1960s National N-720 (Kay-made) Dreadnought Guitar

This cool old beast is a Kay-made National dreadnought with a bolt-on neck, long scale, and terrific styling. Check out the "antlers" bridge! Check out the batwing pickguard! check out the big old block inlay! Check out that National "Gumby" headstock! Cool, right?

A couple of the board inlays were missing so I replaced them with clear plastic covers over playing-card inserts. I think it spiffs it up a bit in a mangy cat sort-of way. Other work was on the lighter side but suffice to say it plays as well as it looks, too. It's quick and easy and fun to pick on.

Soundwise it's got a bunch of midsy cut -- it's x-braced but rather crudely and with big, rectangular-shaped bracing -- and will serve well for a player who wants to bang chords in a band (or jam) all night. I have it strung with 52w-11 gauges at the moment simply because these old Kays have such a long scale length that they don't need the tension of 12s to drive them.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, replacement inlay, replacement bridge pins, new compensated bone saddle, new strap button near the heel, hairline crack repair (w/cleats) to the top to the bass side of the soundhole, repair to a seam separation in the headstock (the flat of the headstock had separated from the bulk of the neck), cleaning, and general setup work. In addition, two small hairline cracks at the soundhole near the neck joint were repaired in the past.

Weight: 5 lbs 1 oz

Scale length: 25 5/8"

Nut width: 1 11/16"

Neck shape: medium C/D

Board radius: 12"

Body width: 15 5/8"

Body depth: 4"

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: ply mahogany

Bracing type: x

Bridge: rosewood

Fretboard: rosewood

Neck wood: poplar

Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 52w, 38w, 28w, 22w, 15, 11

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: wider/lower

Condition notes: it has a repaired hairline crack (4-5") to the bass side of the soundhole on the top. There are also two 1/4" or so repaired hairline cracks at the top of the soundhole near the fretboard extension. There's plenty of weather-checking to the finish clearcoat and minor nicks, dings, and scratches throughout. The headstock's "flat" top part has been reglued to the main part of the neck (the joint had separated but was there to begin-with). The saddle, bridge pins, strap button at the heel, two inlay blocks, and the truss rod cover are replacements. Otherwise it's original throughout.

It comes with: sorry, no case!