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Post by bignatz on Mar 5, 2024 3:16:09 GMT
Sorry if this topic has been covered elsewhere on the forum.
I'm pretty much done with metal resos, and with the problems associated with a lot of the original Duolians and Triolians, style O's etc. Would really like to find a style N, but I'll be long dead before another one comes up for sale that's worth anything near the money they command.
Been thinking about a wood bodied National. The few original '29 Triolians that are around are mostly train wrecks and need way too much work for me to mess with. I suspect that most of them are in the hands of a few collectors. I had one many years ago and have to admit that I thought the tone was great but the playability was pretty bad.
it's been about 20 years since I had a new NRP wood bodied guitar, and wanted to get the latest on which models that are commonly found used (not paying for a new one) and wanted to float a difficult to answer question - yes, to a large degree it's down to a matter of taste: what's your favorite Wood bodied National, and why?
Haven't seen a good used El Trovador for a while, which might mean that people are holding on to them.
Lots of Estralita Deluxes around, but have never had a chance to play one.
Ditto on the Thunderbox models...
What I'd like is to find the most "complex" sounding wood bodied single cone, is that makes any sense. I play a wide variety of styles, from West African kora music to Delta blues, rags, etc. At some point, my old Triolians started to sound to me like a trash can being kicked down a flight of stairs...if that helps at all.
Thanks in advance...
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Mar 5, 2024 7:28:25 GMT
My favourite wooden bodied "National" is an MM Blues '28. I have owned an early NRPJazz Blues and have tried out about four different types of recent NRP WOODEN bodies here in the UK and none of them have come close to my '28. Save yourself some money and get yourself one of these MM wooden bodies which will also be set up to your exact requirements. Yes, I do know Michael personally but this advice is given based only on my own independent judgement and opinion. Or if you want the creme de la creme go for a Mike Lewis Fine Resophonic. Best of luck. PD.
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Post by davetracey on Mar 5, 2024 12:07:35 GMT
Having bought a Fiddle Edge recently, I wouldn't hesitate in buying an MM Blues 28 if I wanted a wooden body resonator. Which I may very well do in the future, after a respectable timespan has passed since buying the dobro.
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Post by snakehips on Mar 5, 2024 12:23:00 GMT
Hi Bignatz !
Style N's, with the Iveroid headstock veneer, look cool - just that wee bit different than the usual Nationals - aesthetically . But beyond that, they are no more fancy to play, and don't really sound any different.
OK, unlike most nickel-plated brass Nationals, they have a mahogany neck, instead of maple, BUT as EVERY National can sound a bit different, depending on the condition of the original cone (if it has it), or what sort of replacement cone there is in there, AND what the neck angle & break angle over the saddle is, what type of strings you are using etc etc, a Style N is just as good as any other National single cone.
They are all cool but none, in my view, are worth lots more money than another, unless we are talking cosmetic & structural condition. They are all good ! I have bonded with some Naionals more than with others - and couldn't really tell why I preferred some more than others.
The ones I didn't bond with as much were 12-fret, rolled F-hole Nationals - a Duolian and a Polychrome Triolian. I think it was the neck shape, and the results from neck resets, rather than any other reason.
You could finally get a Style N ........ then not like it all that much - and wonder what all the fuss was about, having to get one !
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Post by tokyo on Mar 5, 2024 20:51:48 GMT
Sorry if this topic has been covered elsewhere on the forum. I'm pretty much done with metal resos, and with the problems associated with a lot of the original Duolians and Triolians, style O's etc. Would really like to find a style N, but I'll be long dead before another one comes up for sale that's worth anything near the money they command. Been thinking about a wood bodied National. The few original '29 Triolians that are around are mostly train wrecks and need way too much work for me to mess with. I suspect that most of them are in the hands of a few collectors. I had one many years ago and have to admit that I thought the tone was great but the playability was pretty bad. it's been about 20 years since I had a new NRP wood bodied guitar, and wanted to get the latest on which models that are commonly found used (not paying for a new one) and wanted to float a difficult to answer question - yes, to a large degree it's down to a matter of taste: what's your favorite Wood bodied National, and why? Haven't seen a good used El Trovador for a while, which might mean that people are holding on to them. Lots of Estralita Deluxes around, but have never had a chance to play one. Ditto on the Thunderbox models... What I'd like is to find the most "complex" sounding wood bodied single cone, is that makes any sense. I play a wide variety of styles, from West African kora music to Delta blues, rags, etc. At some point, my old Triolians started to sound to me like a trash can being kicked down a flight of stairs...if that helps at all. Thanks in advance...
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Post by bignatz on Mar 5, 2024 23:15:41 GMT
Hi Bignatz ! Style N's, with the Iveroid headstock veneer, look cool - just that wee bit different than the usual Nationals - aesthetically . But beyond that, they are no more fancy to play, and don't really sound any different. OK, unlike most nickel-plated brass Nationals, they have a mahogany neck, instead of maple, BUT as EVERY National can sound a bit different, depending on the condition of the original cone (if it has it), or what sort of replacement cone there is in there, AND what the neck angle & break angle over the saddle is, what type of strings you are using etc etc, a Style N is just as good as any other National single cone. They are all cool but none, in my view, are worth lots more money than another, unless we are talking cosmetic & structural condition. They are all good ! I have bonded with some Naionals more than with others - and couldn't really tell why I preferred some more than others. The ones I didn't bond with as much were 12-fret, rolled F-hole Nationals - a Duolian and a Polychrome Triolian. I think it was the neck shape, and the results from neck resets, rather than any other reason. You could finally get a Style N ........ then not like it all that much - and wonder what all the fuss was about, having to get one !
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Post by bignatz on Mar 5, 2024 23:18:35 GMT
I was referring to the original style N, which are fabulously expensive and incredibly rare. I got to play one, and I have to say it was an amazing-sounding instrument. But $20K or so....nah.
I'm writing from the US, will be moving to an EU country within the year as I now have dual citizenship...and will look into a Blues '28. I guess I need to talk to Mr. Messer about these? Nobody in the US sells them, right?
Please correct me if you know otherwise.
Thanks for all your input!
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Post by snakehips on Mar 6, 2024 16:57:06 GMT
Hi Bignatz, By "the original Style N", maybe you should read this, as I think you may be meaning the original idea/version for the Style O, in early 1930 (a 3-piece German-Silver body, with no engraving or etching, AND with a Tricone style mahogany neck) : markmakin.co.uk/style-n-or-style-o.htmlYes, they are very rare, but I stick to what I said before about all Nationals are cool :
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Post by richclough on Mar 7, 2024 13:18:43 GMT
Did a lot of YouTube listening a few years back while looking for a wood singlecone. My favourites were the NRP Radiotone Bendaway and a Fine Resophonic; both guitars maple bodied.
Anyway, my budget dropped and I now have a secondhand Blues 28 that I really like. You won’t go wrong there.
Cheers, Rich
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Post by davetracey on Mar 7, 2024 19:00:35 GMT
Not wishing to put anyone on the spot, but it would be great to see/hear a few videos of an MM blues 28 being played.
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Post by chrisburnuk on Mar 7, 2024 20:27:54 GMT
Not wishing to put anyone on the spot, but it would be great to see/hear a few videos of an MM blues 28 being played. sadly I don’t have this guitar anymore, regretted letting this go as soon as it left.
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Post by davetracey on Mar 7, 2024 22:51:36 GMT
Not wishing to put anyone on the spot, but it would be great to see/hear a few videos of an MM blues 28 being played. sadly I don’t have this guitar anymore, regretted letting this go as soon as it left.
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Post by davetracey on Mar 7, 2024 22:55:52 GMT
Chris - thanks very much for the video. Possibly not what you want to hear as you've passed it on - but it sounds great!
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Post by chrisburnuk on Mar 7, 2024 22:58:21 GMT
Chris - thanks very much for the video. Possibly not what you want to hear as you've passed it on - but it sounds great! Yeah it did, I’m hoping one day to have another! Honestly, it was a great sounding guitar. Highly recommended !
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Post by chrisburnuk on Mar 7, 2024 23:15:08 GMT
I was referring to the original style N, which are fabulously expensive and incredibly rare. I got to play one, and I have to say it was an amazing-sounding instrument. But $20K or so....nah. I'm writing from the US, will be moving to an EU country within the year as I now have dual citizenship...and will look into a Blues '28. I guess I need to talk to Mr. Messer about these? Nobody in the US sells them, right? Please correct me if you know otherwise. Thanks for all your input! You might want to try 12th Fret based in Canada www.12fret.com/instruments/michael-messer-resophonic-guitars/Good luck with your search !
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