Tone machine ... one owner ever, 1964. Vintage. Purchased for me by my father on Dec. 5th, 1964. Will provide you with the original purchase receipt, which features the guitar serial #G22846 that is stamped by the manufacturer on the back of the guitar headstock.
This item turns 60 years old this year. American made. I've always taken care of this baby, since being presented with it as a gift when I was 9 years old. Still functions optimally and has no defects other than a few worn-in blemishes from Father Time. Photos are not doctored or photo-shopped. This is a cherry red piece with beveled edge all around. The clear floating pick guard features white trim and the National Shield. It has a raised chrome-colored headstock logo over a glossy black headstock. Also has butterfly pearl inlays set in the Rosewood fingerboard. Guitar has one humbucker pickup with 3 controls, a 3-way switch and a master volume control. All original. No rework. Nothing needs repairing!
Collectors know that National's USA map-shaped electrics were not inexpensive when manufactured. A brand new one in 1964 was priced within a few bucks of ... for example ... the American-made Fender Strat! The National was only offered briefly in the early 1960's (first introduced in 1961 and made on a limited basis through 1964). These rare beauties are enhanced by brightly colored finishes not prone to wearing or chipping. The pearloid-and-abalone fingerboard is what Valco called its 'butterfly pearl' pattern.
This guitar plays really well and the music it produces is that incredible 60's sound you cannot find in a modern manufacture. The guitar has had no restorative work done at all (although I did apply a coin-sized spot of Mom's red fingernail polish to a wear-spot on the backside upper edge when I was 13 years old or so) and it doesn't need any repairs. The frets are in great condition, as are all working parts including the inlays and tuning keys, etc. At one point decades ago, I had to remove one of the three tone knobs and gently glue it back together and re-install the original part. The entire instrument works like it just came from the factory.
As a bonus, you'll receive the following: (1) The original purchase receipt. (2) The National guarantee card that came with it when it was brand new, featuring the serial # stamped on the back of the headstock. (3) The entire Fall 1982 issue of Guitar Player Magazine. It was a special issue that is now 42 years old! Tom Wheeler wrote a whole section that featured a 'Gallery' with pictures included, that begins like this: "Over the following pages, Guitar Player presents a treasure trove of rare instruments in full color. All photos were shot by Guitar Player staff ... the instruments were provided by Frank Lucido of California Guitar and Norm Harris of Norm's Rare Guitars (also of California).
On page 20 of this magazine special issue, in full color and showing the whole guitar face on, is the same guitar you are being offered here! The only difference is that the one in the magazine precurses mine by 3 manufacturer's dated years. It's listed as a National Val-Pro 82, and claims it dates 'about 1961' (which actually means mine could be just as old as the one pictured in the mag ... since the owner of the photographed axe couldn't be more specific with the date on the one pictured in the mag). The full-color display shows a red model that looks identically like the one I'm listing here ... save that the 3 tone buttons and the switch are located on the right side of the body - looking face on. Also, the pearloid fret inlays in the neck are not nearly as large as the ones included on mine. Otherwise, it is an exact duplicate!
The magazine article author explains that the guitar is made by Valco: Res-O-Glas body (polyester resin/fiberglass compound) ... is a solid body that has a zero fret, quadrant markers, 3-way Val-Trol pickup selector, Vista-Power pickup and scarlet finish.
The magazine itself if full and complete. It is immaculate. Not one frayed edge on any page. Not one crease in ANY page or the cover. I'm anal about how I store valued papers, books and magazines! I meticulously preserved this magazine from the moment in the Fall of 1982 that I bought my copy in a local drug store. Why? Because a spot-on copy of my National guitar is featured in this special collector's edition of Guitar Player! In 1982, I was 27 years old, and had already owned the National I'm offering here today for close to two decades. I was old enough to know that the magazine appearance by my guitar's close cousin would be important some day as a 'go-with' piece to the instrument I own that was obviously already a collectible in 1982!!!
Listen to what Jim Crockett, publisher of Guitar Player Magazine in 1982 - had to say in print inside this edition of his magazine: "What's so special and exclusive about this issue you're holding in your hands? One hell of a lot. Let's start with the concept: it's all about equipment ... even the regular columnists focus on gear this month ... past, present and future. A full-color vintage guitar layout (for pages and pages); New directions in bass design. Top-of-the-line equipment. Leo Fender's personal tour of the G&L plant. Guitars of tomorrow. The latest in acoustic guitar designs."
Remember what time period we're talking about with this guitar and ... twenty years later ... in 1982 ... this magazine. Anybody who is in the guitar and related-equipment collection business absolutely MUST have this issue of Guitar Player magazine. Mine - soon to be yours - is in mint condition. Just a partial list of collectible guitars featured in full-color spreads in this very special one-of-a-kind issue include: 1961 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster, with PAF humbucking pickups; 1955 Gibson ES-5, the Switchmaster's predecessor; 1931 Martin OM-28; 1959 Gretsch Country Gentleman; Mid-1960's Gretsch Jet Fire Bird; 1959 Gretsch Chet Atkins Model 6121 Solid Body; Ampeg Dan Armstrong "See Through" model with Lucite Body; National Triolian tenor guitar, about 1930; Fender Electric XII 12-string, mid-1960's in Lake Placid Blue; 1966 Bass VI in Foam Green, one of Fender's rarest custom colors; 1961 Gibson Super 400CES; 1961 Super 400CES, rear detail showing arched back made of highly figured maple; National Val-Pro 82, about 1961 (this one's the reason I bought the magazine off the rack in 1982); 1964 Stratocaster in the rare Shoreline Gold Finish; 1964 Strat in Sonic Blue, Fender's lightest blue color; an unusual left-handed gold-top Les Paul Standard from 1957, mint condition; a rare 1966 Fender Musiclander (also known as Swinger); 1965 Fender Precision Bass in Lake Placid Blue; 1964 Precision in Daphne Blue; 1966 Epiphone Sheraton, made by Gibson; 1928 Martin O-42; 1939 000-45, Martin's finest 000 steel-string; and folks ................ it goes on and on!
I dare say with a sad tear in my eye and wink toward my guitar ... that the buyer here might even want my magazine as much or more than my instrument! Listen, this magazine issue covers it all (at the time it was published)! Guitars is just the start. You HAVE GOT to see the overviews, photos and article covers of amps, mixers and other equipment covered in this exciting and now-famous issue of Guitar Player Magazine.
DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY. Oh, and one last thing. You won't believe what's on page 61 of the magazine. It's a jaw-dropping full page ad for something called "The Kit' .......... the world's first electronic drum set featuring Touch-Dynamic response "and a genuine percussion sound."
* You pay shipping & handling by carrier of your choice. You pay Ebay fee. Thank you. I WILL SEND YOU A VENMO BILL IF YOU ARE THE WINNING BID. YOU MUST PROVIDE ME YOUR VENMO INFO TO SEND A BILL TO. THIS WILL INCLUDE SHIPPING WHICH I CAN ARRANGE FOR HERE WHERE THE GUITAR IS SHIPPING FROM (NEWARK, OH, USA). YOU HAVE 3 DAYS FROM THE TIME I BILL YOU. FAILURE TO PAY RESULTS IN FAILED DEAL AND ME REPOSTING THIS ITEM FOR SALE. FOR QUES'S. CALL ME @ 326. seven thirty two, one 591 - LEAVE A MESSAGE IF YOU MISS ME LIVE, AND A GOOD TIME TO GET BACK WITH YOU.