| Author |
Topic: Sound difference between new and old resos? |
Tonu Timm
From:
Estonia
|
Posted 18 Aug 2008 3:49 am |
|
| Acoustic guitars will open up with years (and regular playing), what about Nationals? Does new ones sound similar to old axes or need some busy years as well? |
|
|
|
Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
Posted 18 Aug 2008 7:43 am
|
|
I think it's subjective, but to me my 2002 National tricone has opened up as you describe. It might just be that I'm more used to how it sounds and how to get the sounds I want from it.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
|
|
|
David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
|
Posted 18 Aug 2008 8:27 am
|
|
Acoustic guitars change tone over the years as the wood dries out and ages. For a metal body reso, it's hard to imagine anything happening with the body except eventually meta-fatigue and corrosion. I wouldn't expect that to help the tone, but who knows? Some people always like anything older, regardless of whether it is better or worse.
Wood body resos might gain a little in tone as the body ages.
The resonator is a sort of speaker. Speakers do have a break in period, after which they tend to sound warmer and more mellow. So possibly a metal resonator could limber up a little, although I've never heard it. Eventually, all that string pressure causes metal fatigue. I have heard others say their old reso came alive when they put a new resonator in it. But, again, I'm sure some people would swear they like the sound of the old resonator better. And investment collectors don't even care about the sound and playability - they just want original. |
|
|
|
John Bushouse
|
Posted 18 Aug 2008 9:54 am
|
|
| I can't find a post I was looking for, but Bob Brozman says there is DEFINITELY a break-in period on the cones - maybe the first 6 months or so? The bass becomes stronger, the whole guitar seems to be "blended" rather than individual strings playing together, etc. Maybe a settling in process for the cone and the body, or vibrating the cone makes it more flexible, or some strange thing like that. |
|
|
|
Tonu Timm
From:
Estonia
|
Posted 18 Aug 2008 11:45 am
|
|
| Why I'm asking it is, because I finally (after 3 decades of playing slideguitar and lapsteel) decided to purchase 'real' National reso. As it's hard to find 'em in Europe , I'd like to take a chance and find smth good-sounding while I'm in Florida. I never tried new ones, but really enjoyed some from 1930-s. As it's hard to find these oldies, I'm just curious, are the brand new Nationals as good? |
|
|
|
Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
Posted 18 Aug 2008 12:18 pm
|
|
I have compared my 2002 National Resophonic tricone with Gary Anwyl's 1929 National tricone, both Style 1.5 models. There may be a difference but I can't really tell. I sound just as good on both guitars (or just as bad, depending on your perspective).  I'm happy to have the one I own.
The National Resophonic web site lists three dealers in Florida. I hope you find what you want while you're there!
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
|
|
|
John Bushouse
|
Posted 18 Aug 2008 12:27 pm
|
|
Bob Brozman only tours with new Nationals. From his website:
| Quote: |
OLD NATIONALS vs. NEW NATIONALS
What about the question of OLD vs. NEW Nationals? I am asked this all the time, and I use both old and new, so I feel I can give an honest answer. Yes, the old ones have a certain "mojo" that all older instruments have, but unfortunately many old Nationals are either in poor condition for playing, or have been set up improperly or wrecked by the efforts of amateur "repairmen." And quite often they are overpriced by sellers who haven't seen many of these, so they assume their instrument is in better condition than it really is. If you are lucky enough to locate a vintage National in perfect condition, congratulations, but even in perfect condition, the old ones do not play perfectly in tune as you go up the neck - a common problem with many vintage instruments. Whenever I play with OTHER musicians, I would rather use a new National than an old one for this reason. Today's guitarists demand a more accurate intonation, and this is an issue that is addressed head-on by the new ones.
I am often asked: are there any differences in SOUND between old and new? If you have a perfect old National, it may sound better than a new one out of the box. However, after a one-to-three month period of playing the new ones, the sound opens right up and becomes BETTER than the old ones. I have had the opportunity to play unsold mint-condition vintage Nationals, and they, too, open up after a few months of playing. This is a phenomenon of all new guitars, and though Nationals are mostly metal, they do "settle in" as all the parts vibrate together and "unify." |
|
|
|
|
John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
|
Posted 18 Aug 2008 3:52 pm
|
|
I own almost a dozen old Nationals and a couple of new ones. I love the old ones because they are good old ones. Just because they are old doesn't make them good ones. I have some with original cones that I would never think of changing and I have some that are good only because I changed the original cones for new ones made by National Resophonic. Don Young at Nat Res has devoted much of his life to these instruments and is largely responsible for the resurgence of them. His latest cones are every bit as good (or better) than the best old cones I have ever used. Yes, new cones break in and sound better with time, and very old cones can be worn out.
The new Nationals are fine instruments and worthy of the name.
Remember, old guitars demand responsibility where with a a new guitar the only worry is the 1st scratch.
_________________
Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana. |
|
|
|
Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
|
|
|
|
John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
|
Posted 19 Aug 2008 1:15 pm
|
|
Good eyes, Fred.
Yes it's a '28 style 1.
_________________
Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana. |
|
|
|
Tonu Timm
From:
Estonia
|
Posted 19 Aug 2008 3:01 pm
|
|
Thank you all, I'm not afraid new ones any more. Hope to find that good sounding/playing National as soon as I can. If smb. here has advices,
just e-mail :
tonu.timm@gmail.com |
|
|
|
