National Triolian Model Resophonic Guitar (1932), made in Los Angeles, serial # 2890W, Walnut Sunburst finish, steel body, maple neck with ebonized fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case. The steel-bodied, single cone Triolian was one of National's "bread and butter" guitars 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 fairly plain 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 1932 example (from the worst years of the Great Depression) is in excellent playing condition. This version features a walnut enamel finished steel body with flat-cut f-holes and a 12-fret maple neck with a bound ebonized maple fingerboard. These walnut sunburst Triolians were hand-sprayed at the factory so no two are exactly alike; this one has a nice red-brown hue over a slightly greenish tawny undercoat. This guitar has some restoration to achieve optimum playability but remains a fine-sounding and playing Triolian, to many the ultimate acoustic blues guitar.Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.). This Triolian shows some general wear but still less than many similar survivors. The enamel finish is generally well preserved with some scuffing overall and mostly small areas of chipping. Most heavily around the edges with some random small dinks on the face. The neck is surprisingly clean with only some small dinks and dents in the back. The guitar is currently set up with a correct reproduction National cone. The original cone and biscuit are included, not in too bad shape but somewhat compressed on the bass side. The headstock is fitted with non-intrusive modern replacement tuners that fit well. Other than that the guitar remains original, an excellent player with a powerful sound. Overall Excellent - Condition.
