Introducing, the National ResoLectric RA3 guitar... The new acoustic electric model promises to take their electric line to the next level, in that the guitar can also be played acoustically, with a very nice acoustic tone. The new RA3 will feature a hexaphonic pickup system. Pictured is Don from National testing out the new model.
June 3, 2010 - This news just in - Our good friends at National ResoPhonic guitars are establishing a new division, named Smith & Young Stringed Instruments. The new off-spring will be devoted entirely to design & recreation of the all original, all spider cone Dobro style guitars. True to vintage original specs. The first instrument to be introduced will be the Model 1 Steel body, followed by their Model 11 Wood body.
We are looking forward to the launch, and have already placed standing orders for both models, arriving soon. If true to a vintage instrument, this one should be a 14-fret square neck with spider cone design... Specifications to be confirmed soon!
There is an art to reproducing guitars from a by-gone era in today's day and age. The folks at National have certainly proven they can not only faithfully recreate historic models, but also update them tastefully with modern day technology & materials that offer improvements. Today's National ResoPhonic is a constantly evolving company, which is always trying new ideas, reissuing classic models, and pushing the envelope as far as tone is concerned.
For many years, National ResoPhonic has been in research and development of the original Dobro's, as those models were part of the fabric and historic beginning of the original National company founded in 1927. This is the instrument that spawned an entire industry, a sound, and inspired a tone like nothing else. The Dobro company was founded in 1929 by brothers John Dopyera, Rudy Dopyera, Ed Dopyera, and Vic Smith. The name "Dobro" represents an early acronym for the Dopyera Brothers, thus: Dobro.
Dobro was never intended to mean a specific instrument, like a banjo, or mandolin, however, over the years, the name Dobro became synonymous with any squareneck spider-bridge resonator guitar, held in the lap, and played with a bar in open tunings, rather than fretting the strings on a fretted fingerboard.
Over the years the company changed ownership many times, and was shuttered from 1942 to 1954, bought by Semi Mosely, then lost, and finally bought by Gibson. Fast forward to today's modern era National ResoPhonic instruments, located in San Luis Obispo, where founder Don Young started his company in 1989. Having worked for the Dopyera brothers several times during his career, Don is uniquely qualified to recreate these iconic guitars. We are proud to introduce the newest line of instruments from the Smith and Young Stringed Instruments division of National, the Smith and Young Model 1 Spider Cone!
Smith & Young Stringed Instruments
In the most recent quarter century Don Young and partner Eric Smith of today's National ResoPhonic have built historically correct re-issues of these early instruments, yet only recently have been motivated to add the modern flare of increased string height, germane to a distinct Bluegrass sound. The new Model 1 with it's steel body, rubbed nickel finish, single cone sound, is absolutely tremendous. One can sense the wonderment when people first heard that haunting, vocal sound emanating from the Model 1. These instruments are loud, with a clear, warm tone.
This instrument is the very first prototype issued from their new division at National, appropriately named "Smith & Young Stringed Instruments", so named for Eric and Don. The logo on the headstock for this early prototype is still a "National", as the new logo is being designed at this moment. This will likely be the only S&Y instrument to bear the National logo, and therefore even more rare in the future.
A little longer overall than a standard National, that body size translates to a larger sound. Larger break angle at the headstock over the nut makes for increased tension on the cone, further producing more tone & volume! This thing is loud, however never piercing. The hand spun Spider cone makes all the tone possible, and National has always produced their own cones. Often imitated, never replicated! Referring to their unique tone, they have coined the phrase "It's in the Cone", referring to a tone that only National can make. We look forward to the future, and introducing this exciting new line of dobro's from Don, Eric, and the crew at National.
Look for other Nashville players who will be taking delivery of their new Smith & Young Dobros soon (Neil Perry of The Band Perry, Clint Chandler of Lady Antebellum, & Chad Jeffers of Carrie Underwood band)!
