20th Anniversary of National Resophonic

[paulreso1]

Hi all,
I wonder if anyone can help. I am trying to remember the year that National Resophonic celebrated their 20th anniversary?

regards
Paul

[leeophonic]

Paul,

Bobs big Red book says 1988 was when it all started, so that,s two years ago!

Bit late for a card and a party, but to put it in perspective the original National Dobro corp only ran for 14 years !

Regards Lee

[paulreso1]

Thanks Lee....it is interesting to see that the new incarnation has lasted longer than the original company! I guess the key aspect of the original National company was the inventiveness they brought to guitar design - perhaps the business side wasn't their strong point (though I guess family feuding & a depressed economy couldn't have helped!!)

thanks again, Paul

[snakehips]

Hi there !

I'd expect the main reasons for National going down the tubes were :
1. The start of WW II (but perhaps they were already in serious decline for the following other reasons) :
2. Widespread availability of electricity
3. Possibility of plugging in to amps meant spending your hard earned money on a new electric guitar INSTEAD of an a National resonator guitar.
4. Who wants an old resonator acoustic guitar when you can now get a cool electric loud instrument ? Who wants to be the cool guy in the room and the first in your area to get a new fangled electric guitar ?
Who doesn't want to be the last to get an electric ?
Who doesn't want to be seen with old technology ? - how embarrasing !!

[Mark Makin]

You're confusing the demise of the resonator with the demise of National.

World War 2 was certainly a minor hiccup that might have put some strain on the company - in fact any company!!
However, National/Dobro was certainly NOT a dinosaur that was swallowed up by the advance of new technology.

Many members and associates of the company were dabbling with electricity since the 20s. George Beauchamp was making PA systems at home since 1926. Art Stimson developed an electric blade pickup used on Dobros since 1933. Paul Barth had been a champion of electricity and was probably responsible for Nationals adoption of it. After all the Supro name was developed to market 'new' electrics. After Dobros merger with National in 1935, electrics were seen as the future. The move to Chicago was to enable amp manufacturers and other suppliers to be 'on site'.

In early 1936, they devised electric violins.

They developed one of the first humbuckers in 1934 ( way before Seth Lover of Gibson)

During the late 30s they were churning out lap steels in hundreds - after all they require almost no work compared to a resonator. They realised that many students could be attracted with the simple new electric lap steels.

So while I definitely agree with you that 'no on wants to be associated with 'yesterdays' ideas and that the days of the resonator were numbered, the National/Dobro/Valco company was one of the major players selling that new technology and making more than with resonators!

[Michael Messer]

It is scary that National Reso-Phonic Guitars is now 22 years old! It only seems like a few years ago that I saw my first National Reso-Phonic guitar. It was a wood-bodied 'Jazz Blues' and it was at Mark Makin's house in 1988.

Mark's point about National being so prominent in the electric guitar market is spot on. It was the resonator guitar that became the dinosaur. The company was very successful in the electric guitar & amplifier business.

Shine On
Michael.

[percythewonderant]

I hadn't realised that the National company only lasted 14 years. Does anyone know how sales figures compare?

The National name appeared on some very nice F hole models. I once played one like the archtop that Memphis Minnie is pictured with, (balloon sleeve photo), and it was a very nice guitar.

And while we are on the subject - something that I have idly wondered about, is, what was the connection between National and 'Radiotone'? The name has cropped up in the modern NRP catalogue but I first came across the name associated with reasonable quality laminate F hole archtops imported in the 40's - 50's. And another thing while I am straying off topic - why are the Semi Moserite resonators so overlooked?

The remark about electric violins reminded me of two things - one a song by Bob Dylan which will go around my head for hours, and the other - the resonator violin that I once saw a picture of. If my memory serves me well, (as BD sang in another song), it had two resonators and a lemon sunburst. I think it was shown not so long ago in an auction catalogue when one of the brothers estate was being wound up after his death.

But did anyone outside the company ever play the resonator violin? I guess that is the problem with invention and innovation. You have to wait half a century before the market is right and someone else takes your best idea and sells it to the now ready (if not obsessive), public. The mando is in production again - who will start making the violins?

Regards Perce