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

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 powerful, ebullient gospel music.
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, Bob Brozman, 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, 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 and many many others.

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, Aussie artist Jeff Lang and the late Irish legend Rory Gallager and many more all have had their lives altered irrevocably by this unique instrument.


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 Duolian single-cone guitar for 25 whole dollars! For the complete, complex story of the early days of the original National company, rife with cloak-and-dagger intrigue, check out collector and musician Bob Brozman's fantastic book, The History and Artistry of National Resonator Instruments (published by Centerstream/Hal Leonard).

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," using Bob Brozman's collection to create the Hawaiian motif. 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 15,000 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:

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 14 Fret Gold Dueco is pictured left)

The Polychrome Triolian 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.

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 2012:

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.
Dueco 12 & 14 Fret - Gold and Silver tough new duco crackle finish on the NRP steel body guitar is stunning.
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 - 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 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!
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.
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?
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 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.



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.

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.

Thanks for tuning in!

yours truly, Catfish Keith

My National Guitars Complete Price List
www.nationalguitars.com
www.highlanderpickups.com

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 and 2012.