Information about National Radiotone Bendaway Please

[obrienp]

Hi All,

I just acquired a National Radiotone Bendaway off fleaBay for an extremely reasonable price (about what you pay for a decent Chinese made reso). It has a Highlander pickup fitted which seems to be working OK and I am generally well pleased. It does need a new saddle, as the strings are pinging out of the slots and have worn additional grooves generally messing it up but the action is nice and there are not too many battle scars for a guitar that has passed through several hands. My guitar is no:109 from 09/99 acording to the lable. I am taking it to Dave King on Friday to have the saddle fixed and a general setup, so I am hoping he doesn't find any more serious horrors while it is on the bench!

I have being trying to find out some information about this model without much success. National don't make it anymore and there is nothing on their site about it. I found a pretty positive review that Michael did (I am guessing quite a few years ago) but not much else. I am a bit surprised, both at the lack of information and that National discontinued the model. To me it is the ideal single cone reso for gigging: it's light because of the wood body, with a cutaway that gives you access to the upper frets. The only thing like it at the moment seems to be the wood bodied ResoRocket that Steve James plays but I noticed that model is not listed on the National site either.

Anyway, if ever there was a body of people who could provide me information on this model, it is you folks. Can anyone out there clue me up, give me views about the model, etc? All information will be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance and slide on,
Pat

P.S. If the Bendaway comes back with a clean bill of health, I am probably going to have to part with either my Blues 28, or my Busker Deco. Watch this space if you coud be interested.

[Deleted]

Feb 4, 2015 18:18:02 GMT obrienp said:

I just acquired a National Radiotone Bendaway off fleaBay for an extremely reasonable price...
... P.S. If the Bendaway comes back with a clean bill of health, I am probably going to have to part with either my Blues 28, or my Busker Deco.

Well, it would only be fair to let them go at an extremely reasonable price .

[gaucho]

I also scored one cheap locally. It also has a Highlander and I got mine for about what the pickup usually sells for. Mine is a non cut away and shows a bit of wear. It plays and sounds fantastic. Not a light guitar tho. Weighs more than my 31 Duolian.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Pat,

You got a great deal there!

I can't really add any more than I wrote in my review all those years ago. I am not certain, but it's got to be 20 + years ago.

Here's the review...

TGM 9/5
NATIONAL RESO-PHONIC® RADIO TONE BENDAWAY
As the resonator revival gathers momentum we take a look at two additions to the market
leading National Reso-phonic® range: a cutaway resonator and an electro resonator - what next?
Review by Michael Messer.



RADIO TONE BENDAWAY
This is the cutaway version of National’s now discontinued Radio Tone acoustic hence the
Radio Tone logo on the headstock and the Bendaway suffix. It’s a wooden-bodied resonator
that uses a single 9.5” diameter National-style cone. The additional cutaway is, of course,
a common enough feature on regular acoustics and it’s added here to improve upper fret
access which is pretty difficult on a standard non-cutaway National where the neck joins the
body at the 12th fret.
The structure and design of the Radio Tone is based on the 1920s era wooden-bodied National
Triolians - single cone resonators not to be confused with tri-cones which have three
resonator cones - which for many are the best sounding guitars that National built. My main
single-cone resonator for both studio and live work is one of these wooden-bodied
instruments: a 1928 National Triolian - a nice piece to reference the new reso against.
Like many players, I go a lot on first impressions; pulling the Bendaway from its case, my
first thoughts were of real quality. Visually the Bendaway looks very cool with its late
‘30s style headstock, slot soundholes - designed like an old radio speaker cover - and its
matt, dark sunburst finish contrasting the nickel-plated coverplate.
The neck is typically chunky and wide with quite a pronounced V section. The fretting on the
dot inlaid rosewood board is from small gauge, quite original-style wire while the
three-on-a-strip vintage tuners looks basic but feel adequately positive and smooth in
action.
The factory set-up is spot on even though, like any guitar, it may not suit everyone. But
the Bendaway came with a happy compromise of both string gauge and string height that’s
applicable for both slide and regular picking. Incidentally, all National’s currently leave
the factory with a set of Guadalupe .013”-.056” gauge strings that may seem massive if you
play rock guitar but are perfectly normal for us reso-philes!
SOUNDS
The Bendaway is probably the most ‘multi-purpose’ guitar that National currently build
which, especially for the budget conscious buyer, is a very important factor. The wood
(maple laminate) body gives a certain warmth and bass response that you cannot get from a
metal-bodied guitar - there’s no escaping the tone of wood for musical instruments!
Tuned to regular E, A, D, G, B, E tuning and you have a full and characterful sounding
acoustic resonator tone that’s perfect for chunky rhythm work with a lot of power for lead
lines. Remember, these guitars were designed to project sound at a time when the amplified
electric guitar didn’t exist so they are loud - around five times the volume of a regular
acoustic.
Tuning to both open G (D, G, D, G, B, D) and D (D, A, D, F sharp, A, D) the Bendaway proved
a more than able performer for slide and lap-style playing. The slide tone has a real dirty
growl in the bass and a very clean, warm top end - the two, often elusive, factors that
constitute my ideal reso tone.
Also of note is just how right the guitar feels in comparison to the real beast from the
‘20s. The additional cutaway may have the purists shaking their heads but I found this
additional access a great bonus.
The main sound source of a resonator comes from the cone itself. That is the ‘magic’
ingredient that sits under the nickel coverplate and it does all the work. Certainly it’s
this major component that Don Young at National has got just right. Making these cones is an
art in itself but these new ones are very close to those of yesteryear: strong enough to be
loud and powerful but light enough to produce all those sweet tones and harmonics so
associated with the old-style cones. Like any quality acoustic they need playing in to get
the cones really working for you. You may initially notice a certain banjo-ish tone from the
top two strings when you play ‘em above the 12th fret but don’t worry, the more you play
this guitar the more the tone will open up and sound better. With a few months of regular
playing, this guitar will ‘sing’.
I also tested the Bendaway as a lap guitar with a nut raiser (this is a device that fits
over the nut to raise the string action for lap/Hawaiian-style playing and not a tool of
torture!). As I said the Bendaway is a great all rounder I was able to cover all styles of
lap steel playing with this guitar - it sounds particularly good for hot jazzy lap
steel/Hawaiian playing. In short here’s a cost-effective resonator that’ll give a lifetime
of service.

VERDICT
The Bendaway is about the best deal that National Reso-phonic are offering in their acoustic
line. At just under 1400, it is the perfect all-round resonator. It may not have the visual
appeal of a shiny metal-bodied National but it’s a great piece to own especially if you want
it to perform in a variety of different styles.

RADIO TONE BENDAWAY
RRP: 1350 (inc case)
Single-cutaway acoustic resonator. All maple laminate body, hard rock maple neck with
19-fret rosewood fingerboard. Neck joins body at 12th fret. 9.5” National resonator cone,
vintage-style 3-on-a-strip tuners.
Options: Now that the Radio Tone is only available with the Bendaway cutaway, the nearest
12th fret non-cutaway single resonator guitar is the Estralita with slot-headstock at 1350.
Fitting a Highlander system to these acoustic Nationals would cost approx. 250.
Colour options: Amber to walnut sunburst (as reviewed).

Dimensions
(In mm unless stated)
Bendaway
Scale Length 635 (25”)
Width of neck
...at nut 46.5
...at 12th fret 58.3
Depth of neck
...at 1st fret 23.2
...at 8th fret 25.3
String spacing
...at nut 40.5
...at bridge 58
Action as Supplied
...at 12th fret treble 3.5
...at 12th fret bass 3.2
Weight (kg/lbs) 2.7/6

---------------------

Shine On
Michael

[obrienp]

Thanks Michael. You obviously liked it, which is reassuring. I think I have got a good deal but I don't want to tempt fate. Dave is going to give it the once over and I am hoping he won't find any problems lurking that I didn't spot.

It sounds like Gaucho got an even better deal. I hope this isn't the Orphan Annie of NRPs! However, I like it and I am not going to get precious about taking it to the sort of pub gigs I do, which I would be if I had paid over £2K for a new ResoRocket.... so far, nothing not to like.

Cheers, Pat

[snakehips]

Hi there !

I was watching that ebay auction and fancied it myself, as I used to have one and wished I hadn't sold it !

Well done, that was a GOOD deal !

I am fairly certain that all the guitar will need is to be set up with a new biscuit or even just a new saddle, as Dave may not hve a spare NRP biscuit that has the chanel routed out under the biscuit, for the pickup. Maybe he will !

I messaged the seller before the end of action about the string spacing (plus trying to get him to welcome all UK bidders, but he wanted local only) - as the string spacing at the bridge was way off. That's all that that ws wrong with all the guitar, that I could see and will be easily remedied - and Dave King will sort it real nice !

Congratultions !

PS. NRP are making this model again. I think the heel shape is now the normal shape instead of that wide thing the old ones had.
www.ebay.com/itm/National-ResoPhonic-Radio-Tone-Bendaway-/370872846833?pt=Guitar&hash=item5659be89f1

[obrienp]

Great info Snakehips; thanks. The string spacing issue is because of the saddle slots being all to pot: but as you say, I am sure Dave can sort that for me. I am obviously not as observant as you, as I didn't spot it in the listing photos.

It was a hell of a drive from Norfolk to Malvern: 370 miles return (did it all on Monday evening) but I decided it was worth it to get this guitar. I suspect the fact he wouldn't courier it played to my advantage.

I followed your link: it does look like a new guitar. I wonder why NRP don't mention it on their website.
Cheers, Pat

[snakehips]

Hi again !

NRP are always quite slow to update their website. They have got a bit better in the last year or two but as you said, the Radiotone Bendaway is not shown on their website.
They may only make it for custom orders.

This is the one I had. It had a Highlander in it already when I got it, and I imstalled a P90 pickup myself :

[obrienp]

That looks really good with the P90. I wonder.... :-)

[snakehips]

Hi again !

I spoke to Don Young of NRP (about 10yrs back), long distance on the phone to discuss if and how I could install the pickup - and he advised me how to do it. He said he thought it was a cool idea.
See, the P90 pickup is quite deep and I was worried that after cutting a hole in the guitar top, that the neck stick would get in the way of countersinking the pickup deep enough into the guitar body - and be left with a useless large hole in my guitar front.
He assured me there would be plenty space/height.
In fact, he advised me to glue a block of wood onto the neck stick, directly under where the pickup was to go, and screw down the pickup to that - which would let me use the long pickup screws to alter the pickup height like in an electric guitar (rather than somehow secure the pickup to the guitar top).
It worked great EXCEPT nickel wound strings gave too dirty a sound, and phosphor-bronze wound strings were not picked up well by the P90.
DR Zebra strings (alternate windings of nickel and phosphor-bronze, hence the Zebra name !) worked well though for the guitar acoustically, with the Highlander AND the P90 pickup.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Pat,

I am sure Snakehips is correct about the pickup fitting, but I wouldn't worry as Dave King has fitted pickups to dozens of Nationals and Dobros. He will know exactly what to do if you do decide to fit a P90 and which brand to use.

The point about the nickel strings and their sound, is subjective. Many people, in fact somewhere around 30% of MM National Newtone Strings users use nickel strings on their resonator guitars. (I am not trying to plug my strings, but I do know their statistics)

Shine On
Michael

[obrienp]

Thanks Snakehips and Michael for the advice.

Priority at the moment is getting the immediate issues with the Radiotone sorted out but I might ask Dave to give me a few ideas. An alternative I had considered would be one of those National hotplates, which has the advantage of being a reversable modification but pretty expensive I believe.

Something to think about anyway.
Kind regards,
Pat

[snakehips]

Hi again !

Dave King actually saw my P90 modified Radiotone Bendaway, as I traded (part) it later on to him, to buy a NRP El Trovador.
He then sold it on to someone else.

The point I was making about the strings, Michael, was for a string type that would work well acoustically as well as with the P90 pickup.
The 12-54 nickel-wound strings I tried did not sound great with the P90 pickup.

[obrienp]

Well just to complete the story, I took it to Dave today. In addition to the saddle, it also needs a replacement cone. The original sounds OK but with the cover plate off it was very obvious that it had been bashed at some stage. Quite how this happened is hard to imagine. Apart from that the guitar is sound. Can't wait to get it back.

Slide on, Pat

[snakehips]

It will be even better with an NRP hot-rod cone, as your guitar would have had the earlier non-hot-rod cones, which to me where sort of "stiffer".
That's one of the reasons I fancied a Radiotone again, to be a hot-rod cone in it.
Say hi to Dave for me !!