1928 National Tricone "Style 1" Tenor Guitar Four String Resonator 4-String

This all-original German silver National "Style 1" Tenor Tricone 4-string guitar is in lovely shape! Its body is plated in bright chrome without engraving. It carries serial #385, dating to circa 1928. The body has three original cones fitted in a metal well in a triangle pattern under its T bridge. The maple one-piece neck has a bound ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay. Its banjo-style headstock sports a nice and clean original national decal logo.

The Tricone Tenor is one of the very few tenor guitars that can sonically compete with 4-string banjos in terms of volume, while offering that lovely Tricone tone. It’s excellent in the traditional Jazz tenor fifths C-G-D-A tuning, its current Irish G-D-A-E, or "Chicago" style D-G-B-E guitar tuning. These were not in production for very long and are rare, wonderful, and versatile instruments for the four-string player and the guitarist or mandolin player who doubles!

Overall length: 35 1/2 in. (90.2 cm.)
Lower Bout: 14 in. (35.6 cm.) 
Rim Depth: 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm.)
Scale length: 23 in. (584 mm.)
Nut Width: 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.)
12th Fret Action: Treble 3/32 or .9 In (2.5 mm.) 1/8 or Bass .12 In. (3mm.) 
Serial Number: 385

This Tricone tenor is in very nice condition and remains entirely original. The chrome is bright with a nice patina. It has age-appropriate finish marks and shallow dings. The frets have plenty of height left on them with just minor fret wear, comparably less versus others we've seen. It sounds clear and powerful and will work well for many styles. Only one... Grab it now! 

Very Good Plus (VG+) Condition