National Reso-Phonic Guitars

Browsing National Reso-Phonic

National Reso-Phonic guitars are manufactured in San Luis Obispo, CA using the same designs as the famous vintage Nationals we all fell in love with. Single or Tricone designs are available in a variety of different body materials, including brass, steel, German silver and wood. Browse Artisan’s inventory of National guitars below or contact us to inquire about a special order.

National NRP B Series Black Rust 12 Fret

National Triolian Polychrome with Hawaiian Scene Stencil

National Model D Western Maple and Figured Walnut

National Style 1 Tricone Cutaway with Brass Body

National NRP Wood Body Duolian Green Sunburst

National ResoLectric Sunburst with a Lollar P90

National ResoLectric with a Lollar P90 and a Sunburst Finish

View by Nationals by Cone Type:

View Nationals by Body Material:

Metal
Wood

Page 1 of 2812 3 4 5 »10 20...Last »

National NRP B Series Black Rust 12 Fret

Scale: 25" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Steel | Back: Steel

Hear This Instrument: National NRP B Series Black Rust 12 Fret

Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.

National NRP B Series Black Rust 12 Fret

The National NRP Black Rust looks like it just came out of the swamp, perfectly suited for those hot southern blues licks. This National features the new color, Black Rust, and each finish is unique. Nationals have been played by many blues legends, but they definitely were not playing one with a finish like this. No two of the Black Rust finishes are alike. The best part is, you don't have to wait 50 years for a vintage finish, you can have one right now!

This model is a 12 fret version of the Black Rust series. Each Black Rust instrument is finished with a multi-staged hand-textured finish for an individual look and semi-smooth surface profile. Capturing the look and feel of an original 12 fret National Duolian, the thin-gauge steel body is highlighted by stamped "f" holes, a formed back, and period-correct, traditional ribbed coverplate. Each mahogany neck clears 12 frets to the body and features an unbound ebony fretboard complete with mother of pearl position markers. Vintage style plain tuners, ebony nut, and "National" stamped headstock complete the look of this classic.

With the ebony fretboard and the ebony nut, notes practically jump of the fretboard and chase that hell-hound on your trail down. Classic blues fingerpicking sounds like it is coming from a porch in Mississippi on a hot summer evening. Authentic in it's tone and in it's appearance, the Black Rust NRP drives itself to the Delta!

Browse our fine selection of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.

Learn more about the history of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.

Updating...

Tags: 12 fret, black rust, mp3 included, national, national black rust, nrp

National ResoRocket N Brass

Scale: 25" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Brass | Back: Brass

Hear This Instrument: National ResoRocket N Brass Body

Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.

National ResoRocket N Brass

While the folks at National Reso-Phonic have a reputation for building reissues and replicas of classic National resonators of the 20's and 30's with painstaking detail and accuracy, the ResoRocket is a shining example of the progression and innovation that National is known for.

The National ResoRocket N is designed from the ground up; built with a focus on the faithful players needs. The ResoRocket has a distinct tone unlike a typical single or tricone designs; drawing from both in a special way. The cone itself is a single standard 9.5 National with biscuit bridge. But, the top and coverplate is designed with tricone stylings.

The open upper grills lend to a dynamic sound, but with more of the single cone focus, projection, and volume. The ResoRocket has ample volume and an The resulting blend is unique and versatile, easily switching from open-tuning slide to western swing. Adding to the versatility, the ResoRocket is built with a graceful cutaway - finally allowing easy access to the upper register.

Updating...

Tags: mp3 included, national, resorocket, style N

National NRP Steel

Scale: 25" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Steel | Back: Steel

Hear This Instrument: National NRP Steel

Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.

The new NRP from National is built from light gauge steel and features a "nickel rubbed finish" (same as the cover plate on the El Trovador models), and priced the same as their NRP painted models.

The rubbed finish is desirable for two reasons... It has a vintage look, and it doesn't show fingerprints. For years we have ordered this finish as an option on otherwise highly polished nickel finishes, and it looks good and wears well. This finish usually carries a $300 upcharge on other models like the ResoRocket Style N, and the Style 1 Tricone, so we expect it to be very popular.

The thin-gauge steel body is highlighted by rolled f-holes, a formed back, and traditional ribbed sieve-hole coverplate. The thin-gauge steel provides increased resonance over the traditional thicker steel bodies. Chords are rich and complex with slight overtones, for a pronounced note quality that allows it to shine when played with one of our Diamond Slides. It sustains, and has a beautiful roundness to each note.

When you pick up a National NRP resonator guitar and begin playing, you can instantly see the reasons why players prefer Nationals over any other brand of resonator guitar. They are not only easy

to hold and play, the volume and tone delivered almost sounds like it has it’s own rhythm section built in. Even the simplest rhythm and lead passages take on a supercharged quality.

Browse our fine selection of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.

Learn more about the history of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.

Updating...

Tags: 14 fret, mp3 included, national, national resophonic, nrp, steel

National Triolian Polychrome with Hawaiian Scene Stencil

Scale: 25" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Steel | Back: Steel

In 1929, the first steel body Triolian was released as a replacement of the original wood body. The use of steel gave players much increased volume and bark - quickly becoming a favored material. It was originally offered in two finishes - a walnut sunburst and the polychrome yellow. From 1929 to 1934, many changes were made to the finish options and details. The original polychrome finished Triolians featured a hand painted Hawaiian scene stenciled on the back; with a lovely palm tree and warm, red setting sun. The stenciling work was somewhat crude and varied from guitar to guitar. Still, the polychrome finish has been sought after for years by collectors and enthusiasts alike. National Reso-Phonic has certainly done their homework, and this reissue will please any fan of the original.

The National Triolian Polychrome is built with a thin gauge steel body with a maple neck and an ebony fingerboard. The fingerboard is bound with ivoroid. The tone is smoothed out considerably on this Triolian with lots of natural reverberation making slide passages sound especially nice and wide open.
Read More »

Updating...

Tags: hawaiin, national, polychromel, triolian

National NRP Tricone Black Rust

Scale: 25 21/32" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Steel | Back: Steel

This National NRP Tricone features National's "Black Rust" finish. This is a very unique looking finish and has become a shop favorite. Our customers have really gravitated towards this muted, vintage looking finish. The Black Rust finish looks like it just came out of the swamp, perfectly suited for those hot southern blues licks. Nationals have been played by many blues legends, but they definitely were not playing one with a finish like this. No two of the Black Rust finishes are alike. The best part is, you don't have to wait 50 years for a vintage finish, you can have one right now!

The Tricone design was originated in the 1920's and was based on the same principle as the mica disc on a Victrola. The designers settle on a very thin, conical shaped aluminum resonator design, used in a set of three connected with a T-bar inside an all metal body. Three were used due to the mellowed sound and increased sustain it produced, as opposed to using one large cone which was louder, but brighter in tone.

Browse our fine selection of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.

Learn more about the history of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.

Updating...

Tags: 12 fret, black rust, national, nrp, steel body, tricone

National Model D Western Maple and Figured Walnut

Scale: 25" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Maple | Back: Walnut

Hear This Instrument:

Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.

So what happens when you mix a Dobro "spider" bridge and place it in a round-neck instrument that you can actually fret and chord? Why, the Model D of course! The first of National’s spider bridge wood bodies, the Model D was introduced in 2000. The spider cone itself has a W-shape to it and the spider bridge contacts the cone in both the center and along the edges. With this design, string vibration gets distributed to numerous points around the cone. The cone itself operates more like a speaker then its biscuit bridge brethren, as the concavity is reversed so more of the sound is driven out.

What a sound it is! Imagine if you will, the ability to play those haunting dobro sounds you have been hearing, but you have no idea how to play Dobro. The Model D recreates those same sounds in a traditional "round neck" guitar. Notes have a beautiful sustain and decay, and there is a poignancy to the notes that not even the more traditional "biscuit" bridge guitars have. Even flatpicked bluegrass tunes sound as if they being played on a traditional dobro, it's quite remarkable. A maple top is complemented by conventional f-holes and traditional cover-plate.

The distinctive Western Model D has a figured maple top, solid walnut sides and an exotic quarter-matched walnut burl back. The top and back of the body, as well as the fingerboard, are bound with maple/rosewood "rope" binding. The round neck is walnut with an ebony fingerboard inlaid with white mother-of-pearl arrow markers. The headstock is overlaid with white pearloid into which the National logo has been engraved. This guitar comes equipped with vintage-style, open gear, three-on-a-plate tuners. The coverplate, removable strap, and tailpiece are plated in rubbed satin nickel.

Updating...

Tags: model D, mp3 included, national, spider bridge, walnut, western

National Triolian WB Wood Body

Scale: 25.00" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Maple | Back: Maple

Hear This Instrument: National Triolian WB Wood Body Single Cone Resonator

Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.

We've received another 12-fret National Triolian in all its... wooden glory? That's right, my friends, the always daring folks at National have yet again introduced another replica with painstaking detail and accuracy. Hanging on the wall, it looks like any other steel body Triolian we have seen - even down to the "rolled" edge stylings around the body. But once you pick it up, it's light as a feather.

Each uses a maple-laminate body which is hand painted in walnut-burst with matching steel coverplate. The maple neck features an ivoroid-bound rosewood fretboard complete with inlaid mother-of-pearl position markers. A nickel plated tailpiece highlights the unique look of this wood body guitar.

Browse our fine selection of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.

Learn more about the history of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.

Updating...

Tags: national, triolian, walnut burst, wood body

National Style 1 Tricone Cutaway with Brass Body

Scale: 25-21/32" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Brass | Back: Brass

The National Style 1 Tricone shares many of its features with the original National Tricone created by the Dopyera brothers in the late 1920s. This beauty has, as John Dopyera himself once said, Tone that flows like a river.

The tricone design is perfect for players who focus on open tunings and slide. The beauty of the design is the increased sustain without sacrificing any volume. Classic players like Tampa Red heavily relied on the original National Tricone, and he would be pleased to have this one in his hands. This custom model has a cutaway for easy access to high frets for soaring lead lines.

The brass body on this National Style 1 Tricone is polished to a mirror-like shine and nickel plated. The tone of brass is unmatched – that’s why it has been used for decades. The mahogany neck, finished in a rich mahogany burst, has an ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard. The vintage-style National tuning machines sit on a traditional slotted headstock, finished with the distinctive National shield decal.

Browse our fine selection of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.

Learn more about the history of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.

Specifications:

Top: Brass
Back and Sides: Brass
Scale: 25 - 21/32"
Nut Width: 1.825"
Serial Number: 16608
Neck Material: Mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony
Bridge: T Bridge
Headstock Shape: Slotted
Headstock Overlay: Decal
Tuners: National Brand
Inlays: Dots
Fretboard Binding: Ivoroid
Nut Material: Bone
Frets To Body: 12 Fret
Body Depth: 3.125"
Lower Bout Width: 14.25"
Upper Bout Width: 10.25"
Tricone

Updating...

Tags: cutaway, national, style 1, tricone

National NRP Wood Body Duolian Green Sunburst

Scale: 25" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Maple | Back: Maple

Hear This Instrument: National NRP Wood Body Duolian Green Sunburst

Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.

The NRP Wood Body with the Duolian Green Sunburst is an affordable USA made reproduction of the original Duolian, featuring a traditional non-ribbed sieve-hole coverplate and a hand painted Green burst to capture the look of the famed original. This particular model features a maple body, capturing that classic wood bodied resonator tone. The mahogany neck clears 12 frets to the body and features an unbound ebony fretboard - appointed with inlaid mother-of-pearl position markers. Being the traditionalists they are, National completed the look and feel by adding an ebony nut and plain black knob tuners.

This NRP has a warm, rich tone thanks to the the wood body. Just enough reverberation gives rhythm and lead lines just enough magic without losing clarity. The single cone puts out plenty of volume making sure you are heard, whether on the street corner or on stage.

Updating...

Tags: duolian, mp3 included, national, nrp, sunburst, wood bodied, wood body

National ResoLectric Sunburst with a Lollar P90

Scale: 25 21/32" | Nut Width: 1.73" | Top: Maple | Back: Mahogany

Hear This Instrument: National ResoLectric Sunburst Finish Jason Lollar P90 through Carr Rambler. 1-Highlander 2-both P/u

Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq. -20dB pad on

The National ResoLectric has gone through a few changes in its 19 years of production. The current model uses an audiophile-quality Highlander preamp to mix both the magnetic and piezoelectric pickups. A Jason Lollar P-90 pickup sits in the neck position, and a Highlander piezo transducer is fitted under the saddle. The output of each pickup is controlled by independent volume knobs, with a master volume knob to control the instruments overall output level. A 3-way toggle switch selects which pickups are active. The solid mahogany body is capped with a figured maple top bound in ivoroid. The figured maple neck clears 14 frets to the body, highlighted with a diamond inlaid, rosewood fretboard.

The Lollar P90 in the neck has a fat, singing lead voice that is perfectly suited for slide players looking for the ultimate in classic Electric blues tones. The Piezo sounds like an acoustic national, only perfectly amplified. You have a myriad of tones at your fingertips, which makes it easy to switch between a preset rhythm and lead sounds. I do believe I'll dust my broom!

Updating...

Tags: jason lollar, lollar, lollar p90, lollar pickups, national, national electric, national maple, national resolectric, national single cone, national solid body, p90, resolectric

National ResoLectric with a Lollar P90 and a Sunburst Finish

Scale: 25 21/32" | Nut Width: 1.73" | Top: Maple | Back: Mahogany

Hear This Instrument: National ResoLectric Sunburst Finish Jason Lollar P90 through Carr Rambler. 1-Highlander 2-both P/u

Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq. -20dB pad on

Updating...

Tags: jason lollar, lollar, lollar p90, lollar pickups, national, national electric, national maple, national resolectric, national single cone, national solid body, p90, resolectric

National Style 3 Brass Tricone

Scale: 25 21/32" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Brass | Back: Brass

Hear This Instrument: National Style 3 Brass Tricone

Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.

The book "History & Artistry of National Resonator Instruments" best describes the National Syle 3 as a top of the line Tricone Guitar with an exquisite hand engraved motif. The original engraving detail of the Lily-of-the-Valley motif was designed by John Dopyera and his wife. Made from 1928-1941, five variations were produced. While the original pattern of the engraving was consistent, the positioning of the fronds of lilies was changed on the top of the guitar.

Originally constructed with a German Silver body the modern day Style 3 has an all Brass body. Similar to the original Style 3 this guitar features such appointments as an Ebony fretboard, diamond MOP inlays, and a slotted headstock with an engraved National logo. The National Style 3 also features new and updated appointments such as an Grained Ivoroid overlay on the headstock, Honduran mahogany neck, Waverly Tuners, with a matching Grained Ivoroid bound fretboard.

The historic Style 3 with intricate hand engraved details is a true work or artistry & craft. Hand engraving is done on a workbench, entirely by one engraver, over the period of many weeks. On average, National receives commissions for just a few Style 3 instruments each year, making this one both unique and rare. (Note: This guitar shows some minor scratches to the top back and sides that may be seen in the photographs below... We suspect that this guitar may have been played by an artist in residence visiting the National shop prior to shipping - simply adding to it's Mojo!) Please call us toll free at 866-265-5993 to inquire about the price and further attributes of this instrument.

Browse our fine selection of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.

Learn more about the history of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.

Updating...

Tags: mp3 included, national, resonator, style 3, tricone

Page 1 of 2812 3 4 5 »10 20...Last »

Browsing National Reso-Phonic

View by Nationals by Cone Type:

View Nationals by Body Material:

National NRP B Series Black Rust 12 Fret

National ResoRocket N Brass

National NRP Steel

National Triolian Polychrome with Hawaiian Scene Stencil

National NRP Tricone Black Rust

National Model D Western Maple and Figured Walnut

National Triolian WB Wood Body

National Style 1 Tricone Cutaway with Brass Body

Specifications:

National NRP Wood Body Duolian Green Sunburst

National ResoLectric Sunburst with a Lollar P90

National ResoLectric with a Lollar P90 and a Sunburst Finish

National Style 3 Brass Tricone

Instruments

Amplification

Accessories

Strings by Brand

About our Builders

Navigation

Subscribe to Newsletter

Toll Free 866-265-5993

Events

News and Media

Featured Item

Newest Instruments

Advanced Search

Ellie’s Recipes

FAQ

Specs and Options