the new member to my reso-family :-)

[nickysplendid]

As mentioned in my "les paul for sale" thread, here's a pic of my new national resophonic style 1.5. It matches nicely with my 92 delphi in greyburst and 2001 style n (ordered with pearloid overlay on headstock).

I bought it from frailers today...good service from the guys there (but then it always is when u wanna spend money in their shop )
It sounds so much sweeter than the single cones i've got (especially the nasty bastard delphi ;D) but the action is a tad too low ..(or have i been struggling with a high action until now?)
i've restrung it with my usual bronze MM Newtone srtings(gauge 15) and i've tweaked the trussrod to give the neck a bit more of a bow but i think ultimately it's gonna need a new nut for the action to be as high as i like

One thing that's become really apparent this evening having had all three of my resos to hand in a a/b test, is the extra elasticity on the strings with the tricone - by that i mean the strings felt slacker on the tricone than the style n and delphi (i've got MM Newtone 15's on all three guitars).....son much so that i checked the resophonic website to see what the scale lengths are - the tricone appear to have a longer scale length!
www.nationalguitars.com/spec_sheet.html

here's a pic of the tricone near my wife's beloved liberty curtains..
i17.photobucket.com/albums/b95/nickysplendid/cc3816ff.jpg

and the three amigos in a group action shot
i17.photobucket.com/albums/b95/nickysplendid/bae2eb27.jpg
I intend buying a calton case in a tastless colour soon - so my national resophonic brand new case is for sale.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Nickysplendid,

Now you will need to buy metal polish in bulk!!!!

They look wonderful ;D

Shine On,
Michael.

[nickysplendid]

Gave the tricone truss rod another tweek last night and re-strung with MM Newtone 16's.
Job done!
The 16's have given me the string tension i want and the truss rod adjustment has created a high enough action for comfortable sliding and fretting.

It's weird....when i tried 16's on the style n the strings felt like pylon cables. It's gotta be the scale length that's making the difference - what do u reckon guys?

[Michael Messer]

The scale length of original National Tricones is the same as single cone guitars. The reason your strings feel different is to do with the scale length, but mostly it is because of the break-angle and set-up of a Tricone.

Shine On,
Michael.

[nickysplendid]

admin said:

The scale length of original National Tricones is the same as single cone guitars. The reason your strings feel different is to do with the scale length, but mostly it is because of the break-angle and set-up of a Tricone.

Shine On,
Michael.

Ah! - i'm learning all the time here!
i was curious about the scale length so i had a quick look around the national resophonic website and found this:
www.nationalguitars.com/spec_sheet.html
it says there that all single cones have a 25inch scale length and tricones (except baritones) have a 25.656 scale length..
i wonder if national have maybe changed the designs?

[Michael Messer]

There are a few design differences between an original National & a new National Reso-Phonic. These differences are to do with ease of production & modern guitarist's requirements.

National Reso-Phonic guitars are beautiful instruments, there is no doubt about that. They are building incredible stuff, but they are different to original Nationals. This is why I am always banging on about Fine Resophonic Guitars in Paris - not because I am on commission or don't like other makes, but because they are faithful to the original National designs and therefore have more of an old feel and tone.

Having said all that.....Your Tricone 1.5 looks pretty darn good to me! ENJOY ;D

[Richard]

Just measured my tricone as I didn't want to be left out, 25" as the actress said to the bishop

Well, somebody has to lower the tone here..