National resonator mando

**lgc** · Feb-01-2008, 12:28pm

So I've been playing National M1 for about 6 months now and I can't say enough good things about it. It took some adjustment but once acclimated it was almost perfect. It fits every type of music that I play or try to play-BG, blues, jazz, swing, country, jewish. The tone is great and obviously the volume potential is amazing. I don't think I've ever played a mando with the same amount of control that this one has. Anyone else have any thoughts in either direction-preferably in the positive because I love having my opinion reaffirmed.

**mandroid** · Feb-02-2008, 2:57pm

The older ones were 15" scale,
from what I read the extra inch demands X-light gage string and quite high tension up to GDAE.
or lower tension set of pitches .

whats the scale length on those?

15" scale electric 5 string still has me on a 'goldilocks' search for the right string gages.

**John Flynn** · Feb-02-2008, 9:01pm

How's this for reaffirming: I like 'em. I'd like to own one, but it isn't near the top of my MAS list. But it isn't at the bottom of the list either. They are very playable, the sound is different but great, and momma, are they LOUD! People talk about wooden mandos being "banjo killers," which is a misnomer, because no wooden mando can stand up to a resonator banjo played with finger picks, but the National can. It is the real banjo killer of the mando world.

**fredfrank** · Feb-02-2008, 9:06pm

I guess I wasn't aware that banjos needed killin'. Perhaps it's the banjo player that needs it. If you're playing with an annoying banjo player, find someone else to pick with.

I did buy one of the Nationals recently, but I couldn't get used to the weird tone, so I returned it. It was definitely loud, though.

**John Flynn** · Feb-02-2008, 9:28pm

Originally Posted by

I guess I wasn't aware that banjos needed killin'. Perhaps it's the banjo player that needs it. If you're playing with an annoying banjo player, find someone else to pick with.

Thanks Captain Preachy, I never would have figured that out on my own!

**fredfrank** · Feb-02-2008, 9:45pm

Wow! I got promoted.

The thing is, I'm not really trying to tell you what you should do. I'm just sayin', I'm a banjo player and I also play mandolin. So when a mandolin is trying to take a break, I back off. I think all banjo players should serve an apprenticeship on the mandolin.

**allenhopkins** · Feb-03-2008, 11:12am

One thing that seems clear, is that the new National Reso-Phonic Co. has avoided one of the problems of its distant ancestor, National/National Dobro/Valco (?) etc. #They use the best quality materials, excellent fit and finish, etc. #I love old Nationals from the '30's -- own a Style 0 guitar, Havana wood-body guitar, and Duolian mandolin -- but some of the details are a bit haphazard. #The Style 0 needed a neck plane and re-fret to correct a warp, had to have tuners replaced, etc. #The tailpiece on the mandolin cracked in half and had to be replaced -- luckily I found a "period" replica. #I have talked to other old National owners who have mentioned not fully seasoned wood in necks, mediocre quality metal parts, etc.

New Nationals aren't cheap, but then, neither were the originals; National guitars were pricier than Martins "back in the day." #There's a flood of "National copy" instruments coming from Asia, and I've succumbed to temptation and acquired a Johnson resonator ukulele and tri-cone guitar (since traded on the Havana). #But I have sincere admiration for the high quality of the new Nationals, and I'm glad to see the success of National Reso-Phonic.

**hoffmannia2k7** · Feb-05-2008, 11:29pm

i love my johnson resonator mando and brought it to a gig with a bluegrass band. The banjo player loved it! He said he could hear me really well.

**Griffis** · Feb-06-2008, 12:07am

Originally Posted by (hoffmannia2k7 @ Feb. 06 2008, 00:29)

i love my johnson resonator mando and brought it to a gig with a bluegrass band. #The banjo player loved it! #He said he could hear me really well.

That's good to hear. I'd like to get me one of those. I couldn't afford a National unless I sold off a ton of stuff.

Not knocking Nationals either. I love them. Just out of my price range.

Incidentally, I have a Johnson resonator ukulele and I've been really happy with it.

However, I'm on the verge of making a swap that will land me a banjo-mandolin, so that might make a resonator mando go to the back burner for a while, though I kind of find resonator instruments to be a middle ground between a "regular" instrument and a banjo-ized one. What I mean is, my reso ukulele falls somewhere sonically between my woody ukes and my banjo uke. And so on.

Yeah, I'd like to get a Johnson reso mandolin, but I really feel you need to try those out before you buy them. The ukes are the same way. Pretty inconsistent, but if you find a good one, they are a great deal.

But my main thing is blues mandolin and jug-band sort of stuff. I think one of those would suit that well.

**Asha** · Feb-06-2008, 1:34pm

I've had my National for almost a year now (the brass one) and must say I continue to be quite pleased with the purity and beauty of the tone, the ease of playability, the build quality of the instrument, and of course the overall audibility!

I play primarily klezmer and eastern european stuff and I can now actually hear myself when playing with 2 clarinets, 2 fiddles, and 2 guitars, and an occasional drummer. Oh, and others can hear me too!

The one change I made was to add a strap button on the treble side of the neck heel and that has helped a lot.

**Mike Herlihy** · Feb-28-2008, 11:30am

I just bought a National RM1, any string recommendations?

**mandroid** · Feb-28-2008, 1:45pm

Depends, 'mherlihy', whats the scale length?
[i.e. vibrating string length = bridge to nut]

Or with a digital caliper you can measure the size of the strings that are on there.

**mdmaynard** · Feb-28-2008, 3:11pm

I love the looks, if I can find one used sometime I may just buy one.

**Griffis** · Feb-28-2008, 5:25pm

Used? Heck, I can't find a NEW one.
(Again, not that I can afford one, but they seem really scarce.)

**johnsmusic** · Feb-28-2008, 5:38pm

I am a dealer and just ordered another today. the wait time from National on everything is 6 months so if you see one, snag it! John

**Mike Herlihy** · Mar-01-2008, 3:49pm

Originally Posted by (mandroid @ Feb. 28 2008, 14:45)

Depends, 'mherlihy', whats the scale length?
[i.e. vibrating string length = bridge to nut]

Or with a digital caliper you can measure the size of the strings that are on there.

14 inches, the new National's scale. The older National's from the Thirties had a 15" scale. I was looking for the experiences of anyone that owned the new National M1. Sorry for the lack of clarity.

**liestman** · May-11-2008, 5:45am

I just got mine and am wild about the tone and volume. I tried several sets of strings right away. For brighter sound to cut through in a loud session, the GHS PF250 set was just the right gauges and sound but for more intimate, mellower tone I have the Labella flatwound chrome strings that Jazzmando.com sells (still plenty loud for sessions). As you are probably aware, "equivalent" gauges in a flatwound string are numerically smaller than on typical phosphor bronze regular wound strings, so the Labella's end up at the same tension more or less than the larger measuring GHS strings, if that makes sense.

**tburcham** · Dec-14-2008, 5:44pm

Just got my RM-1 last week. I gushing over it so far. Played my first gig with it yesterday and it works beautifully with violins. The bell-like tone blends in with twin violins for form a very pleasant and lyrical tone. I'm using a 2mm V Pick to play slower tunes and a Red Bear Med Style C for Bluegrass.

**Larry S Sherman** · Dec-14-2008, 6:35pm

I've had mine for a couple of weeks now...still bonding with it and getting to know the sweet spots and how to use the power that this thing has.

Larry

**Jim Garber** · Dec-14-2008, 6:41pm

I have an old metal body style 2 silver mandolin. However,. i have olayed a few of the new models and they are superior certainly in workmanship and playability. I was playing violin in a group with drums, bass, three guitars, two flutes, a horn and a cello and could barley hear myself but i was thinking if I do go back to play national with that group. they are certainly high on volume but also on tone.

BTW I have my old National strung octave on the lower two courses and with heavier strings but tuned down to E -- in other words when you play a G chord it sounds in E. great for blues.

**texmax** · Dec-14-2008, 8:22pm

I recently purchased a brass National Resonator mandolin, and I'm very happy with it. I play in a trio with a Martin D-18 and a Martin 12 string, and my mates say they can finally hear me when I play mandolin. It's surprisingly versatile, and a lot of fun to play. Beautiful build quality, and definitely capable of being loud! But with great volume comes great responsibility....

**tburcham** · Dec-15-2008, 6:57pm

[QUOTE=tburcham;606364]Just got my RM-1 last week. I gushing over it so far. Played my first gig with it yesterday and it works beautifully with violins. The bell-like tone blends in with twin violins for form a very pleasant and lyrical tone.

I've only had mine a few days and my initial impressions are "Out of this World." Mind you , its not going to be everybody's cup of tea, but the tone of this thing is like a bell...lyrical and mellow with the right pick.

These RM-1s really respond very differently to various picks. I am using a Red Bear Med Style C and this works really nicely when you want to trash banjos, a chorus of guitars, and jet fighters flying overhead. Folks, until you've actually heard one of these, you don't know what a loud mandolin is....

Last night, I tried a 2 mm V-Pick and this style of pick brought out a more restrained warm tone that is excellent for playing waltz's and slower tunes. You can also use this pick to make the volume more atuned to the loudest mando in the group.

The chops aren't as good as my Silverangel or Gibson F5G. It chops, but the A and E strings are so dominant , that you tend to get a more colorful chop sound versus the dry woody tone of my SA or the deep bark of my F5G.

I purchased my RM-1 from Bill and Ellie Warmoth at Artisan Guitars in Franklin TN. These folks were great to work with and I highly recommend their shop. They are primarily a very high-end guitar shop, but they carry the full line of National Resophonic equipment. They have a "custom one-off" RM-1 in their shop that is drop dead gorgeous, but it was outside the price range I was working in...so if you hear an RM-1 and get the fever, you might want to give them a call.

I'll post additional thoughts on my RM-1 as time goes by. I'm using it in a gig this weekend.

Tim Burcham
National RM-1
Gibson F5G
Distressed Silverangel #257

**Larry S Sherman** · Dec-15-2008, 7:24pm

[QUOTE=tburcham;606686]

Originally Posted by tburcham

I'll post additional thoughts on my RM-1 as time goes by. I'm using it in a gig this weekend.
Tim Burcham

I would be interested to see some pics of your RM-1...if you can put it down long enough to snap a picture or two.

Larry

**tburcham** · Dec-17-2008, 12:14am

Larry,

I'll try and get a few shots posted for you...I've had trouble putting it down! (-: While I haven't added this to my RM-1 blog yet, this thing plays really well too! You can play for long periods of time without mauling your fingers and mine have deep callouses from lots of practice (cause I need it (-;

Tim

**tburcham** · Dec-17-2008, 11:21pm

Here's a link to photos of my National RM-1. This is the new design with a metal National emblem fixed to the headstock instead of the decal of previous models. The blue background on the National emblem may be special as per Bill Warmoth's request. See photos by clicking on the link below:

http://gallery.me.com/tburcham#10054...lack&view=grid

Tim