❌SOLD❌ National Resophonic Triolian

National ResoPhonic Triolian reproduces the early 1930’s style ‘W’ Triolian, with 12-Fret Neck:

National Reso-Phonic’s reissue of the 14-fret neck late 1930’s ‘W’ style Triolian:

The National Resophonic company presents the National Resophonic Triolian, featuring a steel body with walnut burst finish and a single cone. Available in original style 12 fret or 14 fret necks, these guitars produce a full, rich and lush vintage tone.

The National String Instrument Corporation patented and produced the first resonator instruments in 1927, responding to the constant need for more volume. The first instruments used three small cones – the classic Tricone design. In 1928, the single-cone design was introduced as a way to cut production costs, but this met great controversy within the company.

The National Triolian was originally introduced in late 1928 and built until 1938. Originally a wood-body guitar with a single resonator cone, in 1929 the Triolian was given a steel body. For much of the first year, a Bakelite neck was used but this miracle material turned out to be unstable and was replaced with maple.

In late 1934, the neck was changed to a 14-fret design, and to accommodate this, the body was ‘shortened’ – the scale length is the same at 25 inches, so there is no difference in string tension. This 14-fret body evokes an ‘OM’ (Orchestra Model) shape, while the original 12-fret model resembles a slope-shoulder dreadnought. Some players find that the larger body on the 12-fret model provides a slightly deeper tone and the 14-fret a little more ‘bark’.

The ‘Triolian’ name is a holdover from the name given the original prototypes, which had a trio of small resonators under one round coverplate. This proved too complex, and so the design, but not the name, was changed to the single cone we see now.

The ‘Duolian’ was a very similar instrument, but with less decoration, and an unbound mahogany neck.

The National Reso-Phonic company re-issued the steel body models in 2009, in both 12 and 14 fret designs. These are very high-quality instruments built to modern standards yet producing full, rich vintage tone. It *is* possible to have the best of both worlds!

Also available in left-handed by special order.

Triolian Specifications
Body:

• Steel Body with F-Holes
• Traditional ribbed sieve-hole coverplate, 14 inch wide lower bout.
• Hand-finished in Vintage Style Walnut Burst

Neck:

• Maple Neck
• Rosewood Fingerboard
• Grained Ivoroid Binding
• Slotted Peghead
• Mother of Pearl dot position markers
• 25 Inch Scale Length
• 1.875 inch nut width
• Hand finished in Vintage Style Walnut Burst

Hardware:

• 9.5 inch hand-spun resonator cone and maple biscuit
• National Brand open tuners
• Hardshell Archtop National Case included

Visit the National Resophonic Triolian page for the original style 12-fret version

Visit the National Resophonic Triolian page for the later style 14-fret version

Serial Number: Varies as new and built at the National facility in San Luis Opisbo, California.

National Resophonic Triolian 12-fret model:

National Resophonic Triolian 14-fret model: