Vintage National Trojan Shootout & History. Which is best?

Here we compare two vintage National guitars.
Both are Trojan models (the cheapest guitar National made) and one dates from 1935 and the other 1939.
You’ll get to hear how a guitar with neck stick and one with dovetail construction compare.
They’re both great guitars as used by John Hammond, Rev Payton and Bonnie Raitt.
*********************************
👇🏻❤️👇🏻❤️👇🏻❤️👇🏻
The best ways to support us;
Mailing list for tickets & news - mailchi.mp/e5a...
Tip Jar / exclusive content - ko-fi.com/thew...
👆🏻❤️👆🏻❤️👆🏻❤️👆🏻
********************************
Our social links;
Website - thewashboardres...
Our podcast - podcasts.apple...
Buy Records and T-shirts - thewashboardre...
Spotify - open.spotify.c...
Instagram - / thewashboardresonators
Facebook - / thewashboardresonators
Twitter - th...
*********************************
Personal links;
All Martyn’s Socials - linktr.ee/mart...
All Jack’s Socials - www.jackamblin...
*********************************
Thanks for looking!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Support us by clicking the description above and... 🎯Put something in the tip jar. 🎯Subscribe to the mailing list. 🎯Find us on other social media. Thanks all! ❤️❤️❤️

[@geoffhatten5450]

Thank you for posting this. I inherited my mother’s 1937 Trojan. “B” serial number. Has the neck stick going right thru the body. Solid headstock but with different “National” branding than those two. Had the neck reset and only recently changed the original cone as the original was corroded in spots and I unfortunately damaged it by putting “Resonator” gauge strings on it: D’Addarios EJ42s 16-46s. On advice of my guitar restorers I now have 11-52s but with a 15 and an 18 on the first and second strings spots. Much safer gauges for vintage guitars with old cones. Sounds very nice and not unlike your ‘39 there.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Great guitars generally. Bottom of the line but still excellent!!

[@NuttinbutdaBlues]

I've got two '34s, one has a Hawaiian Hula scene on the back that was painted in 1945. The other had a bone bridge fashioned for it at some point, which is amazing to me, because the original cones seemed to be put on with carpet tacks. The cone in that guitar is original and there's no apparent evidence of having been worked on. The B guitar sounded more like my Trojans. I think the different endpieces affect the timbre slightly also.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

They can vary so much just between models. Yours sound like super instruments!

[@Tubesockfullofbakedbeans]

I preferred B it sounded more... all together, maybe cleaner. I felt like I heard the notes root better the sound sounded more precise; wow that's crazy seeing the results

[@TheWashboardResonators]

That’s the thing. They’re all different!!

[@thomaswilleborts6771]

High Martin,these 1930's are both sounding very well! My choice was the one in your left hand. It was a good vote!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎯🎯🎯

[@richmiller8381]

Love them both mate, another excellent video. I can’t wait to try this one out, and my mate is going to love it. Can’t thank you enough

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Bless you bud. Saw you’d called. I’ll ring back. It’s a FUCKING good guitar this ‘39.

[@yayasgoal]

B for me it sounded clearer. Thanks for posting the comparison.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks!

[@aljohnson3010]

i have a trojan a early one T 850 to be exact ....when i bought mine it had no cone in it ...someone had knocked a piece of aluminium together as a fake cone , i call mine Miss fairbrown she has served me well .....i totally agree with you ....great video

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Cheers Al. They’re so usable and relatively affordable!

[@jackn1969]

I preferred guitar B it sounded a little brighter, with A more balanced in the bass, I was surprised at my choice after the reveal! Awesome video.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It was a learning curve for me. They both sound good and the perceived wisdom of these dovetail guitars being crap isn’t true.

[@Optiman5000]

B sounded nice

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It does!

[@leeasnin2442]

I’ll go with A…. How about a vintage El Trovador?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

I nearly bought a vintage El Trovador recently but just got out bid. One day I’ll have one. I love them.

[@JustForfun-hg8ni]

Hi Martin, both sound really good. I think when you get to this standard of guitar I don’t think it matters too much. Still being fairly new to resonators, I am still quite happy with what you might call a cheap modern resonator. Probably makes more of a difference if you play professionally.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

So true. TBH it’s all quite nerdy and informational. A good musician will communicate with anything in reason. Beyond that it’s nice to have access to all of the good ones and choose a few killers.

[@JustForfun-hg8ni]

Thanks for your answer. I fully understand where you’re coming from. With these lovely 30s resonators it’s not like we can go down to our local guitar shop and try them ourselves, it’s sort of like the difference between a Martin and a Taylor(for instance) both really good but in the end you have to play and hear to know which one you prefer. Love your videos, always good conversation pieces. Your earlier how to play videos also were of great help. Don’t stop making videos!!! 👍✌️

[@brianmckinley6177]

I couldn’t say I like one over the other. I could hear a slight difference but I liked both. I like the looks of both as well. Great video…keep them coming.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

That’s what surprised me hearing them back to back. Actually quite similar. I don’t know why people talk these instruments down.

[@wkynightmare]

I have one of these, great guitar, but the headstock logo is unlike any I’ve seen. Block script NATIONAL

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Later one then. If you’re really fussed to learn get Mark Makin’s book on resonator guitars.

[@jimmartinette9655]

B

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🤘🏻

[@DJRaveDave]

I prefer guitar A. Its a little more open and doesnt resonate as smoothly... which i actually prefer 💁‍♂️. Guitar 2 hands down sounds more "in tune"... i guess guitar A sounds like its 100 years old, guitar B doesnt haha.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks!

[@OldMeanGeezer]

I liked A better. Sounds like you are going to have a hard time handing that guitar over to your friend. Time to shop?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hmmmmm….. I’m looking for a wood body 1928 Triolian which may fill the gap this leaves!