1930 National Polychrome Triolian Resonator

In 1927, the National String Instrument Company began producing the first resonator instruments. Over the years, the National brand became so synonymous with resonator instruments that many blues players who prefer their unique sound simply refer to any resonator as a “national guitar.” Intended to offer players a louder voice, the innovative resonator produces an interesting, warm sound that you won’t get from anything else. Paul Simon sang “the Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar”.

The steel-bodied Triolian was National’s “bread and butter” guitar during the depression, offering great sound and serious volume at the relatively modest price of $45.00. With National Tricone guitars selling for over $100 and the flashy brass-bodied Style 0 at $62.50 the single-cone Triolian made the powerful National sound available to a much wider range of players. Made of slightly better grade materials than the bottom-of-the-line Duolian, the Triolian was extremely popular among Blues and Hillbilly musicians and is still an excellent choice for many styles of playing.

This 1930 “Polychrome” example (from the first production year) is in fabulous 100% substantially original condition, featuring a multi-hued enamel finished steel body with flat-cut F holes and a 12 fret maple neck with a bound painted maple fingerboard. These Triolians were hand-sprayed so no two are exactly alike. This one has the most unfaded Yellow finish w/a Blue & Green’bursted border w/just a few chips around the edges. The back has a bold and fairly clear palm tree & sunset sprayed on, the most distinctive visual signature of the Polychrome Triolian. Its neck has only slight wear w/a perfect decal & some flame to its maple neck. This is truly 1 of the finest examples & it’s exceptionally clean, unfaded & ready to enjoy. Comes in a generic case.