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Post by archiekidd on Feb 11, 2016 14:24:12 GMT
Hello again to everyone. It seems once you get started again on this forum so many questions and queries arise !
Can I please grab some opinions from fellow guitarists who will more than likely be far more experienced than I am on this one ...?
Attachment DeletedAttachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
I appreciate this is only showing images, and one can't tell what the 'whole story' might be. A very,very kind and helpful would-be seller has sent me these pictures. I won't go into prices or money asked, just that I am extremely keen to buy...
My thoughts are 'what's going on inside?/'neck block' ??.
Your comments and thoughts will be graciously received - what do you all think ?
Thank you all ...
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Post by snakehips on Feb 11, 2016 19:07:43 GMT
Hi there !
I have a circa 1930 Polychrome Triolian with a break in the heel, almost exactly where this one has one.
It came apart when I sent it to a luthier to do a neck reset - so luckily, they got it at the right moment - a clean break, as it were.
There just glued the bottom section back on with a strong wood glue, while the neck was off.
I was told that the join would probably be stronger than the rest of the neck !
That was back in 2003 - and the guitar is still going strong with absolutely NO sign of the join opening up again.
Sure, you can see the line were the break was - but it is a tidy repair and the join is quite well "closed".
The neck reset too was done very well, by the best guy in the UK for vintage Nationals - Dave King.
However - the pictures of the guitar you are considering buying - I would DEFINITELY ask for more pictures.
The actual neck join to the body - the image is a bit blurred where the wood meets the metal body - OR is that a thick sludge of epoxy or something similar ???
From those pictures, I personally would be put off buying that guitar. The plating looks in poor condition and looks worn to bare brass on the bottom edge.
Perhaps it's your "cup of tea" but I wouldn't be interested in a trashy looking Style N. A Duolian ? Sure, OK. A Triolian ? Sure OK.
If the reason you don't want to give the game away about the guitar is because it's going for a low price - then sure, I understand BUT possibly it's a low price because it's not worth more ! Perhaps it might even be overpriced for what it is. Keep your money for the right vintage National. Don't worry - others will come along - just be patient. Those pictures would put me off it UNLESS the rest of the guitar was in STELLAR condition.
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Post by maui_chimes on Feb 11, 2016 19:53:14 GMT
The neck heel is cracked. A serious but fixable problem. Should cut into the value of the guitar substantially. I would be concerned that someone inexperienced or unskilled worked on the guitar.
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Post by archiekidd on Feb 11, 2016 20:04:16 GMT
That's sound advice, and yes, more detailed / higher resolution pictures would help me here. I get what you mean regarding the blurry area/body meeting neck (it's quite hard to discern what that 'look' actually is)...
I'm not reluctant to cite price for any reason ... just thought it'd detract from getting some good,grounded opinions (like yours),irrespective of the asking price (£1600).
Maybe my thinking is a little misguided (although we are all individuals with different tastes e.t.c) in that I put the old 'originals' way above the more recently made National Resophonics (which are fabulous guitars). When all's said and done, a trustworthy/reliable guitar with a great sound is the goal ... and as you say, absolutely worth waiting for. I will certainly keep up correspondence with the seller to find out more if I can (it's a hell of a distance to meet the guitar in person,more pics to begin with).
In the scheme of things my relative inexperience with resonators is probably shining through (and on, sorry Michael,appalling pun), but I guess that's why this is such a great platform, and for people like myself a priceless place for friendly guidance.
Cheers Snakehips.
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Post by snakehips on Feb 12, 2016 0:47:38 GMT
Hi again, On second thoughts, looking at those pictures again, on a better screen, what I thought was some sort of glue/filler/sludge along the join between the neck and the metal body, it may actually be the neck pushed outwards of where it should be - and the break in the heel may not have been attended to. If it hasn't been worked on by a luthier yet, all the better- send it to someone who REALLY knows how to deal with that. I can make good suggestions for who. Factor in another £300-500 for luthier fees to sort the problems and you will have a GREAT guitar. Is the cone original ? How does it look ? (You may have to just take a chance on that !) I got this 1932 Style N a few years ago on ebay - cost me about £1600, I think - and needed a fair bit of work as the baseball-bat neck was twisted, and needed reset. Had an adjustable trussrod installed in it (hidden) and it plays great now. Got the all-steel 1930 Style O at about the same time, and about the same price AND also needed similar work done to it : As long as you are happy with the possible heavily worn look, of the guitar you might buy, and as long as you are prepared to likely need to spend more dosh on the guitar, then you will probably love it, as I do mine. Attachments:
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Post by washboardchris on Feb 12, 2016 9:22:58 GMT
Hi, I may have just what you are looking for, send me a PM with your phone number.
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Post by snakehips on Feb 12, 2016 9:56:21 GMT
Hi again,
a chance to take a photo or two until
Funny thing - I was writing my last reply, last night, in my bedroom, before going off to sleep, on my ipad.
I was searching all the photos of my guitars for ones of my Triolian - but none showed the glued break in the hell of my guitar.
Had I not been so sleepy and thinking clearly, I could have walked across to the other side of my bedroom and taken an actual picture of the Triolian - as it is on a guitar stand in my bedroom !!!
Doh !
Just wanted to show you how a break in the heel in that area can be fine, once dealt with, by someone who knows what they are doing.
Getting home REALLY late tonight (double gig tonight) so won't get a chance until tomorrow at least.
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Post by archiekidd on Feb 12, 2016 11:16:25 GMT
Ha ! understandable after a long day , delirium !
Thanks for your posts ... by the way Snakehips , are you THE Snakehips on Youtube ? I'd say it's a fair assumption. If so, NICE ONE !
I look forward to seeing and hearing more.
Cheers to all you guys helping me out.
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Post by snakehips on Feb 12, 2016 12:58:01 GMT
Yes, that's me !
And you've just reminded me that I have a video or two of the Style N on youtube.
Note - although the guitar came with the original cone, it was suffering from previous collapses.
So, there is a NRP hot-rod cone in there. Sounds good though.
The neck is the chunkiest on this guitar than any other National I have ever owned (except squarenecks, of course !!)
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Post by snakehips on Feb 15, 2016 19:40:39 GMT
Sorry for the delay getting back to you. This is how a break in a neck heel should/could look like, if dealt with by a good luthier : |
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Post by archiekidd on Feb 17, 2016 15:22:50 GMT
What a fabulous guitar.
And yes indeed , that looks like a 'cracking' job by the luthier. Sorry, I can never resist a terrible pun. What a beauty.
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