National has an exciting new product that we have been waiting quite impatiently to get out hands on... a ResoLectric Acoustic, RA-3.   This is our second prototype and this exciting new model takes their electric line to the next level, in that the guitar can also be played acoustically, with enough volume and depth to join nearly any acoustic jam.  This new prototype RA-3 has a semi-hollow Koa body with more depth than the traditional ResoLectric guitars, creating a sound chamber while the f-hole allows pure resophonic tone to practically jump out of the instrument without any amplification.  Played acoustically, the Koa body imparts an additional level of clarity and definition to the acoustic tone, with a brighter, yet pleasing,  high end with a punchier mid-range than the maple/mahogany version, which is darker with a more pronounced reverb effect.

Plugged in... the new RA-3 features a hexaphonic pickup system made by LR Baggs. The Hexaphonic pickup consists of six individual brass saddles with built-in piezo pickups. To achieve perfect balance, Baggs created a tripod upon which the string is balanced and supported equally between two raised points at the ends of the bottom of the pickup.  The use of hidden set screws on the underside for these points allow for precise height-adjustable action for each string.

With the RA-3 comes even further innovation... National built the LR Baggs Hex system right into the biscuit with factory intonated slots machined right into the biscuit.  The Hexaphonic pickups are highly regarded for their articulate, responsive, dynamic and warm sound with excellent feedback resistance, something very important when amplifying resophonic instruments where feedback can easily become problematic.   Since each string has it's own individual pickup saddle, the string-to-string balance is unmatched... chords will ring with perfect balance and clarity!

The 2nd pickup is a newly designed Villex Slimline Dual-Coil humbucker and is warm and rich, perfect for blending with the crystal clear string tone that the hexaphonic pickup puts out.  Villex, makers of extremely high quality passive pickup systems for bass guitars, have teamed up with National to design the new single-coil slimline pickup.  You will find Villex pickups on some of the finest bass guitars being made, and now in the finest resonator guitars being made! The pickup has a highly polished coverplate with a National logo stamped into the corner... the ultimate finishing touch!

The 2 pickups are blended via a single volume knob for each pickup for virtually limitless tonal possibilities.

Another innovative feature of the new RA-3 is the neck angle... which is fully adjustable!  This allows each player to tailor the action to suit their own playing style, whether that be strictly slide, fingerstyle, or somewhere in-between.  Increase the angle and you can have the same fast-playing low-action that you are used to on your traditional electric guitars.   Decrease the neck angle and you can play slide through the entire gig with no worries of buzzing.

All the resophonic tones you ever wanted are now right under your fingertips... and you can even unplug and join an acoustic jam with plenty of volume to spare!

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