	AllExperts > Guitar - General
	Search

About Lynne May
Expertise
Any question relating to guitar playing: scales, chords, music theory, arpeggios, soloing, chord progressions, key signatures, buying a guitar, guitar tabs, writing guitar music, musical styles including rock, blues and classical. Please do not flag your question as "Private", as this prevents other readers from benefiting. I will no longer answer "private" questions.

Experience
I have played guitar for 30 years. Fifteen years of that time I spent traveling nationwide as a performer. I have owned and operated May Music Studio in Washington state for the last 20 years. I also teach piano and drums. Recently I have started a website which provides absolutely free music lessons: http://www.may-studio-music-lessons.com

Publications
Ezinearticles.com expert author

Education/Credentials
BA MA

You are here: Experts > Music/Performing Arts > Musical Instruments > Guitar - General > National Guitar

Guitar - General - National Guitar

Expert: Lynne May - 11/3/2009

Question

national

Hi Lynne,

I have a similar question to one posted.National name on the head with a wooden body.Who is it mfg by?Pic's attached.

Thanks,
Shawn

Answer
Hi, Shawn--

I am sorry to say that I can't tell anything about the guitar with the info given. A model name or number would possibly help. A date of manufacture would help more.

National guitars have been manufactured by several companies over a period of many years. Here is what the Blue Book says in brief:

Instruments previously produced in Los Angeles, CA from the mid-1920s to the mid-1930s. Instruments produced in Chicago, IL from mid-1930s to 1969. After National moved production to Chicago in the mid-1930s, they formally changed the company name to Valco (but still produced National brand guitars). Instruments produced in Japan circa 1970s. Distributed by Strum´N Drum of Chicago, IL. When Valco went out of business in 1969, the National trademark was acquired by Strum´N Drum, who then used the trademark on a series of Japanese-built guitars.

Valco produced the National/Supro/Airline fiberglass body guitars in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as wood-bodied models.
In 1969 or 1970, Valco Guitars, Inc. went out of business. The assets of Valco/Kay were auctioned off, and the rights to the National trademark were bought by the Chicago, Illinois-based importers Strum´N Drum. Strum´N Drum, which had been importing Japanese guitars under the Norma trademark, were quick to introduce National on a line of Japanese-produced guitars that were distributed in the U.S. market. Author/researcher Michael Wright points out that the National "Big Daddy" bolt-neck black LP copy was one of the first models that launched the Japanese "Copy Era" of the 1970s.

Hope this info was helpful.

Lynne
May Music Studio
http://www.may-studio-music-lessons.com

Add to this Answer Ask a Question