1937 National Triolian Rosewood

National Triolian 1937 | $6500 | (v2350) Note that this is the second Deco-themed Triolian we've listed in the past few months, not the same guitar!
National's Triolian line was just about ten years old, and a big seller for the company when this rare beauty came off the line in Los Angeles. The Triolian had gone through a number of iterations since its beginning including wood bodies, steel bodies, 12-fret to 14-fret, slotted headstock to solid headstock and various paint schemes. Due to low depression era sales and the advancement of electrified guitars, the Triolian model ended in 1941. This 1937 variation is among its most attractive and surely among its most rare. By 1937 the Triolian featured a 14-fret neck, solid headstock and an Art Deco-inspired design scheme. A deco-inspired Triolian in excellent original condition from the family of its original owner is quite a find in the vintage market today.

The body is made from stamped and welded steel and features two 'rolled' f-holes. The tailpiece is the standard National stamped and nickel-plated steel. The paint is a beautiful reddish rosewood. The neck is maple and carved in a generous 'V'-shape. The serial number B3090 is stamped on top of the headstock. The original tuners are Kluson. The radiused fingerboard is likely redbean, bound in white celluloid with nine pearl-dot position markers. The solid headstock features a celluloid overlay which matches the body color and sports a very deco-ish logo of a sheild with the 'National' name crossing diagonally. The design echos that of the pickguard, which features a similar National logo and contrasting diagonal stripes. Overall the guitar presents a very designed appearance appropriate to its era.

The body measures 14 1/4" across at the lower bout. Scale length is ~ 25 1/4". The fingerboard measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, with string spacing 2 3/8" at the saddle. Body depth is 3 1/4" at the end pin.

The guitar is in excellent, original condition. There are no evident repairs. There is some paint wear and a few minor nicks from use and age. The cone and biscuit are original and near perfect. The fingerboard, frets and back of neck show some playing wear in the first position. The 'G' tuner is bent a bit. Action is set at 6 & 7/64" with sufficient break angle over the saddle.

Set up for fingerstyle/slide, the guitar plays well. The sound is quite loud and brash, typical of the 14-fret, steel-bodied Triolians. A fantastic blues guitar, but also a historically important surviving artifact of the venerable National line of iconic guitars!

Comes with a newer hard case.

Check out the sound clips!