National archtop model query

[snakehips]

Hi there !

Someone posted this picture on Facebook, trying to find out what the guitar was.
Hoping Mark Makin can chime in on this.



To me, it looks like a National archtop - as it looks like it has one of those large National metal plates on the top end of the headstock.

Not sure if it's one of the 1950's heel-less models, or perhaps a circa 1947 National N-100.
It looks like it's totally black in colour, rather than having a sunburst finish, to my eyes.
It also looks like it has a clear plastic pickguard ?
Could it be one of the variants on the N-100 model that Mark Makin mentions in his book that he doesn't have images of ?
(that's why I thought Mr Makin might like to look at the picture)

Or maybe it could be one of the Gibson-built L50 type guitars ?
eg. like the one purported to be, on a Reverb item listing :
reverb.com/uk/item/71098316-1948-national-1145-gibson-l-48-carved-top-archtop-guitar-video-fresh-refret-ready-to-go

Attachments:

[Noah Miller]

I'm pretty sure that's an L-50 body. It's certainly 16", and the only alternative would be an L-4; the unbound fretboard suggests it's more in the price range of an L-50. But I can't make out if that's a set neck or a bolt-on either. There is an N-50 listed on the early post-War list.

There are also the 1145 and 1140, which made it into production. National used the same catalog pic for both, so the difference - if there was any - is obscure, but it shows a black guard instead of the clear one in your photo. That may be meaningful, or it may just be Valco changing the details every time someone in the factory got bored.

My guess is that it's really a sunburst finish in a high-contrast photo. It does look black, but bright sunlight can do odd things in black and white.

[snakehips]

Hi again !

I have a Gibson L50 from circa 1947/48 - so I’m very familiar with the shape and love mine.

[slide496]

Here's an adjusted photo. I think the clear pickguard shows better and the National logo shape seems to be similar to the referenced reverb listing...good luck identifying it

[Michael Messer]

I haven’t checked, but I’m sure that guitar is in Mark’s book

Shine On
Michael