National Style 0 Model Resophonic Guitar (1931), made in Los Angeles, California, serial # S 2347, nickel plated finish, brass body, maple neck with ebonized maple fingerboard, black gig bag case.
This is an interesting and fairly early National Style 0 single-cone resonator guitar 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 originally showed typical sandblasted Hawaiian scenes. The maple neck has a bound "ebonized' maple fingerboard. 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 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.). This early Style 0 has seen some heavy use and reconditioning but remains an excellent player. The plated finish is still quite bright; the body appears to have been buffed and possibly replated long ago as the original sandblasted Hawaiian designs are only very faintly visible. There is a wear spot down to the brass on the coverplate in the usual spot. The neck finish has been polished out but not heavily oversprayed, the headstock is still original with some fairly heavy wear. There is a repaired crack to the bass side of the neck coming down from the headstock about 3", with a smaller mirror version on the treble side. This was not a full headstock break and is well sealed up but still visible. The National logo decal is mostly gone, and the tuners are 1960's Waverly strips, with a relic-y look but still in good working order. The nut is newer but the frets are still original and the fingerboard shows a lot of wear through the "ebonized" finish. The cone and biscuit are still original, the saddle is newer. Despite an apparently checquered history this is still a great sounding Style 0, set up for either standard or Delta style with the action at 4/32" at the 12th fret. A fine and funky gigging Style 0, ready to go. Very Good Condition.
