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Topic: Can anyone identify this strange National tricone model? |
Jason Dumont
From:
Bristol, Connecticut, USA
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Posted 27 Aug 2009 11:55 am |
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Hi everyone,
I am no expert on Nationals by any means. I have an oppurtunity to buy this guitar that is in need of restoration but I have no idea year, or model, etc.
It almost appears as a faux "birch bark" paint job. Looks like an enamel paint.
It started life as a square neck but someone did a neck carve and turned it into a round neck (blasphemy!)
The back has also been stripped of paint and it is brass. It has a minor seam separation that has to be resoldered. All the cones and bridge and tailpiece are original.
My plan is a restoration to original specs. I am confident (with paractice) I can match the finish to do the back and I have a square neck Duolian I can copy to make a new square neck for her, carefully removing and reusing the original fingerboard. The National badge is still present.
Anyway, back to the point...
Anyone know what the heck model this is? |
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John Bushouse
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Posted 27 Aug 2009 12:09 pm
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It's an M-3. The fact that it has most of the paint on it is amazing - most have lost it (paint on brass didn't seem to work too well). 1941 - 1943.
The one on this site has been nickel plated, converted to roundneck, and is $3500.
Guitar Center's vintage site has one for sale, also with the paint in good condition, but they don't list the price. |
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Posted 27 Aug 2009 12:17 pm
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Hi Jason!
As John said, an M-3, which was a "war years" Tricone. I think ones with the paintjob intact (well, semi-intact) are quite rare. A new neck would probably improve the tone as I read somewhere that quite low-grade wood was used for the neck on these last Tricones made by National.
Cheers,
Fred (written with Lap King in lap  )
_________________
www.fredrikkinbom.com - New lap steel album out now - listen here: fredrikkinbom.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-lap-steel-and-harmonium |
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Jason Dumont
From:
Bristol, Connecticut, USA
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Posted 27 Aug 2009 12:25 pm
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THANKS guys!
The price I can get her for is $1200. I think that's pretty reasonable. The neck that is on it is absolutely light as a feather. I definately think a new neck is in order! The one on it now would bow with .009's I think!
I think it would be worth it. It has major mojo working!
Now to convince my better/more practical (i.e. more mature) half. Expect a fire sale in my future!
Glad to hear it Fred! Hey if I snatch this up maybe I'll have her done by the time you come across the pond! We can jam |
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John Bushouse
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Posted 27 Aug 2009 12:29 pm
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| GRAB it. |
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Jason Dumont
From:
Bristol, Connecticut, USA
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Posted 27 Aug 2009 12:56 pm
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I sure am John!
I'm going to have to move a few things around gear wise first 
Luckily this guitar is from a friend so I know it won't go away by the time I do what I gotta do!
You'd think by 38 I would have been cured of G.A.S.  |
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Richard Shatz
From:
St. Louis
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Posted 27 Aug 2009 2:15 pm
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| Jason Dumont wrote: |
| You'd think by 38 I would have been cured of G.A.S. |
G.A.S. is not curable. It's a chronic disease that only goes into remission sometimes, but it always recurs. It's characterized by multiple exacerbations over a lifetime. I'm 63 and living proof that although you might think it will kill you, it won't.
No one I have ever known died from it, but if you have it now, you will probably die with it.
Welcome to the club. |
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Geoff Cline
From:
Southwest France
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Posted 27 Aug 2009 5:54 pm Love my M-3
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Go for it!! I got this one recently and it KILLS. Put in a fresh set of "hot rod cones from National Resophonic and it sounds incredible. A joy to ply.
Trust me, you will be VERY happy with "your" M-3.
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