Stephen Houpt delta blues on the National tricone

[varsovien28]

If you love the music of Stephen Houpt, you would probably enjoy Sain Marna too. I've recently found the recordings of this musician on YouTube and was very surprised how much some Pakistani folk played on ektara can be similar to slow resonator guitar blues.

[w4570]

I`ve enjoyed tricone sound.

[fngrpkn06]

Love the haunting slow slidin' blues!

[sk8rasta39]

dude im thirteen and i enjoy tis old style of music. i hate all this stupid pop and hip hop stuff. im glad to see the tradition is still alive

[lnsnowboard385]

Wow that is some good playing, you must have just eaten a dirty sanchez when you did this

[lhemeon]

This is most excellent

[coolconor23]

What is this guitar tuned to? Is it in an open tune? Or just standard?

Fantastic song

[houpts]

@coolconor23 Open D. Thank you. You might also enjoy my dobro videos. That guitar is also amazing, with its own unique sound.

[houpts]

@coolconor23 Please see my new instructional video in 2 parts.

[florri8]

i lilsten to alot of metal, slayer and stuff you know. But i really like this music, it sounds very good, its chill, relaxing. Ilove it, u got my thumbs up m8

[1graceland]

I AM LISTENING TO PARTS OF VIDEO'S AND PUTIN' 'EM ON A PLAY LIST, BUT, I FIND MYSELF PLAYING YOUR MUSIC ALL THE WAY THROUGH. KEEP IT COM'IN!

[jrockzmyv382]

Awesome playing! Great tone and feel.

Btw, does anyone else see the "Decepticon" logo on the body of the guitar or is it just me? lol

[king1234450]

Vert nice

[Thefish07]

Thats the sound I like to hear.

[jurgenmanfred]

damn thats nice

[KimchiChann]

Very nice!

I'm just getting into guitar and I really want to play classical guitar but I have no idea where to get started. The problem is I'm a lefty, so not many stores carry beginner lefty guitars, any tips on where to look and what guitar to get?

Thanks!

[mcul2112]

THANK YOU. after watching about 10 guys plucking too hard and rushing thru everything......this was a sweet relief. favorited.

[kristjenM]

your holding my dream guitar your rilly lucky but maybe one i will get one

[kristjenM]

your luckt you have a tricone ive been wanting one for a long time but i dont have the money well maybe one day

[bajadrums]

sweet

[stratbreizh29]

Excellent!!!

Nice ffeeling!

What (model)National exactely do you use....?

[houpts]

National Style 1 tricone 2005

[stratbreizh29]

@houpts All right! Thank you so much.

[grubbygregg]

Can't help but think of a sexy woman walking down the side of a hot, empty highway. Sexy, tragic, ethereal, dangerous. Something simple and clean like you played strikes me at the core and makes me sway slightly from side to side with a smile on my face. I have always loved the sound of a National played with loving fingers.

[DuosHabet]

Well, very nice stuff; The natinal is really powerful and what a luxuriant sound.

And yep you play it reallyt good man:).

I dream about getting me a resolian, but if only i had the money I will go for a Tricone.

Five Stars Stephen, greetings from France

[ElectromaticG5120]

Could you tell me if this tricone is amplified, and if so, how?

Your playing would be my end goal in music.

[houpts]

It's mechanically amplified by three aluminum cones vibrating inside the metal body.

[notsoprettynow84]

You should be famous.

[houpts]

Thank you for the kind words.

[aallppiinnee]

really, truly, fantastic

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Thank you for sharing this video as a response. Nice

[RaspberrySnagglepuss]

This reminds me of my growing up in Duck Hill Mississippi. My pappy used to play some slide guitar. Youre dang good and I love the sound. I can see that it runs deep man. It aint exactly the blues but I love the tuning and sliding. I've probably seen each of your videos like at least twenty times each. Thank you. Its always good to hear some folk who still have the good stuff in 'em

[DonMoc]

It's in your blood man!

[sirlonghair]

theas trycones are all the same FANTASTIC I have never heard a bum one I have heard bum gibsons & fenders not that I woulden't have one buy wouls listen to it befor handing the cash over I feall like I could buy a trycone through the mail even as expensive as they are they don't crack or warp you can travel with them I can hardly bring Myselfe to take My 1917 gibson A1 mandolin out of My climat controled bedroom

[EamonJgod]

definitely a beautiful instrument.

[SalemJeanette]

whats the tuning for this one?

[houpts]

open D: DAF#DAD

[mohanicus]

beautiful sound.

[RagMama123]

DADF#AD

[guitardavid79]

The sustain that thing has is amazing.

[bebenavole]

what string gauge do u use?

thanx

[houpts]

Newtone National phosphor bronze 16-59. Heavy for big sustain and easy sliding.

[caralhosvosfodam]

I want a guitar like this so bad. But they're so expensive T_T

[LuisMarad0na]

I feel it under my skin !

nice guit

[lezdeep]

i love this sound

[plattform5163]

Thanks for sharing great video!

[popoaggie]

You can bring that National and fish out of my pirogue anytime. Nice stuff.

[dbuschhorn]

My first grade teacher's name was Mrs. Houpt. That was Severna Park, MD... any relation?

Incidentally, I'm 40 :)

[Bluessontlavie]

Excellent!!!! Makes me want to sip some JD.

[andyschoi]

.Is this a n original tricone or a reproduction? good work

[houpts]

This tricone was made by the National Resophonic Company in California, USA, in 2005.

[stevehoughton]

Excellent playing.

Hello from Australia.

[steveracer16]

The richness and pace of your playing is refreshing. It takes me back to when I was a poor black child giggign frogs and catching crawdad with my Grampappy back in Natches, Missisip.

Keep posting videos. Maybe, do a short lesson?

[stinkybeefs]

How do you go about learning slide guitar? I've sort of learned roll and tumble blues but what's the next step?

[order57]

Great!

Greets from Italy.

[drakoff]

just fucxkin awesome. very proficient demonstration of the style and sound. are those miss delta blues usually played on a slide as you do?

[QuanYin71]

Thanks for sharing this !

Sounds awesome

Makes me want to get back and try it for myself again .

Thanks again !

[83king]

how much is a guitar like this???????????

[houpts]

Unfortunately, this guitar costs about $2800 new. You might be able to find a used one for about $2100. I paid $2500 new for mine a few years ago. In retrospect, I think it was money very well spent.

[Sierrafox17]

yeah but 83king could easily buy a different brand for much less. for example, on ebay right now they have a guitar just like this for 500, i think it may be a johnson they dont say, but it is deffinetly a modern tricone resonator like the one you have here (although not as nice as a national version im sure)

[houpts]

I've tried Johnsons and they do not sound good

[TTmaniax]

Regal Tricones can be hit and miss, but they are reasonably priced.

If you try one out and it has less volume than a regular acoustic, pass on it. A good regal will be almost indistinguishable from a real National tricone.

Regal makes a pretty decent spider bridge model as well.

[houpts]

Older regals were made in the Czech Republic. They were sometimes alright. Newer ones are made in China I think. All the Regals I have heard sound thin. I have never heard a Regal that sounded anywhere near as good as a National.

[TTmaniax]

I have a national tricone, built in 1997. It's a dang sweet guitar.

The regal tricones can be good, but I have tried some really horrible versions. I just don't like the neck, they aren't as wide, and some of the more minor features, such as the mesh over the cones is kind of cheap.

I guess I've tried out some decent Regals.

If you'll notice, old national spider bridges were plywood. New regals have real wood.

You make the call, dwog.:)

[83king]

great man

[vegaspower]

Awesome!

[54spiritedwill54]

Very cool bro!

[crackasncheese]

mr. houpt you're awesome!! see you in physics in 2 years if dr. kenyon puts me in your class

[FraJa1980]

That is one very loud guitar!!! :P Those tri-cones sure do have quite a vollume!

Very very very Nice Mr Houbt.

[ZombieGuitarPlaya]

Sounds like Amazing Grace and crossroads together :)

And are you using the drop tune a? kind of sounds like it.

[houpts]

open d.

[ZombieGuitarPlaya]

I was very close and I'm still training my ear :)

[rabdule]

I love your national. great tone.love the glass slide. what year was it made? I have a regal tricone, and play with a glass slide also. my regal has more of a "junkie" sound , which is cool. but I love the smooth sound of a national. you definetly pay alot more money for that smooth sound, but the junkie sound is all I can afford right now. Great Playing man. keep it up. Peace....

[FryingSwampHead]

I like it so much. I'd like to watch your video more..

[noctemIV]

i have one question what's the difference between a tricone and a dobro¿?

[jessupar]

i believe a tricone has 3 Cones in it instead of just the 1. not 100% sure though.

[houpts]

True. A tricone has three cones connected by an aluminum T-bridge. A Dobro has one cone with a spider bridge.

[8ptleading]

Yessiree. Right there. That's the stuff.

[rickstrodder]

Oh yes... that's the magic right there.

Medicine for what ails you

[tordek1265]

What guitar is that?

[houpts]

National tricone

[joseph60611]

what gauge strings do you use?

[houpts]

heavy- 16, 18, 27, 39, 49, 59

[Ethan2Rock]

Love the Gat, you rock, thanks for the music. Ethan2Rock 5 *****

[ib2fast]

Nice job. Awesome guitar. 5tarz

[Comuna]

great!!!

[primeq]

how long have you been playing guitar overall? I saw your comment about playing slide for about 4 years, & the Brozman DVD's.

Curious about the road I'll have to take to reach more or less where you're at. I'd be happy to get even 1/2 way there actually

[houpts]

I've been playing guitar overall for about 40 years, but I definitely am better at slide guitar and open tunings than at all the rest. Slide feels natural to me, opens easy areas of emotional expression.

[primeq]

you might just have inspired me to buy a steel guitar. . . . . Very much enjoyed your playing.

[madmethod2]

Brilliant. This is why as a guitar player I love You Tube, you have access to all kinds of cool bands and musicians. This inspires me to learn some blues. How long did it take you to master this?

[houpts]

I think I've been playing slide guitar for about four years. I learned a lot from the Bob Brozman instructional DVD's. Also helps to have a great guitar and a great slide, and great strings (National tricone, Diamond bottleneck, Newtone National heavy phosphor bronze). Thanks for the feedback. Got a long way to go though.

[bryanswagerty]

That bit between :30 and :45 - haunting. I love it!

[imageoptical]

absolutely fantastic !

I would give anything for your gift !

[Vigga2006]

Always love when people play the blues on such beautiful guitars... my question is: what tunning are you on that song houpts? thanks

[houpts]

Thanks. open D

[sirob83600]

BLUES ON!!!!!

[jrd1976]

Very cool bro!

[SaltyTank07]

gotta love a singing tricone

[larryguitar54]

Oh yeah! Good stuff. That's what I'm talking about...

[Chrisleeoctaves]

Man can that national ever ring.Nice work

[NYCPulpHero]

ahhhh... sitting on the front porch on a nice cool day, drinking coffee and watching the world go by. just the right song

[utahdonnie]

well done sir, keep that instrument alive...long live the south.

[iriemogley]

long live

[aallppiinnee]

I watched this video months ago, and today I feel it in my bones all over again.

Fantastic.

[jackn1969]

Lovely and very relaxing to listen to, that tricone of yours is so sweet, 5/5.

[hhomar27]

It's not the blues if you don't sing.

[houpts]

I guess I'm afraid my singing would give you the blues. This may change someday, but right now I'm letting my guitar do the singing.

[LordOFtheFretboard]

listen to ol' blind willie johnson :) you dont have to have a "good" voice to sing the blues. As long as the emotion is there sing away.

[willieturnip]

you liar!

[iriemogley]

yes it is

[MrBarzini]

This brings back alot of good memories of my Old man, good job!

[LocoPCtheoneandonly]

SMOOTH LIKE BUTTER POPS!!!

wish I could learn this style too

check my classical guitar posted videos if you wish

Peace!

[endofdays5767]

nice sounding instrument

[oddgoblin]

Truly soulful stuff, my friend! Superb.

[pimpslap1256]

awesome. Thats a gorgeous guitar. Ive wanted a one of them for years, but cant find any ANYWHERE.

[theSouliLLUSION]

Not to take anything away from your playing but this guitar sounds AWSOME! Must have payed a few bucks for it.

[carlguage]

Great stuff! Is that standard tunig??

[mouthtrumpet]

open D

[houpts]

It is in fact open D tuning. I also sometimes like to tune the whole guitar down a half step from open D to open C#. Remember that I have very heavy strings on the guitar too. 16-59

[frankeesh]

really nice stuff there.Beautiful guitar.I got a cheap fender resonator I try to make work.I like the tuning down to c# idea.Thanks for your music

[cgcgce]

Your guitar sounds HUGE!... thats it I'm buying a Tricone over a Delphi

[Russ3ll23]

I like the music that comes out of 'The National Tricone'. I just love it.

[runhometoyou]

damn, that national has a HUGE sound. It sounds amazing. cheers!

[axe600]

Beautiful sir, why isnt this guy famous?]#

congradulations!

[gabrielnyc]

truly amazing. FAR better than that R&B shit nowadays.

[dreamtheater21]

Sounds like a very cool eclectic mix of delta blues combined with a joni mitchell-esque vibe...nice duality...VERY COOL

[ulli61]

Wonderful playing, wonderful guitar. What a sound!

[elderwood111]

sounds real mississippi

[BrettMarvin]

Nice!!!

[SOUNDBOXER]

what a lovely sound

[lisakaymckinney]

Impressive!

[dionsansoucie]

GOT SOUL?  YES YOU DO

[gabrielnyc]

he IS soul

[undeadspacehippi]

Mr Houpt - hats off to you sir.

Beautiful instrument and music.

[psychonaut33]

Love the sound. Good playing i love it

[mbtemlett]

great slides nice tones...reminds me of North Carolina

[troubadourhunter]

Fat sound! Those strings look pretty thick....Must be hard on your fingers. Nice feel man. ;)

[spykerider]

i want a tricone now =]

you're awesome

[basserase]

Cool sound; Unique in sounding both modern and traditional in style. I could picture both Robert Johnson and Jerry Douglas as I listened. Exceptional.

[bingefeller]

Beautiful playing, man.

[aallppiinnee]

Brilliant.

[resoblues]

Really really nice!

[intoobscurity]

blues isnt normally my thing, but that was mint! i wish my gat had such tone :D

[yehan44bro]

that sounds like a sitar in india ..lol..good luck..

[Robkat3751]

That does not sound like a sitar. You better listen to a sitar then come back and listen to this beautiful national playing delta blues

[sirswedishmike]

beautiful sound!

[nickybux]

nice

[banjopaolo]

great playing! join the resophonic guitar group!

[joyfullnoise]

Fantastic playing, sweet style, I love it, great stuff.

[BottleneckJohn]

Wonderful tone!!

[houpts]

Thanks, John. That's something I've really worked on. I'm using Newtone Michael Messer heavy National strings and a Diamond Bottleneck slide.

[Swinginforthefences]

Very nice. Thanks for posting it Stephen. Hopefully more in the future (hint :-)

Going to listen to your others now.

Thanks again.

[guena56]

good playing and amazing sound.That's a beautiful National, I'd like to have the same one.Thank you Stephen.

[blackdiamond8888]

sweet vid yo!