DomZilla - Posted - 05/19/2021:  04:32:04

Hi there,

I'm currently playing a Recording King RM-991 that is great. But I never played any high end resonator guitar.
I'm looking after the National NRP Tricone Antique Brass and wonder it is worth it ? It's gorgeous. But what about sound and playability, does it make a huge difference ?

Thanks a lot in advance, I can't try any. Everything has to be ordered in my desert.

Cheers

Dom

wlgiii - Posted - 05/19/2021:  07:27:55

I recently upgraded from an import to a 30s National tricone squareneck. The sound is amazing, and it feels solid and comfortable. Since it's more enjoyable to play I now play it more often, and it was definitely worth it to me. That being said, the import served me well, and I was fine with waiting years to upgrade to the National.

docslyd - Posted - 05/19/2021:  08:00:40

Dom...in my opinion, there is a big difference between a "new" National tricone and a vintage (30's) one. National makes fine instruments, true, but they are different animals in many ways. As Wayne stated, the worth of a 30's National is significant and I agree. Without you having the opportunity to play the guitar you are considering, it is almost impossible for anyone to tell you what the difference is worth. On the other hand (my opinion again), if you purchase a vintage National Tricone at a decent price, you can almost certainly get your money back out of it down the line. That may not be true of a "reissue" guitar.  Sounds like a good excuse to travel to the U.S......

Edited by - docslyd on 05/19/2021 08:02:26

Wildeman - Posted - 05/19/2021:  20:28:11

Yes! If i could swing it my Republic would become a National, no doubt about it.

DomZilla - Posted - 05/20/2021:  07:59:42

Hi,

thank you all for your advices. So a new National will be better than my RK but the real deal would be an old National cause the new ones can't beat the old ones. Right ?
docslyd I'd love travelling the US. Last time I played there I had a 3 days work permit. It was a bit short... I I would not know where to check for great instruments with reasonable prices though (and no idea what would be a reasonable price for an old reso).

Take care
Dom

docslyd - Posted - 05/20/2021:  08:43:02

Dom:

I prefer vintage...my biased opinion. It looks as though you play “spanish” style, or round neck. In fairness, you will find just as many players who love the new National guitars and, as mentioned, they are quality instruments. However, they are not inexpensive and I have seen many instances in which the price point was very close for both vintage and new....

ps...perusing all the typical places such as vintage guitar dealers, websites such as this one and eBay, will give you a good feel regarding asking prices.  Actual, fair-deal, selling prices should be a bit lower.

Edited by - docslyd on 05/20/2021 08:46:09

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 05/20/2021:  13:00:28

Is it worth it to upgrade from a Recording King to a National? Heck yeah!

I don't own either, but I have played enough Nationals vs. Asian-built National-style guitars to know that I would love to own a Natiional. What has stopped me from buying one is that I don't know how often it would really get played since I'm mostly a lap style reso player. And on regular guitar I play mostly flattop acoustic though I also own a couple electric guitars.

I am in the modern National camp. 

About 2 1/2  years ago I got a nice one-on-one tour of National Reso-Phonic here in California while on business in the San Luis Obispo area. They do an excellent job, and I could tell they take a lot of pride in their work.  It's not really a "factory" - it's more like a "shop." There are only about 20 employees. I was told by my tour guide that they do quite a bit of restoration work on vintage Nationals. Photo below of a vintage Tricone in for some work. 

It's awkward to use the late Bob Brozman as a reference - he took his own life eight years ago at age 59 and it was becoming increasingly apparent that he might be brought up on charges of child molestation were he still alive.

But he was a great musician and knew more about Nationals than just about anyone and wrote a book about them a bunch of years ago. 

Brozman's website is still out there. This is what he had to say about vintage vs. modern Nationals:

OLD NATIONALS vs. NEW NATIONALS

What about the question of OLD vs. NEW Nationals? I am asked this all the time, and I use both old and new, so I feel I can give an honest answer. Yes, the old ones have a certain "mojo" that all older instruments have, but unfortunately many old Nationals are either in poor condition for playing, or have been set up improperly or wrecked by the efforts of amateur "repairmen." And quite often they are overpriced by sellers who haven't seen many of these, so they assume their instrument is in better condition than it really is. If you are lucky enough to locate a vintage National in perfect condition, congratulations, but even in perfect condition, the old ones do not play perfectly in tune as you go up the neck - a common problem with many vintage instruments. Whenever I play with OTHER musicians, I would rather use a new National than an old one for this reason. Today's guitarists demand a more accurate intonation, and this is an issue that is addressed head-on by the new ones.



I am often asked: are there any differences in SOUND between old and new? If you have a perfect old National, it may sound better than a new one out of the box. However, after a one-to-three month period of playing the new ones, the sound opens right up and becomes BETTER than the old ones. I have had the opportunity to play unsold mint-condition vintage Nationals, and they, too, open up after a few months of playing. This is a phenomenon of all new guitars, and though Nationals are mostly metal, they do "settle in" as all the parts vibrate together and "unify."

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 05/20/2021 13:02:39

 

Three_Eyed_Willy - Posted - 05/22/2021:  12:59:45

I purchased a Republic tricone near the start of the lockdown. I did a lot of tweaking, and It does have a very good sound. However, I heard a NEW National wood body tricone at a local music shop, and realized that there is no real comparison. I now have a wood body National tricone on order. This one has a deep body, so it should have a bit deeper bass. I'm sure I will be pleased. I'll keep everyone posted.

mule627 - Posted - 11/10/2021:  09:44:36

Hello. After playing and listening to a few examples of vintage Nationals, modern Nationals, and Mule resophonic guitars, they are all 3 far and above any Asian built import. IMHO the vintage Nationals sound more like a banjo with no sustain to the note. The new Nationals "sing" more with a warmer and round tone. Mule are very warm and round and not as "loud" as a National due to having f hole/biscuit look but is a tricone. I think the f hole design compared to the open mesh grills on National tricones causes the difference in volume. Though, this is very slight. I find the quietness of the Mule more to my liking, I play a lot of jazz, Arabic music, and blues though.

Three_Eyed_Willy - Posted - 11/10/2021:  18:28:29

I realize that I failed to give a review of my new National Wood Body Tricone. This one has a deep body, ca 3/4" deeper than a normal wood body instrument. It has a HUGE sound. And it holds on to a note very well. I'm totally pleased with this instrument. It arrived the day after my birthday!

 

tomkatb - Posted - 11/11/2021:  09:29:57

Nice guitar Willy. I had wanted one. Wife has put the brakes on new guitars after I ordered another Harlow.

To Mark. Last month we were in the SF area to give my old learning guitar to my son in Lafayette Ca. Something to play with and a wall ornament.

i wish I had contacted you to play it. I gave him My Recording King tricone. I had our friend Frank improve it.

He said it was reasonably well made. He removed the paint from the interior spyder/bridge mechanism and put 3 Quarterman cones in it. Then a new bridge of really old maple. New strings. Whatever magic he uses As well.

I was speechless after I tried it. I would have appreciated your opinion as to the guitar compared to a national.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 11/11/2021:  11:45:43

Sorry I missed you! If one avoids rush hour, Lafayette is about a 90 minute drive from my place up here in the wine country. 

Beautiful area, Lafayette  - and big bucks to live there. From my horticulture  industry career I have known the folks at Orchard Nursery for many years. One of the best garden centers not just in California, but the whole country. 

And I've known Stevie Coyle, owner of Mighty Fine Guitars in Lafayette for many years. Great guy, great player. Former member of The Waybacks who have for many years performed The Hillside Album Hour at Merlefest in North Carolina. 

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 11/11/2021 11:48:19