Brand: National String Instrument Corporation, Royal Aire, Valco
Instrument Categories: Electric, Guitars, SOLD, Solidbody
Here is a rarity – a Royal Aire by National solid body electric guitar, dating to 1951 and one of the earliest production electrics for National and its parent Valco. Clearly a National model given its construction and components, Royal Aire branded instruments are few and far between. Around 1947, Valco contracted with Gibson to produce some Royal Aire flat top acoustics, based on the LG-3. Here, Valco / National used a National neck with its shield logo plate engraved to read Royal Aire.
At first glance, this Royal Aire by National looks very much like a lap steel model; electric lap steels, or Hawaiian models, entered production well before round-neck Spanish style guitars did. Gibson used the term EH, for Electric Hawaiian, as opposed to ES, for Electric Spanish. However, its round neck and regular nut identify it as an early Spanish style model. The single coil pickup on this example was used between 1951 and 1954, while the neck’s serial number indicates 1949. Since in-stock parts would be used for assembly, we’re giving this an early date.
The body and neck on the Royal Aire by National are likely Poplar, with Rosewood used for the fingerboard and floating bridge. This model does not have an adjustable truss rod. The controls and screw-on Amphenol connector are mounted on the molded pickguard.
Sold with its original brown rectangular hard shell case.
- Model: Royal Aire Solidbody
- Year: 1951 | Approximate year
- Finish Sunburst
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: X24068
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 11/05/2020
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 5.72lbs 2.6kg
- Scale Length: 24.75in 638.6mm
- Nut Width: 1.68in 42.77mm
