Why the Dobro on R&J ?

[richardmu]

Curious, what do you think the reason behind this change in the current tour? For me the Dobro sound is just not as good as the National Steel.

[dmg]

Weight to help strain on his back possibly.  He uses his heavier guitars (National) when seated where he can rest them on his lap.

[2manyguitars]

The action on the national was always quite harsh as well....

[Jasper90]

Weight to help strain on his back possibly.  He uses his heavier guitars (National) when seated where he can rest them on his lap.

I was thinking the same, these national style-O’s are pretty heavy, especially when you have back problems... Would that also be the reason to skip Telegraph Road as well? . He could play it again like before, then he only has to play it for 30 seconds and then switch to the Pensa . But unfortunately not going to happen ofcourse

[2manyguitars]

Weight to help strain on his back possibly.  He uses his heavier guitars (National) when seated where he can rest them on his lap.

I was thinking the same, these national style-O’s are pretty heavy, especially when you have back problems... Would that also be the reason to skip Telegraph Road as well? . He could play it again like before, then he only has to play it for 30 seconds and then switch to the Pensa . But unfortunately not going to happen ofcourse

Guys, from memory the LP will be slightly heavier than the national.

[Jasper90]

Weight to help strain on his back possibly.  He uses his heavier guitars (National) when seated where he can rest them on his lap.

I was thinking the same, these national style-O’s are pretty heavy, especially when you have back problems... Would that also be the reason to skip Telegraph Road as well? . He could play it again like before, then he only has to play it for 30 seconds and then switch to the Pensa . But unfortunately not going to happen ofcourse

Guys, from memory the LP will be slightly heavier than the national.

That I don’t know, could for sure be...I played the national ones and was suprised about the weight a little bit. But the LP I don’t know. So if that is the case, that theory dies.... But I have to say, I still love the National much better on R&J then the dobro. Both are nice, but the National has much more a clearer sound and beautiful tone

[Jules]

He plays quite a lot of songs standing with the Gibson les Paul which is very very heavy...

I think he told at the bbc piano room showcase that the national was deteriorated...

[neco]

Yes, the LP is a heavy guitar. I would guess it is around the same weight as the national so I don‘t think it is because of the weight, but who knows

[Jules]

It's not about the weight. MK has and uses more heavy guitars than the National.

According internet, the most heaviest National, weights 9 Lbs. Actually the National Style O weights 8. The Gibson Les Paul guitars weights between 9 and 12 Lbs.

MK plays most of the songs standing and with Les Paul guitars so, no, the weight is not the reason MK is not playing his National Style O anymore. I insist that he said in the BBC Piano room show that it has deteriorated and he doesn't wants to use them live anymore to avoid more harm.

It's not me who says it. It's Mark Knopfler.

[2manyguitars]

You've got to remember what a beast the national o is. No truss rod, big flat neck with no radius. I had hold of the replica model they released a few years back and even that with its modern construction techniques  was tough to play, so you can imagine the vice like left hand strength required to play the original.  Purely a matter of comfort I suspect.

[Silvertown]

You've got to remember what a beast the national o is. No truss rod, big flat neck with no radius. I had hold of the replica model they released a few years back and even that with its modern construction techniques  was tough to play, so you can imagine the vice like left hand strength required to play the original.  Purely a matter of comfort I suspect.

I think this is the reason. They are quite tough to play. It is easy to play a partly muted note insead of ringing one. At least as an amateur

[hunter]

I think it's just a matter of sonic quality. Mark simply prefers the sound of it for Romeo over the National.

[Jules]

You've got to remember what a beast the national o is. No truss rod, big flat neck with no radius. I had hold of the replica model they released a few years back and even that with its modern construction techniques  was tough to play, so you can imagine the vice like left hand strength required to play the original.  Purely a matter of comfort I suspect.

I think this is the reason. They are quite tough to play. It is easy to play a partly muted note insead of ringing one. At least as an amateur

Yes, he only needed a lot of tours with Dire Straits and a lot of solo tours to notice it wasn't comfort to play it.

I think it's just a matter of sonic quality. Mark simply prefers the sound of it for Romeo over the National.

Yes, it only took a lot of Dire Straits tours and a lot of solo tours to notice that

[Silvertown]

So do you believe that it is more about the condition of the instrument?

[dmg]

He plays quite a lot of songs standing with the Gibson les Paul which is very very heavy...

I think he told at the bbc piano room showcase that the national was deteriorated...

According to someone on Facebook it has very recently returned from restoration.  Didn't he have a replica made some years back or did I imagine that?