❌SOLD❌ National El Trovador Long Scale with HotPlate Pickup Sunburst, 2007

Here’s a National El Trovador Long Scale – 25.66 inch instead of 25 inches – resophonic guitar with a  National Hot Plate pickup.

Built on the single-cone resophonic body, the National El Trovador Long Scale uses Mahogany Laminates for the top, sides and back with solid Mahogany for the body blocks and neck. The 12-fret fingerboard is Ebony, and the slotted peghead has an Indian Rosewood head plate sporting the National shield logo decal. In place of the regular resonator cover, this example is equipped with the National Hot Plate pickup and this uses a Lollar Tele-style neck pickup in what would be approximately the middle position on an electric guitar. The volume and tone controls and the output jack are located on the lower treble side of the cover.   As a bit of trivia, the name ‘Hot Plate’ is used by National under license from Andy Marshall Designs.  His original Hot Plate is a power attenuator  for tube amps.    The National Hot Plate was designed by Mike Dowling who has been a prominent resophonic player since at least the 1970s.  

This guitar is in good condition with light fret wear and three small dents to the top near the tailpiece.   It plays well, and the long scale helps with use of heavier strings and lower tunings.

The original National hard shell case is included.

More From The Builder on The National El Trovador Long Sale and Regular Scale Models:

“Its Spanish name translates as “The Troubador,” and this wood-body single-cone National has been popular with musicians ever since its debut in 1932. This reissue was designed in collaboration with renowned blues and swing guitarist Mike Dowling. Like the original, our El Trovador features a large, four-inch-deep body constructed of mahogany — a wood famed for its sonic properties. A wooden soundwell houses the resonator, adding to the unique sound projection. The body is bound in multi-layer celluloid, with a matching purfling border around the classic coverplate. An ebony fretboard is mated to the solid mahogany neck, which is capped by a rosewood headstock overlay. With its rich, deep, warm tone, our El Trovador is one of National’s most popular guitars among troubadors everywhere.”