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Post by steadyrollinman on Jul 13, 2010 15:34:33 GMT
Hi Stuart,
I was speaking to Steve James a few weeks back, he said the guys at NRP are now using some of the original equipment / machinery that was used by the original National Stringed Instrument Co to produce the new spec guitars and cones, all of which are allegedly now virtually identical to the originals.
Since Lewis is sporting one of the new steel Tricones I wondered if you had any pics and if so would you mind posting?
Thanks,
Chris
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Post by Michael Messer on Jul 13, 2010 16:25:47 GMT
Steve is correct that NRP's specs are closer to the original National company's work than they have been in the past. He is not correct about them using the old equipment to produce their guitars. Quite the opposite; NRP use laser cutters & CNC machines to make their instruments. Apart from one or two body moulds and an F hole, all the original stuff was destroyed and lost. There are a few remnants of John Dopyera's original workshop in existence, but they are not used to produce NRP guitars. This is the workbench that John & Rudy Dopyera used to hand-build the first National guitars..... Shine On Michael
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Post by snakehips on Jul 13, 2010 20:49:33 GMT
Hi there !
I think NRP are using high-pressure water cutters, not lasers.
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Post by Michael Messer on Jul 13, 2010 20:54:27 GMT
You're right, that is correct, they do use the water cutter now. I saw that clip of film a while ago. I am not an engineer or a technically minded person, so it's all new high tech machinery to me.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by marshcat on Jul 14, 2010 14:16:47 GMT
Chris: if you make your way down to the National Steel gig at Brooks Blues Bar at the Telegraph, Putney Heath, on Friday 23 July, you can see and hear Lewis' new black NRP tricone in the flesh, along with a selection of my 1920s tricones...
We are also fortunate to have persuaded Graham Hine (of Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts fame) to play an interval set for us. I've always considered him to be one of the truly great slide players ever since I bought his first Blue Goose LP "Bottleneck Blues" in 1970!
Should be a great night!
Marshcat
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Post by steadyrollinman on Jul 14, 2010 15:54:15 GMT
I'll be there Stuart. (hoping to steal a few more of your licks too)
Regards,
Chris
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Post by fitchmeister on Jul 15, 2010 16:53:51 GMT
Hey Chris
I plan to get down there too - would be cool to meet another forum member ;D
Roj
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Post by Colin McCubbin on Jul 16, 2010 19:02:32 GMT
I've visited National Resophonic's workshop several times, and as far as I know none of the original factory's tooling exists, it is all very high tech. Although Don Young is a consummate craftsman (and player) and can manufacture any part by hand.
I saw the bench Michael pictures above at the exhibition of Dopyera related instruments, in about 1996 at the Erie museum of modern art. My understanding is that it is still with the Dopyera family.
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Post by steadyrollinman on Jul 17, 2010 22:07:55 GMT
Hi Roj, Mention to Anne at the door that we are meeting up and she'll point us out to each other. Be good to meet you.
Chris.
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