1957 National 1155E Excellent, Soft, $3,295.00

From Gibson to National to you, via the 1950s. National bought completed J-50 bodies from Gibson back then and attached their own necks, with a unique contour, a wonderful peghead shape, Kluson tuners with proprietary way cool button shapes, and a National serial number plate on the back of the peghead; these are some pretty wonderful and unique guitars. This one is the 1155E model with a full J-50 body, and has got a pickup under the end of the fingerboard with pole pieces showing through, a la the famous Gibson J-160E. Controls are on the shoulder here rather than drilled through the top as they are on the Gibsons, a much better plan in our book. The serial number plate indicates 1958, the Gibson factory order number on the neck block is clearly from 1956, and the potentiometers date to 1955. The folksinger Odetta had two of these, one of which she got from us many years ago, which she used in performance. The last one we had, in 2008, went to Steve Earle. This is an unusual find, in terrifically solid condition. Overall way cool and quite rare, this one is 100% original and plays and sounds just fabulously. $3295 w/ssc