pete72
MM Forum Member
Posts: 15
|
Post by pete72 on May 16, 2021 9:44:00 GMT
Hi Does anyone one have any experience of national radiotone model? There’s one up for sale, but I have no experience of this model? It’s a early 90s guitar. Any thoughts would be appreciated
Cheers Pete
|
|
|
Post by snakehips on May 16, 2021 11:31:44 GMT
Hi there !
If it’s the one I’m thinking of, then it’s the original version with cool graphics on the headstock and standard 12-fret body shape, before they changed it to the “Bendaway” treble-cutaway version. I had one of the Bendaway Radiotones and it was a lovely guitar.
The non-Bendaway version might not have a trussrod but I wouldn’t worry too much bout that. You may want to change the tuners for something better (I personally would, but others my want to keep this all-original).
I cut a hole in the top of mine to install a soapbar P90 pickup, and it already had a Highlander pickup installed hen I bought it used, in 2003 for $800, I think it was. I’d rather buy a used NRP guitar than a brand Chinese or other brand reso copy, as I’ve owned and played many of both.
I’ve thought of buying this BUT I’ve just too many guitars +/- project on the go. Go for it !!!
|
|
pete72
MM Forum Member
Posts: 15
|
Post by pete72 on May 16, 2021 12:56:50 GMT
Thanks , I’ll ponder it for a while. I hadn’t realised it doesn’t have a truss rod but looking at it I think your correct Cheers Pete
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on May 16, 2021 13:33:50 GMT
This particular model, please correct me if I'm wrong, has a metal soundwell? Certainly, the Bendaway version of the Radiotone does have the metal soundwell. Whether one likes that or not is a matter of opinion, but it does have a major effect on the tone of these instruments and is therefore a lot more metallic than it would be if it had a wood soundwell.
Shine On Michael
|
|
|
Post by leeophonic on May 16, 2021 21:16:48 GMT
Michael is correct, metal soundwell in a woodbody, baseball neck although not excessive at the nut.
It is very well engineered with machine screws with threaded inserts as opposed to screws that go wonky on Dobros, tone is between a wood triolian and a metal duolian if there can be such a thing, I must get it out of the case and have a strum.
sorry no pictures on this device
Regards
Lee
|
|
|
Post by blueshome on May 17, 2021 11:51:54 GMT
I have a 1994 Style 0 from the last batch without a truss rod. The action is as it was the day I got it. Baseball bat neck but very comfortable to play. I don’t have large hands. My recollection of the radio tone was that it sounded very good, not quite as smooth as the Islander which was around also at the time.
|
|
|
Post by snakehips on May 17, 2021 14:46:48 GMT
Hi again !
Did the Islander have a wooden well ??? (otherwise, I'm not sure what would have made it different in tone, as I'm sure the woods were similar !)
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on May 18, 2021 7:55:30 GMT
As far as I remember, it was the "Jazz Blues" and the "Islander" that were identical guitars with different paint finishes. The Radiotone and the Bendaway were a pair with similar builds and were not not part of that first run of NRP guitars. I think?
Shine On Michael
|
|
|
Post by Pickers Ditch on May 18, 2021 9:08:54 GMT
The "Jazz-Blues" I owned a while ago had a wooden well.
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on May 18, 2021 9:21:20 GMT
The "Jazz-Blues" I owned a while ago had a wooden well. Thought so. It was the later models, Radiotone and Bendaway, that have metal soundwells . Shine On Michael
|
|
|
Post by obrienp on May 18, 2021 10:33:20 GMT
My only resonator at the moment is a Radiotone Bendaway. It was in a bit of a state when I bought it and it needed a bit of work. Part of that work included a new cone. Now I don’t know if it was just my guitar, or common to all built around that time (late 1990s) but the new NRP Hot Rod cone was not a direct drop in. It had a slightly larger radius than the original. Now it was not too much of a problem for Dave King who just trimmed it down a bit and on Michael’s advice seated it on felt because the sound well was not entirely even. The next issue was that the new cone was also slightly taller than the original and I had to get a new more recent NRP cover plate (I got a Hot Plate).
The guitar is fine now and I think has quite a mellow sound, perhaps as a result of the felt. I can’t say if these issues would apply to the Radiotone under consideration and if there is nothing wrong with the cone in it, you won’t need to replace it. However, I am just putting it out there.
Best, Pat
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on May 18, 2021 10:44:01 GMT
My only resonator at the moment is a Radiotone Bendaway. It was in a bit of a state when I bought it and it needed a bit of work. Part of that work included a new cone. Now I don’t know if it was just my guitar, or common to all built around that time (late 1990s) but the new NRP Hot Rod cone was not a direct drop in. It had a slightly larger radius than the original. Now it was not too much of a problem for Dave King who just trimmed it down a bit and on Michael’s advice seated it on felt because the sound well was not entirely even. The next issue was that the new cone was also slightly taller than the original and I had to get a new more recent NRP cover plate (I got a Hot Plate). The guitar is fine now and I think has quite a mellow sound, perhaps as a result of the felt. I can’t say if these issues would apply to the Radiotone under consideration and if there is nothing wrong with the cone in it, you won’t need to replace it. However, I am just putting it out there. Best, Pat Thanks Pat, I hoped you would see this thread and comment, as I remember well the things we had to do to get your guitar up and running. Shine On Michael
|
|
|
Post by obrienp on May 18, 2021 11:02:38 GMT
My only resonator at the moment is a Radiotone Bendaway. It was in a bit of a state when I bought it and it needed a bit of work. Part of that work included a new cone. Now I don’t know if it was just my guitar, or common to all built around that time (late 1990s) but the new NRP Hot Rod cone was not a direct drop in. It had a slightly larger radius than the original. Now it was not too much of a problem for Dave King who just trimmed it down a bit and on Michael’s advice seated it on felt because the sound well was not entirely even. The next issue was that the new cone was also slightly taller than the original and I had to get a new more recent NRP cover plate (I got a Hot Plate). The guitar is fine now and I think has quite a mellow sound, perhaps as a result of the felt. I can’t say if these issues would apply to the Radiotone under consideration and if there is nothing wrong with the cone in it, you won’t need to replace it. However, I am just putting it out there. Best, Pat Thanks Pat, I hoped you would see this thread and comment, as I remember well the things we had to do to get your guitar up and running. Shine On Michael Hi Michael, I think you know more about it than I do, as you saw it open on the bench (and know more about NRP anyway). Please feel free to add anything I haven’t mentioned. It did have a neck reset as well but again, I think that might be a feature of my guitar, rather than a generality of Radiotones. Cheers, Pat
|
|
|
Post by bluesdude on May 18, 2021 16:27:31 GMT
This Jazz-Blues no serial sighed by Don Young and dated at 89 ,has a metal cone plat-form. I have done a set-up on another Jazz-Blues serial#78 has a metal one as well! I was under the impression all had it except the later El Trovador,,,,,,,,,,, Kenny,,,,,
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on May 18, 2021 18:22:35 GMT
View AttachmentThis Jazz-Blues no serial sighed by Don Young and dated at 89 ,has a metal cone plat-form. I have done a set-up on another Jazz-Blues serial#78 has a metal one as well! I was under the impression all had it except the later El Trovador,,,,,,,,,,, Kenny,,,,, Hmmm... Interesting. Thanks Kenny,,,,, Shine On Michael
|
|