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Topic: 1927 NATIONAL TIME CAPSULEs |
Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 16 Jun 2009 9:54 pm |
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I hope Don Young at National won't mind if I share this (or hijack the image for an avatar.) I'd been in touch with him to coordinate a pickup of my Tricone (1927; s/n #209; Style 1) that they fixed up for me. (Re-solder spots on neck/shoulders; polish.) They tell me mine looks and sounds pretty durn good although I haven't seen it, even in photos, or played it since the repairs. (I refused to subject it to commercial shipping. I never got loose to drive up when someone was there on a Saturday and my courier Kenny forgot to stop at National to grab it one previous time when he was driving down to LA.)
As fate would have it, the tricone in the photo above walked into the factory this morning after being in the closet literally since 1962. I'd say it probably didn't get out much in the 35 years before that either. This is s/n #136, also 1927, and is engraved in the Style 2 rose pattern. This makes it the 37th tricone made, as National started with #100 (per Bob Brozman). Note the thinner, hand-soldered grille strips, studded tailpiece for loop- or ball-end strings and the extra seven diamond holes around the coverplate. Almost certainly, this would have a wood, rather than metal well inside. Pre-production; handmade by John and Rudy Dopyera.
A snapshot of the Universe as it existed a nanosecond after the Big Bang.
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"Gopher, Everett?"
Last edited by Ben Elder on 27 Jun 2009 8:46 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Mark MacKenzie
From:
Franklin, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 17 Jun 2009 3:08 am
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| Wow! Too Cool! |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Jim Konrad
From:
The Great Black Swamp USA
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Posted 17 Jun 2009 5:36 pm
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That sure looks very nice! Looks like she cleaned up great. Little different lifestyle than the #112 had. posted a little while ago...
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=155537&highlight=tricone
I totally agree with the non-shipping thing. I drove 15hrs to pick my 28 tricone. People say that's what insurance is for, but insurance can pay the cost of the instrument sure....but the instrument, sometimes cannot be replaced.
I always explain it to folks this way....
I had 4 aluminum truck wheels shipped to me once. Of those four, one got BENT, and one disappeared!! By the time they got to me. 
A guitar?? NO WAY!!
Very beautiful guitar Ben!! |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 18 Jun 2009 3:08 am
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Not mine--Im just basking in its glow via email but I expect mine will be of similar luminance. (My Style 1 got to LA just after I took off to vist the folks, so I'll catch up with it next week.)
And just a cautionary word: Don didn't specifically say why #136 walked in to National, but I assume it was for evaluation, etc. I don't want to suggest that it's for sale because I don't know that at all.
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"Gopher, Everett?" |
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Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
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Posted 19 Jun 2009 7:45 am
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DELETED
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"Wisdom does not always come with age. Many times age arrives alone."
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 27 Feb 2011 5:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2009 8:55 am 209 has landed
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Here is the aforementioned #209. Its shine appears toned down because the reflected blue sky, but it's as shiny as 136. (I assume it got the super-duper National Reso detail job too.)
 
(I've changed my avatar accordingly. Thanks to Don at National and 136's owner for the use of its image in the meantime.)
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"Gopher, Everett?" |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 27 Jun 2009 9:06 am
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Man, I'd love to take those babies for a spin.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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