Resonator Guitar History - Learn About Dobro, National, NRP etc.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

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[@ignaciomitchell7176]

i realize Im kind of randomly asking but do anyone know of a good place to watch new series online?

[@mitchellroger1924]

@Ignacio Mitchell lately I have been using Flixzone. Just search on google for it :)

[@gatlinprince5199]

@Mitchell Roger Yup, I have been watching on Flixzone for years myself :D

[@ignaciomitchell7176]

@Mitchell Roger Thanks, signed up and it seems to work :) I appreciate it!

[@mitchellroger1924]

@Ignacio Mitchell glad I could help xD

[@bigpebble]

In the late 70's I lived in Escondido CA and wanted to buy a guitar, so at lunch one day I stopped into a nearby guitar shop to take a look at what they had. It turned out to be more of a repair shop than a retail location and strangely the walls were lined with Dobro's. A guy was getting his repaired Dobro returned so I had to wait, but when the repairman handed him the guitar he looked inside and said, "Oh darn, I'd hoped you'd sign it". That was weird, but the repairman said he was sorry and hadn't known he'd wanted him to sign it, so he wrote his name on a card and told him to have it engraved. The name was John Dopera (the shortened name). I was stunned and knew who he was from an article I'd read in Guitar Player magazine. So after the customer left I got to spend more than an hour talking with him about the Dobro's in the shop, the history and some stories behind some of his best work. I remember he'd made a very elaborate Dobro for Nixon's inauguration that had been returned because it was too expensive of a gift (over 25k in 70's money). He also mentioned that his brother was sick in Palomar Hospital at the time and wasn't expected to survive. I was late getting back to work, but it was worth it and remains a very special memory for me.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Incredible tale! Heard great stories and seen great pics from that workshop!

[@bigpebble]

@@TheWashboardResonators As I recall, it appeared to be a converted house, not a retail store. One would never expect it be a Drobo store. Do you know if he lived there too? I didn't mention it, but just after I'd figured out who the 'repairman' was, a guy walked in looking for strings for his son's guitar and was told they didn't really carry them, but told him where he could. I remember thinking how close he was to meeting someone special, and how lucky I was to have seen the previous interaction and knew who he was.

[@TacoReacts]

That was a great video. Tons of great info! Thanks for all the info on resonators!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hope it helps!!

[@PGrizzy91]

I just found your channel & I couldn’t be happier!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Excellent! Welcome!! Lots of geeky blues / guitar stuff!!

[@PGrizzy91]

@@TheWashboardResonators Wonderful. Just began my slide journey. Great to see more young dudes that are keeping this awesome music alive.

[@kevintunstall5937]

Excellent introduction to history of resonators and the people involved. Look forward to more soon hopefully

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’s fascinating. 🎯

[@anekdilos1]

Great job and presentation ❤

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎯

[@campbell166]

Very informative and interesting thanks for sharing

[@TheWashboardResonators]

A pleasure. Cheers!! 🎯

[@garysergeant9086]

Thx for such an interesting and informative video

[@TheWashboardResonators]

👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@scottriddle5468]

That was great, it definitely put me on track with the history of resonators.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Excellent! Glad to be of use!!

[@jimbryant2157]

Very interesting historical background. Thanks for your research and taking the time to create the video.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

A pleasure! It’s a fascinating tale!

[@Pick-a-finger]

Hi Martin , A really interesting video and a great idea, thank you for sharing.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

CJ Glad you liked it. I’ve had a couple of improvements flagged so any edit or reshoot one day. Your comments are appreciated though.

[@kimonmiltiadou383]

Thanks a lot. This helped me greatly to understand the origins of what we see today in the resonator market.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Excellent! Cheers!!

[@PMUP2016]

Nice job!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎯🤓🎯

[@mikefullerton832]

While filmed two years ago, I just watched this video today. Not sure how this slipped through my KZbin watching, but better late than never. Martin, I really enjoyed this story and it increased my appreciation of how resonator guitars have become mainstream instruments. Having said this, I’m guessing that the vast majority of guitars sold today are wood bodied acoustic or electric. And when I visit Music Stores in my corner of the world (Ottawa) there are often either no resonators for sale or a few Asian made resonators. Last time I checked, there are only two or three music stores in Canada that sell National Resophonic guitars. It’s a wonder how I learned to love their look and sound, but is a reflection I suppose of my love of Delta/Countey blues. Thank you so much for your generous contribution of time in the making of your videos, I sincerely enjoy them and continue to learn a lot from them. Cheers from Ottawa, Canada.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

That’s kind. They’re very much niche instruments but lots of blues, jazz, hillbilly or Hawaiian music from before 1940 is going to have them in the recording at some point so it’s a sound that instantly takes you there. We’re glad to share the info and help the community! 🎯

[@mitchellstrauss5117]

excellent overview... thanks... just purchased an National M1 Tricone to accompany my National Resolectric... love those axes...

[@TheWashboardResonators]

That is a great instrument!! Excellent choice. TBH if I had to have just one resonator then ideally it would be a wood Tricone. A pal had an M1 and it was absolutely wonderful.

[@OldMeanGeezer]

This is a very interesting history. I work on 100 year old pocket watches and have found there history very enlightening also. To find out how we got where we are today is a worthy endeavor! Thank You

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks! It’s an interesting development and there are so many things that happened behind the scenes. Maybe one day I’ll tell that story.

[@philliphopkins6903]

Absolutely brilliant 👍

[@TheWashboardResonators]

👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@andywilliams2942]

coming from someone that now owns a number of resonators . a 2008 nrp duco 12th fret, a republic brass body parlor size guitar, I MM Blues 12th fret. and a 12 string tri cone that is out of the same factory as the republic . ( I agree with you about teh MM guitars 100% they are fantastic for the money ). I recently got the chance to play a brass body mule. now I'm willing to sell all my other guitars to get it. while they are all fantastic the mule had a sound unlike anything I've heard ( old or new ) I played 3 cords and had to stop playing to process what i was hearing and it was the only guitar I've ever played where I felt sick to my stomach when leaving it . I've went to bed and and woke up with the sound of that mule ringing in my head for 2 months. . I hope to get my hands on a mule someday soon. thank you so much for this great video.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

This is very interesting and you’re not the first to say this kind of thing. They get some kind of special mojo going on in the Mules! 🎵🎵🎵

[@andywilliams2942]

Update. that Mule sold and is living on the other side of Canada. I lost so much sleep over it . there is no way to get on mules list to have one built as I'm in Canada and its about a year wait . but I was very lucky and called the Chicago Music Exchange out of the blue ( the only dealer for them .they get a few per year) . they had one steel tri cone that they had not listed . life is too short to be unhappy about losing out on guitars that inspire you. so I now own a mule .

[@edoadore]

Thank you so much!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

A pleasure! Thanks!!

[@J.Dove3D]

Good stuff. Thanks for the download. I love learning about the history of the resonator guitar. I will have to acquire the Makin book to learn more.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’s expensive but worth every penny. Absolutely shows everything the company did through to Mosrite and OMI and he’s an incredibly decent fellow. My copy is invaluable.

[@J.Dove3D]

Thank you for the insight. It is appreciated. Subscribed.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

@@J.Dove3D Many thanks and much appreciated!!

[@MarvinStroud3]

I used to listen to "border radio" in the 1930s. These were high powered stations in Mexico near the Texas border. They played country music and sold sheep dip and $1.98 cures for impotence and guitar lessons and piano lessons and other necessities of the time. I had no idea what a resonator was and soon they were replaced by hideous electric twangs. Thanks for the excellent lesson. Cheers from Texas.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Amazing information! The resonators are a wonderful piece of American history and perfectly encapsulate the time.

[@b.p.7153]

Thank you! As a proud [boutique brand] resonator guitar owner I found this very informative. 👍

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Excellent! Hope it helped. Happy to share!!

[@peterholliday6126]

Beautiful.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎼🎯🎼

[@bluesmonkey4463]

Many Thanks !

[@TheWashboardResonators]

A pleasure!

[@Will-mc3nk]

Fantastic video and a lovely idea. I’ll be looking forward to more!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

william hallows Thanks William. More to come!!

[@SjaakShirly6559]

I really enjoyed this “documentary”. Very informative. Thanks.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

A pleasure. Many thanks!

[@PowerFOOLThunderCLOWN]

Got me a '29 Dobro. Sounds beautiful.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Awesome! Early! 28 Dobro starts!

[@christianherzig1575]

Thanks for this wonderful presentation and history class!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

An honour! Many thanks. Let us know if there anything else you want to see or need regarding these wonderful things.

[@GabZsapkaGuitar]

Very helpful, very interesting, thanks!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

A pleasure! Thanks. 👌🏻

[@jadecleveland865]

Thanks a lot! Exactly what I was looking for.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Excellent! 👌🏻

[@tomguitaronline]

This was a very thorough history of resonators in America. I'm surprised you didn't mention Amistar though as franz Jontek or something like that made some high quality resonators tricones etc before he passed away. Not sure if they are still a company. From Czech Republic. If you can find one grab it! tom from Maine

[@TheWashboardResonators]

They made some quality instruments in the late 1980s and beyond. This really is about the National/Dobro company but Amistar did a great thing to bring these guitars back to life!

[@stephanodermatt5467]

I love your videos. So helpful for a resonator-beginner such as me, getting to know my Gretsch Honeycomb better and better, and, with the help of your videos, getting a broader perspective on history, maintenance and playing! If you ever happen to come to/gig in Switzerland, please let me know!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hey. We’ll get to Switzerland one day! The best way to know is to sign the mailing list. mailchi.mp/e5acf7f7d18a/wrmailinglistwelcome

[@stephanodermatt5467]

@@TheWashboardResonators That I did - thank you so much.

[@heymrguitarman7637]

Great video. I just picked up my first National last week, a polychrome tricone and it's a lovely thing. I'm also Leeds based like you (well Wetherby to be exact)

[@TheWashboardResonators]

The black one that was for sale nearby? Thanks for the kind words!

[@adrianteo2421]

Great video. I own two National Resonator guitars now. Great insight. Keep it up.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Excellent! Many thanks for the kind words and enjoy your Nationals!!

[@mojo5763]

Great video. Thank you so much.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Glad to be of service! Let us know anything else you’d like to see here!

[@aclamguitars]

Utterly interesting! We have a 1932 National Triolian and I was looking for some history about it. I have enjoyed and learned a lot. Thank you!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Excellent! Glad it was of interest. A long and complex history for National. We just did a video about National models that details the differences between say a Triolian and a Duolian etc.

[@musicmovieslit]

Incredibly informative, thanks!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

A pleasure. Many thanks!! 🎸

[@bluegrassukulelecelebration]

Bravo! Leave it to the Brits to give us engaging and quality content on music history! Thanks! Dr. Dennis, Bluegrass Ukulele

[@TheWashboardResonators]

The Bob Brozman book and Mark Makin book have all the info. 🎯🎯🎯

[@PMUP2016]

Freddie Tavares played the looney tune steel guitar sound. He later worked at Fender and helped develop the Stratocaster

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Well spotted! I got my guys mixed up. It was an early video done very in the moment. I’m much more thorough when scripting and researching videos these days!! 🎯

[@axelpalfy7597]

dobro means good in Slavic languages, respectively in the native language of the Dopier people, good, greetings from Slovakia

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks!

[@lapsteelguy]

I just watched this video on my TV. I appreciate the detail. Though I am no professional historian, I have read pretty much all of it scattered among different sources. I would add one thing you almost mentioned. That was the tricone model under a single cone style cover plate intended to be a less expensive three cone model. You start to describe it but move on to something else. As I understand it. That is the prototype that is the model for the Mule Tricone, of which I own one. The other minor issue I have is what you said about pricing for older instruments in the 70, 80s and 90s. I bought my first Dobro at "The Folkstore" in Seattle in 1970. It was an old Dobro. I paid $150. I got my first Weissenborn (a Kona) there the same year for $100. The point is they were cheap because the market was quite small, while the supply of older instruments, found in hock shops and attics was large. I regularly bought Nationals and Dobros into the early 80s paying no more that $500 or so. In 1988, I bought a 1930 squareneck National Style 2 Tricone for $900. It was only in the early 2000s that prices for the originals got beyond my working man's budget.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hello and thanks for taking the time to message. Indeed the first Triolian was a three cone guitar in a cheaper wooden body with single (smaller) cover plate. Mike Lewis recently replicated it and the original has yet to surface. The issue of pricing was brought up by various collectors that I spoke to. They would be in the UK where vintage guitars sell for more than the US. They gave various examples of a guitar I can buy now for £3k costing £4.5k in the 1990s. This would be post Brothers in Arms (desireability was up) and pre mass market internet. It was pointed to me that specialist guitar shops where charging much higher relatively than the prices now. Of course before, during and after all this well priced examples could be had especially pre guitar boom of 1990-2008. While all this was going on one person that told me of the higher guitar shop prices also bought a mint Duolian from auction for the equivalent of $700. He sold it for multiple times what he paid. Even recently I talked to a chap that bought a 1934 Duolian last year for around $1200 from a house clearance which allowing for inflation probably relates to some of the more ‘normal’ prices that used to be available that you mention. With any specialist information there are as many opinions as there are people with opinions. It’s always good to try and fill in the gaps to get a broader picture. Producing a video like this is tough because so much has to be left out. Also, since doing this so many people have got in touch with information that is better than was available when filmed. If it wasn’t for lockdown we would have filmed newer videos with other resonator people to give a more in-depth video. It will come one day and hopefully add to this. All the best. TWR’s.

[@harbroyn]

This is as good as it gets.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

That’s kind!!

[@Msax50]

Busker are now defunct but like Michael Messer they exercised quality control and set them up in the uk (Wales to be exact) I have one and love it. Definitely not to be confused with Ozark etc. Great video though. Thanks 😊

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Yep. Robin dud a great job and they’re the forerunner of MM!! 🎯🎼🎯

[@prns1]

Very valuable information, indeed... I may say.. Thanks for the effort then.. Then.., I subscribed..!! See ya. Bertrand.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Fantastic! Thanks for the sub. Many more resonator information videos on the dedicated playlist which maybe if interest. All the best! 👌🏻

[@cedricchevrot4560]

Great video. Thumbs up. As you live in Leeds, I just want to ask you if you have met the great Steve Phillips who, we all know has formed back in the day, the Duolian String Pickers alongside with MK, and being a National guitars expert. And by the way, I enjoyed the very first few notes you played from Can't Be Satisfied.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

See our ‘Yorkshire Blues Road Trip’ video for a meeting with Steve! Was in The Grove Inn the other night where a painting of that band is on the wall copied from a photo of MK & SP in the same room.

[@cedricchevrot4560]

@@TheWashboardResonators Thanks. Yes, MK Guitar Stories documentary by John Illsley, had visited Steve for a nice evening of friendship and music at The Grove Inn, they did talk about the history of the National guitars. Still resonating.

[@cedricchevrot4560]

@@TheWashboardResonators Yes I thank you for your answer. I have watched this video. Great! I actually have bought in 2004 in Paris a Johnson Style O, being a MK fan you know..I must have bought her. It was a korean copy as you know but I keep her and still play her as a family member of mine, for her singular sound. Looking for watching your next videos.

[@zaynesohlberg8108]

I’m really curious what you were alluding to when you were holding the (I’m assuming bob brozeman) book at the end when you said you’ve “heard some things” lol

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Easy to google.

[@alexwirtz9497]

You guys are the bomb. This is the perfect companion to Bob Brozman's book on the National company. And a strong hint that I should spend as much time with my Tricone as I do with my Selmac! PS where, or who do you get all this stuff from? Your presentation is superb, but I do like to potter around with prime sources from time to time!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks! Lots of sources. You make a timeline on a piece of paper and go through the two main books and credible internet sources. Add the pieces of the puzzle together and you’ve got a story! Actually got to meet many people after I released this that have added more info too. Got extra videos planned with better information on this. They’ll be along one day. 🎯

[@wheninroamful]

@@TheWashboardResonators much thanks, I’m a passionate person/studious person. So I can relate to your answer of piecing it all together; passionately studying does that. Thanks.

[@guitzanin]

Thanks!

[@maxwellfan55]

Enjoyed this, thank you, always good to get a historical perspective on the instruments we play and love. I have a number of resonators, wood and metal, the most interesting being a little known brass bodied (silver plated) style 0 type I bought from an international guitar dealer 25 years ago. It's a Paul Reisner (spelling might be off), this guy making instruments in or around Paris at the latter part of WW2 up to the 1960's, or so I'm led to understand. It's a quality instrument with a Selmer type tailpiece similar to those on Selmer Django Reinhard style acoustic guitars. I'd like to find out more but info really sketchy. It plays well and sounds good, I love its sweet, but dark smoky blues blues tones. My one also has a bullet hole passing through the lower bout and interesting story attached. I think it's an early model. BTW I also love playing washboard and a whole lot of mixed percussion, so good to find your channel and what you do!!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Excellent! Glad to be of service!! Those Reisner instruments are very interesting. There is a whole load of random makers and one offs we could have featured but chose to stick with the main thread of these things. Would love to try one of those one day to compare the sound to a regular national!

[@maxwellfan55]

@@TheWashboardResonators Cheers for reply. Think I'll put that gorgeous Mark Makin Reso book on my Christmas list if they're still available. What's always attracted to resonators (aside from their lovable vibe) is how open tuned slide playing is so different/expressive to standard 6-string playing. How the notes sounded are unrestricted by frets and akin to the human singing voice. But you'll already know that!

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi Martin, you have just cost me £74!! I've ordeed Mark Makin's book. I'm a singer of manily more modern American sing-songwriter material butalso Hokum stuff from the 20s and 30s. I have a passion for the designs (if not the originals) of pre 1934 American acoustic guitars (e.g.. my dreadnoughts are of the 1931 style) and I also own a Gibson made Dobro Mod.27 squareneck, "corrected" by Dave King to have a corrected intonation, and wi a Beard cone and correcting spider (apparently all original Gibson made dobros were made with intonation way out). I also have a National -Resophinc Estralita which followed a beautiful Style "O" deluxe (which I now miss) For fun and interest I have been working on a timeline of acoustic guitar development over the 20th century. I've been taking notes on your mentioned dates in this video and when tme permits, I'll incorporate them with what i have so far, but I see that there are some variances already. I have had the Bob Brozman book and met him two/three times, but I fund it rather difficult to get some of the details from it. I decided to start my timeline from Martin's formation in 1833 but stop it at 1999 as the 21st C seems so complicated, and I really feel that the first 33 or so years of the 20th C were the most innovative. (before electrics came along and spoiled the fun!) I am currently trying to comile information about the German/Czech industry for the 20th century which was of course badly affected by a couple of wars and the soviet union. We seem to have similr intersts in the instruments, and i wonder whether you might like to compare notes and info at some time? My KZbin channel contains an email address on the "about" page. Thanks for an interesting video and I look forward to watching more of your videos - both musical and historical (I started my channel just to show my trio the numbers I wanted to play then it kinda went into history and preferences and such. Regards!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Silly Moustache Hello sir! It’s £74 well spent and I’ll be sure to mention to Mark that the video sold a book! I feel the Brozman book is excellent for the background of the fledgling company and to see what essentially is a show off of his ridiculously good collection of engraved and shiny guitars. Mark worked with Brozman on the book especially regarding serial numbers and dates. All this said it’s an incomplete picture albeit with some excellent bits. The Makin book is so complete it will make your head spin. He’s an absolute gentleman and a truly great spirit who it’s safe to say loves resonators more than anyone and has owned around 40 as well as handling thousands. Just subscribed to your excellent channel so we can get the updates and new videos. Some absolutely stunning and beautiful guitars there. Really nice videos and some marvellous songs. I think 1922 - 43 in terms of acoustic and 1951 - 1964 for electric seem to be golden eras. I’m a bit obsessed with old Nationals although I’m looking to bring in the odd vintage Martin and Stella too. Guitar geekery is always welcome. Easiest is to email The Washboard Resonators website. Actually got a full schedule even with covid but we’ll find a way. Cheers for the interest and message. It’s an honour to know this video is spreading the word.

[@margarethouse404]

Then definitely also get Dobro Roots by Steve Toth , focusing on wood body Resonators . ******************** To add to the complexity of your timeline , look into the interrelationships between National Dobro , and ( original ) Regal in Chicago starting in mid 1930's . Vastly oversimplified - N-D needed to outsource bodies to keep up with demand . At one point there was a lightbulb moment that it was easier and cheaper to ship the metal hardware to Chicago , than to ship bodies snd necks to California . But late 1930's , Chicago ( Regal made ) instruments were distributed to Eastern US , and California made on West Coast . Eventually , the bulk of low & mid range instruments all made in Chicago . But theirs more ! By their agreements , Regal also used Dobrp aupplied hardware to build instruments under their ( Regal ) brand name , and private label for large distributors .. And of course the Regal ( & Private ) branded instruments didn't exactly correspond to the features and options as the corresponding Dobro/ National branded model numbers.

[@itsallaroundyou7085]

I think the moral of the story is, when George's and John's get together they change the world😉

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Wow! Never spotted that. Perhaps they had a guy called Ringo making the coffee. 🤩

[@BrianCullen85]

Great video. I want to try a resonator, but like most people I don't have much money to put into it. Is it worth buying a cheap one to start?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

We’ve got videos on that subject. Check the listings. I’d say buy what you can used and then you’ll always get your money back to fund towards the next step up of the ladder. The important thing is that you try them against a normal acoustic as cheap resonators can be bad at playing and sound quiet. It should be louder than a regular acoustic.

[@BrianCullen85]

@@TheWashboardResonators thanks for the reply. Yes I've now found some of your other videos covering this. Very informative. I'm thinking the Michael Messer guitars are an interesting blend of 1930's design and far east price.

[@margarethouse404]

It depends upon your context of Cheap . Really Cheap , probably not ( at least unless you go in expecting to replace the internals with upgraded parts , plus either educate yourself to do basic set up , or pay about that much again for an expert set up . For $6-700 USD list price get into a wood body that is worthwhile . Twice that is about maxing out on mass produced .

[@MrChessgator]

Hi, thanks for the video. I am just about to buy my first Resonator. I am looking to produce the sound of the Mississippi Delta Blues. What do you recommend for me? Perhaps, there could be three price ranges $0 to $1,000 and $1,001 to $2,000 and $2,001 and up! Thank you in advance.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Delta stuff generally works well on a steel body or ladder braced acoustic. We did this sort of video on our ‘beginners guide to resonators’ with price guides. I’d always try to get a real National Resophonic guitar which can be sourced new or even used at around $1500. Beyond that the Michael Messer range are the best value under $1000. Check out other videos with resonator buying guides, sound comparisons etc.

[@MrChessgator]

@@TheWashboardResonators Thank you!

[@margarethouse404]

Back in the day , most Blues players used what they had / could afford . Being a farmhand/ sharecropper didn't pay enough to save up the seed money to get a $100 guitae , when their annual incomes were $2-500 cash money . And it would take a long time of playing in cheap beer joints for tips to upgrade . Usable quality acoustics were $3 to $5 mail order , and base model wood Dobro was $ 27 . *************** The cliche was Delta Blues ( far from the only contemporary flavor of Blues ) used metal body , biscuit roundnecks , and Western Swing , Hillbillies , and Hawaiian players used Squareneck Spider bridge , but historically every combination was used for every genre , at least occasionally .

[@magicelliotth]

Thanks for this. I thought this was fascinating. I came to see you guys play at the bear club in Luton last year. We chatted about guitars, mark knopfler and Steve Philips in the interval and you VERY kindly let me have a go on one of your guitars and your banjolele.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

magicelliotth Oh yes!! Remember that! That was lovely chatting to someone as keen as us about these things! Hope you’re well. We should have been there recently but Covid put a stop to it! We’ll be back before the year is out! 👌🏻

[@magicelliotth]

Unfortunately I don’t think you’ll have the chance. They were closing in May/June and the current situation has brought that forward. :( I’m well thanks and pleased that you remember me! Have been using the time to learn a bit of music theory and learn some instrumental pieces on ukulele.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

magicelliotth Oh no! We were in conversation about rebooking. Must have been before the closedown!

[@stevenhickenjr]

Great video. You can tell the difference between the newer instruments and the old ones. You also want to look into an instrument named a "Pedabro" which is a combination of a pedal steel and resonator guitar (dobro style). Hideously expensive and rare these days but sound unique and a good part of the history of both instruments. A lot of country hits were recorded on them in the 80s and 90s.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Steven Hicken Jr Pedal Steel Guitar You can. Just out of interest what do you think the differences between newer and older is to your ears? Will check out the recommendation! Many thanks!!

[@TheWhisleblower]

Manfred Mann Pretty Flamingo was the first time I heard one 1966

[@TheWashboardResonators]

A great tune!! 🎯

[@SergeCeyral]

Great video, truly informative... I could only add that, beside cheap chinese copies (with poor quality, stamped and not spun, cones and low-end alloys), some interesting efforts were made to recreate National guitars. Amistar (Czech rep.) and Republic (partly US and China made) are rather good (mid priced) instruments. British luthier Mike Lewis (Fine Resophonics) also makes wonderful replicas of Tricones and Style O, in his Paris workshop : his models (professional grade, and NOT cheap) are as good as new US National guitars. He spins his own cones and uses noble alloys (german silver and brass). He, also, is pretty innovative with his superb wooden tricone... Anyway, what a wonderful collection! I'm deadly jealous...

[@TheWashboardResonators]

All so true. Mike Lewis is a genius too of course!

[@yhafleahcim]

Donmo resonator guitars are quite good. Made in Australia by Don Morrison (Donmo). Made from recycled galvanized roof sheets and also some from old copper water tanks.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Fantastic! Never heard of those. Since making the video so much extra information has popped up like this. Will go check them out now. Thanks. 🎯

[@toddbyers759]

What about the Dopera’s Original?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

We had to skip much but yes that is part of the history. Within days of filming this lots of info was brought forward that helps so we’ve got a plan to produce a longer more detailed version with a number of people after lockdown ends! 🎯

[@toddbyers759]

Cool! I just acquired one and would love to know more. Thank you sooo much. I just found you.

[@zachary1657]

I heard the Bob Brozman book talks about setups alittle bit, I've been contemplating buying that book for months just to see what he has to say about setups (nut, saddle, action etc) but It's quite expensive and I'm not sure if its just a sentence or two about setups or a whole chapter dedicated to it. Could you possibly look to confirm or deny?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hello! There’s not much about setups. You can get more info from any resonator Facebook page, resonator forum or asking a specialist resonator luthier. The book has lots of issues and glosses over many popular lower end models. The best thing by far is the info from the Dopyera brothers like interviews and company minutes.

[@SergeCeyral]

The best person to make a perfect resonator guitar setup, is Mike Lewis (FINE RESOPHONICS, Vitry-sur-Seine, Paris suburb, France) : he can fix any issue on that kind of instrument. The only problem, is that he lives in France (too far away ?)

[@ajw4571]

You have a Mule or ever played one?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Played a few. Played a Tricone in Chicago and it sounded incredible. They’re really cool looking instruments for sure.

[@ajw4571]

What guitar would you prefer to have a new National Style1 Tricone or the Mule Tricone?

[@Caligari...]

I see you don't own a National Hawaiian guitar like Sol Hoopii played. Thank you for your video

[@TheWashboardResonators]

I do have a 1929 one like his now! Very nice!

[@timadams9119]

...Hey, I got to the 7:32 min. mark and thought, How many really old guitars do you own ? I'm both jealous and pissed simultaneously. I want one.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

About 35 as I write this. Better than money in the bank. More fun. A nice pension.

[@tylerjones934]

Washboard resonators don’t forget bluegrass music they uses dobro square neck ones

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Indeed!

[@margarethouse404]

Metal body resonators are fairly static in design and dimensions . But " modern " wood bodied have significantly evolved to larger and deeper bodies , open ( non sound well . and various proprietary sound baffles for more volume , more bass . and fine tuned tonal ranges .

[@Stlie1]

❤

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎯

[@dawdawes]

Super Job Martyn, enjoyed the video immensely, maybe a little more of a tune might be nice, more please, stay safe, see you after lockdown. 1940sradio.com

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Dave Dawes Thanks Dave. That will be a separate ‘sounds’ video. This is already 20 mins longer than anticipated!! 🥴

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

"Dobro" means "good" in slavic languages.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Yep! Sooo coool.

[@markcobb6561]

Just tuned in to see if the history of dobro has been black washed yet, like the black washing of the banjo.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

What a bizarre thing to say. Time to let off some steam with a trained professional therapist perhaps.

[@positivelynegative9149]

I had to stop watching this 3 minutes in. Why on Earth would anyone pronounce "patent" like that? 🤨 If you meet a person named Pat, do you call them Pate, Payt, or Pait?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Your KZbin name is hilariously accurate you absolute numpty. @stupidlynegative9149 would be even more accurate. The idea that a Northern English person pronouncing a word as we do in our culture would be enough to turn off a video with unique and in-depth information about a certain guitar brand is laughable. I’m sure if you were making sweet, sweet, sweet love to a Spanish person you wouldn’t give up after 3 minutes because they pronounced “yes” as “yhhheeeaass-bayyyybbbeee-shhheeeeiiitt-aaahh-ccchhhaann-neeehearlly-fffheeeeaaall-saaaahhhrrmmthhheeeng.” Here’s a tip for you; If you don’t like the way someone speaks, don’t watch three minutes of a video and then leave a comment that their regional dialect was too annoying to continue. Just disappear into the night and continue to vanish into obscurity or go watch something else. It’ll be a better use of your time. You only live once. You’re spending it by drawing ridiculous comparisons on pronunciation then trying to feel important through passive aggressive trolling. You absolute fucking looser. Go boil your arse / ass (whichever you prefer). ✊🏻🍆💦

[@HenriDucrocq]

Perfect comment 🤣

[@tribestribes2555]

As usual this bloody of talking. Got really tired.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’s not for everyone this amount of information and important guitar history. You have to really have a deep love for the subject and the desire to know the full range of the story.