Thanks Kenni! We're lucky that we have a full studio and a pro audio department. All these clips are recorded without any processing, though, to give as fair a representation of the sound of the guitars as possible.
Great playing, great comparison, thanks! To me the single cone sounds more like an old blues record, and the tricone sounds more balanced and modern in some way.
Good video. Thanks for this. Some of the comments are pretty ignorant, but I suppose that’s the nature of RUclips. Actual players appreciate your work. Thanks again.
@@Tman53535 Bravo to you for researching comments. I do the same thing too. Oddly enough, my resonator doesn't get played, but serves as an artistic inspiration. I also didn't know the scale was shorter on mine when I bought it. I'm just an electric guitar guy.
The problem I have is the price of National guitars. Back when blues was invented, and no matter what style was played, there was nothing about financing a guitar. How is it, that a $5 guitar purchased from Sears & Roebuck back then had a sound that only the best of pickers can only hope to reproduce now. It’s like Harley Davidson, you can keep pumping out a product that most people can’t afford, or give customers options. Sometimes it’s the beat up piece of crap that gives the music its true soul.
didnt want to spend the money on National reso , not to mention they are not exactly easily available either ; so got myself the Recording King nickel plated bell brass tricone and a Republic nickel plated bell brass biscuit cone parlor reso - both are awesome enough for me ❕🐊 🐸🍀
The one thing he did not mention was how heavy they are. I have the metal body tricone baritone and it is a beast! It is best played in a seated position. I heard that Bonnie Rait returned her tricone to National because it was too heavy for her to handle. I also own a vintage Dobro with a single cone and, while also a bit heavy, it is at least manageable. My recommendation is try the wooden body National tricone before committing to the metal body. The sound is just as fantastic, but it is way more comfortable to play.
Dobro and National are both brand names for Resonator Guitars . There is a lot of interesting history from back in the day of who strarted as partners , bad blood over allegedly stealing a Patent , splitting off to form competing company, the spinoff company then buying out the original . At various times during the 1930's they both made a variety of styles ( plus Dobro's subcontractor releasing variants under their own name . But their are generalities and cliches . Nationals are thought of as metal bodies , with ( single ) Biscuit Cones far outnumbering Tri-Cones , primarily because of price during the Depression . Dobro is primarily known for wood bodies, and Spider Cones . All models of both brands were offered with choice of round or square necks in pre-war days . Dobros were common both ways , Nationals most often roundneck . It is subjective which flavor sounds better , and/ or which original tones you wish to emulate . But I will observe the Spider has the fullest, sweetest tone, and longest sustain .
I think the better comparison would have been a true single cone vs Tricone as the grill chages the single cone sound and gives it a bit of the tricone sound.
Damn all those demos are only slide or fingerpicking, wtf!? Can you strum some 9th or 6/9th chords in swing style once in a while? Not everybody is playing country blues shit ya know! lol
The single come sounded louder and clearer. Both sounded great, the one with three cones sounded mellow. Thank you!
These videos are awesome. I would love to hear 12 and 6 string resonators side by side. Either tricone and/or single cone.
Finally! a comparison using a REAL microphone.... thanx
Thanks Kenni! We're lucky that we have a full studio and a pro audio department. All these clips are recorded without any processing, though, to give as fair a representation of the sound of the guitars as possible.
The single cones have an almost banjo like honk that we associate with resonators, but tricones have a more balanced sound and more sustain.
Hahahah the look of concern on his face when he said: well the ideal thing would be to have all three. I felt every word as if I said it myself
My 1936 Dobro M-47 has a Single-cone, Spider Bridge and sounds amazing!
I’d love to know the story about that one. I can’t imagine where that guitar has been and who has played it.
Both guitars sound good, and you are a GREAT player!
Great playing, great comparison, thanks! To me the single cone sounds more like an old blues record, and the tricone sounds more balanced and modern in some way.
Good video. Thanks for this. Some of the comments are pretty ignorant, but I suppose that’s the nature of RUclips. Actual players appreciate your work. Thanks again.
@@Tman53535 Bravo to you for researching comments. I do the same thing too. Oddly enough, my resonator doesn't get played, but serves as an artistic inspiration. I also didn't know the scale was shorter on mine when I bought it. I'm just an electric guitar guy.
thank you for sharing ! awesome!
I perfer the Tricone for slide
They both sound lovely. The only possible playability issue I see is the ability to palm mute on the tri-cone.
The problem I have is the price of National guitars. Back when blues was invented, and no matter what style was played, there was nothing about financing a guitar. How is it, that a $5 guitar purchased from Sears & Roebuck back then had a sound that only the best of pickers can only hope to reproduce now. It’s like Harley Davidson, you can keep pumping out a product that most people can’t afford, or give customers options. Sometimes it’s the beat up piece of crap that gives the music its true soul.
Well put.
Spot on!
didnt want to spend the money on National reso , not to mention they are not exactly easily available either ; so got myself the Recording King nickel plated bell brass tricone and a Republic nickel plated bell brass biscuit cone parlor reso - both are awesome enough for me ❕🐊 🐸🍀
I wish fit on ASPRI-Inspring wich is reverb spring, please show us would be moore interesting
That's some sweet pickin'! I'm positive you'd make any guitar sound good.
Thanks for the positive feedback!
The one thing he did not mention was how heavy they are. I have the metal body tricone baritone and it is a beast! It is best played in a seated position. I heard that Bonnie Rait returned her tricone to National because it was too heavy for her to handle. I also own a vintage Dobro with a single cone and, while also a bit heavy, it is at least manageable. My recommendation is try the wooden body National tricone before committing to the metal body. The sound is just as fantastic, but it is way more comfortable to play.
This man speaks the truth. My metal body guitar is beautiful but it’s too darn heavy.
hey what tuning is that at 3;00? and was that just improvised it was awesome
I think it’s E B E G# B E
So is a dobro a brand name for a national ?
Dobro and National are both brand names for Resonator Guitars . There is a lot of interesting history from back in the day of who strarted as partners , bad blood over allegedly stealing a Patent , splitting off to form competing company, the spinoff company then buying out the original . At various times during the 1930's they both made a variety of styles ( plus Dobro's subcontractor releasing variants under their own name . But their are generalities and cliches .
Nationals are thought of as metal bodies , with ( single ) Biscuit Cones far outnumbering Tri-Cones , primarily because of price during the Depression .
Dobro is primarily known for wood bodies, and Spider Cones .
All models of both brands were offered with choice of round or square necks in pre-war days . Dobros were common both ways , Nationals most often roundneck .
It is subjective which flavor sounds better , and/ or which original tones you wish to emulate . But I will observe the Spider has the fullest, sweetest tone, and longest sustain .
Filiana Blanxart Well spoken.
I think the better comparison would have been a true single cone vs Tricone as the grill chages the single cone sound and gives it a bit of the tricone sound.
Does anyone make a three cone electric-acoustic guitar?
mule does
I couldn't hear a serious difference in the sound. For nostalgic reasons I would give priority to a tricone.
Reso Rocket 4 eva!
Basic rule: shouldn't introduce demo by adding your own subjective bias in terms of the differences you hear. You defeat the purpose of comparison.
huh I was really expecting to like the tricone more
I thought the same thing. It was slight, but the difference would stand out more in person I would imagine.
@Deenie Beenie they make them everyday! They are more expensive due to cost of materials and well because they are more complex instruments
i think i prefer single
Wow... you spoke a lot but said nothing
Did you even pay attention?
You've got something in your ears??
buy vintage
So basicly singlecone is for people who know what they are doing and tricone is for people who are just getting started with blues/ slide
Like Tampa Red?
Damn all those demos are only slide or fingerpicking, wtf!? Can you strum some 9th or 6/9th chords in swing style once in a while? Not everybody is playing country blues shit ya know! lol