Resonator Guitars As Intended! (Vintage National Tricone on the Streets)

Saturday 4th March 2023.
I decided to try out my 1930 National Tricone, as if I was right back in the 1930s, like many of my heroes and play it on the street acoustically.
Does it work? Is it loud enough?
I went to Haworth (Brontë Country) and played there to experience the guitar as intended.
I hadn’t busked for about 3 years but actually enjoyed it. Might actually do it again soon?!
Definitely felt closer to my heroes.
Did the guitar work? Of course it did.
Lots of nice comments about it.
All in all I’d say resonator guitars are perfect instruments for street entertainment!
🎼🎯🎼

[@TheWashboardResonators]

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[@wheninroamful]

Love it Martin, i play my National RAW steel out on the street, but cuz cold Seattle winter, it's been a while... I think more musicians should play one the streets, not just for the money but to create a more expressive society and off the phones more. Well done.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Exactly. Having not done it for years I’d forgotten how many chances there are for ‘real’ interactions and connections. Think I’ll do a big more. Maybe 10-20 days over spring / summer. Just for the fun when I’m free.

[@Johnny6666]

Nice to see someone actually putting themselves out there with these vintage instruments (and taking risks with period song selections) - rather than having them languish in collections. Like my other favourite KZbin channel (The Vaudevillian), you help keep this music (and these instruments) alive. Cheers to you, Sir. :)

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Love Brendan and Norah. For me they’re the best of the raggedy blues people out today. I love these guitars and live using them!

[@MaxSchranner]

That looked like a nice afternoon.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Lovely! Barely go busking ever now but if I do it’s really fun!

[@BobPerrone]

Such fun! I freak my wife out sometimes when I whip my guitars out in public and rip through some Fats Waller and some of my own stuff. She has really bad stage fright and can't comprehend how it doesn't bother me. Lol

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’s fun when you connect for sure! Worth getting over the fright!

[@petegalloway2466]

Dude!!! Used to live about 5 mile from here. Would have loved to have seen you playing live there. In fact I’d just love too see you play live! Got your T-shirt though 😁

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks Pete!

[@tomo.3678]

What a beautiful town! Lovely old buildings to echo your voice and the smooth sounds of that good ol' National Tricone! Well done, Martyn! ✌🏻😎🎶☘️

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Such a lovely place!! Thanks!!

[@abloke8834]

Nice one! I enjoyed this. Just wished i was there!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

In many ways you were!!

[@mikestubbs5242]

This Charleston, SC boy just got WALLOPED by your inclusion of the song about my city, 'Summertime' thank you!!!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’d be like you singing the old Yorkshire song ‘Ilkley Moor Bar T’at.’ 🎼🎯🎼

[@richmiller8381]

More 🙌🙌

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Might do! Was fun!!

[@stephenbaker645]

Great 👍 Thanks for that !😎

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Glad you liked it!

[@bobgreen8142]

Walk Right In, took me right back to being a kid in the mid 60s. Great job Martyn, you've inspired me to take my reso out on the streets, something I haven't done for a while. It's a great place to play and to hear music.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Sweet tune ain’t it? Get out and play! It was exhilarating doing this. Having not done it for years I’d forgotten how good it is stepping in the shoes of the greats and living by your wits.

[@BadTemperJoe]

Great!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks!!

[@brianmckinley6177]

That was great. Being able to take digital tips or even for merchandise seems how everything is going. I’ve given that way…even to Charlie Parr at a local private show in and old workshop. The setting of your video was also outstanding.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks!! I’ve been considering swapping the cones out so wanted to try it somewhere where it has to deliver! It really did actually so I think I’ll keep it stock. But yes, I really enjoyed the experience and ease of setup. Might do more as it warms up and card readers and QR might also help bring in the money. Still did pretty good though! 🎼🎯🎼

[@brianmckinley6177]

Beer money and then some. The guitar sounded good. It projected very well with great tone.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’s a super guitar. Wouldn’t mind a touch more bass. I’ll try different strings next. Definitely rose to the occasion on the street when being dug into.

[@MajeticLuka]

Love the music, town! The whole vibe! We need more roots music out there. If you are ever around Vienna or Bratislava, let me know. You have a place to crash. Fellow musician.☺️

[@TheWashboardResonators]

That’s kind! Thanks. One day I’m sure. It’s one of my favourite places. Visited it all my life! Only 35 mins from home!

[@MajeticLuka]

@@TheWashboardResonators yeah! Certain places inspires us to play certain kind of music. Your style perfectly fits there. Keep up a great job

[@anthonymessineo8804]

Very kool bro,, stop by ,,😎Tony 🎼🎼🎼🎼

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks!! 🎯🎼🎯

[@ymejia19]

🥶 so brave of you been performing outdoors. It’s freezing 😶‍🌫️

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It was the first not actually freezing day! Was about 7 degrees. Was cold. Won’t lie. Fun though.

[@ymejia19]

@@TheWashboardResonators the first not the many 🌨☃❄

[@marciaewell2661]

I play old vintage style blues and my "blues infused originals". And just yesterday I played out in the streets with my new awesome Regal tricone to see how it would sound and had a friend sit in with her dulcimer. I think that was the perfect instrument for busking and the volume matches my voice. Made a few bucks and been thinking how fun it would be to make a road trip and see if it is possible to busk enough money to pay for the trip???

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Do it!

[@NipperLewis]

Great film! I have busked many times with reso uke, National or banjo and don't ever use an amp. All music sounds better without one. With DD we have even been asked to turn down when busking... Almost all buskers in Bath use amps and sing boring modern pop/rock rubbish or play/sing to dull backing tracks or worst of all loopers... The best street music is strictly acoustic folk, jazz or blues, The best bands in the world today, Tuba Skinny, Frog and Henry... come from the New Orleans busking scene and do not use amps. If you need an amp, you ain't doing it right!

[@bobgreen8142]

Bath, what a lovely place to play outside! Did it myself when I lived there back in the 70s. The streets need live, unamplified music. A reso, which I've never played out before, should be ideal.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Your band is great anyway and very visual! There’s a lot to be said for doing it acoustically. I might try Leeds acoustically although I fear I may struggle. I’ll try it. Watch Tuba Skinny all the time. Good greasy feel.

[@NipperLewis]

@@TheWashboardResonators Acoustic busking requires a good spot without traffic noise. The UK obsession with driving everywhere leaves our cities noisy and dirty. I would hope in Leeds there are some traffic free areas, away from busy roads . Also the end of arcades or alleys are good, as are places with buildings close enough to reflect sound back at you, clap your hands and listen for a good spot. Its also important to be somewhere people have to walk close to you, not some big wide street or Square. I learned all this 30 years ago from a fiddle player who never used an amp, he busked with a wooden dancing doll operated with his tapping foot.

[@peglegpeete9122]

Martin, I recently got into resonators and am trying to get as much info as I can. You intrigued me in your history of National talking about the Arrogant which was made between 1938-40. Is there anywhere online where I can hear one used? I did some searching and nothing came up. Any YT video, old song suggestion, anything so I can get an idea of the sound you said was so great. thanks!!!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

There are none I know of. I do visit someone that has one and I’m due a visit. I’ll get a video and it can be the only example online! They’re massive and sound beautiful!

[@peglegpeete9122]

@@TheWashboardResonators I owe you a good dinner when you are in Las Vegas next. Shoot a lot and have fun.

[@paulsearles4049]

Musta been designed with busking in mind

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Sustain and volume for being heard in a theatre were the primary objectives. George Beauchump was one of the innovators. He played in theatres pre microphone and wanted a louder guitar for playing Hawaiian music.

[@juderandall703]

Absolutely fabulous playing & singing Martyn! Such a quaint town, love the buildings ❤️ Your National tricone resonator sounded great. One question...where did you or how did you buy/fashion THAT kazoo?! 😳 xx

[@TheWashboardResonators]

We make the kazoos. Might do a video on how to make one. It’s a bike horn and kazoo that gets cut down and riveted together. Beautiful place Haworth. Such history!!

[@juderandall703]

@The Washboard Resonators hmm, will wait for your vid, no rush, my hubby could fashion one for me I reckon! I dislike the usual run of the mill kazoo & cringe when I hear them, but yours sounded beefy & for once, I thought YES! 🤣 Thank you 😊 🎵❤️

[@SergeCeyral]

Unfortunately, the nice dingeling of coins falling in the guitar case, turns to be pretty rare, on english streets today...

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’s funny, I’ve heard mixed reports from buskers. Some say it’s bad and some say it’s good. Had about 5 people ask for card payments! If I did it again I’d get a machine and a QR I think. Still, I did surprisingly well and it wasn’t a patch on the busyness of summer weekends.

[@SergeCeyral]

@@TheWashboardResonators I have the same report : in Paris Subway, some ppl make 100 or 200 € per day, but they work like dogs. On streets, most musicians get a flu, and a mere handful of yellow coins...

[@KBRblues]

I ONLY busk with my National, the tricone is too quiet.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

The single cones rock brother.

[@leonstancliff7218]

I know you have visited the land of the blues but you did not soak up the nature of the blues players. Those Nationals and Gibsons were photo props. Willie Brown said that Robert Johnson preferred a Kalamazoo and usually played a Stella. A Gibson or National would have been in the pawn shop window before dark of the first day they had it.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

So Memphis Minnie, Bumblebee Slim, Bukka White, Tampa Red etc didn’t own their Nationals and Big Bill Broonzy, Scrapper Blackwell, Robert Johnson etc didn’t own their Gibsons? Of course they did and they may have had cheaper instruments at times too. Absolute nonsense. I’ll produce a video on this subject. These myths that go around about RJ not owning his Gibson or his suit are just poppycock. There will be a series of videos soon on RJ and I’ll be addressing these common ideas that get put around. Robert Lockwood is quoted as seeing RJ ‘toting a Gibson with a small hole’ about the time the pic with it was taken. I actually believe he bought this Gibson used off Ike Zimmerman with whom he studied and I also believe he recorded on his first day with it. All will be revealed soon enough. A little more research being done in the background. 🎼🎯🎼