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Topic: Tricone prices? |
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 8 Jul 2005 4:26 pm |
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| Can any of you Tricone afficianados give me a current ballpark price range for an original 1929 Style 2 Tricone in excellent condition? I'm in Australia and have located one but it seems way, way overpriced. From a quick web search, it seems that style 1 models are going for about $2500. Also, has anyone played the squareneck version of the newer Polychrome TRicones? Thanks! |
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Dana Duplan
From:
Ramona, CA
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Posted 8 Jul 2005 5:07 pm
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Andy:
I think you're right on re the Style 1's @ about $2500 plus or minus. I'd guestimate the Style 2's in the $3000-$3500 range, with the top price for pristeen examples. There seems to be a big jump in price when you step up to a style 3 (and 4 of course). I still think these are a great value--I doubt you could replicate them for this price. I've played both the steel and brass versions of the National Resophonic Tricones. They are nice guitars, but IMO, don't match the sweetness and tonal complexity that you get in the vintage pieces, primarily due to the hollow neck design and German silver body. Just one man's opinion. BTW, I play a '28 Style 2 Tricone.
DD |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 8 Jul 2005 5:18 pm
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I agree with you both -- $2500 is a good ballpark figure for a Style One, with a Style Two perhaps fetching up to another $1500.
I haven't played one of the new NR-P tricones, but I have tried a vintage Model 97 (a brass body and a wooden square neck), which sounded distinctively different than my 1931 Style 1.5
Where's Paul Warnik when we need him?[This message was edited by Russ Young on 08 July 2005 at 10:51 PM.] |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 8 Jul 2005 5:29 pm
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Grab the 1929 Tricone Andy. Don't even think about it. You won't feel the pinch of the price six months from now!
How many 1929 Tricones are there in the world? Are they making anymore?
Look at my homepage. I am holding my 1928 Tricone Style 2.5 (Flowers on the coverplate too.) excellent condition, mirror finish!
If you don't buy it now you'll be kicking yourself two months from now.
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 08 July 2005 at 06:30 PM.] |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 8 Jul 2005 5:44 pm
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Gerald, I'm aware of a 1929 Style 2 squareneck for sale in Sydney ... for USD $6300. So you might want to encourage some restraint on Andy's part.  |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 8 Jul 2005 7:35 pm
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Andy,
I would be surprised if you could get an original at that price. If you can grab it. I purchased my new Style one Tricone for that a few years ago. At that time original style one's where going for anywhere from $7,800 - $10,000. |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 8 Jul 2005 8:20 pm
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I have no affiliation with this store, but here's a style 2 1/2 for $4000. They also have a style 2 for $3500 (looks like electronics added at some point). Looks like the high end for condition/price, but in the neighborhood of what you guys are estimating.
http://www.mckenzierivermusic.com/328.html |
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John Bushouse
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 8 Jul 2005 11:16 pm
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| Thanks guys - you're the best source of info and advice on the planet. Gerald, I was mentally rehearsing that argument with my wife but so far it hasn't taken. Russ, I played the Tricone in Sydney yesterday - it's overpriced but tempting - they're certainly not making any more 1929's. Grapple ... grapple. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 9 Jul 2005 1:51 am
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The 2005 Vintage Guitar Price Guide lists Style 2 Tricones, unmodified and in excellent condition, in the range $3000-4000 for a square neck and $9000-12000 for a round neck. Now, I realize this guide isn't an absolute barometer and the market dictates the price, but I'd also argue that some store listings are 'fishing expeditions' while for others, condition is not necessarily accurately stated.
The large premium for round necks is real, I think - I actually consider the square necks a bargain for $3000-4000. But $6200 is 55% above the top of the excellent range. That's a lot. Perhaps the price guide numbers can be used to help negotiate with the seller. |
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Colin Brooks
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 9 Jul 2005 6:02 am
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Andy:
Just for sake of comparison, here's another Style 2 in the UK, for £3495 ($6075): http://www.resocentre.com/index.php?id=55,390,0,0,1,0
And one in France -- now sold -- that was advertised at 5000 Euros ($6000). http://www.rfcharle.com/HTML/PhotosInstruments/Tricone2.html
If you do take the plunge, the good news is that you pay no duty when bringing an American-built instrument back into the country. (Or at least that was the case when I repatriated a National from Australia a couple of years ago.) [This message was edited by Russ Young on 09 July 2005 at 07:04 AM.] |
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Robert Salomone
From:
Carefree, Arizona
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Posted 10 Jul 2005 5:13 am
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Unless you are buying from an extremely reputable and "National Knowledgeable" Dealer with "Return priveleges",you really need to have a "hands on" examination to determine condition and price on original Tricones, whether they be Square or Spanish neck. I don't think you can go wrong buying the ornate engraved ones if the price is right and the instrument is a clean one.
Unfortunately many of them out there need neck resets, or have warped, twisted necks and damaged fretboards, open seams,crushed cones, worn tuners, among other things, and with Nationals there are only a few luthiers, who know how to repair them correctly. There are many out there that have suffered at the hands of well intentioned but untrained amateurs,
If you end up buying one with issues, you may finds yourself spending a grand or more getting it repaired or renecked and in some cases, a reneck will devalue the instrument.
The other thing to be aware when buying thru the internet is picture quality; it's difficult to make a determinationm on an instrument when the picture is one of those hazy full guitar shots taken from 10 feet away. Ask for extreme closeups if you can get them |
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 10 Jul 2005 10:20 am
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Hi Andy
My guess is about $3k for a good "2 and a half" Squareneck. A player, not a museum piece. The roundnecks are very much higher than the sq necks.
Ask for a day or two day inspection period. The buyer could arrange to put his money in escrow until he is happy with the guitar.
hope this helps
Ron
[This message was edited by Ron Randall on 10 July 2005 at 11:24 AM.] |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 10 Jul 2005 1:46 pm
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Many thanks everybody for your advice and input. I did play the guitar in person and it's clean and solid but has some cone-induced buzz. I'd consider myself fairly knowledgeable in general, and the buzz is entirely correctable. It's just a matter of shelling out too much moolah in the midst of the most expensive family vacation we've ever had plus selling off a few instruments, etc. Yet, it's a bird in the hand ... still churning. Paul W., I'm kicking myself for not jumping on your offers of a few years back.  |
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Craig Prior
From:
National City, California, USA
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Posted 10 Jul 2005 3:24 pm
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This Style 1... it's just a complete dog to look at!!... is being offered by Buffalo Bros for $2,500. 1928 National Style 1 Tricone Squareneck
Is that a deal?
Well, I've played it and it's beautifully set up (in spite of the extender nut; what the hell is an extender nut doing on a squareneck anyway???) and it sounds wonderful.
IMHO, yes, yes it is worth it. If I had the scratch to spare I'd probably buy it.
Craig.
P.S. As it happens, I have a National Style 1 uke on layaway with these guys. It wants to be a tricone when it grows up. |
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Bernard Beck
From:
Paris France
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Posted 10 Jul 2005 11:15 pm
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This style 2, all original, http://www.rfcharle.com/HTML/PhotosInstruments/Tricone2.html
sold for 5000 euros.
Thats a lot of money compared to the price ranges you indicated. Well, it was really in perfect shape and did sound great. Mr Charle prices are quite high it seems, but the instruments he sells are always top quality.
And by the way, if you ever come to Paris, be sure to visit his shop which is in an incredible 19th century place.
Keep on picking
Bernard |
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Bob Stone
From:
Gainesville, FL, USA
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Posted 11 Jul 2005 5:52 am
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G'day Andy,
I think the $3,500-4,000 range is about right. However, if the money impacts domestic tranquility, you might consider holding out for a Style 1. That engraving is nice, but does not improve tone or playability.
I had a very nice 1929 Style 1, which I sold for $2,500 about 4 years ago. It was one sweet guitar, and a real player.
Have a great vacation.
Bob
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Robert Salomone
From:
Carefree, Arizona
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 6:50 pm
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That Style 1 at Buffalo Bros. looks fairly worn. I don't know whether $2500. is fair, my guess is it should be in the $1500. range.
If you are seriously going to pony up $2500. for it, you might want to consider holding off for the time being and adding a little bit more to your bankroll and wait for a real clean one to surface. The same goes for the Style 2 1/2 at Intermountain, looks like that one has a number of dents aside from having a fairly worn finish.
They're out there, you just need to be patient. I'd only buy from a retail music store if it was a unique, have to have National. Here's one I held out and waited for.
http://www.lilypix.com/photos/showpic.php?aid=1419&uuid=16&pid=38960
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Mike Simpson
From:
Gilbert, Arizona, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 7:41 pm
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My advice is to keep your eyes open and your wallet full so you can pounce on a deal when it comes along. A year or two ago I snapped up a style 1 square neck for $1400 on ebay.
I could not afford a round neck tricone so I made one.
The good deals come and go quickly...
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Big Mike http://www.blueswizards.net
[This message was edited by Mike Simpson on 12 July 2005 at 08:41 PM.] |
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