Serial 2770W (1932). Sounds and plays excellent in ready to play condition. Most Nationals require a lot of work as the necks/fretboards are almost always in bad shape. This original neck has been restored professionally and reset. There is nothing to do but play. The action at the 12th fret is around 2mm on both sides. Great for normal picking but slides well too. Other than the typical scratched paint around the body, the biggest ding is a dent on the bottom side seen in the pictures. Other than that, the paint is really in excellent condition still and the front is very clean.
The cone, gasket, biscuit, nut, and tailpiece are new. Tuners are original. Comes with case which I’m sure is not original.
I believe instruments have stories, so here is the story of this guitar as I know it.
I was searching for a national and found this one at Third Coast Guitar Repair In Chicago. They said a doctor owned it and had the original neck restored. Fretboard rebuilt to period correct specs including the celluloid binding. The neck was refinished preserving the original logo decal and the serial imprint on the headstock. I love a vintage vibe but most of the ones I was seeing were not really in playable condition and overpriced for a guitar that needed an overhaul.. So I bought it.
When I received it, i noticed that they did a great restoration job on the neck but they didn’t do such a great job with the setup. Nationals are unique and the setup can make or break its performance. After some research I found Marc Schoenberger of National Guitar repair in California. He was THE expert so I shipped him the guitar. He verified that the neck was original. He reset the neck, built a biscuit, replaced the tailpiece, nut, some minor fretwork. (See his invoice in pics.) When I got it back it sang. Side note, I highly recommend Marc if you have a vintage National as you may not realize how good it could sound with the right touch.
That probably sounds crazy and expensive but these have doubled in price in that time I wouldn’t do all that today.
I’ve had it for 7 years and I just don’t play it much. It’s honestly been in the case most of that time.
Please reach out with any questions.
