The ongoing needs of a 100 year old instrument.

[calvoi]

Dear All,

Firstly happy holidays.
Secondly, this is mainly academic at this point but at some point I would like to be the custodian of a vintage instrument.
I’d like to know the difference in upkeep between an almost 100 year old National and a modern high end instrument?
How often might one have to have neck resets or work done etc...
Which other things needs to be done differently, I assume you have to be more careful of humidity changes and perhaps changing tunings.
Interested in hearing everyone’s thoughts.

All the best
Calvoi

[davey]

The short answer, from me at least, is that there is no difference. Once they are set up to your liking they stay pretty much the same. Make sure you buy a good one with a straight neck and reasonable action & don't expect it to play like a Stratocaster, you need a reasonably high action to play slide and fingers. Mine are about 3mm at the 12th fret.

Where are you based Calvoi ?

[calvoi]

Davey,
That’s interesting, you hear many horror stories. But then I guess you don’t hear the stories about everything being great...
I’m based in Manchester but am in Oxford and Bristol semi regularly.

[Michael Messer]

I'm with Davey on this. A vintage "real" National guitar in good condition, or setup and made ready to play, should be a great guitar that will serve you well for a lifetime.

Don't buy on impulse and seek advice before parting with your money.

Shine On
Michael

[snakehips]

Hi there !

All good advice.
However, finding a National with a straight neck and that doesn't need a neck reset is nigh impossible, unless it has already had the work done.
If it has had work done to it, I'd want to know WHO did the work, before I considered buying it.

Every National I have ever bought in the last 20yrs (circa 12 vintage Nationals, excluding metal squareneck Tricones) have all needed some work to them. Two had already been worked on by "one of the best in the business".
I have never had to pay more than £2500 for a vintage National (well, OK, two), and most under £2000, many nearer £1500.
After spending £200-350 on quality work by the top guys in the UK (Dave King, and Steve Evans), what were almost unplayable and terrible sounding Nationals, have all turned into impossible-to-ever-consider-selling guitars.

What I am saying is don't rule out a National that needs work done to them.

If you can get a luthier, highly respected for working on vintage Nationals (mentioned above), they can sympathetically resurrect a National back to it's former glory, playability and sound-wise.

Buy EXPECTING you will need to spend up to £350 or so, as there is a high chance it might need it, and if it doesn't need anything, well, then you have made a great choice in vintage Nationals, very lucky, in fact.

YMMV !!

[davey]

Unfortunately there isn't anywhere to go and look at a selection. There are a dozen on the Reverb website, search under National and 1930's. They're mostly in mainland Europe though and prices are fairly high.

It might help you to decide what type you prefer. A first question might be "metal or wood body?"