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Post by sunsetlou on Aug 2, 2021 0:36:02 GMT
I thought yall would enjoy seeing this pearloid covered mandolin in the murky "B" series...I have never seen any other pearloid covered steel National instruments...This one has had fairly extensive repairs...Plays great now! Attachments:
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Post by sunsetlou on Aug 2, 2021 1:27:14 GMT
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Post by ukulelezaza on Aug 2, 2021 8:36:32 GMT
Quite spectacular! When I read your post I immediately thought 'I gotta tell X I saw another one!' - then realized it's the same one.  You believe it is original, right? Must have been a custom job? I have not seen any other pearloid Nationals. |
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 2, 2021 9:02:21 GMT
It is attractive, but what makes you think it was done by the National factory?
The black coverplate with silver handrest doesn't look right to me. It looks refinished. National would never have done that.
I'm going to stick my neck out and say that I have my doubts about its originality. The pearled is old, but in my opinion not something National would have done, even on a custom order.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Mark Makin on Aug 2, 2021 9:30:46 GMT
I dont think it is factory original either. Why do it on a finished B series duco instrument? Notice there is no pearl on any of the "difficult" parts.
How long ago this was done I wouldn't like to say. This type of pearl is much later. The only pearloid used by National in the early 30s was the cream pearloid used on Style 3 and Style 4s. Personally, I always think it's a shame that 'over the top' DIY always seems to happen to 'rarer' instruments. There are only 5 duco mandolins known and this has to happen to it. There are plenty of normal Triolians out there!.
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Post by pete1951 on Aug 2, 2021 10:44:47 GMT
Whoever did the pearloid cover knew what they were doing, they put a line in the pattern down the centre of the back and gave it a ‘book matched’ look.
Supro/Valco covered lots of things like this, could it be a refinishing job done by them, or an old stock instrument finished in the 40s?
Pete v
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 2, 2021 11:19:59 GMT
As well as what Mark has said, the pearloid has not been fitted in a professional way. Yes it has a nice join at the back, probably done by a drum shop in the 50s. If National had done it, there would be pearled on the headstock and the heel, and the finish around the heel would be more decorative. The cover plated is 100% not National's work. Also as Mark has said, National would not have used that colour pearled at that time.
Don't rush into believing what you see is real and original. 40+ years of looking at these things has given me a sense of what is and what isn't, what they would have done and what they wouldn't.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by sunsetlou on Aug 2, 2021 16:51:49 GMT
Yes, I understand your doubts!...It has had some major repairs...The back of the neck was refinished,new dowel stick,new fingerboard,
Chinese tailpiece...The heel was shaded to cover a crack and some plugs a previous "repairman" had put in...Not light enough for a true
trioian finish...Somehow the MOTS looks very old to me...Anyway I got my first true National in 1974 and have been smitten since then !
I think the pearloid somehow mellows the harshness ob dis po chile !...I have another oddball I will post in the future....
Lou
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 2, 2021 17:11:05 GMT
Yes, I understand your doubts!... Lou, they are not "doubts". I'm sorry but that was not done by National. Shine On Michael |
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Post by sunsetlou on Aug 2, 2021 17:25:00 GMT
A few more...Thanks all ! |
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