Mirecourt guitar around 1825 / National "Havana"

Mirecourt guitar around 1825

This instrument hasn't got a lot of decorations.

The soundboard apparently hasn't even been quarter sawn

being a sign of some cheapiness.

After restoration this guitar appears to be a very well balanced sounding

instrument with a nice and sweet voice.

This picture clearly shows the ivory frets while ebony has been

used for the highest frets. Note that fingerboard and

soundboard are in one line as was done up untill 1835.

These heels are quite common on french made guitars

of that period. This particular instrument has a wooden

binding on the back.

The back of this Mirecourt guitar has been veneered with

a kind of mahogany on spruce.

The neck has been veneered with ebony.

Violinlike pegs are used for tuners.

NATIONAL RESONATOR 'HAVANA'

A Prewar National guitar has allways been a
collector's piece I'd like to have in my collection.
And here it is! This is the "Havana" model.
Made in 1938 with a Kay body.
As on the Aragon model the top is in spruce
natural finished. Back and sides are maple.

The neck, back and sides are still in a gorgeous
condition. Finished in sunburst on solid

maple sides and back.

The heart of this instrument: The resonator with
its cover plate and diamond shaped perforated.
though it looks quite vintage the soundboard could
easily be brought back in a "like new" condition.
Vintage values will decrease dramatically if you do so.

The peghead with the ebonoid layer and
etched logo. The top of the head is rounded
as was common on solid pegheads.

Simple (original) tuners, but they work well!

Engraved with Kluson MFG Chicago and a patent number.

The national guitars were produced in Chicago

as well by that time. When National started just

before the thirties they produced the bodies themselves.

As they had not that much expirience in guitarbuilding

some strange woodproblems can occur with the instruments

of that time. Later Kay, Harmony and even Gibson made

some bodies.