Roundneck Tricone for a good price ?

[snakehips]

Hi there !

I wondered who from this forum was watching the ebay auction for a 1928 National Style 1 ROUNDNECK Tricone, that finished yesterday ?

Here is the link :

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1928-National-Style-1-Round-Neck-Tricone-Resonator-Wow-No-Reserve-/281454202767?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=Pbskw%252BxcVCfXYOml32M7RoVDsDI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Wow ! It sold for "only" $ 4200.

Looks like an early roundneck Tricone, with non-spiral (but spun) cones, and a wooden well.

I don't believe the seller did himself any favours - I sent a number of messages and he was slow to answer and didn't seem all that bothered to help.
The guitar was shown without strings, making it difficult to assess the string action, straightness of the neck etc.
I asked him ifnhe could stick on 13-56 strings, tune up to E standard tuning, and measure the action at the 12th fret.
He replied by saying he intended putting 12-52 strings as that is what everyone wants usually.
I then advised him that most resonator guitar fans, seriously interested in THIS vintage roundneck Tricone, will likely want measurements with heavier strings - do this and he will have a higher winning bid price.
About one hour before the end of the auction he said :

"Sorry, my co-worker put .12s on it but here are the measurements.
12th fret:
High E- 3.2mm
Low E- 4.2mm"

He didn't put that info on the listing.

I'm more or less expecting that the lowish final price for the guitar was because the seller didn't really "sell" the guitar very well, however, do you guys think the low price is more because it's an early Tricone, with a wooden well and non-spiral cones ?
Are those ones so much less desirable ?

[Deleted]

I suppose people like him are good for buyers with less cash.
TT

[Deleted]

With a feedback rating of 88.9% probably best avoided! Obviously knows nothing about resonators if he wants to put 12-52's on it. You've already got one anyway Snakey.

[marshcat]

Ah, but Graeme, one is never enough...

[spatsdavenport]

I was looking at it too. But really, if you go to the trouble of oiling the fretboard and polishing the frets, why not stick some strings on it before you take some pictures? I just couldn't trust it.

Spats.

[snakehips]

Hi all !

Nah, I decided I wasn't going for it BUT I wanted to help get useful info out there for anyone that was going to go for it. The seller just couldn't see it.

Your right though, one is never enough !
But I'm out of funds unless I sell a guitar or three !
Had to sell two, to buy the Style 1 roundneck I just bought a few months back.

[pascal]

"Guitar are us"...

[zak71]

Oct 7, 2014 7:15:47 GMT @graeme said:

Obviously knows nothing about resonators if he wants to put 12-52's on it.

Really? That's pretty funny.
I use 12s in standard tuning, so do many other people I know.

I just read a quote from that Gwyn Ashton guy saying he used 12s in open D and G tunings.

I'll ask you for some advice next time I buy strings.

[washboardchris]

I mostly use 13's -56 but my 14 fret Duolion prefers 12-52 for both slide and normal , but then I prefer to play with a light touch on it.

[Deleted]

My apologies Zak--got a habit of just thinking slide when I see a Tricone and personally use as heavy a gauge as I can handle. (15-56) so must widen my horizons! Of course any combination of string gauge is acceptable if it suits your style!

Best,

Graeme

[zak71]

Oct 7, 2014 20:10:57 GMT @graeme said:

My apologies Zak--got a habit of just thinking slide when I see a Tricone and personally use as heavy a gauge as I can handle. (15-56) so must widen my horizons! Of course any combination of string gauge is acceptable if it suits your style!
 

Haha it's nothing to apologize for, I was trying to be humorous but I guess certain things just don't translate as intended in written form. I apologize if I sounded like an apology was merited!

What most people don't realize is that 30s National catalogs specified a VERY light "Spanish" string set - it had a .11 on top! Their "Hawaiian" set was much heavier, with a .15 on top, but with a plain G. I never saw the need to use Hawaiian string gauges when playing normal bottleneck, it just feels like running while wearing leg irons.

[Michael Messer]

Those Hawaiian string gauges in the thirties were mostly for high bass A tuning - AC#EAC#E. I use 16/56 on my lap guitars for high bass G tuning (GBDGBD) and 16/59 for low bass tuning DGDGBD. If I go up to high bass A on a Tricone I lighten the top to 14 and 16, or 15 and 17. On my single cone guitars for open G (DGDGBD) and D (DADF#AD) tunings, I use leg irons 15/56. I only ever use a wound third on all my guitars. I don't play in regular tuning at all any more, haven't done it for years. I have used those gauges for thirty years, but I would never say never!

Shine On
Michael

[steadyrollinman]

Oct 7, 2014 8:47:16 GMT marshcat said:

Ah, but Graeme, one is never enough...

So how many should we be aiming for Marshcat?

[Deleted]

Personally I find three to be adequate. One for being Robert Johnson,one for Skip James and one for Johnny Winter. Then just hope some of the magic rubs off.

[timg]

Hello friends. Well, I'm the guy who bought said Tricone on ebay! As luck would have it I was fancying that I got a good deal and was searching the net trying to ascertain the going price for Style 1's when (to my surprise) I happened upon this thread!

I have taken my eye off the vintage National market (particularly roundnecks) but $4200 seemed like a really good deal to me. I also thought that the seller was not marketing the guitar particularly well and was happy to open myself up to any additional risk (I received a personal response to a question that I asked).

The guitar has to travel to Australia where it will join its new best friend, a pre-production Style 4 Weissenborn!

So what do we think about the selling price? (from when I used to follow roundneck prices, I would have thought that an all-original in working order would be quite a bit more?)

Tim