1930 National style O

[Lionel]

Hi!

I just bought a wonderful 1930 National style O. The top and sides are copper, the back is brass, the coverplate is steel and the handrest is german silver !

The guitar is very lightweight ( 3,1 kg). It is a variation 2 but has the square headstock slots.

The SN has been double stamped, so i 'd like to know which one is correct. I thought the square slots was only on the earliest style O, but according to the mark makin book, we can find some up to S 680 and more.

For me, as it is a variation 2, the correct serial number should be " S 739" . What do you think?

[Mark Makin]

Hi Lionel
I remember this instrument turning up years ago when Bob B and I were composing his book. It weighs about half a kilo less than other Style 0s. I think the earlier 339 was the mistake as you say - S739 will be correct. It comes from that interesting range of about 500 guitars (S550 to around S900) when they were made with many different types of metal.

The first one we found was the plain bodied Style 0 (Style N type maybe??) number S620 owned by my friend Gary Atkinson. This one has German silver back and Copper top. It does not have the pearl plate that an N would have so I think it is more than likely a plain Style 0!

As you say Lionel, yours is probably one of the last with square slots.

[snakehips]

Hi there !

Are you sure the top&sides are copper, rather than possibly copperplated brass ?

[Mark Makin]

Hi Richard
I was just talkin with Mike Lewis yesterday as it left his shop and it is definitely copper. It is soft and very receptive to dents. So is Gary's (S620).
Best
Mark

[Lionel]

Thanks mark. So it confirms what i thought. Until wednesday when i picked up the guitar at mike's workshop, i even didn't know copper has been used on nat'l!
I have two style o"s that both have been double stamped! ))))
Another french guy told me yesterday that he has sn 641 that is copper ( the whole body).

Mark, do you mean you know the guitar i bought?
Yes it is lightweight, it sounds so great...mike did a great job on it, as usual. I'll post some pics!

[Lionel]

[/url[/url

[zak71]

That is a really unusual wear pattern on the coverplate.
I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like that before.

So...how does it sound?

[Lionel]

To me, It sounds a bit like a triolian but the guitar is very clear as a style o.

[triolian59]

I own a 1930 Style O, Serial # 667. Top and sides are copper and German Silver back, the handrest is steel. This is my favorite metal combination, love the tone of this guitar.
It's the guitar in my avatar.

[Lionel]

Wow) what about the coverplate?

[snakehips]

Hi there !

The coverplate looks copper as well, to me, going by the similar red colour visible where the plating has worn off.

I have an all-steel Style O, serial no. S518, Variation 1 etching pattern on the back.
I had an all-brass Style O, serial no. S618 - although it has a German Silver coverplate AND tailpiece (seriously !). Variation 2 etching.
I have a mostly-steel Style O, serial no. S824 - although the back is not steel - either German Silver, or Brass, or I suppose Copper is possible.

Originally, I thought S824 was actually S324 - because the left half of the number 3 of the serial number is so faintly stamped - I just couldn't be sure.
I thought that as it was all steel, the serial no must be S324. However, with the advent of Mark Makin's book being published AND the fact that the guitar has the Variation 2 etching, it seems far more likely the serial number is in fact S824.

[triolian59]

Aug 27, 2014 21:05:37 GMT Lionel said:

Wow) what about the coverplate?

The coverplate is steel. The sound is hard to describe in words, but it is a very warm and clear sounding guitar. I own a 1931 Triolian, the Style O is very different sounding. The copper/ German silver combination is very different compared to Brass, German silver or steel bodies.

[Lionel]

Thanks triolian...so we have the same guitar except the back ( me: brass, you: German silver). Your style O is clearer than the Triolian, isn't it?