National Model 1155 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1947)
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Item #6313
National Model 1155 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1947), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst lacquer finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This very interesting guitar is a result of the intertwining of Gibson and National/Valco with the CMI (Chicago Musical Instrument) distribution empire in the 1940's and '50's. The Valco company (owners of the National brand) didn't have a high-grade wood shop, so a deal was struck that they would purchase Gibson-made bodies "in the white" (unfinished) for some of their better instruments and fit them out with National necks and hardware. This Model 1155 is built on a Gibson J-45 body fitted with an early and unusual wooden neck that pre-dates the wood-and-metal National "Stylist" neck that was typically used on these National branded guitars. The pickguard is thick translucent tortoise celluloid, and the rosewood bridge is blockier and slightly thicker than the Gibson version. The tuners are Wartime strip Klusons with riveted gears.
The shaded finish is lighter and more subtle than the typical period Gibson sunburst, with a slightly greenish cast. The mahogany neck is actually a bit thinner than Gibson's 1947 "Louisville Slugger" style with a round "C" profile, the headstock is plain mahogany with no veneer and has an embossed/enameled silver metal "National" logo plate pinned on. At the time this particular guitar was built the arrangement between Gibson and National was just beginning, and Valco had not yet developed the bolt-on "Stylist" neck that would become their trademark. This first version of the Model 1155 was actually cataloged briefly as the N-66 (only in 1947) and is an extremely rare guitar; the 1155 with the bolt-on neck is fairly common but this fully-heeled dovetail-neck guitar was available for a 2-year period at most. This is a great-sounding guitar with more "bite" than the typical '47 era J-45, a bit less warm woodiness but an almost archtop response in the high end. As the older J-45's become ever more costly these "half Gibson" Nationals look better and better!
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 13/16 in. (12.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This guitar is all original with no alterations except for a very clean pro neckset and what appears to be a very correct refret with the period gague wire. There is some general wear to the finish overall, with some heavier spots on the back and a decent amount of flaking to the back of the neck. There are two repaired back cracks off the bottom edge, and the headstock wing piece on the bass side has a small repaired seperation running up to the low E tuner. The guitar plays extremely well, with a big sound in the same range as its Gibson-branded brothers with perhaps a little tighter response. A very interesting and rare J-45 variant, seldom seen in this early version. Excellent - Condition.
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This very interesting guitar is a result of the intertwining of Gibson and National/Valco with the CMI (Chicago Musical Instrument) distribution empire in the 1940's and '50's. The Valco company (owners of the National brand) didn't have a high-grade wood shop, so a deal was struck that they would purchase Gibson-made bodies "in the white" (unfinished) for some of their better instruments and fit them out with National necks and hardware. This Model 1155 is built on a Gibson J-45 body fitted with an early and unusual wooden neck that pre-dates the wood-and-metal National "Stylist" neck that was typically used on these National branded guitars. The pickguard is thick translucent tortoise celluloid, and the rosewood bridge is blockier and slightly thicker than the Gibson version. The tuners are Wartime strip Klusons with riveted gears.
The shaded finish is lighter and more subtle than the typical period Gibson sunburst, with a slightly greenish cast. The mahogany neck is actually a bit thinner than Gibson's 1947 "Louisville Slugger" style with a round "C" profile, the headstock is plain mahogany with no veneer and has an embossed/enameled silver metal "National" logo plate pinned on. At the time this particular guitar was built the arrangement between Gibson and National was just beginning, and Valco had not yet developed the bolt-on "Stylist" neck that would become their trademark. This first version of the Model 1155 was actually cataloged briefly as the N-66 (only in 1947) and is an extremely rare guitar; the 1155 with the bolt-on neck is fairly common but this fully-heeled dovetail-neck guitar was available for a 2-year period at most. This is a great-sounding guitar with more "bite" than the typical '47 era J-45, a bit less warm woodiness but an almost archtop response in the high end. As the older J-45's become ever more costly these "half Gibson" Nationals look better and better!
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 13/16 in. (12.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This guitar is all original with no alterations except for a very clean pro neckset and what appears to be a very correct refret with the period gague wire. There is some general wear to the finish overall, with some heavier spots on the back and a decent amount of flaking to the back of the neck. There are two repaired back cracks off the bottom edge, and the headstock wing piece on the bass side has a small repaired seperation running up to the low E tuner. The guitar plays extremely well, with a big sound in the same range as its Gibson-branded brothers with perhaps a little tighter response. A very interesting and rare J-45 variant, seldom seen in this early version. Excellent - Condition.
