12 fret wood bodies

[Deleted]

I know National made a few 12-fret wood body Triolians, but were any other wood bodies (Trojan, Estralita, El Trovador, etc.) with a neck that joined the body at the 12th fret?

In particular, I'm wondering about this slot headstock, 12-fret with white body binding but not fret board binding. I'm "restoring" this Asian-made resonator (mahogany) and was wondering what National it was most like.

[Deleted]

I think I may have answered my own question, but any additional information would be appreciated.

El Trovadors came in 12 fret necks sometimes, didn't they? I found this, and while it has fretboard binding and binding around the cover plate, I'd say it's about as close as I'm going to get to my faux National.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Eastmountain,

Good to hear from you

You have answered your own question, but I don't think that guitar you are restoring is really based on anything National made. I think it is more likely to be just a coincidence that it has similar features to an El Trovador.

What is the name on the headstock?

Shine On
Michael.

[Deleted]

It is a Rogue, which is the store brand for Musician's Friend. I think it's made in China.

[Deleted]

In my case, it probably is worth restoring, since I already have the needed parts, I got it cheap, and this will be a step up in quality from my current wood body acoustic resonator guitar, which I cobbled together from a guitar found in a dumpster and bits and pieces of re-purposed odds and ends.

Just one more step in my educational curve, which will someday bring me to my own vintage National, I hope.

[Deleted]

Hi Eastmountain
I'm with you on this - there is a damaged 'budget' resonator for sale in cyberspace currently for £11! (I guess this will change). I have my national in the corner, but I dreamt about it a lot last night - great opportunity to fearlessly experiment.
TT

[jonnybees]

re deuce's comment

but I dreamt about it a lot last night

i am recognising the GAS warning signs here......

[Deleted]

GAS...oh man.

PayPal sent me a message the other day telling me how much of a credit line I have for eBay purchases. Boy, my GAS pains shot through the roof.

[steverino]

Eastmountain, the Rogue Triolian is near and dear to my heart. They are so inexpensive they are almost free, and with a little work are surprisingly decent instruments. For a while I was buying freight damaged ones on ebay, fixing them (collapsed cone, usually) and giving them to friends. The one I keep by my desk now is the only one I bought new... for $200 delivered! They are fun and responsive guitars for fingerstyle when set up for a low action, shallow break angle and Martin Silk & Steel strings.

I saw an old 12 fret National Trojan on ebay a while back that was very close to the Rogue. My guess is that one of these was shipped to China years ago to get the ball rolling on the popular Rogue model. The El Trovador you pictured is not so close as it has a longer and deeper body. I have an El Trov shaped body here (though fitted with a Schireson resonator) and it is 19 7/8" long, 14 1/2" wide at the lower bout and 3 7/8" deep. I think most of the 12 fret El Trov bodies were made by Kay. By contrast the Rogue body is 19 1/16" long,, 15" wide and 3 11/16" deep.

Anyway, I hope that you will be pleased with your Rogue. Please report back.

[Deleted]

Steverino, I thought the Trojans were 14 fret necks, but I guess some were 12 fret, huh? Also, interestingly, some Trojans didn't have neck sticks either. I think the Rogue is just sort of a generic wood reso, borrowing from several designs but emulating none. I've put a neck stick in mine and had to raise the depth of the well about half an inch. After tweaking the setup, it sounds pretty good.

[toremainn]

eastmountain,
can you tell me more about your upgrade, neckstick and so on.
Just bought a Rogue, shallow break angle indeed.

[Deleted]

Hi Toremain
I was reading this earlier.
www.resohangout.com/topic/26104
TT

[toremainn]

TT, thanks.