National Tricone T14 with cutaway....???

[richclough]

I don't know what to make of this. It might be my ideal guitar, it might be a disappointment. Would love to hear a comparison with a 12 fret Style 1. 

www.nationalguitars.com/t-14

Thoughts? 

[creolian]

LOL, it's called GAS ( guitar acquisition syndrome ). ENJOY !

[richclough]

Have compared the images of this and a Style 1. Assuming same sized cover plate, the T14 has the same sized lower bout, but upper bout much smaller. I suspect it'll lose a lot of bass in comparison. 

[kiwi]

Republic and a couple of importers here from the Aersi factory have been offering this style for a few years now. Republic calls it the Clarksdale Special. In my opinion it just looks wrong. There are a few reviews on youtube of the Republic. For me it loses a bit of bass.

[Deleted]

The republic version has the original 12f shaped butt, but compressed upper bouts.
This one has a 14f shaped butt, and a less compressed upper bout.
I think this one looks ok - the republic looks deformed.
TT
edit - actually, I think this one looks fab
TT

[Michael Messer]

These things are all personal taste and lots of people are happy with Republic cutaway Tricones. Call me old fashioned, but I don't see how a 14 fret cutaway Tricone can possibly have the tone of a proper non-cutaway 12 fret body. The person that designed/invented the Tricone, John Dopyera, knew what he was doing. John was a genius and everything about the Tricone's design was there for a purpose. I think that if John were alive today, he would say that he understands the reason for wanting to make a guitar like this, but it can't and won't perform properly. Mind you, as an electric guitar, which in my opinion is what we are looking at, it will work well. Pickups can make a plank of wood sound amazing.

Shine On
Michael

[ricks]

I think they've done a pretty good job with the design - it doesn't look as distorted as the Republic version; I personally like 14-fret cutaway guitars, & have no problem with innovation ( eg I think removable hand-straps on single-cones are a godsend ) - my concern too would be bass-response - I wonder whether a deeper body ( like they're doing with the new M14 Thunderbox ) to compensate might've helped that? Biggest turnoff for me tho is that long scale-length - I'll stick with my '30 Style 1's shorter scale thanks.

[Deleted]

The technique of moving your thumb from behind the fretboard to access the higher frets really isn't rocket science and IMHO much preferable to cutaways/14 frets.

[ricks]

That's OK for slide, but I play mostly non-slide, & like to make free with the capo, so it becomes more of an issue - different strokes..

[Deleted]

Ricks--I was going to amend my post by adding 'for slide' at the end but you've done it for me. I can't imagine trying to finger with this technique!

[SoloBill]

Jan 24, 2018 14:01:41 GMT @graeme said:

Ricks--I was going to amend my post by adding 'for slide' at the end but you've done it for me. I can't imagine trying to finger with this technique!

Hi,

An example would be how a classical guitarist does it by moving the thumb down from the centre of the back of the neck more towards the side of the neck and the fingers placed forward of the thumb above the 12th fret. ("Classical" guitars are all 12 fret to the body and similar size to resonators).

Bill

[ricks]

Yeah, but I'm lazy - if I played classical I'd want a cutaway on that too :-)

[Stevie]

I learned on a classical guitar (in 1971 for two years) and except for one notable piece, I eschewed the dusty end at all costs!

e&oe...

[joetopping]

Hi, I’m new here but I thought I’d thought I’d just chip in on this as I’ve just bought a National T14 with a factory fitted slimline pickup (oh, and a Scheerhorn S1 roundneck dobro, but that’s another story!). The T14 does indeed have a deeper body which apparently gives it the same body cavity volume as a normal 12 fret. Having the pickup means it comes with a set of nickel heavy gauge strings (12s) so it might be hard to make a direct comparison, but it sounds like a tricone to me (and I’ve owned a few). I really like the ability to play up to the 19th fret WITHOUT having to contort my hands. Also it’s really versatile plugged in. I’ll either use the pickup blended with a mic for an acoustic sound or plug it into a tube amp for a really cool electric sound, kind of like a vintage hollow body.

[richclough]

Hey Joe! 😀
How does it compare from a bass volume perspective. I’m still considering a Style 1 cutaway vs Brass T14. I’ve been told I can get a custom brass one.
Cheers
Rich