Shining Like A National Guitar
This dazzling display of vintage guitars, mandolins, and ukuleles showcases a selection of the 50 National instruments in the GRAMMY Museum’s permanent collection.
Starting in the 1920s, the National String Instrument Corporation developed unique acoustic resonator instruments featuring spun aluminum cones that created a louder sound before electric amplification was common and reliable. The National company built an amazingly varied and creative line of these instruments before World War II forced them to effectively cease production.
The folk revival of the 1960s saw a renewed interest in the resonator guitar, and since that time, the original instruments have been highly sought after by discerning players. Blues artists such as Tampa Red, Son House, Bukka White, and, more recently, Taj Mahal, Johnny Winter, and Mark Knopfler have all used National instruments extensively in recording and performance.
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