National Style 0 Model Resophonic Guitar (1930), made in Los Angeles, California, nickel plated finish, steel body; maple neck with ebonized maple fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a very early first-year example of the National Style O guitar, with a rare STEEL body instead of the far more common brass. This guitar differs from the later brass-bodied Style O in both look and sound. The slotted peghead is shaped to a more angular pattern, with the string slots cut square at the top. The nickel-plated tuners are stamped with "fleur-de-lis" pattern design and carry cream-colored plastic buttons. The maple neck has a grained, ivoroid-bound, flat radius, ebonized fingerboard with 7 mother-of-pearl position markers and 12 frets clear of the body. The neck and headstock have an unusual amount of flamey figure to the wood for a National.
The round shoulder body with flat cut f-holes is decorated in the "Variation One" scheme as catalogued by Brozman, with a profusion of clouds and stars in the moonlight Hawaiian sky of the back. There is a broad border on the cloud-and-palm front design, characteristic of the earlier guitars. The resonator cover is standard with small holes drilled in diamond patterns. The sound of this guitar is somewhat closer to the tone of a steel-bodied Triolian or Duolian than a typical brass Style O, and is perfect for fingerpicked blues and/or bottleneck playing.
Overall length is 33 1/4 in. (84.4 cm.), 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
Very nicely original guitar; some general overall wear, noticeable on fingerboard in particular. A good player and a nice example of a first-state Style O. Generally Excellent Condition.
