Resonator mandolin

harpmaker · Post by **harpmaker** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:19 pm

s1m0n wrote:And of course there's always the Commodium

I see a new winter project coming on....

missy · Post by **missy** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:33 am

Dave - back AWAY from the computer!!!!

harpmaker · Post by **harpmaker** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:13 pm

missy wrote:Dave - back AWAY from the computer!!!!

hehehehehe....too late....the seed has been planted...

liestman · Post by **liestman** » Fri May 16, 2008 3:56 pm

I recently got a National RM-1 and am wild about it for playing at home and at sessions. My local session is usually a loud concertina, several fiddles, a few flutes and whistles, guitar, etc. I thought I was going to give up some bass response and live with some metallic tone, but I am extremely happy on all counts, especially with the monster bass that pours out of this thing.

As I have a couple friends who were inquiring, I made two really simple recordings in my shop yesterday - one with my early 80's Sobell mandolin (which is incredible) and one with the National. I made NO ATTEMPT to play well, was just trying to demo the tone (so I even played the tune fragment in two registers to hit all the strings). I did put Labella JazzMando strings on the National, which are flat wound, chrome. On each recording, same pick, same Zoom H2 recorder (not using auto gain or compression), same distance - about 5 feet away, same picking strength. See what you think (about the tone AND VOLUME, not my playing):

http://www.liestman.com/Sobell.mp3

http://www.liestman.com/National.mp3

"Can you hear me now?"

buddhu · Post by **buddhu** » Fri May 16, 2008 6:14 pm

Good grief... That's a resonator mando?

No way...(?)

liestman · Post by **liestman** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:47 pm

Way. I think National has it pegged. And keep in mind, the recorder was set up 5 feet away in an 18' x 12' shop with high ceilings - and that was the bass it heard. My Sobell is an incredible mando and very loud on its own (and I will always cherish it) but the National brings an incredible tone up to a very session-worthy volume. Way!

buddhu · Post by **buddhu** » Sat May 17, 2008 4:01 am

I'm gobsmacked.

You lucky picker, you. That sounds amazing.

Tim2723 · Post by **Tim2723** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:34 am

John, I've played mandolin for 40 years and earn my living doing it. I've never heard a resonator with such a good tone. Nice even bass reponse,and none of that harsh tinny sound so many resonators have. I've played a dozen or so over the years, and normally I woudn't give a plugged nickle for a resonator mando, but that's a very sweet tone.

Very nice tune too!

tommyk · Post by **tommyk** » Sat May 24, 2008 8:28 am

I don't even own the National anymore (almost sold mine to John - should have; the guy who ended up with it was a royal pain).
I've gone almost (but for one whistle and one bodhran) completely electric.

Should I ever foray into the acoustic world again, a National Model One mandolin would be my first purchase.

RickC. · Post by **RickC.** » Sun May 25, 2008 4:50 pm

I love my National.

lordofthestrings · Post by **lordofthestrings** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:51 am

I recently came across a resonator bouzouki, and decided I couldn't live without it

Turns out, I don't know how I lived without it! I'll post up some pictures when I can get to my home computer. Plays wonderful, sounds amazing!!

Islandpiper · Post by **Islandpiper** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 7:47 am

There is an original, C: 1930 resonator mando for sale in this shop.

http://www.kdavisviolins.com

not shown on the site, so call or write them.

piper

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:40 am

There's a National Resonator Mando new on sale at
Music Folk in Webster Groves, near St. Louis.
Online