National Style 0 Resophonic Guitar (1936)
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Item # 10562
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National Style 0 Model Resophonic Guitar (1936), made in Los Angeles, serial # A-595, nickel plated finish, brass body, maple neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a slightly worn-in but fine sounding 14-fret Style O from the mid-1930s, a time when this classic National model had been someway modernized from its original design. It remained the brass-bodied single-cone guitar with rolled-edge f-holes, decorated and a decorative sandblasted pattern featuring double palm trees and numerous clouds in the starry sky. The main alteration is the sunburst-finished poplar neck was "modernized" to join the body at the 14th fret, instead of the 12th and gained a solid headstock.
The neck has a rather chunky profile with a deep soft "V" contour, finished in a red-black sunburst. The arched fingerboard has a 9-dot inlay pattern and grained ivoroid binding. Instead of the older decal there is an inset pearl celluloid piece engraved with the National logo on the headstock. The resonator coverplate is a later type typical of this period with small diamond cut-outs, nicknamed the "Chicken Feet" design by collectors.
This later Style 0 variant is often referred to as the "Dire Straits" model, due to use by Mark Knopfler in the 1980s and the iconic appearance of one on the band's "Brothers in Arms" album cover. There are a number of small variations in the cosmetics but for all functional purposes this is the same instrument. Some National aficionados consider this the ultimate Style 0, while others prefer the original 12-fret series. We think that both iterations can be wonderful instruments and this is a nice player with a well-rounded powerful sound.
Overall length is 38 in. (96.5 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.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This Style 0 shows some general wear but remains original except for a repro pickguard replacing the deteriorating celluloid original and a new bridge saddle. Everything else on the instrument remains original including the cone, biscuit, tailpiece, coverplate, and tuners. There is a repair to the body on the side, at the turn of the lower treble bout very solidly but visible sealed up.
Cosmetically the plating has some average wear, some from play but most notably from the disintegration of the original celluloid pickguard, which is unfortunately nearly ubiquitous on these later '30s models. The rest of the plating is relatively well-preserved with typical scuffing and scratching, most heavily on the back. The neck finish shows some feelable small dings and dents mostly along the spine. There is some old crud on the headstock that seems reluctant to be polished off.
The neck has been reset, and the action currently stands at 3/16" bass and treble, neatly splitting the difference between a fingerstyle blues instrument and one setup to allow enough height for more Delta-style slide work. This later '30s "Dire Straits" identified model is actually harder to find than the early 12-fret Style 0; by the late 1930's these were being widely replaced by electric instruments and the quantities produced were dwindling.
This guitar sounds lovely, with a deeper and sweeter tone than players weaned on modern resonator generally expect and the arched fingerboard more comfortable to most players than the older style flat radius. The frets are original with some light wear. This is a fine and versatile resonator guitar, fabulous for traditional vintage blues sounds as most older Nationals are but with a unique tonal palette that can also range far afield from these roots...just ask Mark Knopfler! This was a one-family guitar for many decades and has a great vibe, still living in the original HSC with some old accoutrements in the pocket. Very Good + Condition.
This is a slightly worn-in but fine sounding 14-fret Style O from the mid-1930s, a time when this classic National model had been someway modernized from its original design. It remained the brass-bodied single-cone guitar with rolled-edge f-holes, decorated and a decorative sandblasted pattern featuring double palm trees and numerous clouds in the starry sky. The main alteration is the sunburst-finished poplar neck was "modernized" to join the body at the 14th fret, instead of the 12th and gained a solid headstock.
The neck has a rather chunky profile with a deep soft "V" contour, finished in a red-black sunburst. The arched fingerboard has a 9-dot inlay pattern and grained ivoroid binding. Instead of the older decal there is an inset pearl celluloid piece engraved with the National logo on the headstock. The resonator coverplate is a later type typical of this period with small diamond cut-outs, nicknamed the "Chicken Feet" design by collectors.
This later Style 0 variant is often referred to as the "Dire Straits" model, due to use by Mark Knopfler in the 1980s and the iconic appearance of one on the band's "Brothers in Arms" album cover. There are a number of small variations in the cosmetics but for all functional purposes this is the same instrument. Some National aficionados consider this the ultimate Style 0, while others prefer the original 12-fret series. We think that both iterations can be wonderful instruments and this is a nice player with a well-rounded powerful sound.
Overall length is 38 in. (96.5 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.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This Style 0 shows some general wear but remains original except for a repro pickguard replacing the deteriorating celluloid original and a new bridge saddle. Everything else on the instrument remains original including the cone, biscuit, tailpiece, coverplate, and tuners. There is a repair to the body on the side, at the turn of the lower treble bout very solidly but visible sealed up.
Cosmetically the plating has some average wear, some from play but most notably from the disintegration of the original celluloid pickguard, which is unfortunately nearly ubiquitous on these later '30s models. The rest of the plating is relatively well-preserved with typical scuffing and scratching, most heavily on the back. The neck finish shows some feelable small dings and dents mostly along the spine. There is some old crud on the headstock that seems reluctant to be polished off.
The neck has been reset, and the action currently stands at 3/16" bass and treble, neatly splitting the difference between a fingerstyle blues instrument and one setup to allow enough height for more Delta-style slide work. This later '30s "Dire Straits" identified model is actually harder to find than the early 12-fret Style 0; by the late 1930's these were being widely replaced by electric instruments and the quantities produced were dwindling.
This guitar sounds lovely, with a deeper and sweeter tone than players weaned on modern resonator generally expect and the arched fingerboard more comfortable to most players than the older style flat radius. The frets are original with some light wear. This is a fine and versatile resonator guitar, fabulous for traditional vintage blues sounds as most older Nationals are but with a unique tonal palette that can also range far afield from these roots...just ask Mark Knopfler! This was a one-family guitar for many decades and has a great vibe, still living in the original HSC with some old accoutrements in the pocket. Very Good + Condition.