National Tricone Style 1 Resonator Guitars

Description: National Tricone Style 1 Resonator Guitars
Available: 1927 to 1942.
Collectibility Rating: Roundneck: B-, Squareneck: D-

General Comments: German silver body (solid nickel alloy with nickel plating), three or "tri" resonator cones with two cones on the bass side, one cone on the treble side, T-shaped bridge cover and handrest, grid pattern soundholes on upper body, Hawaiian squareneck or Spanish roundneck styles, 12 frets clear of the body, flat fingerboard radius, mahogany neck on Spanish model, metal neck with mahagony headstock on Hawaiian model, bound single layer ebony fingerboard, slotted peghead.

If you need to figure out the exact year of your National Tricone guitar, use the serial number. On roundneck Tricone models, the serial number is stamped into the body by the endpin until serial number 2400. On squareneck Tricones, the serial number is stamped into the back of the metal neck near the peghead up until serial number 2400. On all Tricones after serial number 2400, the number is stamped at the top of the peghead. See the National Serial Number Info web page for help determining the exact year.

National also made other styles of Tricone guitars:

If you have a vintage National Tricone guitar for sale, please contact me at cfh@provide.net

1927 National Tricone Style 1 guitar specs:
plain body with no engraving, early examples with unbound fingerboard, dot fingerboard inlays, ebony fingerboard wood, mahogany neck on Spanish roundneck model and metal neck with mahagony headstock on Hawaiian squareneck model, slotted peghead, German silver nickel plated body with no engraving (plain), lightly engraved tuner plates with white buttons, three resonator cones connected with a metal "T" bar, maple bridge saddle, early examples have the bass and treble side body grids hand soldered with a crude look.

1931 National Tricone Style 1 guitar specs:
After 1930, "wriggly" lines engraved around outer edge of body. Note this is sometimes refered to as a "Style 1 1/2".

National Tricone style 1 guitar discontinued 1942.


A 1930 National Tricone Style 1 roundneck guitar (Spanish style) in an original hardshell case:


* Email the collector cfh@provide.net
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* Go to main National Vintage Guitar Info webpage