VINTAGE NATIONALS
Biggest National INVENTORY on the PLANET!
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, no questions asked!
Updated.... 3/23/2007
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!
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.
TRIOLIAN'S
Triolians were in effect the upper level steel bodied Nat. It came in several varieties....Polychrome (right) 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.
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.
EYE CANDY Rarest of Rare Lighting Bolt Style O/N
One of perhaps a dozen or so made, earliest sandblasted pattern before settling on the now familiar Hawaiian theme on Style O's. Amazing guitar, earliest metal bodied single cone. German silver body w tricone headstock, a dream guitar! One of the rarest if not the rarest National. VIEW
NOT FOR SALE!
Coming Soon
Rare 34 Style O w rolled F holes and chicken coverplate.
Originally a sq neck, stellar body is mated w a new National Resophonic duplicate neck. Mint original cone.
$3,800
Early Steel Bodied Nat in Awesome Condition!
Set up by Marc Schoenberger, this early steel bodies O is a monster! Early features, including squared of headstock slots, rare to find them nicely plated like this one. A great and collectable early O. Raw as they come!
$5,000 VIEW
Just In, Super Rare and Coooool!
B-Series Triolian
There were perhaps 100 or so B Series guitars made over a short period with this unique Duco Finish. This is a great playing example w a sildy smooth maple neck. All original, a great and rare find! $4,200 VIEW HOLD
Just In
1932 Triolian, huge Triolian sound.
Great action, set up beautifully, replaced ebony fingerboard plays like a new guitar. Original Cone, a great Nat.
Excellent condition!
$3,500 VIEW
Yet another, coming soon, sweet one owner 14 fret Style O
35 slotted headstock!
Pics to follow!
$4,200 VIEW
Just in Great Bang for the Buck!
1929 Triolian, refinished body, reset neck, dyed fingerboard, plays great and sounds fantastic.
$1,700 VIEW
Just In...
National Tenor Triolian
Great condition, Walnut burst, pics to follow....
$1,500
AMAZING one off Custom National
All KOA, RadioTone Bendaway
Custom ordered, only one of it's kind. Mint,
As new $1,995 VIEW
1931 Style O, Showroom Condition!
This is the nicest Style O I've ever seen. Minty condition, neck has been reset and guitar was set up by noted Nat luthier March Scoenberger, who stated it was one of the 3 nicest he had ever seen. Guitar is set up beautifully, plays like a dream. Solid 9.5! Amazing tiger striped grain in maple neck, super cool guitar.
VIEW....$5,500 On Consignment
Just In
Sweet 1940 style O w the outrageous Paddle Headstock.
Gorgeous final sandblast pattern w palm trees along the side
bouts, this O is in great condition. Very hard to find these last
rare examples of the final O's.
$4,800 VIEW
JUST IN!
National Resophonic Islander
Super rare, early 1 of 8 prototypes brought to their first NAMM show. Great condition, plays beautifully. Very cool guitar. Only 300 or so made total. Cory Harris played and owned one for years, as shown on several of his album covers.
$2,800
Just In 1932 Style O
Another super cool Style O in Great Condition. Beautiful plating,
all original, plays fantastic w a real straight neck and low action.
Original cone, great bark! A beauty!
$4,000 VIEW
Just Listed 3/23
31 Triolian, Walnut, 12 fret, Super Condition!
All original, gorgeous condition, low action w great neck angle, plays great up the neck. Cool hooks on coverplate, an early feature. Huge booming sound, one of the nicest I've had.
$3,800 VIEW
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! One is available.
1929 Wood Body Triolian.
Hula girl scene on back, all original.
Very early version w screen coverplate. Pics to follow.
36 Duolian 14 fret, Grey Duco, great playing Duo.
$3,500
EYE CANDY
Rare early Steel Bodied Style O, nice as they come!
Amazing condition, my guess is maybe 100 steel O's were made until they settled on Brass. Most are worked and rusty as steel does not plate well at all. This is one of the lucky ones. Enjoy!
Coming Soon
Super Rare Style N, 1934
Pics to follow....
1932 Style O
Excellent condition
Pics to follow.
$3,700
Coming Soon 2 to choose from.....
Duolian 14 fret, Piano Grain paint finish
Super cool Duo, undergoing rehab. Low play time,
super clean inside, gonna be really cool!
Coming Soon
31 Duolian Black Walnut Duco finish, very cool.
Just Completed!
Style 1 sq neck tricone, 1930!
Another beauty, just gone thru, stellar all original condition.
great example. One family, original case, original cones.
SOLD VIEW
Coming Soon
32 Duolian, Green Duco, stellar condition
12 fret body
Coming Soon
Exploding Palm Tree Tricone, super rare!
Pics to follow....