National Triolian 1930 | HOLD | (v2030) By 1930, The National String Instrument Corporation was hardly three years old, but thriving due to the success of its tri-cone steel bodied guitars which were strongly promoted by Hawaiian string wizard Sol Hoopii. But the tri-cone guitars were expensive, so to appeal to a broader segment of the market, the single cone National was developed in early 1929 (preceding the disastrous market crash of October, 1929). These single cone resonators became best-sellers, and actually saved the company from ruin during the depression. The Triolian was the first single-cone guitar offered by National, and initial examples were wooden bodies, which quickly changed to steel. By 1930, when this example was made, the Triolian sported 'Polychrome' paint (hence the 'P' in the serial number) and a stenciled Hawaiian scene on back. The 'P' series Triolians were produced for only one year, and are among the rarest of Nationals.
The body is steel, with a steel cover plate with drilled sound holes, 'ribs', and a steel hand rest covering the cone biscuit. The body has two 'f' cutouts, is sprayed yellow with green highlights (rare color), with a Hawaiian scene stenciled on the back. The tailpiece is nickle-plated steel. The neck is nicely figured tiger-stripe maple, carved in a modern-feeling 'C' shape, and finished off in the same colors as the body. The head stock is slotted, and the neck joins the body at the 12th fret. The fingerboard is ebonized maple and bound in white celluloid. The head stock decal states the model name: National Triolian.
The body measures 14 1/4" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 25". The fingerboard is 1 3/4" across at the nut and string spacing is 2 3/8" across at the saddle. There is a non-adjustable steel truss rod installed under the board, allowing for a straight neck. Action is set at 6 & 7/64", providing comfortable playing for both fingerstyle and slide.
The guitar appears to be 100% original. The neck was recently reset, and the frets leveled and dressed. There is playing wear on the cover plate, often seen on many 'one owner' guitars. There are some paint nicks, but no dents to the body. The decal has partially flaked off. The finger board shows playing divots in the first position, and some longitudinal cracks from dryness.
The guitar plays nicely, and produced the brash, piercing tone (with no associated rattles or buzzes) that the single cone Nationals are noted for. This example is one of the more aesthetically pleasing of all the single cone Nationals we've seen, and can be appreciated for its beauty as well as its sound and playability.
Comes with its original hard case, which is somewhat deformed along the edge making full closure of the top difficult.
Check out the sound clips, one finger picked, the other slide.