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  #31  
Old 10-13-2014, 12:27 AM
DesolationAngel DesolationAngel is offline
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iPhone picture of my late 1930 National Style O on the rooftop at our old condo downtown... bathing in the last minutes of a sunset:



And this thread makes me realize that I don't have any good pictures of my Gretsch Roots... gotta remedy that this week.
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  #32  
Old 10-13-2014, 05:20 AM
niko niko is offline
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3 National Resophonic : El Trovador, Baritone Tricone and M1 Tricone

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  #33  
Old 10-13-2014, 10:19 AM
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National Havana (my 1st National & neck reset... sold for my main squeeze...



ĦLa Estralita!



German Continental tricone I restored from a very sad state!

and some I've had...




1930ish Triolian



1950's K90
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  #34  
Old 10-13-2014, 10:45 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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This is an experiment - not clever at inserting pics
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  #35  
Old 10-13-2014, 10:51 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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This is a big deal ! I've foud out how to insertv a pic !!

The Gibson made Dobro Model 27 Deluxe (left) was the property of a good friend and I always told him how lovely it looked. He developed a terminal illness and one day said to me "I know you've always fancied my dobro, and we both know I'll never play it again so I think you ought to have it".

I protested but he was insistent. Later I gave his wife some cash for it. However, after selling my old Dobro (with Quarterman cone) I realised that ther was no way I could get it to sound as good nor fret/stop accurately.
I hadn't realised that Gibson made resonators were only assembled and not put together by people who understood instruments - consequently many are built with the intonation as much as 1/4" out of true - as was mine. I got a Beard cone and an offset spider (made to resolve the build errors of Gibsons) and a split ebony saddle and had it fitted by a resonator expert who also fitted an oversize nut at my request.

It now sounds and plays fine.

The National Resophonic Style "O" deluxe was on ebay and for some ridiculous reason didn't reach the reserve. I contacted the seller afterwards and made an offer higher that the reserve and he said - "No I don't want that much - I want the reserve. (about £200 cheaper). We then discussed how it should be shipped to me - in discussion he discovered that I lived in the city where his wife was born, and so he suggested that he'd make a weekend of it and bring the guitar done for my approval as long as I promised to pay his petrol costs.

The guitar was in perfect condition (although it still has a faint tobacco smell) and I paid for it online by bank transfer. He decided to forget the petrol costs, went out to his van and came back with a Calton case to fit it - for free. What a gent!

Later I sold the Calton for a very fair amount on ebay. All in all it was a very good deal for me and it was a pleasure to meet the gent and his wife.

The Weissenborn style in the middle is not a resonator but it is the only pic I could find with the other two in. It is an all mahogany Weissenborn which I bought used in a specialist shop, and later discovered that it was built by a local luthier, who later did some set up work on it, and another friendship was made.

Recently a good frind and picking pal traded one of his Nationals against a Weber Mandolin - he offered me one - an Estralita - and now I wish I'd taken him up on it.

Last edited by Silly Moustache; 10-13-2014 at 11:06 AM.
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  #36  
Old 10-13-2014, 12:52 PM
Bunny64 Bunny64 is offline
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Been great reading this thread. Never even tried a resonator. You guys really love 'em. They seem quite expensive for someone who likes to find good bargains. Where should I look to find something that won't break the bank to get me started. I would be looking for something to play like a normal acoustic and try some blues numbers with a few shots of JD. What might I have to shell out? Thanks again for a very enjoyable thread with great photos.
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  #37  
Old 10-13-2014, 01:00 PM
Long Jon Long Jon is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunny64 View Post
Been great reading this thread. Never even tried a resonator. You guys really love 'em. They seem quite expensive for someone who likes to find good bargains. Where should I look to find something that won't break the bank to get me started. I would be looking for something to play like a normal acoustic and try some blues numbers with a few shots of JD. What might I have to shell out? Thanks again for a very enjoyable thread with great photos.
I can again commend the Republic range. Mine's a little beauty. See my earlier post.

Depends what you call "cheap". I got mine s/hand for about £300. Including a nice mock-croc hard case.... Happy camper.

ps. They are probably even cheaper in the States.
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  #38  
Old 10-13-2014, 01:12 PM
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My NRP 12 fret
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  #39  
Old 10-13-2014, 01:14 PM
DesolationAngel DesolationAngel is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunny64 View Post
Been great reading this thread. Never even tried a resonator. You guys really love 'em. They seem quite expensive for someone who likes to find good bargains. Where should I look to find something that won't break the bank to get me started. I would be looking for something to play like a normal acoustic and try some blues numbers with a few shots of JD. What might I have to shell out? Thanks again for a very enjoyable thread with great photos.
I have a Gretsch G9220 which is crazy nice for the money... it even has Fishman electrics in it for just $500. Since I got the National I put a nut extender on it (4 bucks from StewMac) to make it a true lap style player.
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  #40  
Old 10-13-2014, 01:15 PM
tdq tdq is offline
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Originally Posted by oldmanonthebike View Post
My Republic Highway 61 purchased already modified by the repairman at the Folk Music Center in Claremont Ca. Plate raised off the body, biscuit cover removed, lower section off plate cut away, neck reset and a nice hand fitted nut. Fun stuff. Plays and sounds great and is really loud.
I understand wanting to take off the biscuit cover, but curious about raising the plate off the body - what's the thinking behind this?
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  #41  
Old 10-13-2014, 01:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunny64 View Post
Been great reading this thread. Never even tried a resonator. You guys really love 'em. They seem quite expensive for someone who likes to find good bargains. Where should I look to find something that won't break the bank to get me started. I would be looking for something to play like a normal acoustic and try some blues numbers with a few shots of JD. What might I have to shell out? Thanks again for a very enjoyable thread with great photos.

Well...
the Havana cost $250
(btw... flipped the Havana for a cool 1200 and bought my Estralita, another great deal!)
the Kay was about $350
the Continental tricone was $499

each of these (pics in my previous post) I repaired, reset the neck, set up, etc (minus the Kay, sent that to a 'renowned' National repairman...wish I had done it myself, the neck reset was poor at best)

but the 'good bargains' are out there!
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  #42  
Old 10-13-2014, 01:59 PM
oldmanonthebike oldmanonthebike is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdq View Post
I understand wanting to take off the biscuit cover, but curious about raising the plate off the body - what's the thinking behind this?
tdq. I'm thinking that having the gap between the body and the cover plate was to allow more sound to escape. Didn't talk to the gentleman that did the modifications. I pulled it off the wall just the way you see it.
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  #43  
Old 10-13-2014, 02:37 PM
blue blue is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunny64 View Post
Been great reading this thread. Never even tried a resonator. You guys really love 'em. They seem quite expensive for someone who likes to find good bargains. Where should I look to find something that won't break the bank to get me started. I would be looking for something to play like a normal acoustic and try some blues numbers with a few shots of JD. What might I have to shell out? Thanks again for a very enjoyable thread with great photos.
If you live in the states you can find bargains. I traded a $500 electric for a $650 electric, which I traded for a $1000 electric, which I traded for a wood single cone national. I also bought a Style N, which is an O without the hawaiian scene for under $900. Patience and perseverance pays off. You have to actively look all the time.

Luckily modern nationals you find online will usually be trouble free. Other than the cones, they are quite tough.
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  #44  
Old 10-13-2014, 02:46 PM
Bunny64 Bunny64 is offline
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Many thanks Jon Danny Angel and Blue. You have got me enthused. So assuming I don't actually want a lap guitar to play slide that way but more in the normal playing position with a conventional neck where I could do some fingerpickin blues and some slide what kind of resonator am I looking for? I need to do some research. I wouldn't have a clue about action and set-up on a resonator.
Will try a couple out in my local stores I think to start getting some ideas. Didn't mean to go off piste with this thread but loved the photos and the audio clips. The guy with the hub-cap guitar was just awesome. Cheers guys!
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Last edited by Bunny64; 10-13-2014 at 02:48 PM. Reason: omission
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  #45  
Old 10-13-2014, 03:10 PM
bhbayless bhbayless is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Long Jon View Post
I can again commend the Republic range. Mine's a little beauty. See my earlier post.

Depends what you call "cheap". I got mine s/hand for about £300. Including a nice mock-croc hard case.... Happy camper.

ps. They are probably even cheaper in the States.
I had wanted to buy a Republic Resolian (love the parlor size body) used. I was in no hurry and was looking for a deal. After almost a year of looking in the usual places, I never ran across one and ended up buying a new 14 fret Highway 61. I went with that one instead of the Resolian because of the cut-away. What a great little reso, I love it.
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