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.

 
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National NRP Black Rust Steel 14 Fret

Scale: 25" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Steel | Back: Steel
National NRP Black Rust Steel 14 Fret

National's Black Rust NRP 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 the finish is quite stunning. 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 14 fret version, although a 12 fret model is also available. 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 14 fret National Duolian, the thin-gauge steel body is highlighted by rolled "f" holes, a formed back, and period-correct, traditional ribbed coverplate. Each mahogany neck clears 14 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!

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Price: $2,600.00
$2,210.00Price:
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National El Trovador Wood Body Single Cone

Scale: 25 21/32" | Nut Width: 1.75" | Top: Mahogany | Back: Mahogany
Hear This Instrument: National El Trovador Wood Body Single Cone
Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.
National El Trovador Wood Body Single Cone

The famous El Trovador was produced by the National Stringed Instrument Corp. It was the highest quality wood body guitar that National ever made. These guitar bodies were slightly larger than the traditional proportioned National guitars.  Designed in collaboration with Mike Dowling, this single cone guitar is patterned after the famous El Trovador produced from 1932-1933. Similar to its predecessor, National’s El Trovador guitar features a large, deep body constructed of mahogany. The body is bound in multi-layer celluloid, with a matching purfling border around the coverplate. A wood soundwell houses the resonator. An ebony fretboard is mated to a solid mahogany neck, capped with a rosewood fretboard overlay. The El Trovador’s unique voice makes it one of National’s most popular wood body guitars and a shop favorite, time and time again.

The tone of the El Trovador is much larger and fuller than the other wood body Nationals, thanks to the deeper body.   When compared to the metal bodied Nationals, the wood bodies are much warmer with a bit more controlled reverberation.

 

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Price: $3,300.00
$2,805.00Price:
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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.
National Style 3 Brass Tricone

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 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.

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.

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Price: $6,800.00
$5,780.00Price:
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National RM-1 V Resonator Mandolin Figured Maple Body

Scale: 14" | Nut Width: 1.25" | Top: Maple | Back: Maple
Hear This Instrument: National RM-1 V Resonator Mandolin Figured Maple Body
Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.
National RM-1 V Resonator Mandolin Figured Maple Body

Inspired by a rare pre-war wood bodied National mandolin, National's resonator mandolin has traditional features like the biscuit bridge combined with modern touches such as an intonated saddle and a comfortably radiused, extended fingerboard. The art deco cast tailpiece is a National exclusive. Different from the standard National RM-1 Maple top with Walnut back and sides the National RM-1 V features a figured Maple body with a Maple neck. Also different from the standard RM-1 mandolin the RM-1 V has a brushed steel sieve coverplate.

This mandolin has an instantly unique sound.  The resonator adds a level of volume previously impossible with traditional mandolins.  While the make/model is different, Sam Bush is often heard playing slide on a resonator mandolin and this RM-1 V from National instantly conjures that bluesy mandolin sound.  Celtic and Irish melodies sound especially unique on this mandolin and we have customers who play them in bluegrass circles as well... dominating fiddles, banjos, and guitars like nothing you've ever heard!

The RM-1 V features high quality Appointments such as Gotoh open gear tuners, Bone Nut, Ebony fretboard, and Mother of Pearl fretboard inlays.

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Price: $2,300.00
$1,955.00Price:
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National Triolian 14 Fret Wood Body Walnut Sunburst

Scale: 25" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Maple | Back: Maple
Hear This Instrument: National Triolian 14 Fret Wood Body Walnut Sunburst
Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.
National Triolian 14 Fret Wood Body Walnut Sunburst

We've received another 14-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.

The 14 fret neck allows easy access when playing with a slide or fingers. The signature sound of the early models of the 30's were made famous by Delta Blues players such as Blind Boy Fuller and these current models will blow the originals out of the water. If you are a Delta Blues piedmont style player, this is your instrument!

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.

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Price: $2,400.00
$2,040.00Price:
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National Vintage Steel Tricone Cutaway VS

Scale: 25 21/32" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Brass | Back: Brass
Hear This Instrument: National Vintage Steel Tricone Cutaway VS
Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.
National Vintage Steel Tricone Cutaway VS

The National Vintage Steel Tricone was designed for players who prefer the tone of a steel body, but want the look and feel of a plated guitar.  The name “Vintage Steel” refers to the plating process.  The satin-nickel plating on each Vintage Steel instrument is designed to look aged with use and the passage of time.

The tricone design is perfect for players who focus on open tunings and slide. Some famous vintage blues artists of the past have used National Tricone style guitars include Tampa Red, Bukka White, Peetie Wheatstraw, and Black Ace.  Tricone resonators, when compared to the single cone models, are more mellow in tone and have a bit more sustain.  While not quite as loud as the single cone counterparts, this National is not lacking for volume, you will cut through any ensemble with ease… with a tone that is smooth, pure, and full of reverberation.

This Cutaway Tricone is a modern shift on the classic Tricone design. The body has been modified to allow access to the higher frets. The body, coverplate, and tailpiece sport a satin-nickel plating that will acquire an aged look with the passage of time, hence the "Vintage Steel" designation.

Once played for a few years, this "Vintage Steel" National will begin to take on a vintage, aged appearance reminiscent of the early Nationals we all fell in love with.

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Price: $3,900.00
$3,315.00Price:
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National Triolian Polychrome Yellow with Hawaiian Scene Stencil

Scale: 25" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Steel | Back: Steel
National Triolian Polychrome Yellow with Hawaiian Scene Stencil

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 Polychrome Triolian is built with a thin gauge steel body with a maple neck and 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.

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Price: $2,800.00
$2,380.00Price:
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National ResoRocket Vintage Steel

Scale: 25" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Steel | Back: Steel
Hear This Instrument: National ResoRocket Vintage Steel
Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.
National ResoRocket Vintage Steel

The National ResoRocket "N" Vintage Steel is one of National's newly designed single resonator guitars.  This model incorporates a redesigned coverplate pattern to complement the distinctive Tricone-style grill work. The upper bout has been modified with a graceful cutaway for easier access to the higher frets. The name “Vintage Steel” refers to the plating process in which the satin-nickel plating on each Vintage Steel instrument is designed to look aged with use and the passage of time.

This steel body National has a smooth balanced tone with plenty of bite and lots of reverberation thanks to the design of the sound grills, providing a wide open sound that is full of character and attitude.  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. The top and coverplate, however, have been 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 the resulting blend is unique and versatile, easily switching from open-tuning slide to western swing.

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Price: $3,600.00
$3,060.00Price:
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National Dueco 14-Fret Silver Crystalline Finish Single Cone

Scale: 25" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Steel | Back: Steel
Hear This Instrument: National Dueco 14-Fret "Cystalline Silver" Finish
Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.
National Dueco 14-Fret Silver Crystalline Finish Single Cone

We are pleased to offer National's newest version of the Dueco finish, this one a single cone steel body featuring the silver crystalline color.  Historically, all Duolians had a painted "frosted duco" finish until the late 1930s.  National went through several patents and continue to refine their process to this day, as many of the old finishes were prone to chipping and flaking.

The new finish is the result, we believe, of some form of chemical reaction and every finish will be unique to that specific instrument, offering patterns and designs that will vary widely depending on the viewing angle and the way the chemicals react... you could get lost staring deep within the finish of this guitar!

This steel body National Dueco has a smooth balanced tone with a more controlled, focused sound than some of their other finishes.  The trebles are warm without losing clarity or definition.  Chords are rich and thick and lead lines powerful.

Just as our recent 12 fret model, this 14 fret Dueco also has an ebony fingerboard that is quite stunning, with striping from top to bottom.

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Price: $3,700.00
$3,145.00Price:
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National ResoRocket N Brass Body

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 Body

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.

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Price: $3,600.00
$3,060.00Price:
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National El Trovador 12-String Single Cone Mahogany Resonator Guitar

Scale: 25 12/32" | Nut Width: 1.97" | Top: Mahogany | Back: Mahogany
Hear This Instrument: National El Trovador 12 String
Recorded In-House on a Sony PCM-D50 handheld recorder with no compression or eq.
National El Trovador 12-String Single Cone Mahogany Resonator Guitar

This single cone guitar was patterned after the famous El Trovador produced in limited production in 1932 and 1933. The laminated mahogany body is similar to it's predecessor and features a large, 4" depth and a narrow waist that makes it more comfortable to play than a larger waisted guitar. The folks at National resophonic first re-introduced the National El Trovador 6 string, now we are pleased to have the 12 string version. Designed in collaboration with famed National player Mike Dowling, this model needs no amplification!

Blind Willie McTell and Leadbelly certainly saved the 12 string from being added to the annals of history. We have to believe that if they were around now, they would be adding this cannon to their arsenal. Wood body resonators have a mellow, warm tone and coupled with the huge bottom end that the deeper El Trovador body style provides, this guitar is the biggest 12 string sound we have ever heard!

Strummed this guitar is un-imaginably loud, yet it responds remarkably well to fingerpicked passages, and chords have a complex depth to them that you don't get from 6 strings. Slide players will love how the wood body helps their long notes sustain, however their bass note runs are well defined and never muddy.

The El Trovador is bound in multi layer celluloid, with a touch of class in the matching purfling around the coverplate. The ebony fretboard is mated to a solid Mahogany neck, capped off with a Rosewood Headstock overlay. The vintage-style engraved open gear tuners add to the authenticity of this model, while the "El Trovador" badge singles this model out. Grab this 12 string and Let the Midnight Special shine it's ever-lovin' light on you!

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Price: $3,600.00
$3,060.00Price:
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National Style 1 Tricone Cutaway with Brass Body

Scale: 25-21/32" | Nut Width: 1.825" | Top: Brass | Back: Brass
National Style 1 Tricone Cutaway with Brass Body

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.

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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

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Price: $4,000.00
$3,400.00Price:
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