National Style 1 Tricone Model Resophonic Guitar (1932), made in Los Angeles, California, nickel plated finish, German silver body, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
One of the classic -- and most distinctive -- guitar designs of all time, the National Tricone is currently enjoying renewed respect and popularity. Widely considered the finest acoustic instrument ever created for slide playing, the roundneck "Spanish" Tricone is also an excellent and totally unique-sounding guitar for many other styles of play. The round neck Tricone is considerably rarer then the square neck "Hawaiian" variant and has long been sought after as the ultimate acoustic blues/slide guitar.
This particular Style 1 is from 1932, built when the Tricones were being heavily out-sold by National's newer (and much cheaper) single cone resonator designs. The Style 1 retailed for $125.00 in the early 1930's, a tremendous sum at the height of the Depression, so it's hardly surprising that relatively few were sold.
This guitar is an excellent playing example suitable for both open-tuned slide and regular Spanish play with the rich sound only Tricones can produce. The Style 1 with the unengraved body is the 'purest' example of National's Art Deco aesthetic, and mysteriously often seems to be the best-sounding as well, although there is no scientific reason why that should be!
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 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.).
A nicely original guitar including cones, T-bar, saddle, tailpiece, and tuners (installed in the reversed "modern" worm-over-cog position with replaced screws). Recent neckset, refret, and new nut ensure this is a great player. Some minor plating wear overall and blotchiness on the back, a few small dents and dings but generally a very nice example, with a fine original HSC. Excellent Condition.
