National steel tricone

[bluesbottle]

Looks like I might be the proud owner of a second hand National Vintage Steel Tricone!
I thought it might be a good compromise between a tricone and a Delphi, and also more reasonably priced than a brass style 1.
What do you think?
Has anyone had any experience with these or heard one?
Regards
Brian

[Michael Messer]

Hi Bluesbottle,

I still think the 'urgent' advice I gave you yesterday was correct. The National Reso-Phonic Style O at Elderley is a very good guitar, and in my personal opinion a much better instrument to own and play than a steel-bodied Tricone.

A Tricone is a Tricone and a Delphi is a Delphi. A steel-bodied Tricone or a brass-bodied single cone will not give you the best of both types of instrument.

michaelmesser.proboards7.com/index.cgi?board=talkingblues&action=display&thread=1436

Shine On
Michael

[bluesbottle]

Hmm, now I'm a bit confused. Bob Brozman reckons the trichone for blues and thr styleO for ingerstyle then I also read that the steel trichone sounds better for blues.
Oh dear it's a bit like buying a used car. As soon as you get more expensive there's just to many choices.

[blueshome]

I think you have got to trust your ears. Whatever anyone else may say (respect to B.Brozman & Michael!) it 's you who is going to be playing the instrument. Listen to as many as possible, either personally or from recordings and the samples on the Nat.Reso web site and decide which sound YOU like best - it's a large investment and a pain if you don't get what you want.

[Michael Messer]

Bob Brozman likes Tricones for slide playing & single cones for fingerpicking. That cannot be argued as for what he does he is absolutely correct. However, BB is a unique artist with a unique sound, style and perspective on music & instruments. If you wish to sound like Bob playing slide, then a brass or German-Silver Tricone is the instrument for you. I agree with Bob that for the type of slide sound that he goes for, a brass-bodied or German Silver-bodied Tricone is without doubt the ultimate acoustic slide guitar. IMO nobody can sound like anybody else. My personal preference (most of the time) for playing blues-based slide/bottleneck style guitar, is a single cone instrument. For lap style slide I like Tricones & Dobros. For the past ten years I have played a wood-bodied single cone National style guitar made by Fine Resophonic Guitars. It's what I like! Over the years I have owned dozens of resophonic guitars. Other players would have a different opinion. Until you have owned and played various types of instrument you cannot form your own opinion on this question. Get one, play it, and if it is not what you are looking for, sell it and get something else.

Anyone else got any thoughts on this....

Shine On
Michael.

[bluesbottle]

Interesting thoughts. Hard for me to decide way down here in the South Pacific where the only resos you can try are Johnsons and Fenders!
Guess I'll just have to go with gut feeling and be prepared to flick instruments on if I don't like them. I only want to have one reso though. I can't afford the luxury of 2 or three for different sound effects.
Kia ora
Brian

[Michael Messer]

Hi Bluesbottle,

I have done all I can to advise you.

Yesterday morning you asked for urgent advice about which single cone guitar to buy. I visited Elderley and answered your question to the best of my ability. Then you came back and said one of the guitars was on eBay, so I went to eBay and looked for you. Based on what you asked me, I gave you my best shot and 30 minutes of my time. Then today you have brought Bob Brozman's comments about Tricones and slide playing into the equation! HELP!!!! The goal posts keep moving and I am trying my best to advise you correctly.

I host this forum as a labour of love. It is not my job!

Good luck my friend,

Shine On
Michael

[bluesbottle]

Sorry Mike, I didn't mean for you to do al the work. I was kind of hoping other forum members would give oppinions also.
You can tell I'm pretty confused.
I contacted Len at vintage Nationals and he recommended the VS trichone also.
Apparantly he Style O at Elderly has a whole heap of marks on it that they can't get off and looks like it's been splashed with sweat or acid so you can see that nothing is simple in this life!!
I asked them that surely Brasso or Silvo would get these off but they didn't sem to understand what I was talking about.
I'll keep in touch and let you know the outcome . Please don't spend any more time on it.
Regards
Brian

[Michael Messer]

Hi Brian,

No problem. These guitars do come up all the time on eBay, Vintage Nationals, Elderley and various other online stores. Perhaps you should stand back from it and do some more research before buying one.

I hate to confuse you more, but if I were buying a Tricone I would not buy a steel bodied one. As I said in my earlier post, it will not give you the best of both worlds.

I cannot vouch for the Style O at Elderley as I have only seen the photos on their website. I also agree that it can be hard to shift sweat stains from the nickel plating. I do however think it would be a nice guitar. Most 15 year old guitars will not be in mint condition.

I have never actually bought a guitar from Elderley, but I have heard they are very honest about their instruments. Can anybody on the forum tell us about dealings with Elderley?

Keep in touch,

Shine On
Michael

[Deleted]

Hi Brian
I have a VS Tricone .
That i use for slide playing & finger picking. It is very good at both.
When i bought mine i tried a style 1, a polychrome Tricone, a style 0, a resorocket & a dephi as well as the VS Tricone.
The VS Tricone in my opinion is the best sounding one of the lot for the Blues, the steel front & back, & the brass sides do give it a much brighter sound. To play it is pretty much exactly the same as a Style 1 . So it's a matter of taste in sound as to which of the tricone's to buy.
But there is quite a difference between the single cones & tricones. In playing & sound. So you do need to try a couple before you commit to buying .
Personally my next buy will be a single cone guitar either a Bendaway or wood bodied resorocket. I wouldn't buy a metal bodied single cone guitar at all.
It is all a matter of personal taste, all Nationals & NRP's are great guitars.
I hope find the right guitar for you.
Regards
Barn

[Deleted]

Hi Bluesbottle,

I've just joined this forum and must say...its great.

If you have picked up the National Vintage Steel, congratulations! You wont be disappointed. I have just purchased a used National Vintage Steel (2006) myself and am totally happy! Prior to the National I had (and am trying to sell) a 1993 Dobro 33h. Single cone. Like a National Style O in looks.

I always thought the rich sound of my Dobro was FANTASTIC until I played this National. It absolutely BOOMS. The neck is a bit wider which I personally prefer. Makes for easier fingering and picking (at least for me!).

The only negatives of the National relative to my old Dobro is that the Dobro was 14 frets clear and it had lovely Hawaiian etchings. My National is only 12 frets clear and etch-free.

However, the National has the lovely binding on the neck, the opened slot head and of course...the national badge on the headstock. For me, thats just like Porsche. An unmistakable badge of quality. Top of the industry. Just holding this guitar in your hands, the quality just oozes.

While I love the Dobro, it has served its purpose and I am now ready to move on and up. Perhaps this National will also be a stepping stone guitar for me. I must say, the Tricone Style 4 looks nice! but its about 3 times more expensive than the Vintage Steel Tricone. Ah,,, a man can dream.

Anyway, I've gone on far too long...once again congrats....you wont be disappointed!!

[robbie]

Hi js,
I am following your dobro 33h on ebay with an amount of interest, as I own one..................wished I had waited for yours to come up, mine cost me £1295 ..........ouch

regards
robbie

[Deleted]

Hey Robbie,

So, maybe my price is too low..?