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Topic: Oldest tricone in existence? |
Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 1:09 pm |
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Although this references an ebay auction (a little more than fourteen hours to go and a little less than sixteen thousand dollars to outbid as I write this), I present this for historical curiosity purposes in "Steel Without Pedals" because I think this is where it will find the most interested watchers. I am neither selling nor bidding on this instrument.
Link to auction on eBay.
I've been reading about this tricone #102 in Bob Brozman's book since it came out. He states that National started with #100 making this the third one made (and handmade by John and Rudy Dopyera) and the lowest number referenced. What I didn't know about it was that it was formerly owned by the late Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. "Fear and Loathing at 1855 W. 64th Street, Los Angeles" indeed.
I won't recite Dr. Thompson's oft-quoted observation about the music industry being a cruel and shallow money trench where pimps and thieves run free, etc. etc. etc....Principally because that quote was written about the television industry. (And even about television, he never wrote, "And there's also a negative side.")
Should you want to bid, dig deep into your money trench...
_________________
"Gopher, Everett?" |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 3:54 pm Rare and historically intersting, yes...
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...but better sounding than a friends tri-cone, #1002, refurbed by the Nat. company a few years back? I'd bet not.
Thanx for the link! |
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Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 4:24 pm
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DELETED
_________________
"Wisdom does not always come with age. Many times age arrives alone."
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 27 Feb 2011 5:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 9:19 pm
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I am lucky to have a TriCone from 1927, "PAT PEND". Purchased from a Forum friend several years ago.
It has pencil marks on the inside of the guitar referencing dimensions, etc. S/N 340. It is known as a "style 2 1/2".
This one is a player. Not a museum piece.
There were no electric guitars yet! Can you imagine?
I will be its keeper a while longer. |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 1:57 am
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My Style 2 (extra roses on the coverplate as is consistent with a narrow time window about then) #537, more likely 1928 than 1927, is in the slide guitar exhibit at the Museum of Making Music until April. I just got Style 1 #209 (1927--hand-soldered, woven grill strips rather than the stamped lattices) and we're heading north to SLO Thursday to have Don Young & crew make a couple of strategic seam welds and have a look inside. Apparently this sat caseless for a l-o-n-g time and fortunately doesn't appear to have been messed with. (Maybe it got a new--1928 or later--set of (spiral-ribbed) cones along the way.) Test areas have polished up very nicely, but I'll wait to finish the job until the surgical recovery period is completed.
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"Gopher, Everett?" |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 5:28 am
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| I have # 227 ... a Style 1 |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 9:44 am
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It sold for $25,699.00 USD.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 11:19 am
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| I have #364 Style O, damn, I'm not even close. I'm going to have to re-name my shop as a bank and get some of the bail-out money.... |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2008 12:12 am
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| Brad Bechtel wrote: |
| It sold for $25,699.00 USD. |
I got my Republic Tricone for $599.00 post paid. 
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2008 10:11 am
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"The seller has ZERO feedback."
MLA, it was auctioned for charity. Here's a quote from Bob Brozman on another forum:
" HST gave the instrument to someone not famous, who donated it to Progeria Research Foundastion, who is auctioning it." |
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Mike Harris
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2008 8:49 am Republic Tricone
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Edward,
Do you have the roundneck or squareneck Republic tricone? I just got one of the
roundnecks, and I'm very pleased with it. Great for bottleneck, I'm guessing the squareneck is also very good. |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2008 12:18 pm
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I've got the squareneck. I love it. I haven't had a chance to compare it face to face with a National. However, it is way better than just good enough. I'm very glad I bought it. It is currently my workhorse.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 15 Dec 2008 3:30 pm
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| a friend of ours here in sac. was given a tricone similar to this recently. nearly as old but in almost perfect condition...he thought it was worth around $10,000. |
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