1933/34 National Duolian resonator guitar!!

[hbvanengelsdorp]

Nice!!!



[barimayberry]

By the way I really enjoyed the guitar. Your blues groove is tight.

[barimayberry]

Jacksoncan I live in Texas and I would be interested in your National Resonator guitar however I do not know how to reach you in this forum. Kind of Sad.

[Voltage219]

This is very expensive guitar, but my dream is to have one of these someday.

[Jackscan123]

I have an 1934/5 National E-Series 7606.. It's just been sitting in it's original case for over 60 years. It looks fantastic and I've been trying to do some research on it to sell it. If someone that knows a lot about these beautiful instruments wants to contact me to maybe help me out, that would be greatly appreciated!

[mikeydudos]

i got an ozark res as a christmas gift from my lady.. no it ain`t the real thing.. no it ain`t worth tons of money but you know what? i love it.. and i play the tits off it.. nice playing by the way..

[HDenBlues]

REALY BEAUTYFUL !!!

I mean the Guitar...Sound...and playin'...

LIKE VERY MUCH ;-)))

Kurt

[HeavySig]

What an amazingly warm & sharp tone from that instrument. The notes seem to spring right out of it.

Love it.

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks man!!

I agree with you, there's a tone in the old ones that just can't be reproduced properly today..

The fact that the aluminum in the cone has aged does the trick I guess..?

I love it too!!!

[KINGSLIDEGUITAR]

I bought a 1931 triolian today at a antique show in florida,,, SN 1983W

[BottleneckJohn]

Congrats!!!!

[bluescountryfolk]

that is a great sound..

[caralhosvosfodam]

OMG I want one like this so bad.

Know any place where I can buy them *new*????

*don't know if they still being made or not.

[BottleneckJohn]

National stopped building these in the late 30's.. There are copies made today though that sound excellent!

The Texas based brand Republic have some fine models and also the US made NRP(National-Resophonic) are great guitars. So you can find new copies or buy "a real one" on eBay if you want..

Good luck!!!!

[caralhosvosfodam]

Thanks a lot. What a guitar. WOW.

[zandinjepoes]

@BottleneckJohn

I know the Nationals are pretty expensive. But do you think there's a chance finding a nice 30's dobro like this one for around 600/700,-? Or maybe a style O? I want one so bad...

[BottleneckJohn]

@zandinjepoes

A Regal made Dobro can be found for that amount, not a Style 0 though..

[zandinjepoes]

@BottleneckJohn

Alright so there is some hope of finding one vintage Regal Duolian? Hope I will find one on Ebay! Thanks for the info!

[BottleneckJohn]

@zandinjepoes

Duolian is a National model.. Search for Regal Dobro here on YT and you'll see which guitar I mean..

[zandinjepoes]

@BottleneckJohn

Ah okay, thanks a lot!

[retardedjoe12]

Hi john what strings are you using and what guage are they ,cheers,

[BottleneckJohn]

I can't remember the brand but it's 0.10's here!!

[jcwfnn2b]

Oh my gosh....

That has got to be the sweetest sounding guitar I have ever heard!

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks!!!

It sure is nice!!

[thmpick]

Hi John, I love this kind style of play. Are you in open D tuning? Do the tunes you played have a name? I enjoyed watching you play the Duolian very much, thanks for sharing.

Mike

Louisville, Ky.

USA

[BottleneckJohn]

Hey Mike!!

Thanks a lot for your comments, man!!

I can't remember what key this is in, I think it's E..

No particular songs, I'm just jammin' here, starting out with a blank mind, sometimes I think it turns out quite ok, like this clip, LoL!!

Thanks for watching this,

BJ

[AdventKingBand]

Hey can someone explain to me the sound difference between a steel string acoustic guitar, and a resonator guitar?

could the resonator be a substitute to a steel-string? for let say, contemporary acoustic songs?

[CanadianRednex]

thats sound sends shivers down my spin! I LOVE IT! i gotta get one of them resonators, i got an acoustic, so ill just try and learn some slide on that till i get good, then ill think about getting one!

Great playing to, how much did you buy the guitar for?

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks!!

And yes, the sound in these old reso's sure got the mojo..

I love this guitar!!

Take a look at Republic Guitars in Texas, their guitars are great and got a vintage sound..

I got this at a really, really good price some years ago, about half of what they usually cost.. :)

[FraJa1980]

Very very nice old guitar John! Old guitars have that special vibe thats more like a feeling than a tone, i have a few wood models (even a 12 string) dating back from the fifties trough the seventies and even though they's not as well built as new guitars and some a bit warped in the neck they sound great! Did you have to re-pitch this guitars neck? I saw it has no thruss rodd and imagine it would have warped a bit over the years.

[BottleneckJohn]

Yeah, I agree..

It's the "Mojo" they've got built in somehow..

The "mileage" and whatever life they've had over the years reflects in the sound they produce!!

This neck is slightly warped, but not too much, still playable and comfortable!!

[Redparrot5]

I was feelin it - five stars

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks, RedParrot!!!!

[KarloR27]

Bottleneck John I'm just wondering. I got a Johnson resonator guitar recently and I just call it a resonator but some people call them national guitar. Why's that? is there a difference in the way there made or is it the type cone they have in the body?

[BottleneckJohn]

I call them resonator guitars as well...

And that is the proper way to go, see, National is a brand name for one of the resonator manufacturers, the original one!!

"Dobro guitar" is also a often(and wrongly) used term to refer to any resonator guitar, Dobro was also a brand name..

It's like calling all cars a Volvo, haha!!

Resonator or resophonic guitars is the way to go, bro!!

[KarloR27]

Yeah I think it's a stupid name calling it a national. I said that to a guy in a music shop one day and he didn't know what national was. He said it's just a resonator guitar. I thinks it's better called a resonator then being called a national I think it's more sense in understanding what it is. I saw your types of resonators for a sound difference. I loved it my favourites were the national dulion resonator and the amitar resonator the one that has the sort of sitar sound. Thanks all the best.

[leeroy75]

Check out charlie parr 1922 and all related, he plays that resonator like ole time. This is the guitar that knopfler uses in romeo and juliette aint it?? Unique sound.

[longtoothslim]

Now you always play great stuff but this old beauty sounds sooooooooo  sweet !

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks a lot, Slim!!

Yeah, this is one fine guitar!!!

A "Mojo-machine"...

[birdmankustomz666]

how much different is playing one of these compared to playing a regular guitar?

[BottleneckJohn]

I'd say no different at all, apart from one thing though. Compared to a regular acoustic, these resonator instruments are more dynamic, their range of volume is awesome!!

Playability is the same..

[birdmankustomz666]

Thanks, I've got an acoustic and an electric and was trying to decide what to get next.

[BottleneckJohn]

I can highly recommend a reso!!

The bridge between the acoustic and electric sound.. Mechanically amplified is a good way to go!!!

[Aberrr]

Awesome video, is that by any chance the same guitar used in the movie Chocolat? (google for 'chocolat johnny depp' and you will find the triolian/duolian picture)

By the way, what is the diffrence between a duolian and triolian guitar? please PM me back as I do not receive e-mail about commentreplies.

[BottleneckJohn]

THANKS!!!

Yes, it's the same type of guitar as used in Chocolate.. (great film by the way!!)

[ibanezgeorge]

what's the last jam u play after u spin it around? it's really nice

[BoyCary]

Check how loud Easycow 1933 Duolian sounds. Just type in easycow Cheers John, Cary

[KariiKarKariiyo]

you rule.

[BottleneckJohn]

THANKS!!!! Happy you like this!!!

[joseph60611]

what string gauge do you use?

[BottleneckJohn]

Here I have some light 0.11's on I think, Don't want the nice original cone to collapse.. :)

[sirswedishmike]

wish I had this resonator, trade ya??? I do some unconventional stuff on my youtube profile on a resonator. check it out!

[virvelvinden]

grymt

[BottleneckJohn]

En grym gitarr, jag håller med dig!!

[AlexLococo]

are the common spanish guitars good for blues and contry?

[pgscut]

there no good for blues cos u cant realy use a slide on them,get a steel string guitar raise the bridge and put some heavy strings on and it'l be fine

[AlexLococo]

i'll try it

thanx! =D

[bassdudewill]

there fine man, its all bout how you play it dont go spendin truckloads of money for the sake of it

[eastsackevster]

nice! so i go look on ebay for prices, check out this one that sold for 2500 and it was a bidding war haha. man, sell my truck?

180186533170

[bluespower]

lovely tone,great slide!!! open e is my my fav tuning! have a koool yule my friend!!!

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks all!!!

Yeah, the Duolian is a nice old mojo-machine!

[lenaspieltblues]

Wonderful guitar, great sound, looks so pretty ...

Congratulation !!! I got burst with envy ;-)))

[bluesy13]

Great Playing and I Love That Guitar:)Sure Got That Mississippi Vibe Down Nice:)Long Live The Blues!!!!!!

RLR

[JohnpinkertonIV]

Dang!!! bad ass im starting to play like this now.........im not the best........when i first started i played all that distorted fast picking rock and stuff messing around............and now i play blues and country for real now and i like so much more

[deltablues4761]

I'm very envious Bottleneck John, one day soon God willing , I will own an original vintage National,loved this authentic blues.

Deltablues4761 Cheers,Dean

[BottleneckJohn]

Hey Dean!!

Thanks and I wish you the best of luck finding your own Duolian!!

It's out there waiting for you somewhere in an old barn, attic, garage or tool-shed!!

Post a clip here when you find it, bro..!!

[naughty00e]

Resonator guitars just make you feel good. Fine job. How is it for note accuracy and intonation?

[BottleneckJohn]

Yeah, resonating is a fine thing..!!

With a slide you can intonate as you want, using the fretboard, well, it could be better.. Quite bad actually, haha!!

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks a lot, folks!!

Mara, I have an idea to take all my resonator guitars and play them in a clip to compare sounds and features..!!

That'll be fun!

Soon..

[mara235]

I'll be here waiting for it to happen - would love to hear them all!

[mara235]

I love this - please post more

[xsgx321]

awesome playing awesome guitar!

[mara235]

This is sooo cool - I'd give a good part of my soul to play like this (and on that guitar!)

[jks2]

are those guitar realy from 1933?

[BottleneckJohn]

It sure is...!!

Twice as old as I am, haha!

[pakk82]

dont lie as if you are as young (joke intended)

thats a nice guitar and a player

[BottleneckJohn]

I'll keep it..

I just love this guitar!!!

I have 5 other reso-guitars and they are all by far better instruments than this Duolian..

But none comes close when it comes to the feel it gives when played..!!!!

It HAS got soul, the "mojo"..

[subtoxin]

I'm curious, what other reso-guitars do you have?

[BottleneckJohn]

Good question!

I'm just about to make a video showing all my reso's and compare sounds!!

Haha, will take me a few days but it could be interesting..

[CuzenicLionel]

yes, john....keep it! you know you want and need to keep it! i will never sell mine or else if i'm sick and near to death! it makes me happy everyday.

Lionel ;-)

[mcul2112]

Yeah, that is great stuff. Would like to have had it better lit so could see guitar better, but if dim light made ya play better - ferget it! lol.

Thanks for posting. And that 2nd part was especially beautiful.

[BottleneckJohn]

Haha.. Yeah, dim lighting..

Sorry about that!

The thing is, that this clip was made quick and just for the reason that I planned to sell this guitar a year ago or so...

But luckily I came to my senses and now I'd could never part with it!!!!

So there was no thought about light or a "professional" video here, just to make people see and hear the guitar..

And hey, it sure did find it's audience here on YouTube!!

THANKS ALL for checking the old Duolian out!!!!!

[mcul2112]

1. Glad you came to your senses.

2. Like i said - if dim light made ya play better....hey - sweet!

3. But if you're selling something using video - you do want decent lighting so people can see it well. We're not talking pro lighting here - just a decent watt bulb or daylight.

[BottleneckJohn]

You're right but I guess that it worked this time!! So many people have been in touch wanting to buy it.. :)

Another time I promise to use more and brither light!!!!!!

[mcul2112]

Could be pitch black...people'd still wanna buy a 1933 National Duolian. ;) Try imoondo - it's a decent sales site. But don't ever sell that thing...ever...

[BottleneckJohn]

It's a keeper...

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks a lot, y'all!!!!!!!

Appreciate that you're here watching my stuff!!

It sure is a cool instrument!

[Meta1Head91]

Nice resonator and nice slide guitar!

[ShalomYal]

I can only dream of playin like that!!

thanks for sharin

[adelinecrossbone]

wow this sounds just soo fucking awsome. *.*

damn! hell yeah :D

[zweeden]

nice guitar sounds goodXD

[JuanDeSoCal]

STARTING at about 2:30 and proceeding to the end, I meant to say :D

[BottleneckJohn]

Hey Juan!

Thanks for the nice comments!!

Well I don't do anything different after 02:30..

Only play some different stuff, maybe you like this better and therefore it sounds better to you..?!

Anyhow, happy you liked it!

[JuanDeSoCal]

Hi, I really liked this clip. Your sound seemed to change a little when you played the second time, at about 2:30. Those, I thought, were some sweet tones. Were you doing anything different than just before?

[harpo10]

That was fucking sweet

[ayavner]

Is that open C you are playing that in?

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks guys!!

I can't say which tuning it's in when this was filmed, surely open E or D though..!!

This guitar just pours out the mojo when played, haha!

[jayloden]

great stuff, does the mojo justice ;)

[snakehips81]

Hi there my friend !!

Sounding excellent there !!!

Really getting an authentic vibe there.

That Duolian sure sounds great too !

All the best,

Your pal from Edinburgh,

Richard.

[crazyak47guy]

is that resonator acoustic or eletric ur playing and how much was that one and where u get it please tell me

[BottleneckJohn]

Hey there!!

It's a mechanically amplified 1933 National Duolian resonator guitar, can usually be found in vintage guitar shops..!!

[bumbaclot77782]

BEAUTIFUL! great playing and beautiful guitar, the looks and sound are amazing

[BottleneckJohn]

Thank You very much!!! Happy that you like it!!

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks friends!!

[bluephil]

Thanks for the fingerstyle without picks...Sounds good to me...Your a slideman !!!

[elderwood111]

the old rusty blues sound love it bro

[alvadeamos10]

that thing you play at the end is simply awesome, it really impressed me... that last part is great, man, great, it's amazing, i wish i had invented it.. is it from a song, or did you make it up?¿ what is that scale u r using?¿ sounds perfect.. congratulations.. and greetings from argentina

[BottleneckJohn]

Alvadeamos, thanks a lot!!

Hmm, the last part is something inspired by Blind Willie Johnson/Ry Cooder I guess, nothing but a jam really..!!

I'm glad you like it!!

[natureswhey]

Beautiful!!

Real Nice guitar too

Kevin

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks!!!

Yeah, I agree, this guitar is niice..

[stewart73]

what kind of slide is that you're using. ceramic? painted steel? some strange glass?

[BottleneckJohn]

Hey Stewart, it's an "Ultimate Slide" from Diamond Slides in England.. It's glass..

In my opinion truly THE best slides around, hand made by skilled glass workers!

Check out the link I send to you in a PM..

You'll find more info on these slides here..

[BottleneckJohn]

Sure is great to have y'all here listening to my blues!!! Thanks as always!

There'll be some more clips showing this Duolian soon, gonna take it out in the Swedish summer and do some videos, LoL!!!

[tylerc208]

I love the line at 1:11.

[stewart73]

That is just the sickest sound....love it!

[Hawker920]

As the timbre of the guitar ages, the sound improves :) Hence why imported resonators never sound as good when first bought, they dont use aged wood... Few years tho and they will get that lovely sound.

[BottleneckJohn]

I agree, in this case, the metal ages too..

Give a Chinese made resonator 75 years and they might sound great too, LoL!!!!

[brent3234]

this is damn good

[digitalliance]

Now, thats the blues... Wicked and pure...

[EnTallrikPropaganda]

Jääävlar vilken fet gitarr! Är den din alltså?

[BottleneckJohn]

Haha, ja den är fet o go..

Och min, bara min!! :-)

[EnTallrikPropaganda]

Blir ingen försäljning som det står i videon alltså? ;)

[HillbillyJ]

How do you keep the lower notes from overpowering the higher melody lines? On banjo, we have a higher "drone" for a top string that we can fall back on.

[BottleneckJohn]

These guitars are very evenly balanced. Haven't really thought about it, I just play, LoL!!

[thegreenertons]

this is sweet

i'm jealous

[SFBA4me]

It looks, and sounds, like this guitar already has a home.

[BottleneckJohn]

Yeah, it sure has got a good home..!!

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks guys!!!

[nickdabsta]

Awesome.

[slideshowbob4]

Wow! that baby really screams!She sure is a cannon.Nice playin' as well Johan.take care

[lanearthur]

nice, you really make that duolian sing

[sirswedishmike]

that resonator sounds damn damn damn good. Shit, I wish I had enough money to buy one.

[BottleneckJohn]

I love the resonator sound too somewhere between acoustic and electric..!! LoL!

[Stevieboy130664]

Bought a new tanglewood metal bodied single cone for £300 6 months ago - now my main guitar - my electrics and my epiphone acoustic are all sidelined

[BottleneckJohn]

Tanglewood makes some good reso's! Much guitar for the money!!

[DrAntonPhibes]

Hey guy you should change name...

"The Amazing BottleneckJohn"...sounds perfect !!!

[BottleneckJohn]

Haha, yeah, well I'm happy you dig my stuff, doc!!

[houpts]

I've watched a number of your videos, and I like this one the best by far. Really shows off your playing without all the distractions. Excellent job. If you have not sold that duolian, you should keep it. Nice tone.

[BottleneckJohn]

Hey Houpts, I'll do more video's like this when time allows.. Thanks!

[grjls]

Where did you learned to play like that? can you give me somo tips for start playing that way? can you tell me some artist that play like that to download some music of them? thanks good playing

[fuxgood]

Do a search here for Fred McDowell. Not much video on him but he made many records. I Don't Play No Rock 'N' Roll is one my faves. Hey, great job BottleneckJohn. Those nationals are one of the most difficult guitars to play and you do a great job.

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks Fuxgood! Yeah, Mississippi Fred was a cool cat indeed, got some of his CDs too!

[BottleneckJohn]

Grjls, thanks for stopping by and listening!!

Well, I guess I have learned by watching my heroes play and trying to sound like them for starters..

Get yourself some CDs from Bukka White, Son House, Robert/Blind Willie/Tommy Johnson and tune your guitar in open tunings and just get going with the bottleneck stuff, man!!!

[fuxgood]

Good choices BottleneckJohn. Bukka was Muddy Waters cousin I think. What are you tuned to? I know G is a popular one but I like D and E myself.

[BottleneckJohn]

This is somewhere in the neighbourhood of D I think..

[fuxgood]

Fred used some kind of stepped down E I think. D is the one I know the best. Where did you find the schweeet guitar? Hard as hens teeth to find around these parts unless you want to pay a lot for it.

[BottleneckJohn]

Found it in Ohio on eBay, it was a real good deal!

I'd guess they're even harder to find over here in Sweden, maybe 10 or 15 in total in the whole country?!

I love the reso-sound!!!

[fuxgood]

I should have known....ebay. LOL So you're a player from the delta of Sweden. Europeans know more about Delta music than we do here in the US.

[rottenhubert]

B. B. King's cousin, actually. And one of the greatest to ever wield a National...

[BottleneckJohn]

Bukka was BB's uncle..

[fuxgood]

Yes, thats right on both accounts.... Got CRS these days. Can't remember shit....

[bulbish]

very cool!

[Azrael888]

I can certainly hear the Son House and Robert Johnson in influence sir! This is a nice piece in Open G

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks! Just foolin around here to show the guitar to potential buyers.. :) Played in open E..(I think)

[Azrael888]

Wow, I dont see a capo you tuned up?!

[BottleneckJohn]

Hmm, well, it's just the commonly used open E(or D) tuning..

I play just as often in G(or A) but here it seems it's in E! :)

[Azrael888]

K thanks John, fantastic playing

[Azrael888]

The blues breaking sounds just like Rory Gallagher's Too Much Alcohol

[csason]

i love old guitars..

is this still for sale ? how much USD ? great playing

[kmf1970]

Just checked out your website!! Very impressive & great blues!!

[BottleneckJohn]

kmf, I'v been planning on doin some video's like this one.. Soon!!! This one's actually done in order to try to sell this guitar back home in Sweden, but I sure am happy you dig it!!! :)

BJ

[kmf1970]

Could you post some more videos like this one!! - 5 Stars!!

[BottleneckJohn]

Thanks!!

Well, this is just a demo of my Duolian..!! LoL!

I'm thinking of parting from this amazing instrument... Sob.. :(

[BottleneckJohn]

Played without fingerpicks here, hence the smoother, mellower sound...