Welcome to National Reso-Phonic Guitars, makers of the world’s finest resonators. Our dedicated crew of luthiers handcrafts each instrument in our San Luis Obispo, California shop.
National Guitars are world-renowned for their excellent craftsmanship and the powerful tone and self-amplified volume resonators were designed for back before electronic amplification.
In the late 1920s, Slovak-American immigrant John Dopyera invented the resonator guitar in Los Angeles, California at the urging of George Beauchamp who wanted a guitar loud enough to be played with a full orchestra. John created the first Tricone, and, together with his brothers, founded the National String Instrument Corporation, and went on to design a guitar they named the Dobro (DOpyera BROthers).
It was from John Dopyera himself that Don Young learned to build resonator guitars, from Hawaiian lapstyle to bottle-neck slide beloved for their bluesy, bluegrass tone. Together with McGregor Gaines, Don Young founded National Reso-Phonic Guitars in 1989. Don was the guitar guy while Mac was the design engineer. The two operated National Reso-Phonic Guitars out of Don’s Long Beach garage until they moved north to the Central Coast in 1990, where National has been ever since.
Current owner, Jason Workman, began at National in early 1996, honored to be building instruments whose lineage went right back to John Dopyera’s first resonators. Jason continues to feel that same honor daily, and is proud to carry on the production of National Guitars.
In the mid-oughts, under Don's tutelage, Jason began performing the final quality check of each instrument before it was nestled in its case and shipped off to an awaiting dealer and eventually the eager hands of a musician. Now Jason gratefully shares the expertise he has gained in his nearly 30 years at National with his team of nine dedicated employees.
Craig, head of design and development, has been with National Reso-Phonic Guitars for twenty-two years and runs the wood department. Shanon, office manager extraordinaire, has been making sure all our instruments get where they need to be for twenty-one years. Ryan, who first began at National a decade ago, is the assembly department supervisor and, together with Jason, orchestrates the restoration and repair of vintage Nationals and Dobros that come to the shop. Jim, fount of guitar information and resonator wisdom, performs the industry-leading setups Nationals are known for and has been with us for nearly twenty years. Willie handpaints and finishes every neck and wood-bodied instrument. Glenn frets and prepares necks, and Olivia buttons up guitars and preps metal parts for Ethan, who builds the metal bodies Nationals are famous for. The most recent addition to the crew, Jordan, at times accompanied by his young son, has been fitting each and every neck for the past three years. Amongst many other tasks, Jason does his best to support all their work, making sure they have the tools and supplies they need, performing mundane tasks like changing lightbulbs and sweeping floors, and continues the work he learned early on in his career at National: buffing bodies to the high shine many happy guitar players have delighted to see their reflection in through the years.
The same dedicated group that builds the world's best resonators also restores and repairs them. Contact repairs@nationalguitars.com to learn more or visit our Repairs and Vintage Restoration page.
Find a dealer near you by visiting our dealers page or visit our webstore to order a National directly.
Interested in becoming a dealer? Email natres@nationalguitars.com for more information.
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