Type Private Predecessor National Area served Worldwide Founded 1989 | Industry Musical instruments Headquarters USA Products Resonator guitars | |
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Founders Don Young, McGregor Gaines Profiles | ||
National Reso-Phonic Guitars is a manufacturer of resonator guitars and other resonator instruments including mandolins, ukuleles and 12 string guitars.
The company was formed in 1989 by Don Young and McGregor Gaines, in a Californian garage. They measured old resonator instruments of all makes and designs, and produced reproductions under the "National" brand name and trade mark, as originally used by the National String Instrument Corporation for the very first resonator instruments.
Since 1990, the factory has been located in San Luis Obispo, California. Their current production is over 1000 instruments per annum, representing more than 50 different models. In addition to manufacturing new instruments, they offer a repair service capable of restoring almost any vintage National guitar to original condition.
In 2008 Don Young and Eric Smith, an employee of the company since 1991, purchased McGregor Gaines' interest in the company. In 2012 Eric Smith became a 50% owner of National Reso-Phonic Guitars, Inc. then again in 2014 Eric Smith became sole owner after purchasing Don's remaining interest in the company. On Wednesday June 15, 2016 Don Young died in San Luis Obispo, California.
Products
National Reso-Phonic Guitars model range includes not only the tricone and biscuit mechanisms used on the original National instruments, but also the inverted cone design used on the Dobro.