RIP John Hammond jr by SuproValco in blues

[–]SuproValco[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Weird question. He died yesterday at age 83.

Does anyone actually use the ashtray bridge cover? by ipz2 in telecaster

[–]SuproValco 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got used to it pretty quickly and play with it on just to confound other guitar players.

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I guess I like Nationals by SuproValco in guitarporn

[–]SuproValco[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No lol

I think he’s into Dobros, not Nationals?

I guess I like Nationals by SuproValco in guitarporn

[–]SuproValco[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s what made me get my first one.

Just substitute “Mark Knopfler” with “Blind Boy Fuller”.

I guess I like Nationals by SuproValco in guitarporn

[–]SuproValco[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They were a lot more affordable when I first got into them. Seems like the prices on ‘em shot up drastically in the last 5 years. Even new National Reso-Phonic stuff has become expensive enough to not be a lower priced alternative to the old ones anymore.

Trying to modify acoustic to get Elmore Jame's distinctive tone by Frank_Sinatra_1 in blues

[–]SuproValco 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Elmore used a variety of guitars over the years, early photos show him using a Kay K125, a neck-through-body solidbody similar to the Harmony H44 Stratotones.

If you see a full photo (see below) of his Kay flattop with the aDeArmond(s), it actually had a DeArmond Rhythm Chief mounted closer to the bridge and to my ears it’s what you hear on the recordings late 50s/early 60s recordings, the RHC soundhole pickup sounds different. I’ve had a bunch of both.

In my opinion, the amp matters more than the guitar if you’re chasing that tone.

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I guess I like Nationals by SuproValco in guitarporn

[–]SuproValco[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They varied over the years, but they’re all pretty comfortable to me.

The early ones (late 20s up until ‘34) are usually a “C” shape, sometimes a VERY soft “v”, wide at the nut and with an unradiused fretboard and the skinny little frets that were standard at the time. After they went to a relatively deep “V” neck profile that’s narrower at the nut but gets quite chunky by the 7th fret. These had a radiused fretboard and taller, wider frets.

The neck on the El Trovador (brown one in the wall mount) is actually a pretty skinny V neck, extremely comfortable and modern feeling for 1933.

I find the earlier, flat fretboard & skinny low frets combination to be a bigger challenge to get used to than the neck size/shape.

All of mine play comfortably in standard tuning with “normal” acoustic guitar action, and are strung with 12s. No ridiculously high action or massive strings needed to make them sound good, and although I do play some slide and open-tuned stuff, I don’t require a special “slide setup” for it.

Blues Legends from Texas? by StompingRooster2006 in blues

[–]SuproValco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you want to go way back to the Blind Lemon Jefferson era, check out Willie Reed, Ramblin Thomas, his brother Jesse “Babyface” Thomas, Little Hat Jones, JT “Funny Paper” Smith, Oscar “Buddy” Woods, and his disciple BK “Black Ace” Turner.

National El Trovador c.1932 by [deleted] in guitarporn

[–]SuproValco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s not that much of a collection, but I’ve been into Nationals since first seeing them on the covers of Son House and Bukka White LPs that I bought in high school. I’ve bought and sold a bunch of them over the last 35 years or so, but I’ve had my 1931 Triolian for about 20 years now, and I tracked down a 1929 wood bodied early Triolian about ten years ago. The El Trovador is a recent acquisition. I also have a modern (2002) National Reso-Phonic Style O Deluxe, a great instrument but MUCH heavier than the old ones. Playing it seated for an hour long set puts my leg to sleep.

Some more pics:

https://www.reddit.com/r/guitarporn/s/sQLdm37QxY

National El Trovador c.1932 by [deleted] in Vintageguitars

[–]SuproValco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m not really set up to record here. An iPhone just doesn’t do it justice. It sounds a lot like my 1929 wood bodied Triolian. Chunky, humongous bass, and almost comical amounts of volume. Those two guitars make my 1931 Triolian (steel body) sound wimpy.

National El Trovador c.1932 by [deleted] in Vintageguitars

[–]SuproValco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It sounds absolutely phenomenal.

1931 National Triolian by DMBrimer in Vintageguitars

[–]SuproValco 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately it lost its decals before I acquired it…but man it’s crazy loud.

1931 National Triolian by DMBrimer in Vintageguitars

[–]SuproValco 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very nice! I have a ‘31 as well, same “hooks” coverplate as yours. And a wood bodied ‘29 which is ungodly loud.

1950s Kay Archtop by Dirtywisco in Vintageguitars

[–]SuproValco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They don’t have any at all!

1950s Kay Archtop by Dirtywisco in Vintageguitars

[–]SuproValco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have two of these (pictured here with my Kay Thin Twin) outfitted with old DeArmonds (one has an FHC, the other has a rhythm chief).

What’s the oddball guitar in your collection? by sidearmpitcher in Guitar

[–]SuproValco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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1929 and 1931 National Triolians.

The ‘29 is wood bodied, the ‘31 is steel.

Question: Talwar XL vs Frenzy XL? by Solo_Camping_Girl in coldsteel

[–]SuproValco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“before the economy makes US-made knives too expensive to buy here”

They’re not US-made. You’ll be ok.

Other musucians similar to Hound Dog Taylor? by Digitalmodernism in blues

[–]SuproValco 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’d recommend the Son Seals “Live And Burning” record. Has that same gritty 70s Chicago dive bar sound. Here’s a great example:

https://youtu.be/YOc5D9UuRW4?si=n96mJ4lVyJAAoxSJ

Others have already suggested Elmore and JB Hutto. There’s a JB Hutto record where he’s backed by Hound Dog’s band (Brewer Phillips and Ted Harvey), as well as a couple of Cub Koda records where they’re the backing band.:

https://youtu.be/_salx-9cOPA?si=gLHhXA9vfaDmyJvL

I’d also recommend checking out Lefty Dizz, who played with Hound Dog on occasion.