National Westwood 77 Solid Body Electric Guitar (1963)
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National Westwood 77 Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1963), made in Chicago, transparent wine red lacquer finish, mahogany body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original grey hard shell case.
The National "Map" Guitars represent some of the most exuberant examples of vintage American guitar design, utterly distinctive even 60+ years on whether in Res-O-Glass or wood like this cherry red example from 1963. Unlike their molded fiberglass body siblings, the "Westwood" series were designed as a more a traditional solid body electric in feel with a nitrocellulose lacquer finish over a sculpted mahogany body and maple neck. Likely intended to appeal to more conservative players put off by "plastic" guitars the Westwoods never quite reached tip top commercial heights, but their playful design has cemented them as a beloved kitschy relic among collectors. This wooden model is more comfortably playable than some other "Maps" with a smaller body and less eccentric feel. While they carry a sort of funky blues/trash culture connotation today, these Nationals were actually not all that cheap when new.
The Model 77 was the top of the line Westwood offering, sort of a more insouciant rockabilly cousin of a single-cutaway Les Paul. It offered the full array of two of excellent Valco "Vista-Power" magnetic pickups alongside National's very innovative "SilverSound" under-the-bridge transducer pickup. These are selected via a 3-way pickup lever switch and each pickup has its own volume and tone controls, with a master volume located beside the output jack. The back is mostly covered by a large black plastic plate; underneath this are not only the electronics bays but a number of other large circular routs intended to reduce the weight. Another unique aesthetic touch is the little silver press-on buttons covering the screws holding the bolt-on neck in place.
The dramatic look of the guitar as a whole is enhanced by a clear back-painted pinstriped plastic pickguard with a "NATIONAL Val-Pro" shield logo echoing American hotrod culture of the period, sophisticated and downhome at the same time! This model cost 199.50 (plus case) when introduced in 1962, in range with the cheaper Fender and Gibson offerings of the era but a decent bargain in a (technically) three-pickup guitar. This Westwood has stood the test of time better than some of its Res-O-Glass counterparts, still a funky time machine that transports the player back to the 1960's (or at least to when The White Stripes got together). It remains a super cool and utterly distinctive guitar by any standard.
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 15 in. (38.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This is a nicely original example with pretty minimal wear in its cherry finish; there are a few dings and scratches here and there consistent with some play time throughout the guitar's life. One such area of wear on the edge of the bass side has been touched up a bit, but the guitar's finish is overall original, never refinished or oversprayed.
The headstock's unique construction may look at first like a repaired seam, but it's simply how this multi-piece laminated headstock was made and the guitar is free of any structural cracks. The neck has a bit of light wear commensurate with the body's wear, nothing to impede playability and not even worn through to the wood. The original frets have a healthy amount of life, and the Kluson strip tuners, National logo badge, and serial number plate are all well in tact.
This one retains all the charming original National trimmings from the six white mini tone control knobs to the inlaid Lucite pickguard to the block tailpiece. The original pickups are nestled under ornately painted pickup covers that have been a bit worn through by pick action over the years. The electronic circuit is untampered with in functionality, but a few of the solder joints look to have been reconnected at the jack. It resides in a non-original Fender-style hardshell case with a vintage red leather strap tucked inside; one may need to be careful with leather of that age supporting the weight of the guitar, but it is a very cool piece of ephemera befitting this piece of red hot Americana. Overall Excellent - Condition.
The National "Map" Guitars represent some of the most exuberant examples of vintage American guitar design, utterly distinctive even 60+ years on whether in Res-O-Glass or wood like this cherry red example from 1963. Unlike their molded fiberglass body siblings, the "Westwood" series were designed as a more a traditional solid body electric in feel with a nitrocellulose lacquer finish over a sculpted mahogany body and maple neck. Likely intended to appeal to more conservative players put off by "plastic" guitars the Westwoods never quite reached tip top commercial heights, but their playful design has cemented them as a beloved kitschy relic among collectors. This wooden model is more comfortably playable than some other "Maps" with a smaller body and less eccentric feel. While they carry a sort of funky blues/trash culture connotation today, these Nationals were actually not all that cheap when new.
The Model 77 was the top of the line Westwood offering, sort of a more insouciant rockabilly cousin of a single-cutaway Les Paul. It offered the full array of two of excellent Valco "Vista-Power" magnetic pickups alongside National's very innovative "SilverSound" under-the-bridge transducer pickup. These are selected via a 3-way pickup lever switch and each pickup has its own volume and tone controls, with a master volume located beside the output jack. The back is mostly covered by a large black plastic plate; underneath this are not only the electronics bays but a number of other large circular routs intended to reduce the weight. Another unique aesthetic touch is the little silver press-on buttons covering the screws holding the bolt-on neck in place.
The dramatic look of the guitar as a whole is enhanced by a clear back-painted pinstriped plastic pickguard with a "NATIONAL Val-Pro" shield logo echoing American hotrod culture of the period, sophisticated and downhome at the same time! This model cost 199.50 (plus case) when introduced in 1962, in range with the cheaper Fender and Gibson offerings of the era but a decent bargain in a (technically) three-pickup guitar. This Westwood has stood the test of time better than some of its Res-O-Glass counterparts, still a funky time machine that transports the player back to the 1960's (or at least to when The White Stripes got together). It remains a super cool and utterly distinctive guitar by any standard.
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 15 in. (38.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This is a nicely original example with pretty minimal wear in its cherry finish; there are a few dings and scratches here and there consistent with some play time throughout the guitar's life. One such area of wear on the edge of the bass side has been touched up a bit, but the guitar's finish is overall original, never refinished or oversprayed.
The headstock's unique construction may look at first like a repaired seam, but it's simply how this multi-piece laminated headstock was made and the guitar is free of any structural cracks. The neck has a bit of light wear commensurate with the body's wear, nothing to impede playability and not even worn through to the wood. The original frets have a healthy amount of life, and the Kluson strip tuners, National logo badge, and serial number plate are all well in tact.
This one retains all the charming original National trimmings from the six white mini tone control knobs to the inlaid Lucite pickguard to the block tailpiece. The original pickups are nestled under ornately painted pickup covers that have been a bit worn through by pick action over the years. The electronic circuit is untampered with in functionality, but a few of the solder joints look to have been reconnected at the jack. It resides in a non-original Fender-style hardshell case with a vintage red leather strap tucked inside; one may need to be careful with leather of that age supporting the weight of the guitar, but it is a very cool piece of ephemera befitting this piece of red hot Americana. Overall Excellent - Condition.