National Resonator Guitar Comparison and Chat (Nerd time in Rich’s Kitchen).

National guitar comparison and nerd alert!!
24/10/2023.
Popped in to Rich Miller’s house while heading to a solo ‘Martyn Roper One Man Band’ gig at Bletchley Blues Club.
He had his vintage Nationals there and asked me to bring a couple so we had a bunch of nice ones laid out in the kitchen while drinking coffee and chatting shit.
After finding the comparisons interesting we decided to film it and share.
Rich is on Instagram as ‘richslideguitar’ and his KZbin is here…
• Gypsy Blues
A great guitarist as well as Professor of Philosophy and MMA trainer you can hear his music on the link above or hear his philosophical treatise on ‘The Spinoza Triad Podcast.’
We chatted over two hours of nerdy National Guitar nonsense on the excellent ’The Blues Show Podcast’ with Ben. Find it and hear loads of humbuggery.
Guitars are; 1930 Triolian, 1932 Style 0, 1933 M-37, 1935 Duolian and 1936 Trojan.

[@brianmckinley6177]

An absolute gem of a video catching a conversation of these guitars we hold dear. You two are the best. I love the playing and impromptu discussion that happens organically. On my way home to play my old vintage 1930’s nationals and still on the hunt for an early ‘30’s Dobro. Strong work, Martyn and Rich!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks Brian. Happy playing!! 🎯🎼🎯

[@NuttinbutdaBlues]

If you want to go super nerdy, try swapping out coverplate styles. I was shocked when I put a nickel plated brass chicken foot coverplate on my Delphi. I think the changes you can get in timbre from small changes on resos is what keeps me fascinated with them. String material, slide material, fingers, picks, fingernails all give such dynamic differences, it's like having a harem of guitars with one instrument. But they're like potato chips(crisps) nobody eats just one.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Interesting and a good point!

[@henrycoopermusic5094]

Hello, I really enjoy your videos, there’s lots of great content. When I bought my first National back in ‘77 there was little or no information available to me. I paid 100 dollars for an old Duolian that had been disassembled and was in a cardboard box. Through a lot of trial and error I finally got it to play and have been hooked ever since. Well done gentlemen, and thanks!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

That’s a cool find! Thanks for the kind words! We love what we do!

[@petterpettersson4581]

coffe and slide...can,t get better! thank you!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Exactly!! 🎼🤘🏻🎼

[@petterpettersson4581]

YESSSSSS!@@TheWashboardResonators

[@keyote3]

When a great many 'comparison' videos appear, no matter what the subject matter might be, a Gibson compared with an Epiphone version for example. They nearly always do say, one guitar, often played by the same guy, then another guitar played by the same guy, maybe a few moments in between. So, naturally the previous sound is lost to a great extent. Why not, you have two players there, a small amount of musical structure perchance with one guitar immediately followed by the next for prompt comparison. Maybe then with careful editing, samples can be played back for speedier comparison. Many of us do not get recourse to various resonators, or quantities, so these comparisons make a terrific difference to shall I suggest, amateur players. As far as I can tell, I like the sound of all of them, every one has a magical, individual sound, even with a kitchen ambience......

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Other videos on this channel that are properly shot and edited so do that. This was ‘off the cuff’ and was decided to be uploaded with no editing. It hopefully captures a fairly honest sense of us sat around shooting the breeze over these instruments we love. I think what comes across mostly (as you say) is that they’re all unique, all great sounding and all inspirational.

[@richmiller8381]

Good fun mate, would be good to of had your tricone in the mix. I’d like to hear it next to the dobro

[@TheWashboardResonators]

We should do one with all of them plus some of the other kings and queens that have the good shit too.

[@PGrizzy91]

Big fan of Rich! Great video!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

He’s great!!

[@MrDotneck]

Nice. A tricone for comparison would have been very interesting, though.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

We never thought about a video until minutes before this started filming!! He mentioned it and I just threw the camera on the side and set it off! If we’d planned I’d have taken another half dozen guitars down!!

[@MrDotneck]

Thanks. Anyway: been missing your videos on the toob - good to see you again! 🙂@@TheWashboardResonators

[@Firemedic361]

I think the M37 has a great tone, and excellent sustain.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Defo. Great guitar this one!

[@benmartin9538]

the 1933 Dobro is my favorite, but any guitar Rich is playing sounds awesome. Great video guys! Would love to see more of these, maybe one comparing slides or pickups?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

The channel has all those videos you mention somewhere in the past! Rich is a killer and highly original slide player. 🎯🎼🎯

[@magicelliotth]

Should have done a slide duet. Slid your way through “can’t be satisfied” or something

[@TheWashboardResonators]

We should!! Was more about capturing the guitar sounds this time. We do gigs together and will do an album. Next time we’ll base a video around playing rather than instrument geeking!

[@stumblecol]

They all sound great, I guess that is the playing

[@TheWashboardResonators]

They do all sound amazing to be fair!!

[@BadTemperJoe]

The Trojan sounds impressive! Well, they all do. But that one stands out!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Steve did a sterling job dialling it in. It’s strings are basically new too. It’s a great guitar.

[@KOACAINE]

The dobro sounds nice but the Nationals just have the authentic tone!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

They have the weight and thump but the Dobro sings. It’s weird that it’s only this week I’ve started really falling in love with Dobro’s!!

[@lambo6892]

red #1

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎯🎼🎯

[@professorwhoopee]

I enjoyed this. I like the sound of a wood body best.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’s got something for sure! 🎼🎼🎼

[@dawdawes]

Dobro for me

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Sweet and singing.

[@richmiller8381]

good choice

[@guybross1200]

Hea guys, i thought the first guitar Rich played sounded best overall. Would make a nice spooky middle of the swamp song.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Exactly. 🎼🎯🎼

[@gregryland1387]

Enjoyed them all they each have separate qualities, talks a little more about the strings please do you have the same on all guitars ? or age of the strings and gauge etc.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It was an impromptu thing so all had different strings in different states. Regardless though you can always tell the character of a guitar. I mention the NS strings on the 35 Duolian. Rich runs 12 Daddario on his. I run 13.

[@gregryland1387]

cheers mate enjoying the vid and learning alot, thanks

[@22DINGOS]

What do you mean metal body? Steel and brass are metal as well.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Steel and brass are indeed metal.