Description
Condition: This is an awesome vintage guitar with tons of character. Scratches, nicks, dings, dents, chips and consistent weather checking throughout the finish. There are some larger chips in the finish and wood along the sides of the guitar and some areas where the finish is chipping off (see photos). There is one spot on the bottom in which it appears the finish had a chemical reaction (see photos). The back plastic cover plate has some cracks and a few missing pieces (see photos). There are some small sticker ghosts from tape that was put over screws on the back plate but these are very minor and difficult to see. The cosmetic appearance of this guitar really gives it a cool and authentic vintage vibe! Fingerboard and frets have moderate play wear and plenty of life left in them. There is a small section on the treble side of the nut that is not flush with the side of the neck. The nut does not appear to be broken and the string spacing is correct (see photos). The bass side appears to have a tiny chip but this does not affect playability either. The neck is mostly straight with a slight “hump” around the 14th fret, mostly on the bass side. The height of the neck pickup is non-adjustable and due to its current height, the high “E” string hits the top of the pickup when played at the 18th fret. The neck bolts can be adjusted to vary the string height. These screws work great. The plastic tone selector switch tip is a little loose but works fine. All electronics and parts are in perfect working condition.
Body: Solid chambered maple body with single cutaway in a red burst finish. There is some gorgeous subtle flame figuring throughout the top. Metal trapeze tailpiece with black painted trim, plexi-based bridge with compensated height-adjustable rosewood saddle. White plastic control knobs with one skirted control knob with silver insert and a white-tip slider switch. Clear pickguard with white painted trim and National logo in center.
Neck: Nicely rounded maple neck with some very nice and subtle flaming on the back. Bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlays, a zero fret and a 1 11/16” nut. Headstock features white trim, National logo and Three-on-a-strip Kluson Deluxe tuners with ivoroid buttons. 24 ¾” scale length.
Pickups/Electronics: Single-coil pickup in the neck and a transducer pickup located under the bridge base. Controls include dual volume controls, master volume control, master tone control and a 3-way tone switch. The controls are designed in a unique way and work as follows:
Position 1 on the tone switch activates the single coil, master volume, and master tone control. 9.11K Ohms.
Position 2 activates the single coil and transducer pickup, master volume control and individual volume control located in the middle. 4.20K Ohms.
Position 3 activates Both pickups, master volume control, and individual volume control on the right. 6.56K Ohms.
Weight: 7lbs, 13.5oz.
Playability/Sound: This is a great sounding guitar. The pickups have a very unique sound and the controls really allow the player to dial in a wide variety of useful sounds. The guitar looks beautiful overall and has tons of character and an awesome vintage vibe and feel.
Case: Includes original hardshell case.
