Nationals

[Plankspanker]

I picked up this one recently, it's a nice clean one with the biggest neck I've ever come across on a National. I need to locate a set of strip tuners for it.

http://www.lilypix.com/photos/showalbum.php?aid=1419&uuid=16

[lyles]

Originally posted by Plankspanker
I picked up this one recently, it's a nice clean one with the biggest neck I've ever come across on a National. I need to locate a set of strip tuners for it.

http://www.lilypix.com/photos/showalbum.php?aid=1419&uuid=16


:60burst WOW ! Very Nice.

It looks like you were set up outdoors, were you playing somewhere?

[GuitarG]

That's nice Plankspanker. Is that a 14 fret Style O? I haven't seen many of those.
Congratulations. That is a great piece you got there.
What tuning are you using with it?

[Plankspanker]

It's a late 30s or early '40s Style 0 14 fret. The most common ones are the 12 fret models, which came with several different etching variations. You don't come across this particular model with the etching on the side of the guitar. Most of this model came with pickguards, which deteriorated over time and the fumes permanently tarnished the nickle plating. Rockin Robin has a good example of one with the pickguard traces.

Some folks detune their Nationals, although this one has a reinforced neck and can take the tension. There are strings out now for resonators that are easier on the neck in standard tuning.

The pic was from the seller. Usually outdoor shots work best for Nationals as they are tricky to photograph.

[style0]

Hey Plankspanker,

I've got a 1936 Style 0 roundneck, and mine has that huge V neck too(yours is a 1937-1947 model) . I guess with that much mass it ain't gonna twist or warp too easily. Mine plays great for slide and fingering, is all original, and has THE sound. I've got a 1929 Style 2 roundneck tricone too. It's cool, but it can't touch the Style 0 for mojo.

[lyles]

Originally posted by style0
Hey Plankspanker,

I've got a 1936 Style 0 roundneck, and mine has that huge V neck too(yours is a 1937-1947 model) . I guess with that much mass it ain't gonna twist or warp too easily. Mine plays great for slide and fingering, is all original, and has THE sound. I've got a 1929 Style 2 roundneck tricone too. It's cool, but it can't touch the Style 0 for mojo.


OK Style O, for those of us not familiar with Nationals how do you distinguish the year and the models? Is there a book or catalogue available that one could get that would have this information?

The web site is good for current information but I haven't been able to find too much else.

Thanks eh?

[style0]

Bob Brozeman's book has all the National info. It's great, and has some mouth watering color pictures in the middle. Kinda like guitar porn. Here's a web site with lots of great info too.
http://www.resocentre.com/

[Plankspanker]

That '29 Style 2 Tricone sounds interesting. I had a '28 Style 2.5
that I owned for many years and sold it for a good deal more than I paid for it. I still have a '30 Style 3 Spanish neck that I play occasionally.