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1931 National Style 1 Tenor

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Serial #: 1011, stamped below tailpiece

Scale length: 25" Nut width: 1"

Materials: Bell brass body; solid one-piece maple neck; ebonized maple fingerboard, bone nut; pearl dot fingerboard inlays.

Hardware: All original hardware includes nickel stamped tailpiece, spun aluminum resonator cone, original frets. nickel Planetary tuners with grained ivoroid keys.

Notes: The National Guitar Company had a long history with the tenor guitar, introducing its first model, a pear- shaped Tricone in 1927. By early 1930, the single cone resonator made its debut, and by the end of that year, the model had been redesigned with a guitar shaped body. This most popular version of the National Tenor continued in production until 1941, when the firm was finally sold. With its powerful single cone resonator and larger body, the guitar shaped tenor was unsurpassed in volume and projection, making it ideal for big band, radio, and recording and were famously employed by the McKendrick brothers in the orchestras of Louis Armstrong, Eddie South and other big bands of the 20's and 30's.

This handsome guitar from 1931 features the Style 1 design, with its bell brass body adorned with simple, elegant polished nickel plating. This gleaming guitar has been maintained in wonderful condition, with 100% original plating , hardware, and fitted black hardshell case. Apart from some arm wear on the back and a few random nicks, the instrument shows very little in the way of play wear altogether. Neck profile is a gentle C, with smooth low action. The tone is forward, punchy, and full of natural reverb, with exceptional bark and projection: no wood-bodied tenor could begin to approach the power of this little cannon.

This model is the most desirable of the National tenor designs, and has never been reissued to date. From the golden era of resophonic technology: one only. Call now.

Setup: String slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; fingerboard oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

Case: Original National black arched hardshell case.

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