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Post by Noah Miller on Mar 9, 2018 21:07:00 GMT
I just came into possession of a wood-bodied Triolian; from reading through Mark Makin's book, it looks like a very early one. It has flowers instead of the hula girl, a stenciled logo, and no primer under the paint. Unfortunately, it also has a replacement cone and biscuit, and the neck has bowed significantly. I strung it up at low tension into an open chord and it was amazingly loud as a lap steel, but I'm not sure if it can be made playable for fingerstyle without major surgery. The neck has already been off at least once, but it's the relief rather than the angle that's the big problem. I doubt that heat-straightening will completely remove the bow. Would it kill the value of this guitar to remove the board and insert a stiffening rod of some kind? I'd have it done professionally, of course, but I also don't want to desecrate a piece of history in the eyes of the guitar market. I'd be perfectly happy to keep using it Hawaiian-style with a nut extender. Also, I noticed that it doesn't have a "PAT APLD FOR" stamp like many other wood-bodied Triolians. Does anyone know what patent number this refers to? Presumably, this guitar was built before that patent application was filed.      |
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Post by profscratchy on Mar 9, 2018 22:28:46 GMT
My opinion: these guitars were meant to be played. Do what’s needed to make it playable in a way you can enjoy. You won’t want to ever part with it once it’s set up to your preferred style, so resale value won’t be an issue.
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 9, 2018 23:21:51 GMT
Hi Noah,
You have a very beautiful and rare guitar there. I agree that guitars like this were built to play, but 90 years after it was built it should be treated with great respect. There are plenty of old and new resonator guitars around that can be played and gigged with, but this is a special one and should IMHO be treated as such.
My advice is to talk with Mike Lewis (Fine Resophonic Guitars) in Paris, France, about what should be done and the best way to do it.
There are very few 1928 National Triolians like this in existence and there will never be any more, so before doing anything to it, talk to someone that knows these instruments and is passionate about playing them and preserving them. Mike has a collection of wood bodied National Triolians and would not touch your guitar without serious consideration about what should be done.
If you would like to call Mike, PM me and I’ll put you in touch.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 9, 2018 23:29:02 GMT
In addition to my previous post, I forgot to say WOW that is a beautiful thing!
It looks like someone has already tried to do some work on it. The four pearl dot markers are not original and neither is the mushroom pit-prop that we can see.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2018 23:49:18 GMT
Lovely guitar. Just wondering why the fret markers are on the 13th.fret? Looks like they may be covering a couple of screws added for whatever reason. Attempt along with the new pitprop to do a neck reset possibly.
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Post by Noah Miller on Mar 10, 2018 0:22:20 GMT
Yup, they're definitely replacement screw caps from when the neck was taken off. I'm hoping they can be replaced with wood that can be painted to match the board.
Paris is a bit impractical for me, so I gave Marc Schoenberger a call in California. He suggested a couple of things that I don't think my normal restoration folks have experience with, so I'm going to send him the guitar. I guess I was never really comfortable with adding a stiffening rod, for exactly the reasons Michael mentioned.
Now that that's settled, I'm interested in any historical info you guys have. Any idea how many were built with this configuration?
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Post by bluesdude on Mar 10, 2018 1:27:34 GMT
Beautiful Triolian,I love those wood Nationals the best, Marc does great work he will have that neck where it should be,,,,,,,,,,,
Kenny,
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Post by maui_chimes on Mar 10, 2018 1:46:07 GMT
Pretty cool that it has the tricone style fancy headstock shape.
There may actually be a support rod in the neck. If you take the fingerboard off you will find out. Sometimes they come loose and can be reglued or replaced. I would not consider that a desecration if done correctly it should enhance the instrument.
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Post by Noah Miller on Mar 10, 2018 1:48:39 GMT
I'm not picking anything up with a magnet. The rod in my '30s Style O was magnetic; I assume they're all steel rods?
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Post by maui_chimes on Mar 10, 2018 2:31:21 GMT
Even if you have to route it and put a carbon fiber rod, there shouldn't be any change to the appearance of the guitar. That's not something that would trouble me if it was done right.
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 10, 2018 10:21:15 GMT
Marc Schoenberger in the US, absolutely. I thought you were in Europe.
For historical information, Mark Makin's book "Palm Trees, Senoritas & Rocket Ships"
Shine On
Michael.
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Post by 1928triolian on Mar 10, 2018 15:56:39 GMT
+ 1 for Marc Schoenberger. He did some magic on some of my wood body Triolians, and he will share tons of knowledge, if you ask!
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Post by 1928triolian on Mar 10, 2018 15:58:25 GMT
Ah, I forgot: if you look at my photo, you'll see an early, 1928 wood Trio identical to yours!
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Post by pascal on Mar 11, 2018 15:51:47 GMT
King Bennie Nawahi's triolian may be?   |
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Post by Noah Miller on Mar 12, 2018 12:17:15 GMT
That's a slightly later one with a decal logo. Interestingly, though, it appears to have white dots in the fretboard extension.
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