brw - Posted - 08/08/2008:  14:10:23

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How many favor the Nationals wood bodies?
I have never played the wood bodied but I am bettin' they are pretty cool too.
Grant

Hooked on Resophonics - Posted - 08/08/2008:  14:40:25

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I prefer the wood bodies myself, it mellows out the single cone tone a bit, my Estralita (Walnut) is very versatile in terms of tonal variation when played differently, it can sound very full and warm when played by the neck, very bright & strident around the bridge.
I have played an NRP tricone & have had a small handful of wood & metal bodied resos, the 'Lita is my favorite by far, it took care of my GAS and I have been for the most part 'GAS-less' for a year now.
I haven't switched to the newer 'Hot Rod' cone that came out after mine was made in '05, as I don't think it needs it at all.


Danny Clayburn
soundclick.com/dannyclayburn

Larry_Waisner - Posted - 08/08/2008:  15:02:18

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Wood verses Metal,
As a norm most Bluegrass tunes are performed with a wood resonater. Alot of Country and Rock tunes are done with metal body reso's. Me, theres nothing like the warm sound of good wood Dobro.
Regards,
Larry

Larry Waisner
"The LORD Works In Wonderful Way''s"

Alexpnorton - Posted - 08/08/2008:  17:12:18

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I just heard a lectra wood bodied T 100, single cone , spider bridge all solid wood , It was amazing, best round neck I have ever seen. It may be changsd my search for a brass delphi.....

Alex p. Norton

brw - Posted - 08/12/2008:  12:41:45

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I appreciate your input Danny!
I guess I should of posted Wood bodies with bisquit cone...not spider.
gh

Dobro Don - Posted - 08/12/2008:  13:09:36

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quote:

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Originally posted by brw

How many favor the Nationals wood bodies?
I have never played the wood bodied but I am bettin' they are pretty cool too.
Grant

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Well I own two wood-bodied resos, the oldest is a Dobro custom job from the mid seventies (spider cone round neck) and the other is a National Estralita Deluxe Custom Koa (biscuit cone round neck).

I love 'em both.

But I also have a Bell brass National Style 1 tricone and an Amistar Style 3 12-string Tricone and I love them, too!

I tend to use the Estralita a lot when I'm singing - the mellow tone just happens to blend well with my voice. But I also sing with the Tricones but that's usually doing blues stuff.

Sound in an instrument is a very personal matter and I say, if the instrument pleases you then its got the right tone.


Don



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Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

Red Auerbach

brw - Posted - 08/14/2008:  11:03:11

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Thanks Don, I too have a Dobro with a spider bridge and I am considering adding a National with a bisquit bridge.
I love the bell brass Nationals but I am leaning towards the wood National.
Thanks for the input!
I slide.
Grant

Hubcap - Posted - 08/14/2008:  19:14:56

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If you want a wood body National. and I have try them all... The Bendaway. it is a all around great guitar to have.

Dobrodan - Posted - 08/15/2008:  14:13:18

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Get the National catalog with the two cds and listen to the Brozman play different new Nationals. Thats a good way to start, but don't accept it as gospel. Concerning the original Nationals, I've had wood bodied examples ( I play blues) and just liked the Dobros more. If you beat the crap out of your guitars while playing, metal bodied is the way to go.

Dan

brw - Posted - 08/20/2008:  09:25:58

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Hey Hubcap I will check out the Bendaway. Never heard of that model tho.
Dan, interesting that you perfer the dobro for blues over the National. But, I understand sound and tone rely on one's fingers and approach not the instrument.
Any National dealers to recommend?
I know of VintageNationals.com in Santa Barbara, CA
Thanks y'all
Grant

Dobrodan - Posted - 08/21/2008:  10:47:39

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(Hey Hubcap I will check out the Bendaway. Never heard of that model tho.
Dan, interesting that you perfer the dobro for blues over the National. But, I understand sound and tone rely on one's fingers and approach not the instrument.
Any National dealers to recommend?
I know of VintageNationals.com in Santa Barbara, CA
Thanks y'all
Grant)


I would agree that tone and approach are important, but what you work on is very important also. You will not get Segovia out of a cigar box guitar, no matter how you try.
I suppose I should have been a little more discerning in that statement. I actually use roundneck Dobro for more delicate work such as ‘Walking Blues’, or any fingerwork which I just do not want to overpower (try John Fahey on Dobro. Sounds pretty cool!). Most of Robert Johnson I do on either Dobro or acoustic guitar.
I use Nationals for Bukka White and Son House, Charlie Patton, et al, A Beard squareneck for some Black Ace and bluegrass stuff but more along the lines of such pieces ad John Campbell’s version of ‘When the Levee Breaks.’
As for guitar shops if I have anything which I need, I go to Guitar Emporium in Lexington, Massachusetts. They have a sophisticated approach to music (read: Not Green Day) and a plethora of guitars and banjos, which make you, and to go sit on the curb and cry with despair over your own collection. Of course it is all subjective to one tastes and playing peccadilloes.