National Style 0 Resophonic Guitar (1930)
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Item # 11085
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National Style 0 Model Resophonic Guitar (1930), made in Los Angeles, California, serial # S-1050, nickel plated finish, brass body, maple neck with ebonized maple fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is an interesting and fairly early first-year National Style 0 single-cone resonator guitar, one of the company's classic pre-war instruments. This Style 0 has a 12-fret brass body with flat-cut F holes and typical sandblasted Hawaiian scenes; it was one of the company's earlier single-cone instruments. The elaborate Tricone resonator guitars (priced from $125 up) had done well enough in the 1920s, but in 1929-30 with the Great Depression kicking in the National firm heeded less expensive instruments fast.
The body is adorned with whimsical sandblasted Hawaiian scenes in variation #2 as per the Brozman book. The maple neck has a bound "ebonized' maple fingerboard and pearl dot inlay. In 1930 this guitar was sold at $62.50, half the price of as Tricone Style 1.Although that for many Americans a considerable sum at the time, the Style 0 was hard to beat for its combination of volume, tone, and beauty in those economically tough times. 80+ years on the Style 0 remains an enduring classic; a favorite of many players then and now, especially for period musical styles, with the spotlight on early blues.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.).
This early Style 0 has some general wear but remains nicely original and an excellent player. The plated finish on the body is decently well preserved with scuffing, dings and scrapes overall but the only sizable wear spot down to the brass is on the handrest over the bridge. The coverplate has more corrosion spots than the rest of the instrument, mostly under and around the strings.
The all-original neck finish has dings, dents and scrapes with a few spots of capo wear into the wood behind the third fret. The headstock has some general wear with the decal partially worn away. There are no cracks or structural damage to the brass body or wooden neck. The original engraved plate strip tuners are intact with one button replaced.
The neck has been neatly reset and the fingerboard refretted; the wire is somewhat larger than the original but not out of character for the period. The bone nut is newer as well. The fingerboard shows some wear through the "ebonized" finish, which has also faded somewhat. The all-important cone and biscuit are original, as is the saddle. This is a fine playing and great sounding Style 0, easily playable in either standard or Delta style complete with a battered but functional original hard case. Excellent - Condition.
This is an interesting and fairly early first-year National Style 0 single-cone resonator guitar, one of the company's classic pre-war instruments. This Style 0 has a 12-fret brass body with flat-cut F holes and typical sandblasted Hawaiian scenes; it was one of the company's earlier single-cone instruments. The elaborate Tricone resonator guitars (priced from $125 up) had done well enough in the 1920s, but in 1929-30 with the Great Depression kicking in the National firm heeded less expensive instruments fast.
The body is adorned with whimsical sandblasted Hawaiian scenes in variation #2 as per the Brozman book. The maple neck has a bound "ebonized' maple fingerboard and pearl dot inlay. In 1930 this guitar was sold at $62.50, half the price of as Tricone Style 1.Although that for many Americans a considerable sum at the time, the Style 0 was hard to beat for its combination of volume, tone, and beauty in those economically tough times. 80+ years on the Style 0 remains an enduring classic; a favorite of many players then and now, especially for period musical styles, with the spotlight on early blues.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.).
This early Style 0 has some general wear but remains nicely original and an excellent player. The plated finish on the body is decently well preserved with scuffing, dings and scrapes overall but the only sizable wear spot down to the brass is on the handrest over the bridge. The coverplate has more corrosion spots than the rest of the instrument, mostly under and around the strings.
The all-original neck finish has dings, dents and scrapes with a few spots of capo wear into the wood behind the third fret. The headstock has some general wear with the decal partially worn away. There are no cracks or structural damage to the brass body or wooden neck. The original engraved plate strip tuners are intact with one button replaced.
The neck has been neatly reset and the fingerboard refretted; the wire is somewhat larger than the original but not out of character for the period. The bone nut is newer as well. The fingerboard shows some wear through the "ebonized" finish, which has also faded somewhat. The all-important cone and biscuit are original, as is the saddle. This is a fine playing and great sounding Style 0, easily playable in either standard or Delta style complete with a battered but functional original hard case. Excellent - Condition.