National Tricone Style 1 1929 $ 3000 PLUS SHIPPING

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

1929 NATIONAL TRICONE STYLE 1 Excellent condition plus non-original case. Price drop to $3000 PLUS SHIPPING stevet

Joe Savage · From: St. Paul, MN

I love Tricones. That one is a 1929 according to the Brozman book. Can't buy it, but sure do admire the way they sound.
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Joe Savage
www.savagejoe.com

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

If any of you guys can help on what a reasonable National Style 1 should be, I'd appreciate it. If you do, PLEASE POST HERE.

I had one FORUM member who said: "Style 1 in "player condition" generally not more than $2600 these days"retail". " If this is a style 1 and the finish is worn – there’s player value and collector value. If the cones are not original collector value goes way down. This one looks like a player to me, and I think you should look around for what these are going for."

I explained that I did not know if the cones were the old ones. If they are new, how much less the guitar would sell for than for a comparable one with original cones. To me also, "player condidition" is a pretty large category; a guitar could be really beat up or be almost prisitine and I think the price woud reflect that.

I do know that, lately, I have not seen these surfacing in stores such as Gruhn's, Elderly Instruments, and Mandolin Brothers; maybe due to the bad economy (sellers not willing to sell at lower prices). In the past you could always find them. Anyway, those in the know, please feel free to fire away with estimates and comments. Thanks, Steve

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

bump please, b0b. Will entertain trades for lacquer PP Emmons, and others. Thanks, stevet

Eric Ebner · From: Texas Republic

My guess is the $2600-3200 range. It looks really nice. As long as there are no physical problems with it I would think a fair price would be in the middle of the range. I follow these a bit and own one just like it (1930 model). I'm not so sure that old or new cones matter too much on price... certainly tone and mojo. I do love my original case! It grabs more attention than the guitar sometimes. It's old-time well worn and people always want to see what's in it.
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Tribo-Tone™ Bars

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

BUMPO Thanks, stevet

Brian Echenberg · From: Quebec, Canada

Original cone or new cone not only makes a huge difference in price but it also makes one wonder what else is changed. Also a collector wouldn't touch it IMHO. thanks Brian

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

Brian, you say: "Original cone or new cone not only makes a huge difference in price but it also makes one wonder what else is changed." My questions are 1. How much of a difference in price if the cones are non-original.(What percentage could one expect to deduct with new cones?) 2. How does the second part of your statement follow from the first? If the cones were new, that would not necessarily mean something else was changed on the guitar. Also, the old cones could be present and there might still be other new parts added. Thanks, stevet

Cartwright Thompson · Posted 26 Jun 2010 2:41 pm

I own a tri-cone just like this (a couple hundred serial numbers earlier). I changed the original cones with new ones from National Resophonic. The diference was dramatic, a huge improvement in tone and volume. I sold the originals and have never looked back. I can't imagine, after experiencing the change in mine, that new cones wouldn't be an improvement in any similar vintage National.

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

Cartwright, thanks, for the first hand Tricone knowledge of the new vs. old cones. By looking at the cones on myStyle 1, I still can't tell whether they are original or non-original. Any tips???? I do know they sound fine. Thanks again. stevet

Brian Echenberg · From: Quebec, Canada

HI Replacing a cone with a better one is a bit like taking a 1964 stratocaster with the originl finish in somewhat poor shape and having a pro refin. The result would be a guitar that looks nicer but that has a much reduced value in the vintage marketplace. Its true a player might want it but even a player won't want to pay more than market value. So a new cone or maybe more efficient modern tuners makes the guitar better it will devalue it. thanks for bearing with me. Brian

Cartwright Thompson · Posted 27 Jun 2010 3:37 pm

Sorry Brian, but your finish analogy is really not accurate at all. A better one would be comparing changing cones with replacing bad components on a vintage tube amp (filter caps etc.)-not original to the anal retentive collector but a tonal improvement to the player. Maybe the collector value is diminished somewhat but not a lot, nothing like a refin on an old strat.

Brian Echenberg · From: Quebec, Canada

But changing a major component like a transformer in a vintage amp would result in a big decrease in price. Also alot of people would no longer even be interested.

Cartwright Thompson · Posted 28 Jun 2010 2:09 pm

Yes Brian, changing a transformer would be a big deal. You've missed my point and I think it's time to end this discussion as it is Steve's thread.

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

Brian, i think your analogy about refinishing an old Strat is more similar to stripping and rechroming the old National rather than it is to replacing the cones. Catrwrigtht's analogy about likening the old cone to an old filter cap on an amp, I feel, is more to the point. Both would improve the sound without diminishing the value by much. Rechroming a National WOULD lessen the value of the National greatly in my book. Thanks for the points, Carty. I do welcome any and all well reasoned comments. I'm still looking for comments about how much new cones would diminish the selling price of this old National. stevet

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

Back to Beijing in a few days, so I will hold onto the Tricone and perhaps try again next summer. Thanks all who expressed interest and who made comments. stevet

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

This Tricone is now with a friend near Fargo ND and is still for sale. He is an experienced musician who has shipped a number of instruments and packs well. Thanks, steve t

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

bumping

Lefty · From: Grayson, Ga.

Very nice guitar. I have a 1929 style 1 that is in equivelent shape. I bought it thinking that I would convert it over to left-handed play. After I recieved the instrument I could not bring myself to do any alterations. I will pass it on to some player sometime in the future, but not soon I hope.
Steve, you allways have the nicest instruments.
Good luck with your sale.
regards
Lefty

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

Thanks, Lefty, I count myself lucky to have gotten some decent instruments.

Joe, thanks you also for pointing out the date of this 1929 Tricone. I never did thank you earlier. steve t

Steve Branscom · From: Pacific NW

Steve,
Bob Brozman himself basically said that the new ones sound as good or better than the old ones. New cones. Oddly enough new era used Style 1's sell for the same money used as 29's. As for collectability pricing, don't worry about it. It's a Style 1. This is the most common of the tricones squarenecks not a Style 4 roundneck or even a style 3 that's even rarer. I don't think you'll find a smidgen of price differential in a players' instrument over an "old cone" instrument.

FWIW, Ck out Elderly Music's vintage and used instruments, resonators section. They have a style 3 and style 4 tricone squareneck from the 20's. In the description they note repairs to be made as the instruments are sold "as is". In both cases they suggest installing new cones.
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Steve

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

Steve, thanks, for taking the time to offer input. I have never played a new National so I can not comment on Brozman's opinion, but feel you are most likely to be correct about the cone-comparison question. After all we are not talking about wood resonatiing like in wood-bodied acoustic.

I went to the National Resophonic site and found out they now have style 1's in the original "German Silver" alloy. These guitars do not, however have the metal covered necks and I could not find a price list to make a comparison. They apparently use dealers

Here is that model:

http://www.nationalguitars.com/instruments/style1gs/style1gs.html

Personally, if I were looking to buy a Tricone and there was not a huge price difference, I'd probably lean towards buying the 80+ year old model.
Again, thanks, for the comments. They are appreciated.

Just found a new Style 1 in German silver the List Price for which is $4100 at a Artisan Guitars:

http://artisanguitars.com/national-style-1-german-silver-tricone/

And another store selling them for $3550

http://www.catfishkeith.com/nationalpricelist.htm

stevet

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

bump please

Ivan Goldstein · From: Vermont, USA

I owned and really enjoyed my '29 nickel silver style one until I developed an allergy to the nickel. My palm turned green and I got a funny taste in my mouth every time I played it. I realize now that I could have waxed it and it would have helped. Waxing would probably have helped prevent pitting. I learned a lot about the proper care of the instrument from the National website. Good luck with the sale, they are lovely instruments.
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steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

Geez Ivan, you have had some really bad luck. Never heard of that nickel allergy happening to anyone. I will look on the National website for care of the instrument. Thanks, so much for the good wishes on the sale. stevet

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