1937 National Style "O"

The 14-fret Style O needs little introduction. With its nickel-plated brass body, single-cone resonator construction, striking Art Deco looks and sandblasted palm tree design it has become one of the defining instruments of blues, folk and roots music. It is also the model famously associated with Mark Knopfler and the cover of Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms. This example has a great look, with the earlier style plain band around the sides rather than the later palm tree motif extending all the way around the body. It presents very well overall, particularly for an instrument approaching ninety years old. The front shows the familiar pickguard stain caused by off-gassing from the celluloid guard, a well-known feature on many old Nationals. The rear of the neck has been stripped at some stage, and there are a couple of divots on the treble side, most likely from decades of capo use. These are cosmetic and very much part of the guitar’s long playing history. The neck has the wide nut, classic chunky V profile and feels very much in keeping with the period. It is equally at home as a standard acoustic instrument or set up for slide work, with the sort of direct, tactile response that makes these pre-war Nationals so rewarding to play. Tonally, it is exactly what you'd expect: powerful, loud, expressive and characterful, with exceptional projection, and a rich metallic resonance. It responds well to fingerstyle, flatpicking and open tunings, with plenty of volume and a beautifully complex harmonic voice. All in all this is an excellent opportunity to acquire a rare 14-fret model with a huge amount of character. Comes with a later hard shell case.