1931 National Sears Duolian Blue
National 'Sears' Duolian 1931 | $2875 | (v2337) The first Duolians appeared in 1931 as an attempt to survive the deepening depression and to offer a guitar at a bottom-of-the-line no-frills price. Much of the National line prior to this time consisted of high-end 'triple resonator' guitars priced at $100 dollars and up. In 1931 Sears, the Amazon of its day, ordered a batch of Duolians for their catalog sales. These differed from the conventional Duolian with a differently drilled coverplate pattern and no branding. The National Duolian cost $32.50 each, while the Sears model cost $29. The Duolian went on to become a favorite among blues and hillbilly musicians, and remains popular today for old-time blues and hillbilly music.
The body is made from stamped, welded steel, with a spun aluminum resonator cone. The neck is mahogany, carved in a full 'C'-shape and features a slotted headstock with no embellishment or logo. The radiused fingerboard is a replacement Brazilian rosewood board. The inlay on this example are replacements/additions. The tailpiece is typical of what National used on many of its instruments. The tuners appear original.
The body measures 14 1/4"" across at the lower bout. Scale length is ~ 25". The neck measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 3/16" across at the saddle.
The guitar came to us with the additional fingerboard inlays, a neck reset and replacement frets. The nut is bone and is likely a replacement. Based on the overspray inside the guitar it appears this one was originally Duco green, but now wears two coats of blue. The cone and biscuit are original and in excellent condition. The metal parts all show oxidation and some paint loss and flaking. Action is set at about 6/64".
Overall, this is a very attractive, if not stylish, guitar, even with its 'upgrades' of paint and inlay. It's surely a vintage blues guitar! The Sears Duolians tend to bring a slight premium over the National versions for some reason, and feature the same gut-bucket sound as their kin. This example sounds and plays great, perfect for old-time or country blues.
Comes with a newer hard case.
Check the sound clips!
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Forty-eight hour test drive on all instruments..if not to your liking, return for refund minus shipping costs.