck had to be constantly re-shimmed, and had a bowed neck. New guitar's necks are solid as a rock and stay wherever you adjust them.
3. New Nationals have a lifetime of music ahead of them. Vintage ones, though quite a few are great instruments and have the legendary mojo of the olden days, need much more care, maintainence and are already seventy or eighty years old. Guitar players, by and large, tend to prefer new Nationals.
4. New Nationals have superior cones; vintage cones are often crushed, muted and banjo-like in tone from years of dust, petrofied bird's nests, playing and other general (ab)use. Don and McGregor and Eric and the craftsmen at National have really perfected the spun aluminum resonator, the heart of the instrument, and if something untoward happens to your cone, such as a hefty drop of the guitar or the cone's accidental use as a pot pie pan or frisbee (just kidding, I hope!), you can easily get fantstic new replacement cones at a nominal cost. You can always keep your original vintage cone, but I think the best sound comes from the new ones.
5. The staff at National are friendly and very responsive to the player's needs. If you ever have a technical question, you can give National a call and talk to a real human being who will help you.

If you are interested in purchasing any new National, I would be happy to help you.

I am an official dealer for National, and I can help you get them direct from the factory to your exact specifications. All instruments come with FREE SHIPPING in USA & Canada, hard case and no sales tax (unless you live in Iowa). I can usually meet most any other dealer's prices as well.

I offer total support before, during and after every purchase, to get you set up right to follow your string-twanging dream. I've sold hundreds of new Nationals directly to satisfied pickers all over the world. I have over 30 years of experience as a touring performer and recording artist, and I'm very, very proud to be associated with this great company.

Style O Deluxe

Please do email or call me at 319-338-3614 anytime, and I can get you prices and answer any questions.

Ask about custom features, too, including inlays, engraving, special finishes, custom headstock options, etc.

All models can have Highlander Pickups installed at the factory. These pickups really are the very best, specifically designed especially for Nationals, and since they are not easy to retrofit (and very few repair people have experience with Nationals, new or old), it's highly recommended that you get them installed at the factory.

Also the new Hotplate is available as an upgrade for single cone guitars as well as on the RM1 Mandolin; it's got volume knobs and "lipstick" pickup.

Please, note that my prices listed are the cash price (which includes checks, cashier's checks, and money orders). Bank wires adds $50 per wire. Paypal adds 3.5% in USA, 4% outside of USA. Credit card adds 4%. All sales are final.

Thanks for tuning in!

yours truly, Catfish Keith

My National Guitars Complete Price List
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Catfish Keith is one of the original National Artist/Endorsers, a Top 10 National Dealer since 2007, and a Top 5 National Dealer in 2011, 2012 and 2013.