Metal-bodied National resonator guitars are among the most iconic and unique sounding stringed instruments ever made. Originally built in various configurations from 1926 to 1941, the instruments also provided the platform for the modern wooden-body dobro guitar. Today, the National Reso-Phonic company continues the legacy, building high-quality reissues of vintage models as well as contemporary creations of various resophonic guitar designs.

In this video, vintage National expert Marc Schoenberger (who runs nationalguitarrepairs.com) shows and discusses the second National guitar to ever be built, a square-neck Tricone prototype completed by John and Rudy Dopyera in 1926.

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