Old National Steel Resonators

[sinner]

Who knows about the old Nationals? Thinking about getting either a new reissue or hopefully a vintage steel resonator guitar. I think I heard that the steel is better than the brass (for blues sound). But I also need to learn about the different models (Dulian, O, etc.) and type of cones before I take the plunge.

Here's a cool pic of a circa 1933 National, with Duco finish. I don't know what that is, paint rather than plated I'm guessing. Looks like brass though--but I love the mojo on this one! They're asking $3495 is that a good price?

http://www.lilypix.com/photos/data/4d2e7bd33c475784381a64e43e50922f/3188_p48265.jpg

Doulian
Description: grey duco finish (crackle), some wear to the armrest area and below the high E string, but the sound is unmistakable, set up and ready to go (all our Nationals are set up to play fingerstyle as well as slide), you just can't get that Sun House tone any other way

[retro]

I know a little bit, but mostly I have played a lot of different new and vintage Nationals and others.
I think the age seems to be right looking at where the neck joins the body and what appears to be rounded f-holes rather then straight cut. Do you have a serial number?
I have seen similiar Duolians around the same price. I would recommend finding someone who knows them well enough to check it or a National tech before pulling the trigger. That's a lot of years on a neck. I've seen vintage Nationals at all different price ranges. And the price seldom reflected the tone, set up and feel. In fact the vintage ones I have played have been all over the map. The sweetest sounding one was a $450.00 vintage wood National all beat to hell with a cracked body that I hesitated on and wish I hadn't. It was magnificent sounding.
The vintage Nationals I think that people covet are the German silver bodied ones and old tricones.
I mostly play blues and I prefer steel tricones. But I also really love wood and I certainly don't mind brass. I know there are people that wish National would offer German silver bodied guitars again.
McCabes is in your neighborhood. I am fairly new to SoCal but I have spent some time there playing the Nationals there and liked the store. I would assume they could be of assistance as they are an authorized dealer.
Also National offers appraisals for a small fee.

I think the Duco finish was sprayed nitrocellulous lacquer with napthalene added.

If you are looking for one to play my experience with reso's has been they all sound different. Like all instruments I guess. Including the same models and vintage. I went through 7 National tricones before I found the one. So if you are looking I would suggest playing as many as you can and see what sounds good to you. Maybe you will like new more then this vintage. Then of course there are all the other brands out there. But for sure the new ones are really good and have plenty of mojo so I wouldn't be too concerned about making it a vintage. I love my Vintage Steel Tricone and I haven't found a vintage I would trade it for yet.

Good luck, reso's are very very cool and so much fun to play.

Oh I found this one on the net...
http://www.musurgia.com/products.asp?ProductID=2227&CartID=817129912005

[sinner]

Hi Retro! Thanks for the reply and info (not many other here at the Wah side of things).
Turns out I too bought a new 2005 Vintage Steel Tricone just Saturday! Went up the coast to Santa Barbara to meet Lenny G. at VintageNationals.com and got a chance to play all his stock of vintage and new Nationals. Lenny really knows Nationals and has a lot of love for these guitars as well. Check out his web site and be sure to click on the National Factory Tours, great pics and info! I have been learning more about these guitars since my initial post, and now after meeting Lenny I have learned even more, so I finally got all the models straight now...
I also feel in love with a vintage German Silver tricone but did not have enough for that one--some day! I still may get a steel body single cone, but I think the steel trincone will be a keeper even if I add a German Silver and a steel single cone, as it's tone is unique enough to keep in the collection even if I eventually get the others.

[retro]

Congrats...just wait til the finish starts to patina from all the sweat you put into it...beautiful I think.

So what slide did you get?
If you ever find a chrome dome slide be sure to give it a try.

And if I see someone playing a tricone on third st. promenade I'll be sure to say hey ;)

[sinner]

...Third St. Promenade, sounds like a good idea--but it's gonna take some time to really get to know this guitar--it's a whloe new universe now.
I got a wine bottle slide and some finger/thumb pics with the guitar, but I think I like my old Coricidin bottle better, so far at least.

[sinner]

Just an update--haven't bought the old Duolian, yet...really want one though...pretty soon...can't contain myself...that sound...is calling...me...the more I hear that old blues...the more beauty I find...but for now...I got a brand new National Vintage Steel Tricone...very nice...steel body has punch...three cones sound nice...blues...but soon my friends...the old Duolian will be home too...