Help please, is this a Trojan

[Keith Ambridge]

Hi Michael,

I've come across this on "the bay" the seller says it's a 1930's National, serial number Z751 on the head, is it a Trojan?



It's in a sorry state, (the sides are split) but I'm very tempted!

Thanks,
Keith.

[Mark Makin]

Hello Keith
These guitars are known as Trojans - even though they were never branded as such by the National Dobro Corporation. They are the same instruments (built by Harmony) as a National Trojan. The only difference is the shape of the F holes. They are referred to as Z series SUPERTONE TROJANS.

To explain - the Harmony company manufactured the neck and body assemblies of all Trojans, supplied them to National Dobro, who assembled the metal parts and issued the complete intrument with a NATIONAL TROJAN logo sticker.

Harmony ALSO made the same instruments which they supplied to various other outlets, having first bought in the resonators and other metal parts from National Dobro. In this case, they were supplied to the Sears Roebuck catalogue where they were branded as SUPERTONES. Harmony also made the same instruments (with various manufacturing differences) which they sold themselves, under the Harmony brand as SOVEREIGNS. There are also many variants with 12 and 14 fret bodies or different coverplate patterns sold as Brunos, SantaCillas, Supro Arcadias, the list is almost endless.

To recap - essentially, it IS a Trojan, but you won't find one that carries a National logo - unless someone has stuck a new one on!!
Best
Mark

[Keith Ambridge]

Thanks very much Mark, as infomative as ever:)

[Deleted]

I saw that one on EBay.

Is it fixable?

The EBay pics of the split sides make it look like it may have belonged to Tiger Woods, or some slide player using the guitar as last weapon of defence....

I am interested what a repair guy would think.

BluesKing777.

[Keith Ambridge]

it's fixable but you either need the skills or know a man who has!

[Keith Ambridge]

Just missed! £265, it probably stayed in the US.