National Duolian 1931
12 fret neck.Straight F-holes.Coverplate with hooks instead of screws (only made in 1931 to early 1932).
Original bar frets on the original black dyed ebonized maple fingerboard.
Original bisquit, stamped with National.
Legendary sound!
Hardcase.
Dates of manufacture: 1931 to 1940
NATIONAL manufactured the DUOLIAN between 1931 and 1940. The Duolian was a metal bodied single cone resonator guitar. The body was made of steel with two f-holes (flat cut until 1933 and then with rolled edges from 1933-1940). The necks were mahogany or maple with an unbound dyed (ebonized) maple fretboard and pearl or ivoriod dots. Early models had 19 frets and joined the body at the 12th fret. From 1934 onwards they had 20 fret necks which joined the body at the 14th fret. The headstocks were slotted with classical style tuners (3 on a plate). The steel bodies were typically finished with "frosted Duco" crystalline paint finish. The Duolian has gained a reputation for classic blues tone: it was favoured by the early blues players due in part to its compact but loud body..
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