National O-Resonator 1930, Steel

This 1930 National Style O is a first-year, steel-bodied example, the rarer version of this famed single-cone resonator, and it has the raw, cutting bark that made these guitars the voice of Delta blues. The nickel-plated steel body and biscuit-bridge single cone give it a punchy, articulate tone with plenty of volume and a dry, midrange growl that’s perfect for bottleneck slide. A generous nut width and wide string spacing leave room for intricate fingerpicking, and the full soft V neck fills the hand with a confident, old-world feel. The original fleur-de-lis tuners add to its period charm, and the honest wear throughout, including some worn finish on the fingerboard, shows nearly a century of being played. It’s a player-grade instrument that’s meant to be played, and it comes in a hardshell case, ready to carry on the tradition.