VINTAGE NATIONALS
Vintage Inventory
I personally inspect every National on our site. All issues are dealt with. You are buying a guitar that has already had the normal issues found on these 70+ yr old jewels addressed!
I personally guarantee all guitars we sell! ..
Updated - 7/20/2008
TRICONE'S / RARE NATIONAL'S
Tricones were made of german silver w a 3 pc. body construction. The three cones give it less volume but far more sustain than it's single cone brethren. Engraved tricones are very rare and collectable. Any Nat made of german silver is very desirable and sweet of tone! Slide players love tricones! They came w round and square necks. Square necks make great lap style guitars.
Style O's
Typically nickel plated brass bodies, but early models can be made of either brass, steel, or german silver.... or a combination of the three. Most after the first 600 or so tend to be consistent brass 2 pc. bodies. When National converted to a 14 fret guitar in late 34, they kept the same scale length and shortened the body height to achieve the two extra frets. They also switched to the chicken foot coverplate seen left.
TRIOLIAN'S
Triolians were in effect the upper level steel bodied Nat. It came in several varieties. Polychrome (left) w yellow/pea green and palm tree scene, a Walnut sunburst finish, or even a piano grain painted finish. It came w a bound maple neck and fretboard and engraved tuners like an O. Earliest were made of wood w floral scene then hula girl motif on the back, but quickly went to steel w the palm tree scene and setting sun seen left.
DUOLIAN'S
This seems to be the guitar everyone is after. This was a lower cost steel bodied Nat that typically came w an unbound mahogany neck and super cool Duco Frost finish in the following colors..... Grey, Green, Walnut, Brown, and Gold. By far most are grey or green. The earliest were Dark Walnut. These guys growl w an incredibly raw steel tone!
Beyond the above, there are several wood bodied models, including El Trovador, Trojan, Estralita, and Aragon. (El Trovador to the left)
There are many unlisted Nat's in the Nat Hospital, soon to be available. Ask if you don't see what you want, it may be days away from being ready.
NOW ARRIVING The Amazing DON!
Available NOW, only 100 to be made.
Amazing german silver 14 fretter, mahogany neck,
engraved wiggle border, heel cap, an amazing guitar!
Fantastic 1937 14 Fret Duolian
Great one family owned Duo w very light play wear. Straight neck, super clean example. Replaced decal. A great sounding and playing duolian. Duco finish is closer to gold, fingerboard and frets like new. Sweet duo w a huge sound.
HOLD VIEW
Super nice 1934-5 14 fret Triolian Walnut Sunburst.
Fantastic condition, straight neck, set up beautifully.
Amazing condition, plays and sounds great.
$3,600 VIEW
Wow, BAKIE Conversion....
Super cool 1930 Triolian w green palm tree scene. This was a bakelite necked Triolian in great shape. We decided to replace the warped bakelite neck w a super nice new neck tinted like the early ones. Add a beautiful maple fretboard that is unstained, and you get a gorgeous guitar that plays like new yet sounds like it should w it's original cone.
A great guitar that is beautiful to boot!
$3,200 VIEW
Now Available...
Worlds nicest 1933 original El Trovador!
Letting some of my favorites go, this is my pick of 8 El Trov's I've owned. One of the nicest you'll ever come across and a rare opportunity. Only a few hundred exist, and this one is fantastic. Reset neck, plays and sounds fantastic. Original case in minty shape.
$4,900 VIEW
Just In...
1935 National Style O
This had a square neck that someone amatuerishly rounded to play upright. I've replaced that silliness with a new Nat'l Resophonice duplicate slotted headstock maple neck and ebony fingerboard. This guitar plays like a new Nat w a gorgeous original body. Original neck included with it. New Nat'l hard case. I can't put this one down!
$3,500 VIEW
Bad to the Bone!
Super cool 1932 Sears Duolian w new mahogany neck (Duolian stamped) from Nat'l Reso. Original neck was damaged beyond reasonable repair. 5 group coverplate, flatcut f-holes. Best of both worlds, new radiused fretboard, adjustable truss rod, hot rod cone. This thing is a monster. Early dark duco finish. Looks cool and sounds great, I love this guitar! As raw as it gets!
$3,000 VIEW
Super rare 1928 large bodied Concert UKE!
Very early (21st made)
A National treasure, see it discussed in the BLOG here...
Pics to follow, new ebony bridge, call for full story!
Only +/- 80 made in concert size! VIEW $6,900
Available soon
Early National Mandolin w Screen Coverplate
pics and price to follow
Very Rare Gold Duco Duolian 1935
Fantastic no prefix serial number, mahogany neck
a great sounding and super rare Duolian. Mint cone.
From my personal stash....
VIEW Call for price
Gorgeous and rare National Reso Model 97.
Only 23 total made, only 17 in the painted body.
Super cool, block inlays, plays and sounds like
a great tricone should. Super condition. $3,900
Coming Soon....
1935 Duolian, green duco frost finish, plenty of wear
14 fretter, reset neck, new fingerboard.
pics to follow....
Super cool and rare 1932 Style N
Reset neck, new ebony fingerboard, plays like new, sounds
fantastic. Super hard to find, very few exist!
$7,500 VIEW
1934 Style O w rolled F holes
The 12 fret Holy grail of O's, this one is in amazing condition.
Neck feels like new, minimal wear, fantastic guitar.
Reset neck, original cone. Comes w new National case.
SOLD VIEW
1932 STYLE O
Very cool early model.
12 fretter, cool hooks on coverplate, low action, plays
fantastic. Refinished neck, sweet playing early O.
VIEW $3,200
1935 Duolian
Super nice Duolian, MINT grey duco body
new National Resophonic duplicate Mahogany neck, $300
waverly tuners. Plays like new, sounds like old, great guitar!
Set up by M Schoenberger...
VIEW $3,400
1936 Duolian 14 fretter, bunch of honest wear, all original.
Grey Duco, minty original cone.
Super cool looking, sounds fantastic $3,200
EYE CANDY!!!! TRICONE HEAVEN!!!!!
See a photo spread of two of our style 1 tricones, both in MINT shape.
Thought I'd cause some drooling out there! Both Sold.
Style O, 14 fret, Dire Straights headstock.
2 small side bout cracks repaired at National Resophonic.
Amazing full neck, great playing and sounding
Style O w all the mojo you could want! My
current go to guitar! Plays and sounds great.
SOLD VIEW
Early 1930 steel bodied Style O
Super cool O, big steel bodied sound. Sweet original cone.
Replaced tuners. One Italian family owned, see here!
$3,200 VIEW
Very Early Style O
Very nice early example,#460.
New ebony fingerboard.
Pics to follow... see the blog....
SOLD ...... EYE CANDY!
Amazing and rare, National Don!
14 fret single cone, german silver construction, fine mahogany neck w heel cap, wiggle border around body and pearloid headstock. I've only seen 3 in 10 years of collecting! Less than 175 total made, don't get much more rare than that! Just reset the neck, plays beautifully, and the tone!!!!
1940 Style O w Paddle Headstock, Palm Trees!
Very nice late model O 14 fretter. Super cool
paddle headstock, reset neck, and the later palm
trees on the side of the body. Super cool and hard
to find! Plays and sounds great!
VIEW SOLD
Coming soon, 1934 14 fret Duolian
Green duco, slotted headstock
lots of wear, very cool.
Set up by M Schoenberger
Very cool early Stella Banjolin
20's, plays and sounds great.
Great deal at $350.
