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Learn about National Guitars.

History, photo galleries, and more

How National Guitars are Made | 8 Part Video Series.

An 8 Part Video series showing how National Reso-Phonic Guitars are made! We show you Metal stamping, Body Assembly, Woodworking, and even Don Young personally spinning cones! The factory, equipment, and of course the people involved made this 8 part video series a blast to make, and i think you will enjoy watching it. There is some great guitar playing by a visistor as well. Take a look!

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All about National Guitars

A run down of all the various models made by National guitar throughout the 20's and 30's. Descriptions of each National Guitar model with photos including Tricones, Rare Nationals, Style O's, Triolians, Duolians, and more!

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National Guitar Photo Gallery

Newly updated! This is the worlds largest, most complete photo gallery of vintage national guitars. You won't believe your eyes!

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Vintage National Guitar Autopsy

Hi, here is a very early Duolian 12 fret steel bodied round neck guitar. This is serial # C110, meaning its the 110th Duolian produced. We will find some interesting features not found as time went on. As you look at this body, notice how nice the Duco crystal paint is below where the fingerboard was. Also notice the smaller duco crystals in the ligher section of the paint by the F holes. These were not evident in later Duco finished, as ...

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Style O Restoration

A photo journal of the restoration process of a National Guitar Steel-bodied Style O. See the step by step process.

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Out of the Barn and Back to Life

Restoration of 'Wilbur' the Tricone...

Here I tell the story of Wilbur, a very early style 1.5 (note the wiggle border engraving) National Tricone. Wilbur spent the last 45 years stored in an Indiana Barn! Ouch, not any kind of life for a musical instrument now, is it? Wilbur came to me covered in a green coating of some nature, filled w the typical huge mouse sized dust ...

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National Guitar Cone Talk

See and discuss various Cones

There's a huge amount of discussion regarding the merits of having an original cone vs. a new National Resophonic replacement cone for example. While that's a discussion for another day, let's look at some various cones used over the years and some identifying characteristics of the originals...

How to Pack and Ship A Guitar

Shipping your National Guitar 101

Hey all, here's a little primer on correctly packing your National (or any guitar for that matter) to ship. To our left, find one guy's creative idea on how to send a tricone. Please don't try this at home! Actually, it's better packed than many.

Cleaning Your National Guitar

Always use a soft cloth. Put the cleaning agent on the cloth, not the National Guitar.

To clean the baked-on finish of steel body National Guitars, use either a non-ammoniated liquid glass cleaner or a light guitar polish.

To clean a nickel body National Guitar or nickel body National Guitar parts, use a non-ammoniated liquid...

Don't Scratch That Paint!

Avoiding scratching the Duco Finish on a National Guitar while playing.

As many National players love to play w metal fingerpicks, how best to avoid wearing a nice bare spot into your sweet 70+ yr. old Duco finish? Here's one solution. Take a thin magnet often sent in the mail to stick on our refrigerator's so we know when the trash is coming or whatever. Cut it to size w a decent set of scissors, and use it while playing. Of course, goes without saying you should get a cool National Guitar sticker or ...

Rare and Crzy Duco Finish

Here's a quick Photo Gallery of a very Rare B Series Duco Finish.

National Guitar Factory Tour

An exciting Look inside the National Resophonics Factory

Wow, from the outside, there is nothing to alert you that an amazing array of resonator guitars are being built in this building! Save for the shipping container outside, it may as well be CIA headquarters in Langley VA! Once inside, that all changes as we see a sprawling complex of workers and machinery. Check it out......