National Triolian Resophonic Guitar (1930)
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Item # 7805
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National Triolian Model Resophonic Guitar (1930), made in Los Angeles, California, serial # 293P, Polychrome enamel with stenciling finish, steel body, basswood neck, black hard shell case.
The steel-bodied Triolian was National's "bread and butter" guitar during the depression, offering great sound and serious volume at the relatively modest price of $45.00. With National Tricone guitars selling for over $100 and the flashy brass-bodied Style 0 at $62.50 the 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 1930 "Polychrome" example (from the first production year) is in well-worn but substantially original condition, featuring a multi-hued enamel finished steel body with flat-cut F holes and a 12 fret maple neck with a bound painted maple fingerboard. These Triolians were hand-sprayed so no two are exactly alike. This one is not particularly "Poly" has fairly monochromatic dark mustardy yellow finish with greenish accents around the edges and reddish areas on the fingerboard and headstock. The back has a bold and fairly clear palm tree & sunset sprayed on, the most distinctive visual signature of the Polychrome Triolian. This guitar has some cosmetic issues from a prior pickup installation but no modifications, and is an excellent playing and sounding example.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.). Overall this guitar is relatively well preserved, original and an excellent player although it does have one notable cosmetic issue. The Polychrome enamel finish has scrapes and dings, mostly around the edges, and a typical wear spot from picking on the face below the strings. There appears to have been a pickup attached to the face just below the fingerboard at some point-no hole was cut through the metal, but the finish was disturbed. This has been touched up but the area is still noticeable. The neck and fingerboard have numerous small dings, scrapes and flakes but no large areas of loss.
All hardware including the cone, tuners and tailpiece. There is a small hole drilled in the treble side of the handrest, probably related to the pickup installation. The headstock decal has flaked away leaving only a few tiny traces. This guitar has had a recent expert refret, fingerboard rebind and neck reset, and plays extremely with a huge, round and amazingly sweet sound-one of the best we have had in that regard. Not a perfect collector's piece but a great playing early Triolian ready to gig. Includes a modern HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
The steel-bodied Triolian was National's "bread and butter" guitar during the depression, offering great sound and serious volume at the relatively modest price of $45.00. With National Tricone guitars selling for over $100 and the flashy brass-bodied Style 0 at $62.50 the 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 1930 "Polychrome" example (from the first production year) is in well-worn but substantially original condition, featuring a multi-hued enamel finished steel body with flat-cut F holes and a 12 fret maple neck with a bound painted maple fingerboard. These Triolians were hand-sprayed so no two are exactly alike. This one is not particularly "Poly" has fairly monochromatic dark mustardy yellow finish with greenish accents around the edges and reddish areas on the fingerboard and headstock. The back has a bold and fairly clear palm tree & sunset sprayed on, the most distinctive visual signature of the Polychrome Triolian. This guitar has some cosmetic issues from a prior pickup installation but no modifications, and is an excellent playing and sounding example.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.). Overall this guitar is relatively well preserved, original and an excellent player although it does have one notable cosmetic issue. The Polychrome enamel finish has scrapes and dings, mostly around the edges, and a typical wear spot from picking on the face below the strings. There appears to have been a pickup attached to the face just below the fingerboard at some point-no hole was cut through the metal, but the finish was disturbed. This has been touched up but the area is still noticeable. The neck and fingerboard have numerous small dings, scrapes and flakes but no large areas of loss.
All hardware including the cone, tuners and tailpiece. There is a small hole drilled in the treble side of the handrest, probably related to the pickup installation. The headstock decal has flaked away leaving only a few tiny traces. This guitar has had a recent expert refret, fingerboard rebind and neck reset, and plays extremely with a huge, round and amazingly sweet sound-one of the best we have had in that regard. Not a perfect collector's piece but a great playing early Triolian ready to gig. Includes a modern HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.