MIMF

Hi,

Looking to build my own National style O or Duolian type guitar. I've built wood biscuit bridge and spider (square neck) guitars before but want a metal one for personal use. Can't seem to get an answer from National as to whether I purchase the body only and have been scouring for either "ding and dented" or lost cause "for parts only" with no luck. Are any of you aware of any supply house that sells such an animal or an experienced metalsmith who has done and will do for reasonable price?

Thanks.

PS Sorry if wrong forum but it seemed best choice of what is available

Sheet metal and silver solder... works every time.

You could try your own hand at building from scratch. Some good information in the library in the guitar page 2 section, resonator instruments. This one is rather comprehensive already and there is more if you go look.

http://www.mimf.com/old-lib/paulick_build_tricone.htm by member Chris Paulick

At one time a few years back StewMac offered a single cone biscuit resonator kit. I have the old plans and instructions from that but never actually built one. I have serious doubts that NRP will sell you a reject body. Republic might since theirs are inports.

The other option of course it to build your own. There is a long running build thread currently at TDPRI and Chris's is legendary.

https://www.tdpri.com/threads/resonator ... e.1056249/

Stewart MacDonald used to have an article in Trade Secrets, Al Rorick's do it yourself resophonic guitar, a 20's wood bodied, Triolian inspired design. It is no longer posted in the Trade Secrets at Stew Mac but I Googled and found links. An alternative to a metal bodied build. There are 3 parts.

https://www.stewmac.com/video-and-ideas ... -the-body/

https://www.stewmac.com/video-and-ideas ... -the-neck/

https://www.stewmac.com/video-and-ideas ... -assembly/

You can certainly make your own from recycled metal, but you would need to be fairly well set up for metalwork, welding etc. Don Morrison is a guy in South Australia who makes great looking (and sounding) resonators out of old water tanks and roofing material. Great mojo.
http://www.donmo.com/Guitarsite/Guitars.html

If you search the old MIMF library there is a lot of great info from Chris Paulick and Mike Dotson on building your own body. Here is one link. https://www.mimf.com/old-lib/paulick_build_tricone.htm

Are you still looking to just buy a body?
I have a Tricone body with cutaway.
Actually have 2 that were built in that tutorial.
One plated and one not.