We all know the Prices that vintage Gibson and Fender guitars bring and they are all that seems to mater when one is asked about the vintage guitar market.True they are the corner stones as is Martin guitars as far as American guitar companies go. But a real treasure that is always overlooked is the National guitar company and the Dobro guitar companies .
In these companies I personally find an originality and a vision that is on par with Gibson and Fender and Martin guitars. But what is more amazing to me is the vision for these instruments and their construction was so far ahead of the curve for the time starting in and around 1928. A metal guitar with a cone ? wow that was amazing and to see the construction of these instruments is also to be amazed.
Without going into details since this is a brief blog post for the novice just to look at one of these instruments be it a national O Style , National Triolian or National Duolian you are struck with an immediate reaction which is usually wow!! then followed by thats really cool ! . Then when the uninitiated pickups one up he finds the beauty and the magic of this piece of metal that rings as loud as a cannon with a distinct tone and voice unlike any other instrument. Yes that is what I have seen time and time again. It is like watching a child play with a ball for the first time it is a mix of amazement and wonder that is what these guitar do to you upon impact!!!
Personally I am amazed at the thought process and design behind these guitars and how this self amplified guitar not only changed the landscape of music from blues to country but also how it changed the minds of musicians of how instruments were perceived. It is incredible what this company produced in its short history these are works of art. Many people just want one because they look cool but look deeper and you will find that these instruments have a soul that few instruments do. If you are lucky enough to see a style 4 Tri-cone with its ornate engraving and elegance you will then see the art that these guitar can obtain, the Style-4 is the top of the line and in that you can see the beauty of art and instrument all in one. these are the Rembrandts of the guitar world none are more original and ornate these are the crown jewels.
So why then do they not hold the value of say a vintage Fender or Gibson or Martin. It is a shame , sure less people play them and even less know about them but demand is what drives this market., I ask you this how can a bolt on guitar like a Fender stratocaster assembled on virtually an assembly line be work more than a hand crafted hand made National Metal body guitar . It seems impossible but demand sets the market. No one on MTV is playing one , the old timers and classic musicians who used them are dead and only a hand full of new talent uses them so the future looks bleak.
I am telling you here and now these guitar are a piece of out Americana and our history. The company was forced to close in 1942 due to the war and the need for metal . These are a lost treasure of the American guitar market and one that deserves respect and recognition. It took a genius to design these and a desire to make these that is why they are special. Pick up a real national and then go buy one made in china and you will get ill !!! that is how bad they are . Craftsmanship is almost gone in the is country and so is pride when it comes to making instruments today. Take a close look at these guitar and you Will fall in love with more than just a guitar you will be embracing a part of America that this country was once built on :craftsmanship and pride and ingenuity.
If you have any questions please feel free to e mail me at THE PARTS DRAWER
Jim Pasch
Tags: national guitars vintage national guitars, o style, triolian. duolian