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Post by obrienp on Feb 7, 2015 16:59:17 GMT
Yep the hot-rod cone will be a bonus & not as expensive as I had feared. Still works out as a good value National but not quite the steal I originally thought. I'll say hi for you when I next speak to Dave. Best, Pat
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Post by obrienp on Feb 21, 2015 13:13:23 GMT
Hi Folks,
Thought I would post an update on this and also an appeal for help.
OK, so this guitar is not quite turning out to be the bargain I thought it was. It is currently in guitar hospital with Dave King. Dave is have a struggle with it. Apparently the metal sound well is not flat so he is having to shape the new hot rod cone to fit. He says he has done it and managed to replace the saddle in the Highway biscuit but now he is having trouble with the cover plate. The string guard (if that is the right term for it) is exceptionally low. Dave has never seen one like it on a National and it won't clear the new hot rod cone and repaired bridge saddle. It appears to be a National part, not an after market replacement and it was an early guitar, so perhaps they were experimenting a bit with the design before settling on the higher string guard. Anyway after some deliberation we have agreed that a new cover plate is the way to go.
Hence my appeal. Does anybody have a spare National NRP cover plate they would be prepared to sell me? I will post this in Tin Can Alley as well but want to get maximum coverage.
Slide on, Pat
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Post by leeophonic on Feb 21, 2015 15:36:55 GMT
I have seen the guitar on the Bench as spend a bit of time @ Daves, the Palmrest as it is called is low and the profile of the coverplate is shallow, national did change the design on the coverplate to accomodate the removable palmrest on later model single cone guitars. The Hotrod cone is in situ but Dave is still scratching his head re the height of the cone and biscuit versus the available clearance???
The solution may 1. involve sourcing a newer coverplate, 2. fit a hotplate (that would be my prefered choice & sell the existing saddle transducer to recover some of the outlay) 3. or contact National direct to see if the profile of the cone was changed as they evolved and maybe get an old profile cone spun if they still have the former. I would hazard a guess that now Don Young is off the scene the knowledge in this respect has been lost. Anyway it,s a nice guitar and worthy of the challenge (I was the last bidder on ebay before you pipped me at the post as did not have the time to collect!!!)
Regards Lee
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 21, 2015 20:06:45 GMT
Hi Pat,
If DK can't get an NRP coverplate with a high enough handrest, an MM coverplate has more height. If that's any help.
Shine On Michael
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2015 21:18:08 GMT
Sorry to hear about the problems. It is discouraging to think the dimensions of these components were tinkered with in what one would expect to be a standardized instrument. I would appeal to NRP for support of their product, which sounds like it is a one-off or variant...
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uddude
MM Forum Member
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Post by uddude on Feb 23, 2015 3:17:56 GMT
Played one in a local store about a year ago. LOVED it! I think all of the National wood bodies are tremendous guitars. My favourite is the wooden rocket (Steve James Model). I really want a wood body National Resophonic.
Sorry to hear about the trouble you are having with your Bendaway. Call the folks at National they are helpful, and friendly and stand by their products. They may have some helpful suggestions.
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Post by washboardchris on Feb 23, 2015 6:33:09 GMT
Try getting in touch with National Resophonic (I have always found them very helpful)on there website they have a 9.5 cone for a Tenor guitar & mandolin. You may find that they have a lower profile.for the price of a phone call its worth talking to them. Hope this helps
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Post by obrienp on Feb 23, 2015 14:56:15 GMT
Hi, Thank you all for your suggestions. I believe Dave is going to contact National but I guess it wouldn't hurt if I did it as the consumer. michael, do you have spare MM cover plates available? lee, thank you very much for the information from the workshop and the suggestions. I really wish I could visit Dave's to see for myself but it is a hell of a drive from Norfolk. I would love to be able to afford a hot plate but I understand they are almost £400 and to be honest, it is really the highlander that I want, as I play in an accoustic band. That is the sound I am after. I think it is a standard National cover plate I am after. The removable palmrest would be a bonus and everybody tells me that the hot rod is a better cone than the original NRP cone. Another option is one of Michael's cover plates, if I can't get a National plate. I am still hoping somebody might have a spare NRP plate they don't need. It would be quicker (and cheaper) than waiting for one to come from National. Kind regards, Pat
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Post by obrienp on Feb 23, 2015 14:57:41 GMT
Michael and Lee. Apologies, I am not sure how I managed not to capitalize the first letter of your names. Yours puzzled, Pat
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 23, 2015 15:21:06 GMT
Hi Pat,
I do have one MM coverplate here. It is not going anywhere, so if you need it, it's yours.
Tell them at National that you are planning to fit an MM coverplate to one of their guitars and you'll have one in the post before the call is finished!
Shine On Michael.
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Post by obrienp on Feb 23, 2015 15:27:58 GMT
Hi Michael,
Thank you for the lightning response (no pun intended). I'll just check with Dave to see where he is at but I imagine that you could post your cover plate to me a lot quicker than National can.
Since my last post I have also been offered a hot plate at a very reasonable price.
Choices, choices! Kind regards, Pat
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Post by gaucho on Feb 23, 2015 17:41:44 GMT
I have a NRP Radiotone (non-cutaway) from '92. I bought it used from a local musician. It's roadworn (which I like!) but it's solid and sounds and plays fantastic. It has a Highlander in it and it has the original cone. It sounds so good, I don't dare put a Hot-Rod in it even tho I have one sitting on the shelf! I've been fortunate enough to own 6 Nationals and 3 NRPs and play lots more and this Radio Tone sounds very close to what, in my opinion is the best sounding one I've owned or played, my '31 Duolian w/original cone an biscuit. I would never have expected it to sound like a Duolian, they are so different, but it does! This one has a NRP cover plate on it that has a removable hand rest and I know they didn't make them that way back in '92. I'm guessing maybe the original owner had a similar clearance problem with the original cover plate. Here is my RadioTone:
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Post by obrienp on Feb 23, 2015 19:10:23 GMT
Hi Gaucho, Lovely looking pair of guitars!
Thanks for the information about your Radiotone. Interesting about the cover plate. Maybe this was a problem on the early models.
From what you say about the sound, it is worth sticking with mine to get it right. Although, I won't have the original cone, of course.
All the best, Pat
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Post by snakehips on Feb 23, 2015 21:24:39 GMT
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Post by obrienp on Feb 23, 2015 23:01:22 GMT
Yes, thanks Snakehips. it's also on Tin Can Alley. I am in touch with Kristo but I am not the only one. I need confirmation from Dave that it will fit the Radiotone. He is going to check by using a cover plate off a new National he has in his workshop at the moment but can't do that until Wednesday. Race against time :-).
Cheers, Pat
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