National Reso-Phonic Guitars
Encyclopedia
National Reso-Phonic Guitars is a manufacturer of resonator guitar
s and other resonator instruments including mandolin
s, ukulele
s and 12 string guitars.
The company was formed in 1989 by Don Young and McGregor Gaines, in a California
n garage. They measured old resonator instruments of all makes and designs, and produced reproductions under the National brand name and trade mark, as originally used by the National String Instrument Corporation
for the very first resonator instruments.
Since 1990, the factory has been located in San Luis Obispo, California. Their current production is over 1000 instruments per annum, representing more than 50 different models. In addition to manufacturing new instruments, they offer a repair service capable of restoring almost any vintage National guitar to original condition.
In 2008 Don Young and Eric Smith, an employee of the company since 1991, purchased McGregor Gaines' interest in the company.
Resonator guitar
A resonator guitar or resophonic guitar is an acoustic guitar whose sound is produced by one or more spun metal cones instead of the wooden sound board . Resonator guitars were originally designed to be louder than conventional acoustic guitars which were overwhelmed by horns and percussion...
s and other resonator instruments including mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
s, ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
s and 12 string guitars.
The company was formed in 1989 by Don Young and McGregor Gaines, in a California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
n garage. They measured old resonator instruments of all makes and designs, and produced reproductions under the National brand name and trade mark, as originally used by the National String Instrument Corporation
National String Instrument Corporation
The National String Instrument Corporation was a guitar company that formed to manufacture the first resonator guitars.-National resonator guitar designs:...
for the very first resonator instruments.
Since 1990, the factory has been located in San Luis Obispo, California. Their current production is over 1000 instruments per annum, representing more than 50 different models. In addition to manufacturing new instruments, they offer a repair service capable of restoring almost any vintage National guitar to original condition.
In 2008 Don Young and Eric Smith, an employee of the company since 1991, purchased McGregor Gaines' interest in the company.
External links
- National Reso-Phonic Guitars official website.
- National Resonator Guitars - An American Tradition at the Bob BrozmanBob BrozmanBob Brozman is an American guitarist and ethnomusicologist.He has performed in a number of styles such as Gypsy jazz, calypso, Blues, ragtime, Hawaiian and Caribbean music. Brozman has also collaborated with musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds such as India, Africa, Japan, Papua New Guinea...
official website.