National Style 0 Model Resophonic Guitar (1931), made in Los Angeles, nickel plated finish, brass body, maple neck, hard shell case.
An interesting and fairly early National Style 0 with the unusual "hooked" coverplate used only for a short time in 1931. This guitar has a 12-fret brass body with flat-cut f-holes and the typical sandblasted Hawaiian scenes. The maple neck has a bound "ebonized" maple fingerboard. This is a good sounding single-cone National with an action suited for both finger or slide playing.
The experimental coverplate as seen on this guitar was a labor-saving attempt by National�it mounts with small recessed hooks and a single locking screw instead of multiple screws around the edge. While it apparently was not considered a success and was not used for very long, this example fits perfectly with no extra rattles or buzzes, and certainly makes accessing the cone a much easier proposition!
Overall length is 38 5/8 in. (98.1 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.).
All original except more recent correct cone and biscuit assembly. Has had a neck set, but original fingerboard, frets, and tuners are intact -- FB has one extra filled hole above the 12th fret. Plating is overall well-preserved except for some scratching to the back. Neck finish and decal have some chipping, but are fully original.
A nice gigging prewar National, including more recent hardshell case. Excellent Condition.
