National Triolian Model Resophonic Guitar (1932), made in Los Angeles, California, brown sunburst enamel finish, steel body, basswood neck with ebonized fingerboard.
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 very well-preserved in original condition featuring a walnut enamel finished steel body with flat-cut f-holes, 12 fret basswood 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 fairly dark coverplate and subtle shading around the f-holes. A spectacularly original old National.
Overall length is 38 7/8 in. (98.7 cm.), 14 1/8 in. (35.9 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 including cone, biscuit, frets, and tuners. Very light playwear -- some random chipping to the finish on the handrest, neck heel, and body edges. Back finish nearly perfect; top very clean, and only one tiny chip in decal. Overall one of the best-preserved examples we have seen recently. Excellent Condition.
