National NRP ukulele - help needed to check if genuine

[mando]

Hi there!

A little bit out of place maybe, as my question is about a uke... But I suppose some people here who are very knwoledgeable about National NRP guitars might know a thing or two about their ukes as well!

I've been offered this National NRP mahogany uke for 900€, which seems like a good price to me. NRP mahogany Ukulele  Here's the link to the pictures I got from the seller  ibb.co/album/gbumDv
edit : and full view pictures as well here : ibb.co/album/daHnmF

A resonator uke is something I've been wanting to play around with for some time!

But it's far from home, and for the reasons that we know, it's not the right time to move around in Europe at the moment, so I can't go and try it and it'll have to be sent by post.
The thing is the seller is the third owner, and he has no info to certify it is a genuine NRP, so I prefer to make sure I'm not doing anything stupid buying this uke. From the pictures on the following link, would you think it is a real one ?

By the way, it has a piezzo pickup system, which is from NRP if I am to believe the seller, but I never heard about such a thing on a resonator ukulele.

Thanks in advance, and stay healthy!

[Michael Messer]

Hi Mando

I think it looks all as it should, but I would like to see a few full view photos and not just close ups of details.

I am sure someone on here will know more than I do, as NRP ukes are not my subject.

Shine On
Michael

[mando]

Thank you Michael for kindly giving your opinion on the subject!

Here are other "full view" pictures that I asked for and the seller kindly sent this morning: ibb.co/album/daHnmF

[Michael Messer]

Mar 22, 2020 10:08:25 GMT mando said:

Thank you Michael for kindly giving your opinion on the subject!

Here are other "full view" pictures that I asked for and the seller kindly sent this morning: ibb.co/album/daHnmF

My pleasure. However, I am not an expert on new "NRP" National instruments, so please do not take my word on whether this ukulele is a good buy.

Can someone on here that knows about NRP ukes comment about this instrument, please?

Shine On
Michael

[Brad Bechtel]

Here’s the National Reso-Phonic web page for that instrument:
www.nationalguitars.org/instruments/ukemahogany/mahogany.html

The instrument in question appears to be authentic based on the photos you linked.

You should contact National directly with your questions. I have no idea if they sell a ukulele pickup.

[Michael Messer]

Mar 22, 2020 12:42:05 GMT Brad Bechtel said:

Here’s the National Reso-Phonic web page for that instrument:
www.nationalguitars.org/instruments/ukemahogany/mahogany.html

The instrument in question appears to be authentic based on the photos you linked.

You should contact National directly with your questions. I have no idea if they sell a ukulele pickup.

Thanks Brad. I just checked on the NRP website and they do have a Highlander pickups system they fit into ukes.

From everything I can see, this does look like a very nice deal.

Shine On
Michael

[mendax]

It looks just like my #054 which I bought back in 2001, except on mine the serial number is on the top edge of the headstock instead of the back of it. I wound up playing it more than the NRP style 1 soprano
uke I got back in the '90s. Warmer sound, very loud, great neck profile. I can't imagine the need for a pickup on one of these, but to each his/her/their? own...

[mando]

Thanks to you all for helping out! As it seems quite unlikely that there's anything wrong with this uke and the price is fair, I went ahead and bought it! Now I'll just have to wait and see

I did try to reach National, but they seem to be out of the shop at the moment. The risk seems quite low anyway

[Michael Messer]

Mar 25, 2020 9:45:32 GMT mando said:

Thanks to you all for helping out! As it seems quite unlikely that there's anything wrong with this uke and the price is fair, I went ahead and bought it! Now I'll just have to wait and see

I did try to reach National, but they seem to be out of the shop at the moment. The risk seems quite low anyway

Excellent! Let us know when you have received it.

Shine On
Michael

[pascal]

Your uke seems to be a genuine NRP to me, I had a friend who owned exactly the same, back in 2004.

[mendax]

You're going to love it...it's the main uke I used playing live with the Wigbillies, and the one I usually used on our recordings--at least until I got my Dobro tenor and large body style 1 National...sound wise, it's somewhere in between the two--almost as loud the style 1, but a little warmer like the Dobro.

[mando]

I should have it in 3-4 days, I'll tell you how it sings once I get to play it

[mando]

This Uke is extremely nice! I am surprised by how loud it is.
Thank you all for your kind advice, I was a little worried as I did not know much about this instrument, but I am very happy about it

Considering this is very low tension and nylon strings, I wonder if low tension can also yield a high volume on a guitar (maybe the bigger cone asks for bigger strings to make it work). I have not tried anything below 13-56 for now, but I might try 12-54 in standard tuning (as I find bigger strings a bit stiff to play to my taste). 
Just out of curiosity: anyone ever heard of a convincing nylon string resonator guitar?

I am alos very happy with the resonator/wood body combination. This little uke has lovely overtones, yet it has a very sweet and mellow voice.
I haven't had the chance to play any good wood body resonator guitar yet, but I'll be thinking about a MM Blues 28 from now on!

[pfunk]

Congratulations! This is really a very nice uke. I owned a similar one and loved it (only sold it to purchase a Style 2 uke)!
Here's mine in "action:

[Michael Messer]

Hi Mando

I am pleased to hear that you are happy with your new ukulele.

The only nylon string resonator guitars around are made Del Vecchio instruments made in Brazil. Their most famous model is the Del Vecchio Dinâmico, which can be strung with classical nylon strings, or steel. There are also one or two copies of Dinâmicos, the most notable are, or were built by Paul McGill in Tennessee for Earl Klugh and Chet Atkins. I believe Earl Klugh used his with nylon strings, as did Chet Atkins in the early days, because it was Earl's guitar on loan to him. As far as I know when Chet got his own Del Vecchio and eventually a couple of McGill guitars, he strung them with steel strings. Most Del Vecchio Dinâmicos are strung with steel strings as they generally do sound better with them.

Early Del Vecchio Dinâmicos have a sweet warm quiet sound and are very attractive to look at. I have not seen a new one so I cannot comment on them.







Shine On
Michael