1961 National Val-Pro Semihollow Electric Guitar

I don't think I've met anyone who hasn't thought these old National "Res-O-Glas" guitars aren't deeply cool. This map-shaped one has deco styling up the wazoo and, while retro, is definitely forward-looking in its weirdo take on what's essentially a neck-pickup, bigger-bodied, jazzbox. They weren't cheap at the time, either, so that's probably the market they were after when they thought these glorious beings up.

I also don't think I've met anyone who can deny that these instruments are quirky. They need to be tamed before they can play their best and this one gave my guy Ancel most of a day's worth of work sprucing it up to be a good player. Now that it is, it's quite enjoyable, plays bang-on, and has that lovely, odd, distinctly National thing going on with its sound. These instruments sound nice as mellow "jazzier" guitars played clean but it's when you slam them with a lot of gain that they really find their mark in a bluesy, garage-rock way. I actually like them a lot for an almost "compressed jazzbox" sound with the gain and treble a bit up on the amp and the tone rolled-off just a hair on the guitar.

Aside from a replaced bridge, bridge base, and in-bridge piezo pickup, this is original throughout and ready to roll.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, bridge mod (add Gotoh bridge/saddles to top), binding repair/replacement at the side of the fretboard, cleaning, restring, and setup work.

Weight: 7 lbs 14 oz

Scale length: 24 3/4"

Nut width: 1 11/16"

Neck shape: medium C

Board radius: 10"

Body width: 15 3/4"

Body depth: 1 3/4"

Body wood: fiberglass w/poplar centerblock

Bridge: Gotoh ABR style with non-original base w/piezo pickup in it

Fretboard: rosewood

Neck wood: unsure (maple?)

Pickups: 1x original National single coil, 1x replacement Barcus Berry? piezo element

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 46w-10

Truss rod: non-adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: lower/smaller

Condition notes: everything about this instrument is original save for its bridge and bridge piezo pickup. This came with a hardware-store style saddle contraption fit to the top of the replacement (piezo-embedded) bridge base. We've replaced that with a Gotoh ABR-style topper which is much more functional. The tuners are a bit tired but are original Klusons with the cool big buttons. It has various wear and tear via nicks and scratches throughout the instrument. The neck's finish has weather-checked and aged a bunch and is a lot more yellow than the body. The celluloid binding at the fretboard is cracked, shrunken, and weathered all over but is still holding pat after repairs. It's got style throughout!

It comes with: sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: DC