National - help!!!

[Bob Bowman]

My good friend Larry came around this morning with this. It's been in the family for years and (ab)used as a toy (cricket bat amongst other things). Apparently it was settlement for a gambling debt and then loaned to a relative who kindly painted it red.

Neck is V-shaped profile and made from 3 layers, fingerboard looks to be mahogany, tailpiece and body are steel, rolled F-holes. There are the apparent remanants of a National decal on the headstock. A couple of screws seem to indicate a previous pickguard.

Serial number is C**** with some letters after (EA SA?)

Could anyone give me an accurate date/model etc please?

And an idea of it's current and restored value?

Cheers Bob

[Bill Creller]

Don't have a clue to it's value as is. It could sure use a refurbish at the National factory. They do a great job.

[Ron Whitfield]

Bobby Ingano sent them an early Tri-Cone that had some serious problems and they were stoked to do the work and got it back in fine shape. But, it ain't cheap.

[Ben Elder]

It's a late 30s National Duolian. George Gruhn's guide and the Vintage Guy online (it's an address at provide.net domain--comes up on many vintage guitar Google searches) will have a list of National serial numbers. Value? I'd guess high hundreds/low four figures as it sits (depending on condition of innards); mid-high teens fixed up and playable. Depending on how well the red paint job wears on you.

[Brad Bechtel]

Check with Len at Vintage Nationals for restoration. He has done some pretty amazing work before.

[Ben Elder]

Might also have been "piano-finished":

http://www.bernunzio.com/item.php?sku=0811780

[Bill Leach]

Hi Bob,

It'd probably be worth you posting this question in the Note Cannons section of the Micheal Messer forum

http://michaelmesser.proboards7.com/

this site is dedicated to Nationals and there are some very knowledgeable people there.
The consensus of opinion is that Dave King is your man for repairing Nationals in the UK.

Bill

[Bob Bowman]

I've posted on the Michael Messer site, thanks for the tip and for all the other info, as always SGF is so helpful.

Cheers Bob