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Author	Topic: National Guitar Differences
jomo unregistered	posted 10-08-2003 09:39 What is the serial # on the end of the peghead? IP: Logged
Scott Jacobs Moderator Posts: 3460 From: Port Charlotte, FL Registered: Apr 2001	posted 10-08-2003 09:41 Without a doubt, there is some great stuff in some of these old threads. I've recently enjoyed a rash of new threads on resonator guitars. They've reminded me of the joy and excitement I felt when I was first becoming interested in them ol' hub cap guitars. (And also the excitement of discovering this fantastic forum!) My local guitar shop www.real-guitars.com currently has in the shop a nice '31 National Triolian. It appears to be all original and may have the original cone as well. Its definitely a player if anyone is interested in a nice vintage National guitar. If interested, click on the website, call Frank, and ask him to play some Charley Patton licks on it for you over the phone. They also just got in a new National Reso-Phonic "Vintage Steel" Delphi. Its very interesting to compare the two since the Delphi is very similar to a Triolian. As you may know I have a '31 National Duolian that I'm crazy about. I'm proud to be playing this 72 year old guitar out in public on a weekly basis. But my '96 NR-P Style 1 plays and intonates far better than my vintage National Duolian. I have to say that the NR-P "Vintage Steel" Delphi just ROCKS!! The one that Frank has in the shop has a mahogany neck like my Duolian. Anyway, I think National Reso-Phonic has a real winner on their hands with this guitar. I've been contemplating sending my '31 Duolian to NR-P for a new neck since the frets are pretty worn and my ears are now more atuned to hearing the difference in intonation on the newer NR-P guitars. Its hard to beat a new NR-P neck! But now I'm tempted by the NR-P "Vintage Steel" Delphi. Ah, what would Charlie Patton do if he were alive today (besides using the search function to look up old threads that mention his name)? IP: Logged
hoodadoo Member Posts: 2011 From: Westport, Ct., Registered: Mar 2001	posted 10-08-2003 10:01 try this site http://www.hobokenvintage.com/ IP: Logged
Lenman11 unregistered	posted 10-08-2003 10:28 Hey guys, one more detail not mentioned is that triolians came w a maple neck and duolians came w mahogany necks. Yes, the trio's had binding and a maple fretboard (on the poly's) and the duo is unbound. It's thought by many that a mahogany neck sounds better than a maple neck. Reason being that mahogany is a denser wood, hence less sound is absorbed into the neck from inside the body than on a maple neck. Add that to a thinner steel used on the duo, and many conclude that duo's sound a bit better. I have several of both and they all sound great to me, but I find myself playing the duo more than the trio's. Setup and cone condition is huge, as someone stated. Many of that Nat's I've owned have had material placed between the cone and body, maybe to tone it down or to get rid of a buzz. I've seen felt, gasket material, rubber, all kinds of shit that deadened the sound. Often all I had to do was massage the edges of the cone w my fingers to rid it of the compression that takes place over 70 years of string pressure. You'd be amazed how easy this is, and how different your Nat will sound without this various "fixes" people try. Be aware that doing this will raise your action a bit as the cone gets "taller" as it sits in the well. In a case of a mint N I bought, the action was super low but the cone was mint. After 15 min's of massaging along the outer edge, the cone was perfect and the action raised up to perfect for my liking. (took a few tries to get it just right) This may not work if your cone is cracked around the edges, but if no cracks, you'd be amazed at how much you can massage an otherwise excellent original cone back to original shape. It'll sound better too. I"m not stating as fact, (sound diff w different material necks) more opinion that I've discussed with others along the way. Going a step further, the bakelite necks im my opinion sound bitchin, if you happen to get a decent one. I had one that sounded fantastic, but it has an poor refret job and my luthier was scared to death to try and remove a fret from it. Might have come right out, but also might have come out w a chunk of plastic along w it. For straight slide, it had an awesome sound as was very playable. I'd be very weary of buying an ebay bakie just because odds are against it being in good shape, but don't knock the sound till you play/ hear one. On the other hand, if you can get one cheap w a nice body, you're in good shape as you can reneck it at Nat Reso for $650 and have a bitchin player. My .02 Len IP: Logged
Mike D Member Posts: 1393 From: Phx, Az Registered: Dec 2000	posted 10-08-2003 14:29 Reason being that mahogany is a denser wood, hence less sound is absorbed into the neck from inside the body than on a maple neck. Mahogany is far less dense than Maple. (try carving some of each) Mahogany is used more often for necks because it tends to be a bit more stable than Maple. Some people do claim to hear differences in the 2 woods when used as necks, and they certainly have a different sound when used as backs and sides on acoustic guitars. IP: Logged
Lenman11 unregistered	posted 10-08-2003 15:51 oooooops! Shows what I know. Actually, it was Don Young at Nat Reso that (I thought) told me that, although to be fair to him, maybe it wasn't DENSER but somehow a different difference that affected the sound? Oh well, maybe its just the thinner metal? Never mind......Where's the bong when you need it? IP: Logged
resin8er Member Posts: 1051 From: Fair Lawn, NJ, U.S.A. Registered: Feb 2002	posted 10-08-2003 16:01 I'll betcha dollars to donuts there is a different difference between maple and mahogany. Ever have mahogany syrup? IP: Logged

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