Perfect Vintage Archtop

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:30 am

mid-50s National Debonaire. Look at it. The teardrop sunburst, the knob placement. Everything. It's perfect.

pumpkin · Post by **pumpkin** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 3:29 am

gorgeous... but probably really expensive?

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 3:45 am

I'd prefer if the humbucker was mounted on the neck (can that be done with full sized humbuckers? I know it can with minis) and the knobs would be better on the guard.

I don't like there being anything on the body of the guitar. It probably doesn't effect the sound at all, but all the same.

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 3:46 am

nwordjim wrote:gorgeous... but probably really expensive?

One for $1000 on eBay - one with replaced knobs at Dave's in WI for $600.

James · Post by **James** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 7:13 am

BacchusPaul wrote:I'd prefer if the humbucker was mounted on the neck (can that be done with full sized humbuckers? I know it can with minis) and the knobs would be better on the guard.

I don't like there being anything on the body of the guitar. It probably doesn't effect the sound at all, but all the same.

Exactly what I was thinking.

No inlays or something other than dots would be nice, too. Still, it's a fantastic looking guitar.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 12:50 pm

Love the crazing on the lacquer

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 1:13 pm

Be careful, a lot of airlines/nationals from that era didn't have truss rods. However in spite of this I haven't played one with a warped neck ever. The pickup is probably not wax potted at all and will be microphonic as all hell with any distortion but you're probably not buying it for that.

Anyways, cosmetically it's a beaut. If it plays and sounds as good as it looks, $600 is probably a steal