National Reso-Phonic Guitars is a manufacturer of

resonator guitar A resonator guitar or resophonic guitar is an acoustic guitar that produces sound by conducting string vibrations through the bridge A bridge is a structure A structure is an arrangement and organization of interrelated elements in a ma ...

s and other resonator instruments including

resonator mandolin up300px, 1930 National Triolian resonator mandolin from Lowell Levinger's collectionA resonator mandolin or "resophonic mandolin" is a mandolin A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute ...

s, and

resonator ukulele A resonator ukulele or "resophonic ukulele" is a ukulele The ukulele ( ; from haw, ukulele , approximately ) is a member of the lute A lute ( or ) is any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavi ...

s.Products pricelist (2019)
on National guitars website Though the name, branding, and product line resemble the original

National String Instrument Corporation The National String Instrument Corporation was an American guitar company, that first formed to manufacture banjos and then the original resonator guitar A resonator guitar or resophonic guitar is an acoustic guitar that produces sound by ...

, this company bears no historical connection to the prior company.

History

The company was formed in 1989 by Don Young and McGregor Gaines in a Southern California garage. They began producing resonator guitars under the name "National Reso-Phonic Guitars". Since 1990, the factory has been located in

San Luis Obispo, California San Luis Obispo (; Spanish Spanish may refer to: * Items from or related to Spain , * gl, Reino de España, * oc, Reiaume d'Espanha, , , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , nati ...

. It currently produces over 600 instruments annually, offering more than 50 different models including Scheerhorn guitars. The company also repairs and restores vintage National instruments. National Reso-Phonic Guitars is currently owned by President/CEO Eric Smith and Vice President Jason Workman.

Products

National Reso-Phonic Guitars model range includes not only the ''tricone'' and ''biscuit'' mechanisms used on the original

National National may refer to: Common uses * Nation A nation is a community of people formed on the basis of a common language, history, ethnicity, or a common culture, and, in many cases, a shared territory. A nation is more overtly political than an ...

instruments, but also the inverted cone design used on the

Dobro Dobro is an American brand A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for reco ...

Dobro

. National also builds and finishes small parts for other North American guitar and ukulele makers.

References

External links

Official website

at the

Bob Brozman Bob Brozman (March 8, 1954 – April 23, 2013) was an American guitarist and ethnomusicologist Ethnomusicology is the study of music from the cultural and social aspects of the people who make it. It encompasses distinct theoretical and me ...

official website Guitar manufacturing companies of the United States Manufacturing companies based in California Companies established in 1989 {{musical-instrument-company-stub