National Triolian Model Resophonic Guitar (1932), made in Los Angeles, brown sunburst enamel finish, steel body, maple neck with ebonized fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
The Triolian was National's "bread and butter" guitar during the Depression, offering great sound and volume at the relatively modest price of $45.00. With the deluxe Tricone guitars selling for over $100 and the flashy brass-bodied Style 0 at $62.50, the fairly plain single-cone Triolian made the powerful National sound available to a much wider range of players.
Made of slightly better grade materials than the bottom-of-the-line Duolian, the Triolian was extremely popular among blues and hillbilly musicians and is still an excellent choice for many styles of playing.
This 1932 example is well-preserved in original condition, featuring a walnut enamel finished steel body with flat-cut f-holes, 12 fret maple neck with bound ebonized maple fingerboard, and ribbed steel coverplate. Sunburst Triolians were hand-sprayed so no two are exactly alike...this one has a darker-edged coverplate and larger light areas around the f-holes.
A great sounding and playing original old National, including the rare original case.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.).
All original including cone, biscuit, frets and tuners. Some light average playwear and some chipping to the finish on the coverplate and handrest and edges. Back finish nearly perfect, neck has light wear, some loss to top of decal.
Overall very well-preserved example. Excellent Condition.
