What's Taj playing here....

[Cougar]

A buddy asked me about the guitar Taj Mahal is playing in this photo. It looks like solid copper! Must be heavy! I certainly didn't know what it is, but figured maybe someone here might know?

 

[FNG]

Gotta be a National tricone.

 

[Cougar]

Well, that was quick! Thanks!

 

[FNG]

That was a guess, but from what I read, he plays a Recording King Tricone. So I could be wrong.

 

[spoox]

Republic makes a copper finish tricone--the head stock doesn't look right for either a National or a Recording King. In fact, the neck looks like a replacement--original National tricones, NRP Nationals, and even the Chinese made repros usually have bound fingerboards. The squared off
head stock looks more like one that would be on a single cone.

 

[shihan]

I think it’s a very old tri cone with the neck joint at he 12th fret. Finish is very worn, especially in the area where the hand comes in contact. But i could be totally wrong, too.

 

[ruedi]

The picture is from this webpage: https://www.wgbh.org/program/david-holts-state-of-music/taj-mahal

It's from a radio show in which "Blues legend Taj Mahal shares tunes and stories with host David Holt" (paywall). Might be a chance he talks about this guitar there? The picture can't be found anywhere else on the internet, which suggests that Taj showed up for the interview with his guitar. If that's the case, they definitely made it the subject of their interview.

Or am I going out on a limb?

 

[spoox]

An original National would have a German silver body, with nickel plating. Toward the end of the '30s a few had brass bodies, and even one model that was painted steel, but no original National tricones would have that neck. Check out the Notecannons website.

 

[ruedi]

Did a bit of research. I think it's a Recording King he played on Eric Clapton's Crossroads Music Festival 2013, during a gig wit Keb'Mo.



He stated in this interview here that he played a Recording King on this occasion:

Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ Team Up

The veteran bluesmen reveal why they broke the genre’s rules on their first studio collaboration, TajMo, while sharing resonator guitars, banjos, and electric workhorses along the way.

www.premierguitar.com

What do you think? I actually don't know too much about tricones, so my hypothesis needs peer review

 

[Bernie]

You must be right Ruedi...Well done !

 

[Cougar]

That looks like it alright! Thanks for your research, Ruedi!

 

[raincrow]

I am on several watchlists to get one of these limited run models. I am late to the Resonator party, and no one gives them up. It is a 2012 (maybe) a Recording King RM-991.

Recording King RM-991​

Resonators

Taj plays a Recording King tricone resonator during his performance with Keb' Mo' at the 2013 Crossroads Guitar Festival. During an interview with Premier Guitar he confirms, "The tricone I’m playing at that show is a Recording King." ...

from

Taj Mahal, Rising Sons Guitarist Gear | Equipboard

Taj Mahal's gear and equipment including the Epiphone Emperor Regent and 1930s National Duolian. Get the gear to sound like Taj Mahal and get their tone.

equipboard.com