SOLD! National NRP B Series Resophonic Guitars

National NRP B Series guitars replicate the classic 1930’s single cone, metal bodied resophonic models, especially the Duolian, and often carry painted finishes on the steel bodies.

Steel body National Guitars are the loudest of the National Resophonic family of guitars. Brash, bright and clanky they are the epitome of the classic Delta Blues guitar. While not as sweet and complex sounding as the brass body guitars, steel body models would easily have filled a room back in the old days where musicians seeked out a living playing flop house bars – and been useful for self defense when things got out of hand!

Built like the originals, the straightforward NRP B models use thin steel for the body with a single 9.5 inch spun aluminum cone, Mahogany for the neck, and an unbound Ebony fingerboard. The headstock is slotted, increasing downbearing at the nut for better clarity and sustain on the open strings.

The National NRP B is available in 12 or 14 fret neck versions, and in painted finishes like Black Rust, the spectacular Galaxy Blue seen here, or a polished steel.

These guitars are sold with and ship in the original National arched top hard shell case.

Here is National describing the NRP B Series:

“The original Duolian arrived in 1930 as National’s basic steel-bodied, single-cone guitar and soon became famous for its musical sound. Our NRP B Series replicates the vintage Duolian — and these modern reissues surpass most old ones in quality, playability, and even tone. The thin-gauge steel body is period-correct, featuring flat-cut f-holes, traditional sieve resonator coverplate, and a formed back.

Still, no two NRP guitars are alike: The bodies are finished with a multi-stage, hand-textured finish for an individual look and semi-smooth surface profile that emulates the original Duolians. The mahogany neck with truss rod is capped by an unbound ebony fretboard complete with mother-of-pearl position markers. Vintage-style plain tuners, ebony nut, and “National” stamped into the slotted headstock complete the look of this classic.

But it’s the trademark sound that makes these guitars so special — almost like a ghostly evocation of the best vintage 1930s Duolian. The sound is powerful and loud, while still being deep and warm. Like the hallowed originals, the NRP is steeped in mojo.”